Matthew 17:1-13SCRIPTURE HIGHLIGHT4 And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.”5 He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”12 But I tell you that Elijah has al...  Read More

What we believe about Jesus is important. We cannot claim to be Christians unless we are willing to accept that Jesus is who he revealed himself to be.  Read More

The Pharisees and Sadducees wanting to test Jesus reminds me of the temptation of Jesus in Matthew 4. “Prove yourself!” In that passage Jesus tells them, “Don’t test the Lord your God.” Here he says, “You’re clever enough to look at the sky and predict the weather, but you’re too thick to see what’s right in front of your eyes.”  Read More

A Canaanite woman comes to Jesus requesting him to heal/deliver her daughter who was under the control of a demon. The fact that she was a Canaanite is important because Canaanites were enemies of Israel historically.  Read More

We must be careful that our best intentions don’t undermine the commands of God. We need to know we can be unschooled and be called by God to be told his secrets and intentions.   Read More

There was a severe storm in the middle of the night. It was 3 am in the morning, and the disciples had toiled all night long. They were tired, and terrified. Then they saw a man walking on water toward them, and they panicked. . .   Read More

We see that Herod misused his authority to fulfill the wicked desires of evildoers. In contrast, Jesus used His authority with compassion and love, meeting the spiritual and physical needs of His people.  Read More

This passage comes in context of many other parables of the kingdom of heaven…wheat and weeds, mustard seeds. Jesus says the kingdom of heaven is like discovering treasure that’s been buried.   Read More

You might wonder why Jesus says the mustard seed is the smallest of seeds and the largest of garden plants when there are smaller seeds and larger plants/trees.  Read More

There are no participation trophies here. Just Haves and Have Nots. You get some, more, or lots. Or nothing at all.  Read More

At first glance it may seem as if Jesus maybe neglecting His natural family but upon further observation what Jesus is really doing is redefining the true definition of the family of God.   Read More

Jesus is such a beautiful and powerful savior! It is amazing how he fulfilled the promise of God to send his servant who would demonstrate true justice, care for the broken and hurting, and give his life as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. I love the picture of Jesus as the one who “will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle.”   Read More

This passage deals with the Pharisees' attempts to exploit the law in order to charge Jesus with sin. Jesus exposed the shameful and despicable manner in which they perverted the heart of the Sabbath commandment by turning it into a vehicle of oppression rather than as a blessing to God’s people.  Read More

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavily burdened [by religious rituals that provide no peace], and I will give you rest [refreshing your souls with salvation].  Read More

John has questions for Jesus- Are you the one who is to come or should we look for another?   Read More

SCRIPTURE READING: MATTHEW 10:26-42SCRIPTURE HIGHLIGHTS:10:28 “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”  10:31 “Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”10:38-39 “And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his...  Read More

“Therefore, be wise as snakes and innocent as doves.” How wise are snakes? How innocent are doves? What a strange thing to say!  Read More

Matthew 9:27-38SCRIPTURE HIGHLIGHT35 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction.36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but...  Read More

The success of our faith is not in what we believe but in whom we believe. Not the prayer warriors getting a prayer through but in the one they are calling on to intercede.  Read More

The religious leaders (Pharisees) complained that Jesus was eating with people who were known for their sinful conduct. Eating with people who lived immoral lives in open violation of the Jewish law was considered to defile the “righteous” person. Eating together was a sign of unity with and approval of those you were eating with.  Read More

Jesus issued a pronouncement that sins of the paralytic were forgiven. Jesus was clearly not forgiving him of a personal offense against himself, but declaring that his sins were forgiven by God.  Read More

We should remember three things when facing storms that will show up in our lives...  Read More

Jesus’ amazing healing ministry draws crowds, but he isn’t interested going viral. He gives orders to escape over to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. This is a good way to get rid of people.  Read More

Two men who approached Jesus had faith and courage to approach even though their status (a leper and a Roman) would have given Jesus reason to ignore their needs.   Read More