The Daily Discipleship Podcast

God has given us each gifts and abilities.  We will be held accountable for what we do with what we have been given.  Use it wisely, cause it to grow.

What was Jesus saying to the Large Crowds during the journey from Northern Perea into Southern Perea?  What lessons do we learn as we "listen in?" 

We are exactly 6 days from the Triumphal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. Just where is Jesus? What was going on in His life and in the lives of those to whom He ministered?  Let's look at some maps.

Encountering Jesus often leads to radically transformed life.

The blind beggar kept calling out for Jesus, but those around him told him to be quiet. The beggar only cried-out all the more.  Be the like the beggar, keep calling out for Jesus.

We want to gain eternity through our goodness.  We want to secure it with our wealth.  Neither of these work.  What does work is letting go of this world to gain eternity by making Jesus's character and priorities ours. 

Jesus gives lessons on staying at in prayer.  Be persistent.  Don't give up.  Stay humble.  These are qualities God is seeking in the hearts and practices of those whose prayers He loves to answer.

Jesus mixes two truths when answering about His Kingdom. It is already here in one sense, but in another, it is yet to come. Are you in it, or are you out?

We can't think there is some great reward for simply doing what we are told as followers of Jesus, so we have basic devotions or participate in worship a few times a month and think we're good and God is super pleased with our great efforts, but we are merely doing what we are told.

Ever feel like your faith isn't as strong as you'd like?  You are not alone.  The apostle also asked Jesus to "increase their faith".  How can our faith be increased?

Jesus hits hard in the places where we live.  He challenges us about temptation, especially to not tempt others.  He challenges us about rebuke.  He challenges us about repentance.  Finally, He challenges us about forgiveness.  These issues can all hit so very close to us personally.  What does Jesus say?

We don't get a pass. The Pharisees wanted to give themselves a pass because they felt they were financially blessed, they used loopholes in the Law to get around true righteousness. 

Being trustworthy with a little in order to be trustworthy with a lot.  Are we trustworthy with the riches of the Kingdom?  Do we lean into our earthly possessions for the benefit of the growth of the Kingdom of God?

In Luke 15, Jesus gives 3 parables illustrating what happens in heaven when a sinner comes to Jesus, or a lost sheep returns home.  What is our attitude toward the lost and wayward?

There are lots of religious practices and beliefs, but there is only one door that leads to salvation.  Make sure you have entered that door. 

Christ's Kingdom grows through our prayers.  It grows as God heals people.  It grows as the love of Christ is shown.  It grows as the Gospel is communicated.  It has grown from the smallest seed to a large tree.  It has worked into the whole batch of dough and is rising.  

No one is exempt.  We will all die (unless the rapture happens).  We will all face a judgment - resulting in either living eternally in the presence of God or in eternal separation from God.  We must repent and turn to God to receive that promise.  We are also called to bear fruit.  What do we do with unfruitful things?  What will God do with us if we fail to bear fruit?

Following Jesus brings with it a certain amount of division that happens when people don't like our decision, but it also brings a call to try to live unoffensively with others.

We can hoard the things of this world, thinking we will then have provision.  We can worry about the things of this world, but that only pulls us further from God.  Keep His values as our values and life will be better. 

We can fear the things of this world or we can trust God.  Revere God, Trust God, Proclaim God and see what He will do.

Don't seek more signs (enough signs have been given), don't hide your light (let it shine), don't be a hypocrite (put into practice what you tell others to do). 

Jesus was accused of being an agent of Satan, but He thwarts their assertion and gives them a lesson.  Don't just get rid of the junk in your life, you must fill your life with God's stuff or something worse may happen.

Jesus Models and Teaches prayer, trust, and obedience to the the Father's will.  They are blessed who follow His example. 

Faith without works is dead. Faith without waiting at Jesus' feet is weak.

In the evaluation period after that initial sending, Jesus helped his followers regain a proper eternal perspective.  We have been GIVEN much in Christ, including a measure of spiritual authority.  We must always remember that all of these things were given by Christ.