They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee (Luke 24:2-6)     This is the question that I would ask my church: Why do you look for the…

Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. (Luke 22:25-27)     The one who rules must be like the one who serves. In my kingdom there are indeed leaders and those…

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same…

In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out. “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear. (Luke 14:33-35)     I don’t ask you to give up everything you have because I am jealous over what you have, nor because there is some special blessing in possessing nothing. You must give up all you have because only then can we have a bonding together that is like…

“Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks, they can immediately open the door for him.” (Luke 12:35-36)     All that I really require of you is that you be dressed and ready for service, with your lamp burning and your ears open to my voice. To be dressed means that you are always ready to go at even a moment’s notice; not tied down by possessions or cares of this world but ready to go when I say go. To be ready for service means that you…

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:10)     Being “the persecuted” is just as much a foundational stone as the poor in spirit, the meek, or those who show mercy. This beatitude is last because it is the natural result of the first seven. When persecution is not evident in the life of a believer, that is the evidence of a lack of the first seven. It’s important also to understand that I am not speaking of political persecution or ethnic persecution, but persecution because of righteousness (or godliness). A godly person is not someone who is lifted…

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. (Matthew 5:9)     To be called (and seen as) children of God, you must be someone who in your lifestyle is a maker of peace. Strife and division must never be part of the character of my children, so when you neglect your duty to make peace you are neglecting your role as a child of God. A peacemaker is more than an arbitrator between opposing sides, he is also someone who actively and intentionally creates peace all around him. Peace is not always something that happens spontaneously, it must be created by someone who is willing…

And He said to them, how is it that you had to look for Me? Did you not see and know that it is necessary [as a duty] for Me to be in My Father’s house and [occupied] about My Father’s business? (Luke 2:49 AMPC)     Just as this was the first recorded words of Jesus, this truth must be first in the hearts and understanding of every son and daughter: it is absolutely necessary that you 1. Be in my house, and 2. Be occupied with my business. To be in my house is not to be in a particular building, but to see my house in two…

Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits. These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. Wear sandals but not an extra shirt. Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. (Mark 6:7-10) There are three important elements to the way that the first disciple-makers were sent out to make disciples: 1. They possessed the authority of Jesus 2. They had nothing to depend upon 3. They were relational.  1. It’s important for my church to once again understand what it…

“At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:10-14)     When love grows cold, my church becomes an empty shell. Without love, speaking in tongues is just a clanging cymbal and without love every religious duty is done without…