Common Grounds

The “H” words of the day and not honor or homage, but rather, humility and hospitality.  Of such is the upside-down Kingdom of God.  Join hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith for a conversation on the passage from Luke 14 that challenges social norms by inviting diverse individuals to meals and encourages us to consider... Source

Laws have their place, but when it comes to following a law … especially “God’s law” … at the expense of someone’s dignity, we may need to look deeper into the intent of the law.  In today’s text from the Gospel of Luke, Jesus pushes the religious leaders to think carefully about the true meaning... Source

Sometimes the Gospel writers don’t catch Jesus at his most pastoral moments. Sometimes Jesus just needs to get straight to the point. This week’s passage from the Gospel of Luke is one of those not so “happy Jesus” passages. Hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith explore the context of Jesus’ teachings amidst poverty and oppression,... Source

Greed and the accumulation of material possessions are encouraged in our North American context, but they’re not something we like to talk a lot about.  Could it be that’s because it sometimes touches a little close to home? Hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith reflect on a parable where a rich man builds larger barns,... Source

This week on Coffee to Go, Karin Peter and Blake Smith explore “the other Lord’s Prayer” from Luke 11:1-13. They delve into the practical, concise nature of Luke’s version compared to Matthew’s , discussing what it means to ask for “daily bread” and the profound implications of “forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive... Source

We all make judgements about how people act or respond in certain situations or to certain circumstances … ultimately deciding which is the “better” response or action. We can’t help ourselves. In today’s gospel passage from the Gospel of Luke, we find ourselves watching as two sisters respond differently to Jesus’ presence, and one of... Source

“It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood.” At least once the Good Samaritan comes along. This week’s episode has Karin and Blake journeying with Jesus in the 10th chapter of Luke, and talking about what it takes to be “like a good neighbor…” Karin encourages us to emphasize hospitality as a counter to hostility, and... Source

It’s one thing to say, “Don’t worry, God will take care of you,” but it’s quite another to live it out. As a matter of fact, some would argue that God gives us brains so we can think about what we need and plan accordingly.  But… in this week’s passage from the Gospel of Luke,... Source

When it comes to invitation, there’s a fine line between allowing time and space for others to join in or simply moving on to someone else. The cost of discipleship is high, and everyone can’t make snap decisions on matters of consequence. In this week’s passage from the Gospel of Luke, Jesus seems to be... Source

Change is often hard and even uncomfortable. It can also be threatening when someone else’s change for the better makes us look bad, or when the change challenges our own sense of power and/or control. In this episode of Coffee to Go, hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith explore the Gospel of Luke’s account of... Source