Confluence Church

Every HGTV show that remodels homes always hits a snag. Before you begin a project it is always important to count the cost. Jesus makes it clear to those who would follow Him that it would cost them all they have, but following Jesus is worth everything.

Jesus makes His way to Jerusalem, knowing what awaits Him there. As He is warned that His life is in danger, Jesus laments for those who are lost. As we listen in, what can we learn from Jesus and His lament for the lost?

What is the good way? Jesus makes it clear that many will seek it, but not all will find it. So how do walk the good way, how do walk in the way of Jesus?

Jesus heals a woman who was afflicted by pain and suffering for 18 years. Jesus enables the woman to straighten herself, and in the process, the Pharisees seek to straighten Jesus out for healing on the Sabbath. Missing the moment, their rigidity causes them to miss the reason to rejoice in front of them.

Many recognize the need for change in our lives, but we rarely have an urgency. Jesus speaks of the brevity of life while also reminding us that true change is possible in Him.

One does not have to look far to find division all around us. So why would Jesus highlight that following Him will bring division? Why does He encourage us to pay attention to the times? And why is he giving legal advice to settle up with an accuser before going before the judge? As always Jesus is looking beyond the surface symptom, to the root and what is shaping our hearts.

How we live when no one is looking matters. It reveals who we really are and what we really believe. Jesus reminds his disciples to be ready for the return of the Lord at any moment. To live each day as though the Lord may return. To live each day with our eyes fixed on Him.

How much is enough? Money, knowledge, food, time? Worry is a symptom of a greater problem that we need to take down to the root. Do we trust God? And what does it look like to trust Him even in our anxiety, our bills, our debt, or perceived lack? Jesus points us to the fields and to the flowers and reminds us of what it looks like to flourish.

Jesus is not afraid to talk about anything, including money. How we steward our resources is a good barometer of who we are. The Kingdom of God is generous, and following Jesus should shape the way we spend, give, and share our resources. What we have, we have been given, so how do we live a life that is rich toward God?

So often we live for the applause, approval, or affirmation of others. This can limit our willingness to follow Jesus with all of who we are because we are afraid of how people will respond when we do. Jesus reminds us that we live for an audience of one. When we acknowledge Him, He sees us, cares for us, and is with us.

A divided kingdom will not stand, and neither will a divided heart. As Jesus is again questioned for doing the miraculous, He reminds those around Him that the Kingdom of God is at hand. To follow Jesus is to follow Him fully, not half-heartedly.

How do you pray? The answer to this question is one that has the potential to change lives because to pray is to change. One of Jesus’ disciples approached Him and said, “Lord, teach us to pray…” What followed is one of Jesus' most famous teachings and a practice that keeps our lives centered on God.

Busy is a word often worn like a badge of honor. But often, we allow ourselves to be “busy” with things that don’t matter. When Jesus came to visit his friends, one friend spent all day distracted with a good thing but missed the greatest. Another friend spent her time at the feet of Jesus. Jesus reminded them and us that one thing is necessary.

In a quiet town, the King of Kings would come and dwell among us. For centuries, the people of God had waited for this moment. Waiting is a central theme to this season we find ourselves in. But often, in our waiting, we can become discouraged by what we see around us, by our own experiences. While Jesus has come, we await His return, holding on to the promise of a living hope, of a risen and comi...

The story of the good Samaritan is one of the most well-known stories of Jesus. In our familiarity, we can forget just how radical this story is. We all have people we would love to walk by, but we cannot ignore the way of the Kingdom and Jesus call to love your neighbor as yourself.

The 72 return after seeing incredible things, but Jesus reminds them that the most incredible thing is that their names are written in the Book of life. God in His kindness has revealed Himself through His son, and we must never forget the wonder of the gospel and what it means for us as individuals and as a community.