LUKE The two volumes of Luke-Acts have been combined in The Books of the Bible and placed first because they provide an overview of the entire New Testament period. Luke wrote this two-volume history to serve several important purposes: He wanted to assure followers of Jesus that what they had been taught about him was…
Mark: The Invitation
Mark 1:1-3:6 In the opening chapters of Mark, we see the meteoric rise of Jesus. We then witness conflict when the religious leaders decide they do not like what Jesus is teaching and how the crowds are drawn to Him. Jesus is helping the people of His day understand who He is and what He…
The Books of the Bible: Luke – Acts
LUKE We have reunited the two volumes of Luke–Acts and placed them first because they provide an overview of the New Testament period. Luke wrote this two-volume history to serve several important purposes: He wanted to assure followers of Jesus that what they’d been taught about him was trustworthy. Luke documents how God kept the…
Jesus Said to Get Some Rest
Aid Stations I settled in at a coffee shop to read and journal. It was the perfect, peaceful setting to quiet my heart and reflect on life. But my tranquility was quickly disrupted by the onset of a throbbing headache. I’ve experienced this dull throb before, and as soon as it started I knew exactly…
Where Is Your Hope?
I am rich, yet frequently oblivious to my wealth. What would my Lord whisper into my opulent life? Let’s turn the corner and ask a penetrating question. How do the things you possess, the symbols of your success, affect your attitude toward yourself? Do your possessions lead to humble gratitude toward the Giver, or do you detect ego inflation…
Radical Trust
As a child, I was privileged to witness some pretty remarkable stories of God’s provision. Right out of Bible college, my mom and dad moved to Southeast Idaho to begin a ministry planting churches. It was a pioneering ministry — attempting to grow a church community in a region with minimal Christian influence. They had virtually no funding, and…
Are You Satisfied?
In his classic monologue, comedian George Carlin riffed on the mountain of stuff we compile. His assertion is that “a house is just a pile of stuff with a cover on it. We place our stuff in the house and leave it there while we go out and get more stuff.” Is there ever a point…