Stories from the Bible

In this episode we reflect on the previous stories from Luke 22 - how Jesus is not the passive victim of his enemies, but more like the calm architect who sees the whole plan. We notice how his compassionate love for his disciples shines brighter and brighter as their actions become darker and darker. Then we listen to Luke 23, the heavy story of the crucifixion. The Scriptures quoted are from the...

In this episode we look at what happened in chapter 21, exploring how Jesus peels back the layers to help people see and interpret events from God's point of view. Then we hear the stories from Luke 22. The Scriptures quoted are from the NET Bible®  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://netbible.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  copyright ©1996, 2019 used with permission from Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

In this episode we look at what happened in chapter 20, exploring how Jesus clears the way for ordinary people to know God. Then we hear the stories from Luke 21. The Scriptures quoted are from the NET Bible®  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://netbible.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  copyright ©1996, 2019 used with permission from Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

In this episode we look at what happened in chapter 19, exploring the ways Jesus continues to irritate the proud and lift up the downtrodden. Then we hear the stories from Luke 20. The Scriptures quoted are from the NET Bible®  ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://netbible.com⁠⁠⁠⁠  copyright ©1996, 2019 used with permission from Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

In this episode we look at what happened in chapter 18, exploring the characters and parables that show us what kind of attitude is necessary for entering the Kingdom of God. Then we hear the stories from Luke 19. The Scriptures quoted are from the NET Bible®  ⁠⁠⁠http://netbible.com⁠⁠⁠  copyright ©1996, 2019 used with permission from Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

In this episode we look at what happened in chapter 17, exploring what Jesus means when he tells his followers they must die to themselves. Then we hear the stories from Luke 18. The Scriptures quoted are from the NET Bible®  ⁠⁠http://netbible.com⁠⁠  copyright ©1996, 2019 used with permission from Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

In this episode we look at what happened in chapter 16, exploring what it means to be shrewd with time and money. Then we hear the stories from Luke 17. The Scriptures quoted are from the NET Bible®  ⁠http://netbible.com⁠  copyright ©1996, 2019 used with permission from Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

Is there a way to invest time and money that will guarantee a safe and happy future forever? There absolutely is, according to Jesus. Hear what he says in Luke chapter 16. Before we get to that, we look at what happened in chapter 15, exploring the stark difference between what God cares about and what externally religious people care about. The Scriptures quoted are from the NET Bible®  http://ne...

What makes God happy? Shiny people who keep all the moral rules on the outside? Not exactly. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. Hear why in Luke chapter 15. Before we get to that, we look at what happened in chapter 14, exploring some of the dangerous assumptions that religious people make. The Scriptures quoted are from the NET Bible®  http://netbible.com  copyright ©1996, 2019 use...

Have you ever been at a social gathering where someone says something so awkward everyone is stunned into silence? That's exactly what Jesus does again and again at the dinner party we hear about in chapter 14. Before we get to that, we look at what happened in chapter 13, exploring issues of genuine repentance, pride and deflection, and false reasons people have for assuming they will enter h...

We recap Jesus' teaching from chapter 12 about hypocrisy, materialism, fear and foolishness, and hear the stories from Luke 13. The Scriptures quoted are from the NET Bible®  http://netbible.com  copyright ©1996, 2019 used with permission from Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

A brief recap of Luke 11 and then we hear Jesus warn and encourage his followers about some important and kinda scary stuff. The link to the face-to-face storytelling I mention in the intro is here: https://youtu.be/eRvIPhGJUgA The Scriptures quoted are from the NET Bible®  http://netbible.com  copyright ©1996, 2019 used with permission from Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights rese...

We re-cap Luke chapter 10, and hear the stories from Luke chapter 11. In this chapter Jesus is judged by people who say he gets his power from the devil, and he's also judged by the religious leaders for not following their washing traditions. With penetrating insight Jesus demolishes every argument and totally discredits his opponents. The Scriptures quoted are from the NET Bible®  http://ne...

We re-cap Luke chapter 9, and hear the stories from Luke chapter 10. In this chapter Jesus helps a few different people who think they are right, but are actually missing the point. The Scriptures quoted are from the NET Bible®  http://netbible.com  copyright ©1996, 2019 used with permission from Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved

Jesus - good and powerful, helper of the desperate, speaker of impossibly powerful words - who is he, really? In this episode we discuss Luke 8, and hear stories from Luke 9. The Scriptures quoted are from the NET Bible®  http://netbible.com  copyright ©1996, 2019 used with permission from Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved

Hear how Jesus helps some desperate people in today's stories from Luke 8.  The Scriptures quoted are from the NET Bible®  http://netbible.com  copyright ©1996, 2019 used with permission from Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved

Last time Jesus looked up at his disciples and told them the truth about popularity, wealth and happiness. Which, if they have ears to understand what he is saying should flip their world upside down. He opens their eyes to eternal everlasting reality. He teaches them that the human experience is not as it seems. He teaches them to see and frame themselves and their experiences through God’s etern...

Last episode we heard how Jesus continued to move around northern Israel, making quite the impact with his astounding authority and outrageous statements. And Jesus certainly doesn’t have the same impact on everyone. Some are afraid, some are awestruck, some are healed, some simply obey, and some are made very very angry. In today's story Jesus teaches his disciples a radically different way of vi...

Last time we heard stories from the remainder of Luke chapter 4. We heard how Jesus re-entered civilisation, after completing 40 days alone in the desert and being tempted by the devil. He went to the region of Galilee, in the northern part of Israel, and was travelling around the different towns, preaching in local synagogues, and we’re told that he was getting praised by all. Synagogues, by the...

After coming out of the water, Jesus is led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness.  He’s there fasting for 40 days and during that time is tempted by the devil. It sounds a bit like a miniature re-enactment of the Exodus and Israel’s desert wanderings. Unlike Israel who failed to trust God’s words, Jesus never falters. The words from heaven when he was baptised were ‘you are my one dear son’...

Last time we heard about an old priest, called Zechariah, and his childless wife, Elizabeth. And one day when Zechariah was doing his job in the temple, an angel came out of no-where, told him not to be afraid, said his prayers were being answered, and that his wife Elizabeth was finally going to have a baby. And this baby would make them, and lots of other people, very glad. The baby would be fil...

After King David's son Solomon, things went downhill for Israel. During those years prophets tell the people to keep waiting for God to keep the blessings promised to Abraham... They point the people to wait for God to rescue them from the oppression of sin and evil. They point the people to wait a time when God will forget their sins forever and will live permanently with them in a covenant of pe...

After David’s death, his son Solomon becomes king, and although Solomon is exceedingly wealthy and wise - in the end, he trusts in his own wisdom rather God’s, and he chooses political comfort rather listening to God voice. From then on the kingdom of Israel declines. It weakens and divides into two parts - a northern and a southern kingdom. Over the next 400 years each Kingdom has it’s own kings...

David, the shepherd boy chosen to be the next King of Israel, shows so much promise. He has remarkable trust in God, and God uses him to rescue the Israelites from their enemies the Philistines. But there remains an enemy more powerful and deadly which even David cannot conquer. The Scriptures quoted are from the NET Bible®  http://netbible.com  copyright ©1996, 2019 used with permission...

After 40 years of wandering in the desert, the next generation of Israelites had come to edge of the land of Canaan, as we heard last time. Moses was now dead, and Joshua was their new leader. We heard that Joshua secretly sent in two spies into the Canaanite city of Jericho, where they were protected by a resident of the city, a prostitute named Rahab. In due course, Joshua and the Israelites ent...