The Rich Man and Lazarus

This is a tough parable Jesus tells of a poor man Lazarus and a rich man. The rich man, only in hell, realizes the consequences of his own actions. What will it take for our eyes to be opened to the poor around us? Our own death? Our own hellish experiences in life? It seems that maybe it starts with learning a name...

Where is God?

This fall, we've been hearing stories of Jacob. What a crazy tale! This week the gate of heaven is opened and he see's a ladder with angels going up and down! Yet he admits he didn't even know that God was in that place. In our lives too God is there but we don't even know it!

Celebrations!

Jesus today tells two parables -- a shepherd finding a lost sheep and woman finding a lost coin. In both cases, a celebration follows. In church today we had some big celebrations. Why are we celebrating? What did we find? (And therefore, what was lost?)

Meat and Potatoes

Two stories: Jacob and Esau are born; Jesus tells people the costs of following him.

They form the meat and potatoes of Christianity. Really, they do!

Healing on the Sabbath

Jesus this week heals on the sabbath (Luke 13:10-17). We probably ask: What is the sabbath? Sabbath is time off. Well, sort of. What exactly is the sabbath? Let's let Jesus show us.

Abundance consists of...

We all agree what Jesus says: Life does not consist in the abundance of things (Luke 12:13-21). Somehow though possessions have a way of working their way into our lives...and sticking there... How do we live what Jesus teaches?

Good Samaritan

A classic story: The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). What a witness to God's love! This past week the youth were on a mission trip. What a witness to God's love!