Monday, November 28 Luke 1:26-33 “You will be with child and give birth to a son” The announcement to Mary is similar to the announcement to Zechariah, but the differences are significant. Whereas the first announcement takes place in the temple in the center of Israelite culture, this one takes place in an obscure… Read more about The Peace of Christ
The Hope of Christ
Monday, November 21 Luke 1:1-4 “To reassure you of the truth of all you were taught” Luke tells us four things about his Gospel. (1) He has “investigated” the story. That is, he has followed it closely. He has taken a long and careful look at what he is about to tell us. (2)… Read more about The Hope of Christ
Showing Hospitality
Monday, November 14 Genesis 18:1-8 “Abraham waited on them” Abraham treats the three men with hospitality. There is nothing in the text at this point to indicate that Abraham recognizes their supernatural nature – that will be revealed later in the conversation between Abraham and the three men. The bowing, foot-washing, and offer of… Read more about Showing Hospitality
Bearing Fruit
Monday, November 7 Matthew 7:17-20 “By their fruit you will know them” Maintaining the balance of not judging another brother or sister, yet not being naively accepting either, Jesus tells his disciples to be wisely discerning about those who proclaim to be his followers. “By their fruit you will know them.” “Fruit” is the… Read more about Bearing Fruit
The Good Samaritan
Monday, October 31 Luke 10:1-15 “Jesus sends out 72 others” At the beginning of Luke 9, Jesus had sent out the twelve disciples that comprise his inner circle of followers. Now, Luke tells us, he sends out 72 others. What they do is only a start, since they are to pray for more workers… Read more about The Good Samaritan
The Rich Fool
Monday, October 24 Luke 12:1-5 “Beware the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy” Jesus turns his attention to the disciples, as they deal with the huge crowds pressing around them. Their press raises an issue that becomes a temptation to the disciples: hypocrisy. An effort to maintain popularity easily leads to hypocrisy, like… Read more about The Rich Fool
The Mustard Seed and the Yeast
Monday, October 3 Matthew 13:24-30 “Parable of the Wheat and Weeds” Once again, Jesus compares the activity of the kingdom of heaven with everyday experiences. Here, a man sows good seed, but an enemy of the farmer attempts to disrupt the growth of good wheat by sowing among it zizanion, a kind of weedy… Read more about The Mustard Seed and the Yeast
The Lost Older Son
Monday, September 19 Luke 15:25-32 “The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in’” In its original setting the parable portrays the prideful attitude of the Pharisees in the person of the older brother. They stand close to God, at least so it appears. Yet they are really on the outside, for they don’t… Read more about The Lost Older Son