Walking with Messiah Jesus

Matthew 9:37-10:10 | We have precious few works from Jesus about how to conduct the mission to share the Kingdom of Heaven with the world. One of the clearest directives from Jesus is right here in Matthew 9:37. Pray. It seems underwhelming for many of us action-oriented people. However, when you take a really good look at what God is doing versus what we are doing, you might just bend a knee. Fol...

Mark 5:29-43, Matthew 9:27-36 | A woman is alienated from society for 12 years for being unclean. A 12-year old dies. Jesus has a solution for both, but it involves touching. The societal problem is that by touching them, Jesus contracts their uncleanness. But isn’t that what Jesus has come to do? Jesus has come to take our uncleanness upon himself and to exchange if for his purity. Follow along w...

Mark 5:15-28 | Jesus travelled to a Gentile, demon-filled land so that he could heal the guy with thousands of demons only to leave him there alone to be a witness to people who weren’t too crazy about Jesus when he left. When Jesus crosses the lake, he encounters two people with very different, yet challenging issues and huge faith. Follow along with the Lesson Worksheet . This is a public episod...

Mark 4:35-5:14 | Either Jesus is really sound sleeper, or Jesus is trying to tell us something about the storms of our lives. Maybe it’s both. Regardless, Jesus can sleep through the storms that threaten to kill us. He’s not impressed. Like an unruly child, he rebukes our storms and accomplishes a “great calm.” For that matter, he’s not all that impressed with a legion of demons! Follow along with...

Matthew 13:44-52 | Jesus continues his parables with two about the value of discipleship. In both, he shows that living the kingdom life is more valuable than everything else we have. He tells a parable about those who are gathered with us in the kingdom, and it’s not all good news. Toss in something old and something new and that’ll close up this round of parables with Jesus. Follow along with th...

Matthew 13:24-35, Mark 4:26-29 | A wise missionary once said, “What don’t start small, don’t get big.” He wasn’t original. Jesus’ parables are recorded to adjust the expectations of the people. The Messianic age had arrived, but not in the way they may want it or in the timeframe they desire. However, when it come in it’s fullness, it’s going to be huge! Follow along with the Lesson Worksheet . Th...

Matthew 13:3-17, Mark 4:21-22 | The parables of Jesus help us to attach a nugget of teaching to a story that allows it to stick in our minds. What can we expect when we share with others about the kingdom of heaven? Should we only share that good news with the people we think are ready to hear it? Jesus has the answer in a simple, powerful story. Follow along with the Lesson Worksheet . This is a...

Luke 8:1-3, Matthew 12:46-13:3 | Jesus pushed the envelope on many social norms. He gathered women as disciples who assisted in the funding of the mission. He taught openly so that even the poor and the oppressed could learn about God’s kingdom. He also expanded our idea of family, centering our identity in our Father the Creator. This teaching came about when Jesus’ mother and brothers decided th...

Matthew 11:12-15, Luke 7:29-50 | John the Baptist cracked the door open to the Kingdom of Heaven and the people were all in, especially the downtrodden and outcasts. The religious leaders weren’t sure what to think. Perhaps it would be unwise to get too close too soon. When a sinful woman got “too close” to Jesus, things got really interesting at dinner. Follow along with the Lesson Worksheet . Th...

Luke 7:18-28 | Much of our lives are driven by how our expectations match up with reality. John the Baptist was no different. He had certain expectations for Jesus as Messiah. When those expectations weren’t being met, he sent a delegation to question Jesus. Which Messiah are you… the one who saves by the sword, or your own blood? Follow along with the Lesson Worksheet . This is a public episode....

Luke 7:1-17 | After the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus returns to his work of proclaiming the Kingdom of Heaven through acts of mercy. Jesus has a knack of doing so in unexpected ways. First, a faith-filled centurion trusts Jesus to heal his servant. Next, an unsuspecting mother gets her son back from the dead. The interpretation? A prophet has returned to Israel? Yes, and more than anyone could antic...

Matthew 7:13-27 | We continue to explore how the Beatitudes serve as the overarching structure of the Sermon on the Mount. The 6th and 7th beatitudes closely map onto the last two sections of the Sermon regarding false prophets and building your house on the rock. How necessary is spiritual integrity? How do we have peace in the storm with room for others to take refuge? Follow along with the Less...

