Episodes
Thursday Apr 26, 2018
Command #67 - Do Not Desire More Than God Gives You
Thursday Apr 26, 2018
Thursday Apr 26, 2018
Contrary to what many think, Jesus had nothing against either money or rich people. Many of his closest friends were possessors of means.
Tuesday Apr 24, 2018
Command #66 - Worship the Lord and Serve Him Only
Tuesday Apr 24, 2018
Tuesday Apr 24, 2018
We here encounter a Command made all the more intriguing when we consider to whom Jesus addressed it. He did not speak these words to his disciples or followers or to the crowds. This was his response to Satan after the final temptation in the wilderness. Can we then consider it a universal Command which Jesus places upon his followers as well?
Thursday Apr 19, 2018
Command #65 - Do Not Show Goodness and Hospitality Only to Those Who Are Kind to You
Thursday Apr 19, 2018
Thursday Apr 19, 2018
So many of Jesus' Commands are interrelated. In these combined passages from Luke, we hear echoes of Love, Give to the poor, Do more than required, Be a servant, Be kind, Do good, Do not demand back what you have given, Serve the least of humanity as you would Jesus.
Tuesday Apr 17, 2018
Command #64 - Don't Fret About Trifles
Tuesday Apr 17, 2018
Tuesday Apr 17, 2018
Two individuals in the Gospels occasionally cause the sensitive heart a pang of empathy. In both instances, at first glance we feel that Jesus is a little harsh.
Thursday Apr 12, 2018
Thursday Apr 12, 2018
The passage from Mark 7 concerning the pharisaic worship of the letter of the law, as manifested by an obsession with clean cups and bowls and hands, gives a singularly important teaching in all the Gospels. Jesus here addresses an inevitable tendency in all religions--the susceptibility of truth to degenerate into doctrines and legalisms, defined by what Jesus calls the "traditions of the elders" rather than by constantly renewing reality.
Tuesday Apr 10, 2018
Command #62 - Do Not Be Called Teacher or Leader
Tuesday Apr 10, 2018
Tuesday Apr 10, 2018
An entire history of Christendom could be written from the perspective of the slow, steady, continuous divergence of Christ's followers from Christ's commands.
Thursday Apr 05, 2018
Command #61 - Trust and Have Faith in God
Thursday Apr 05, 2018
Thursday Apr 05, 2018
Faith is truly one of the most complex attributes of spirituality. It is a word bandied about easily and casually by the unbelieving world as readily as it is used in the believing world.
Tuesday Apr 03, 2018
Command #60 - Be a Good Steward Over What God Has Given You
Tuesday Apr 03, 2018
Tuesday Apr 03, 2018
It is unfortunate, in one sense, that the Lord's parable of the talents is about money and the return gained from its use. This has led to the false idea that God cares about the world of finance. The misappropriation of the truth of this parable has contributed to many foolish prosperity doctrines that are an embarrassment to the church. Because of the deeper meaning in the parable, however, the first century unit of money-weight Jesus spoke of actually became our English word for "talent," which certainly brings us much closer to Jesus' intent.