Resisting the Lull of Laziness
In Luke 19:11-27, you are confronted with the potential responses of diligence, laziness, and defiance in your service to Christ. The parable illustrates that, as a follower of Christ, you are entrusted with divine investments, and your response determines your position in the coming kingdom. Develop a godly perspective of anticipation, recognizing that you are entrusted with divine assets. You are called to engage in service for the Lord until His return, using your talents, responsibilities, and opportunities to honor Him.
Snapshots of Ruin & Rescue
While you probably know the Sunday school song about Zacchaeus the tax collector, chances are you may not understand the extent of his sin and the miraculous nature of his restoration. Only Jesus Christ can deliver the kind of life-transforming grace that would cause the richest cheat in Israel to become a compassionate, benevolent, above-and-beyond kind of follower of Christ.
The Cure for Spiritual Blindness
Physical sight doesn't guarantee spiritual insight. Physical blindness doesn't limit spiritual vision. Jesus demonstrated perhaps the ultimate Messianic power when he restored sight to a believing blind man. But many people in the crowd had perfectly good vision, but couldn't see their Savior standing right in front of them. Stephen Davey teaches on Bartimaeus’ miraculous healing.
How a Camel Illustrates Conversion
We know that there is no works-based test to become a Christian. You don't have to present your bank account to God and prove how poor you are for Him to allow you into heaven. So why does Jesus connect our entrance into God's kingdom with how much money we have? As Stephen Davey explains, it's not a matter of prosperity, it's a matter of priority. Money is not the same as love of money--particularly the love of money that supersedes all other loves. That's the lesson Jesus taught the rich young ruler, and it's a lesson He's still teaching today.
Children: An Endangered Species
If it's a dangerous time to be a child in the 21st century, it was exponentially more so during the days of Jesus. Many children never lived to adulthood, or even to their teenage years. Those who did survive infancy were marginalized in their culture. But Jesus changed all that. Through a simple act of showing interest and care in the lives of children, Jesus began a cause that, to this day, Christians all around the world continue to strive for: protecting and cherishing our children.
The Scoundrel and the Saint
Things--and people--are rarely what they seem to be. Social media has trained us to be more "image conscious." People even arrive to church more concerned with displaying a righteous exterior than experiencing the convicting of the Holy Spirit. And this is nothing new. In Jesus' day, He often rebuked the Pharisees as self-righteous, image-conscious hypocrites. Let's learn to avoid their tragic example.
Surviving the Fainting Spells of Life
What are your expectations when you pray? Do you expect God to answer in a certain way, or on a certain timeline? The truth is: our prayers are only effective when we conform to God’s will, not when we insist upon our own. Jesus taught His disciples this truth using a parable of a poor widow and a corrupt judge.
What the World is Like Before Judgment, Part 2
Just like our world is today, the disciples in Jesus' day were obsessed with the end times. What happens next when the world ends has been a fascination of all cultures in all times throughout human history. And Jesus provides some clarity and guidance about how future events should impact our present living.
What the World is Like Before Judgment, Part 1
Just like our world is today, the disciples in Jesus' day were obsessed with the end times. What happens next when the world ends has been a fascination of all cultures in all times throughout human history. And Jesus provides some clarity and guidance about how future events should impact our present living.
A Fifty Yard Dash to Thanksgiving
Because we can't physically see God--although we do see His works--and although we can't physically hear God with our ears--although we do read His words in our Bibles--it can be hard to remember to thank God for the blessings He gives us. It's much easier to remember to be grateful when you can see and hear and touch the person you're thanking. When Jesus healed ten lepers, only one remembered to be grateful. Stephen Davey challenges us to be like him in this lesson.