Though other biographies of Jesus had been written, John had a clear purpose for writing his gospel: “These things are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life through His name (John 20:31).” To prove his point, John often recorded the […]

There’s one thing that I can never get over surrounding the crucifixion story. Jesus was betrayed by His close friend and He knew it was going to happen. Does that hit you the way it does me? Betrayal hurts no matter where it comes from, but coming from a person whom you love and are […]

Jesus modeled an important social principle in Luke 20: We don’t have to attend every argument that we are invited to. Isn’t that a relief? When some prominent religious leaders came to Jesus and began questioning Him, Jesus knew good and well that they were not actually interested in gaining truth, they simply wanted to […]

Not long after Jesus told the parable of The Woman and the Judge (Luke 18), which emphasized the importance of persisting in prayer, we read of someone actually putting that persistence into action. In the very next chapter, Luke records the story of a blind man named Bartimaeus who was sitting along the road begging. […]

We have hard water at our house, and while I have been made aware of all of the health benefits of well water, it still ravishes my hair. Because of this, I use a special (and VERY expensive) shampoo once a week. If I am really careful, I can make a bottle last a year. […]

Jesus said, “There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear of the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the rooftop (Luke 12:2-3).” He was speaking […]

When you were learning to pray, did people tell you; “Just talk to God like a friend.” In as much as He is a “friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24), that is true. However, He is so much bigger than that! When I have problems, I can tell my friends all about […]

A woman in my Bible study group recently went on a trip to China. In preparation for her journey, her tour guide cautioned the Westerners not to talk about religion, Christianity or Jesus at all, for any reason. To do so at the wrong time or to the wrong person would have serious consequences. They […]

Did you know that the author of the book of Luke was the only Gentile to write any of the New Testament cannon? Interestingly, Luke began his gospel by saying that many people had tried to draw up accounts of what he was about to write in his gospel, and it, “seemed good also to […]

Have you ever felt that what you were doing was “useless”? Those youth group kids aren’t listening, no one even knows that you are stuffing inserts into the Sunday morning bulletin, does walking crying babies up and down the church hallway during service even count as a ministry? There is a woman in scripture who […]