Jesus often addressed the Pharisees during his earthly ministry, and he often addressed specific qualities they embodied. In this parable, he compares a Pharisee to a tax collector. One is proud, one is humble. One will enter the kingdom, one will miss out.

A central theme of Christianity is forgiveness. Jesus tells a parable to answer one of his disciple’s questions on our responsibility to extend forgiveness to others.

Weddings are big in the Bible, and wedding feasts are a significant image of the kingdom come. As Jesus shares this parable, he teaches us about the humility that characterizes the kingdom, which was fully embodied in his own life and death.

Jesus used fishing, a common occupation of the day, to convey significant spiritual truth about the kingdom of God. Different kinds of fish end up in a different destination. Which kind of fish are you?

One of the unique parables of Jesus is the parable of the Sower. Not only does Jesus explain its meaning to his disciples, but he defines it as critical for understanding all the parables.

Often, when Jesus spoke in parables, he spoke of eternal life, heaven, and hell. The parable of the rich man and Lazarus contrasts a rich man and a poor man’s life and eternity. What can we learn from Jesus’ teaching?

A common comparison made in both Bible times and modern times is that God’s children are like sheep, and the Lord is like a shepherd. In this parable in Luke 15, Jesus tells us a story that reflects God’s heart and his actions toward those that belong to him.

The parable of the Good Samaritan is a story that many people have heard, both Christian and non-Christian alike. Why did Jesus tell this story, and what was he teaching us?

Paul concludes his words on marriage and singleness by identifying the advantages of the single life.

In this portion of his letter, Paul speaks to a broader issue than simply marriage and singleness. His main point through chapter 7 deals with contentment. Regardless of our status or situation, God calls us to remain faithful to him wherever he’s put us.

Paul turns the corner from how we use our bodies for God’s glory to questions regarding marriage and singleness. He’ll spend considerable time in chapter 7 providing wisdom for marriage.

What is the purpose of our bodies? In continuing to address the issues and sins of the Corinthians, Paul lays out a sort of theology of the body . In our current generation that is terribly confused and distraught about matters related to our physical bodies, we need to hear the thoughts of our Creator on the subject.

Paul moves onto another issue in the Corinthian church: members taking one another to court over minor grievances. How should they, and how should we, deal with conflict in the church?

No matter how you celebrate Easter, whether it’s in a church or out collecting eggs, the truth remains: Jesus is risen! But not everyone believes it’s a true story. In fact, in the aftermath of the resurrection, even one of Jesus’ closest friends & followers had serious doubts. So how should we respond to the claim that Jesus died and rose again?

Paul continues to address the sin issue reported in the church, and how the church is to handle such a matter.

MATTHEW 28:1-8 ESV 1 Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 And for fear of him the guards trembled an...

PSALM 46 ESV 1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah 4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst...

MATTHEW 27:45-54 ESV 45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 47 And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.” 48 And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it...

John 13:31-35 ESV 31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. 33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’ 34 A new commandment I...

Luke 21: 37-38, Luke 22:1-2 ESV 37 And every day he was teaching in the temple, but at night he went out and lodged on the mount called Olivet. 38 And early in the morning all the people came to him in the temple to hear him. 1 Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called the Passover. 2 And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to put him to death, for they feared the...

Matthew 24:36-44 ESV 36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. 37 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they were unaware until the flood ca...

Mark 11:15-18 ESV 15 And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. 16 And he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. 17 And he was teaching them and saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be c...

John 12:12-15 ESV 12 The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” 14 And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, 15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your ki...

The first report Paul heard and addressed with the Corinthians was about disunity in the church. Now he turns his attention to another issue, which is the sexual immorality of a member. How is a church called to handle unrepentant sin among its people? The purity and power of the church rests on the answer to this question.

Paul concludes his plea for unity in the first four chapters with one big statement and one big question. Discipleship is at the center of this passage, where we see the father heart of Paul for his children in the Lord.