Luke 9:28-36 – The Transfiguration

To understand The Transfiguration, it’s important to understand its context.  Jesus ended His discussion of the cost of discipleship by telling His followers that He will someday come in glory (vs 26).  He then – surprisingly – said that there were some listening to Him who would witness this glory before they died (vs 27).  […]

Luke 9:18-27 – The Best Worst Recruiting Pitch of All Time

Go for the gusto…Be all you can be…You deserve more…Because you’re worth it… Taste the rainbow…Have it your way…You rule!…Deny yourself and take up your cross.  One of those slogans doesn’t seem to fit, does it?  That last one kind of ruins the vibe of the preceding seven.  It communicates quite a different message than […]

Luke 9:1-17 – Powerful, Merciful God

God is all powerful.  God is all knowing.  God is merciful.  Because of His power, God can act in ways that supersede the natural order of His creation.  Because of His knowledge, He knows exactly what His people need and when they need it.  And because of His mercy, He lovingly ministers to His children […]

Luke 8:40-56 – Giving Us Himself

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.” ~ Isaiah 55:8-9 “God works in mysterious ways” is a very old saying that is very […]

Luke 8:26-39 – 2000 Demons, 2000 Pigs, One Savior

Sin is the outworking of evil.  It is the overriding characteristic of the current world.  It negatively affects everyone and everything.  Nothing in this world is what it would be if sin didn’t exist.  It is the biggest problem man faces because it undergirds every problem man faces.  And, most importantly, it separates man from […]

Luke 8:16-25 – Lord of the Storms

There is much to learn about weathering the storms of life from the story of Jesus calming the storm on the Sea of Galilee.  Jesus shows the disciples that there is nothing outside of His authority and there is never a reason to lose faith when He’s nearby.  In the same way, He shows us […]

Luke 8:1-15 – Parable of the Sower

Jesus continues to preach the kingdom of God, and in so doing uses a parable to explain how the kingdom spreads in the hearts of those who hear its message and accept it, but also how it’s rejected by those who hear its message but are too enamored with the world to believe it.  The […]

Luke 7:36-50 – An Awkward Dinner Party

Ever been in an awkward social situation?  Ever felt unwelcome at a gathering?  Ever eaten a meal at someone’s house only to have an immoral woman walk in and start washing your feet with her tears and anointing them with perfume?  No?  That’s what happens to Jesus in this story.  He eats with a Pharisee, […]

Luke 7:18-35 – Even John the Baptist Gets the Blues

We learn several things from this strange story in Luke 7.  We learn that even God-ordained, miraculously-born heralds of the Messiah can doubt in the midst of trial.  We learn that God can use the confusion of notable prophets to instruct and reassure His people.  We learn that the greatness of John the Baptist doesn’t […]

Luke 7:1-17 – A Centurion, a Widow, an Amazing Savior

Two amazing miracles.  Two demonstrations of Jesus’ sovereignty over creation.  Two signs of His divinity.  Two victories in His continuing war against a fallen world.  Two demonstrations of compassion and one amazing example of faith.  Luke begins this chapter with two scenes from Jesus’ life that show we serve an omnipotent and merciful Redeemer who […]