Do not worry about tomorrow. —Matthew 6:34 “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” (Mt 6:27). Of course not. What does worry accomplish? Nothing. Well, that’s not quite right. There are a few things that worry can do for you: It can sap […]
Doubling Your Trouble Read More »
Jesus reached out his hand. —Matthew 14:31 Hearing that Peter’s mother-in-law was ill, Jesus went to her, “took her hand and helped her up” (Mk 1:31). Hearing that Jairus’s twelve-year-old daughter had died, Jesus went to their home, “took her by the hand” and told her to get up (Mk 5:41). Hearing that
Give Him Your Hand Read More »
Don’t you remember? —Mark 8:18 Thirteen hungry men and one loaf of bread! That’s all they had—and they thought Jesus was on their case. He was. Not because they had short rations, but because they had short memories. They had recently witnessed his two miraculous feedings of multitudes. “Don’t you remember?” he asked.
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Matthew 5:13-16 You—yes, you—are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Jesus did not say become the salt of the earth; he said you are the salt of the earth. He did not say become the light of the world; he said you are the light of the world. Salt of
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I am the resurrection and the life. —John 11:25 We don’t get drowsy reading tales of nail-biting escapes from a burning building, a sinking ship, a sleazebag human trafficker, a toxic relationship, a life-threatening accident. The Bible is full of escape stories. Lot’s escape from Sodom. Isaac’s
God sent his Son. —Galatians 4:4 “The happiest day of my life,” said eighty-three-year-old Martha, “was the day I became engaged.” “Do you remember why that brought you such happiness?” “I think it was the realization that somebody really wanted me.” That pretty much gets to the heart of things. It’s life-changing to be wanted.
His father saw him and was filled with compassion for him. —Luke 15:20 He took half of his dad’s money, swaggered off to Acapulco and blew it on booze and bimbos. Now he’s heading home because he’s broke and hungry. And catch this! His dad throws a party for
Our Wonderful Father Read More »
Bless those who curse you. —Luke 6:28 Some of Jesus’ teachings are out of sync with the mindset of our times. Some of us go to church these days to hear a message that will make us feel good about ourselves. Words like “ought” and “must” and “should” give us
How About This for a Sermon Text? Read More »
Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. —Philippians 3:13 I’ve been in this apartment fourteen years. It’s time for a change. I’m moving. If you remember your last move, you know why I get chills thinking about it. What to keep? What to toss? Most of my stuff is
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What do I still lack? —Matthew 19:20 He was rich, but unfulfilled. So he came to Jesus with a question: “What must I do to get eternal life?” Obey the commandments. Done that. What else must I do? Sell your possessions and give to the poor. That hill was too steep to climb, for he
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