The Son of Man’s Authority to Seek SinnersLuke 5:27-39March 23, 2025 One of my favorite declarations of authority was given by poet Judith Viorst, writing in the voice of an elementary-aged boy named Alexander: “If I were in charge of the world…” If I were in charge of the worldI’d cancel oatmeal,Monday mornings,Allergy shots, and […]
Read More The Son of Man’s Authority to Seek SinnersChrist is all-sufficient (Col. 3:11). There is nothing for which is not more than capable. But we sometimes overlook or minimize just how sufficient our sufficient Savior is. To help you with your burdens, consider some of the ways that John Newton described Christ’s sufficiency: Christ is our all-sufficient Shepherd Christ is our all-sufficient Husband […]
Read More Our All-Sufficient SaviorIt was a simple statement by Jesus. It was just six words. They may not be the most significant or powerful words ever spoken by Jesus, but they undoubtedly they were the most significant and powerful words ever spoken to the man who heard them: “Friend, your sins are forgiven you” (Lk. 5:20). He was […]
Read More “Your sins are forgiven you”The Forgiving Authority of the Son of ManLuke 5:17-26March 16, 2025 Into every life a little rain must fall. Death and taxes are a certainty for every person. Trouble is all around us. And everyone has trouble, trials, problems, and difficulties. Even in a land of prosperity. Of course some of them are unique […]
Read More The Forgiving Authority of the Son of Man“The accent in the church today is not on devotion, but on commotion” one writer said a generation ago. The temptation in the church (and most of life) is to fill schedules with activities, to let expectations of others become personal demands, and to base a sense worthiness on the extent of busyness. So Matt […]
Read More When You Are Busy…The Cleansing Power of the Son of ManLuke 5:12-16March 9, 2025 Finish this statement for me: “Cleanliness is next to __________ .” So I’m not sure what to do with Dave Whitlock. Dave is a grad of MIT, a chemical engineer, and the founder of AOBiome which markets bacterial products that are supposed to […]
Read More The Cleansing Power of the Son of ManAfter Jesus teaches a group of professional fishermen how to fish, Luke offers a concluding observation. It is a simple sentence with profound implications: “They left everything and followed Him.” They left the fish from that catch, the boats, the nets and equipment, the business, their houses, and undoubtedly relationships. They left it all. They […]
Read More They Followed Jesus“Follow Me”Luke 5:1-11February 16, 2025 It’s an old childhood game — follow the leader. Players first choose a leader and the remaining players (followers) all line up behind the leader who then moves around and all the players have to mimic the leader’s actions exactly. Any player who fails to mimic the leader is out […]
Read More “Follow Me”God Sent His Son1 John 4:7-10December 24, 2024 The theologian Karl Barth was once asked, “what is the greatest truth about God you have ever learned?” “Jesus loves me…” That statement is both simple, and deeply profound… At Christmas, it’s easy to talk about the love of God and the love of Christ. As we […]
Read More God Sent His SonThe Authority of the Son of Man, Pt. 2Luke 4:38-44December 22, 2024 I suppose Elizabeth was a couple of months old the first time she got sick. I don’t remember all the particulars, but I do remember it was something respiratory and she was struggling to breathe. One night she was especially uncomfortable and was […]
Read More The Authority of the Son of Man, Pt. 2The Authority of the Son of Man, Pt. 1Luke 4:31-37December 15, 2024 Authority. Authority is a word that can bring comfort when we are under wise and benevolent leaders. And it is a word that can provoke us to be fearful when we are under foolish, ungracious, and harsh authoritarians. Yet we all live […]
Read More The Authority of the Son of Man, Pt. 1James Smithson was born in 1765 in France, the son of Hugh Percy (Smithson), a prominent and wealthy English duke, and Elizabeth Hungerford Keate Macie, a direct descendant of King Henry VII. A life of prominence would have awaited him apart from one other significant factor — his parents were not married at the time […]
Read More Rejecting God?The First Reactions to the Son of ManLuke 4:22-30December 8, 2024 First impressions are not always accurate impressions. And first evaluations are not always true. I have experienced those truisms many times in my life, but one of the first times was when I was about seven years old. Mom and Dad were going […]
Read More The First Reactions to the Son of ManThe Father’s Mission for the Son of ManLuke 4:14-21November 17, 2024 On Monday, April 2, 1739, John Wesley began preaching open-air evangelistic sermons at Kingswood Bristol. That decision and event was the start of a revival in England that the country had never seen before (or since). Wesley later wrote this in his diary about […]
Read More The Father’s Mission for the Son of ManThe Son of Man’s ValidationLuke 4:1-13November 10, 2024 In Jesus’ ministry, several times people questioned Jesus’ ability to speak or act — even questioning His nature and character: When he healed and forgave the lame man who was let through the roof, the Pharisees asked, “Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive […]
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Words of Grace 