Matthew 7:3-12, Luke 6:37-40 | In the previous episode, I wondered aloud if the Beatitudes were the outline and structure for the Sermon on the Mount. In this episode, I test the theory on a passage that seems to be all over the place. Is this teaching about judging, specks, logs, pigs, dogs, asking, seeking and door knocking all about mercy? You can be the judge (pun intended). Follow along with...

Matthew 6:25-7:2 | Worry is our make-believe superpower. So much energy expended for things outside of our control. Jesus wants us to trust in the power of our heavenly Father, to seek his kingdom and his righteousness. We should hunger and thirst for that righteousness, as the beatitude states. In fact, those beatitudes may be more than just a nice way to start a sermon… Follow along with the Les...

Matthew 6:13-24 | The end of the Lord’s Prayer corresponds to the beginning. We are delivered from evil in order to abide with our Father, who is in heaven. To be delivered from evil is a current reality too. We need to be delivered from the selfishness that corrupts our acts of righteousness. We need to be delivered from our love of money and materialism. The treasures in heaven are infinitely su...

Matthew 6:11-13 | The Lord’s Prayer is structured in such a way that it reaches a pinnacle at the petition regarding our “daily bread.” This is the goal of the prayer. The petitions leading up to that pinnacle then inform the petitions that follow. In that way, the prayer interprets itself and focuses into a powerful expression of what Jesus has come to accomplish in and through those who follow h...

Matthew 6:9-10 | Jesus gave his disciples a prayer that summarized his teachings. This prayer sought to unite the hearts of those who prayed with the will of God in heaven, so that they may represent him in the midst of this broken world. In doing so, they set apart God’s name and become set apart themselves. Follow along with the Lesson Worksheet . This is a public episode. If you would like to d...

Matthew 6:1-9 | Jesus is all about the heart. Yes, he wants us to do good, but doing good without the right heart is the recipe for hypocrisy and steals away from us the actual reward for doing good. That reward is to celebrate the lasting benefit of good being done in a broken world filled with suffering. Follow along with the Lesson Worksheet . This is a public episode. If you would like to disc...

Matthew 5:43-6:1 | God gives us the example of how to love our enemies. We see it every day as God gives good things to those who he could easily consider to be his enemies. When we reflect that kind of love, we become more complete in our humanity, bearing the image of God. Follow along with the Lesson Worksheet . This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers...

Matthew 5:39-45 | Injustice happens. It’s a broken world. The question is not whether injustice will happen to us, but how we will respond when it does. Will we return evil for evil and escalate the injustice, or will we travel the path of peace and reconciliation? Will we dehumanize our opponent and justify any and all retribution or will we see a fellow image bearer of God, deceived by the world...

Matthew 5:31-39 | If God made rules about it, then that means it’s ok, right? No. Jesus makes it abundantly clear in his Sermon on the Mount that God’s standard is his original creation and that he’s willing to work with us where we are to pull us in that direction. Follow along with the Lesson Worksheet . This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get ac...

Matthew 5:25-30 | The Sermon on the Mount continues with Jesus instructing his disciples about adultery. Certainly, we should put on the brakes before we get there! Where does Jesus want us to apply the brakes? In our hearts. He warns us about our desires and the pruning that is needed to keep us far away from this very destructive sin. Follow along with the Lesson Worksheet . This is a public epi...

Matthew 5:20-26 | The Sermon on the Mount challenges us to our core because Jesus is getting to the heart of what God intends for humanity. God did not give us a law, a Torah, so that we would then find loopholes to do what we want, or to put legalistic fences around the commandments to hide our own hypocrisy. Jesus cuts through all of that. “You have heard that it was said… and…” Follow along wit...

Matthew 5:14-20 | Jesus taught his disciples that following him will make a difference. They would be salt and light. However, the difference they would make would not replace or render useless the previous instruction of God. Rather, they would point to the one God sent to epitomize everything the Torah and Prophets were meant to convey. They would point to Jesus. Follow along with the Lesson Wor...

Matthew 5:10-13 | The final Beatitude isn’t about something that we do, but what others may do to us due to our peacemaking. Effectively pursuing peace may mean that others who benefit from the darkness of our broken world will pursue us in an effort to stop us. Our response is to rejoice since our work is making a difference, in a sense, we’re being the salt of the earth. Follow along with the Le...