Little Things Make Big Differences

Do the little things matter? Why try if you can’t start a movement and make a big difference? Today, Jesus says that the Kingdom is like a mustard seed—which is really, really, small—that’s planted in a garden. That little seed

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The Little Things

I’ve heard people call Christianity a ‘weak person’s religion.’ With ideas like ‘turn the other cheek’ and ‘go the extra mile,’ it’s easy to wonder if they’re right. Are Christians pushovers? Or should they be? Today’s reading hammers home the

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Come, Follow Me

Have you ever been asked, “Are you saved?” When I’m asked that, I usually respond with, “Saved from what?” This question, for most Americans, means, “How do I get to heaven when I die?” But, is this a biblical concern?

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A Faithful Word

For Jesus, the problem of the day was hardheartedness. So, does that mean Jesus is offering the cure? Today’s reading seems oddly divided. It begins with divorce and ends with children. As we saw in yesterday’s post, divorce could be

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The Divorce Test

Divorce is a hard topic to write about. It’s a source of pain for many people—whether you’re divorced or a close family member such as your parents. Today, Jesus gets asked about divorce, but the text says it’s a trap

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Where to Sit?

11th Sunday of Luke If a king invited you to a banquet, would you go? I think all of us would say, “Yes, of course!” But, in today’s reading, when a man (or a king in the other Gospels) throws

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The Dinner Test

When Jesus gives dinner party advice, we are prepared to dine. But, how does this relate to real life? Jesus says when we are invited to a wedding feast, we shouldn’t automatically sit in the best seat. It’s best to

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Receiving Children

We are taught to receive Jesus as we would a child. This makes us feel good—we think of Mary holding the baby Jesus at Christmas. But, what if that child is going through his or her terrible twos? Can’t we

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Called By the Shepherd

The image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd is one of the most famous images of Jesus. For many, it’s a comforting image, but, what if the idea of Jesus as a shepherd is actually meant to challenge us? Jesus

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Between Jesus and the Cross

Peter is the first person in the Gospel of Mark to proclaim who Jesus really is: the Son of Man, which is a title for God’s anointed one going back to Daniel 7. But, after Peter makes this declaration, he’s

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