Episodes
3 days ago
3 days ago
Jesus doesn’t seek torture and death, but neither does he shy away from it when he realizes it is the only way to stay true to his message and his mission. On the cross he encounters two criminals and gives them the opportunity to repent. To the criminal who chooses to repent, Jesus says, “You will be with me today in paradise.” In his greatest moment of pain, Jesus was still concerned for someone society had given up caring about a long time ago. We might find Jesus’ offer of salvation to a criminal to be offensive, but if there isn’t room for that thief on the cross beside Jesus in heaven there isn’t room for any of us. None of us make it on our own merits. The only reason any of us make it is Jesus’ sacrifice.
Scripture - Luke 23:32-43
3 days ago
3 days ago
Jesus doesn’t seek torture and death, but neither does he shy away from it when he realizes it is the only way to stay true to his message and his mission. On the cross he encounters two criminals and gives them the opportunity to repent. To the criminal who chooses to repent, Jesus says, “You will be with me today in paradise.” In his greatest moment of pain, Jesus was still concerned for someone society had given up caring about a long time ago. We might find Jesus’ offer of salvation to a criminal to be offensive, but if there isn’t room for that thief on the cross beside Jesus in heaven there isn’t room for any of us. None of us make it on our own merits. The only reason any of us make it is Jesus’ sacrifice.
Scripture - Luke 23:32-43
Thursday Mar 21, 2024
The Last Supper You’d Expect | Rev. Brooke Hartman
Thursday Mar 21, 2024
Thursday Mar 21, 2024
At Zacchaeus’ house, Jesus finds himself at the last supper you’d expect (at least if you expectations were like those of the pharisees). Jesus is eating with a tax collector and, in fact, forgiving and praises the tax collector for his repentance. In Luke 22, Jesus is eating with his disciples at the last supper as his disciple debate who is the greatest. In each instance, Jesus redefines greatness. In the case of Zacchaeus, to be great is to be merciful. In the case of the disciples to be great is to be a servant. Do you practice extending mercy in your relationships? Would others describe you as servant if they knew your heart?
Scripture - Luke 19:7-10 & Luke 22:24-27
Thursday Mar 21, 2024
The Last Supper You’d Expect | Rev. Wil Cantrell
Thursday Mar 21, 2024
Thursday Mar 21, 2024
At Zacchaeus’ house, Jesus finds himself at the last supper you’d expect (at least if you expectations were like those of the pharisees). Jesus is eating with a tax collector and, in fact, forgiving and praises the tax collector for his repentance. In Luke 22, Jesus is eating with his disciples at the last supper as his disciple debate who is the greatest. In each instance, Jesus redefines greatness. In the case of Zacchaeus, to be great is to be merciful. In the case of the disciples to be great is to be a servant. Do you practice extending mercy in your relationships? Would others describe you as servant if they knew your heart?
Scripture - Luke 19:7-10 & Luke 22:24-27
Wednesday Mar 13, 2024
The Journey to the Cross | Rev. Brooke Hartman
Wednesday Mar 13, 2024
Wednesday Mar 13, 2024
Jesus prepares his disciples for his death and he prepares them to take up their own crosses and follow him. His paradoxical words still haunt us, “those who want to save their life will lose it and those who lost their life will save it.” What does it mean to lose our life for Christ? Perhaps it means living our life in Christ: by Christ’s power and for Christ’s purposes. Such a calling is too high for us. Just like his first disciples we will shy away cowardly when push comes to shove. But if we keep coming back to Jesus in our failure, we like his first disciples (most of whom ultimately lost their lives for him) will learn how to courageously live our lives for Christ.
Scripture - Luke 9:22-25
Wednesday Mar 13, 2024
The Journey to the Cross | Rev. Wil Cantrell
Wednesday Mar 13, 2024
Wednesday Mar 13, 2024
Jesus prepares his disciples for his death and he prepares them to take up their own crosses and follow him. His paradoxical words still haunt us, “those who want to save their life will lose it and those who lost their life will save it.” What does it mean to lose our life for Christ? Perhaps it means living our life in Christ: by Christ’s power and for Christ’s purposes. Such a calling is too high for us. Just like his first disciples we will shy away cowardly when push comes to shove. But if we keep coming back to Jesus in our failure, we like his first disciples (most of whom ultimately lost their lives for him) will learn how to courageously live our lives for Christ.
Scripture -
Luke 9:22-25
Wednesday Mar 06, 2024
Prayers from Low Places | Rev. Wil Cantrell
Wednesday Mar 06, 2024
Wednesday Mar 06, 2024
Jesus tells the story of a pharisee and a tax collector who went to pray. The pharisee thanked God who wasn’t a miserable sinner like the tax collector, but the tax collector just asked for God for mercy. Jesus concluded by saying the tax collector’s prayer pleased God, but the pharisee’s prayer did not. The only way we can pray to God honestly and experience God authentically is by praying from a low place, a place of humility and need. The moment we begin to think we can handle life on our own, the voice of pride begins to drown out the voice of God.
Scripture - Luke 18:9-14
Wednesday Mar 06, 2024
Prayers from Low Places | Rev. Brooke Hartman
Wednesday Mar 06, 2024
Wednesday Mar 06, 2024
Jesus tells the story of a pharisee and a tax collector who went to pray. The pharisee thanked God who wasn’t a miserable sinner like the tax collector, but the tax collector just asked for God for mercy. Jesus concluded by saying the tax collector’s prayer pleased God, but the pharisee’s prayer did not. The only way we can pray to God honestly and experience God authentically is by praying from a low place, a place of humility and need. The moment we begin to think we can handle life on our own, the voice of pride begins to drown out the voice of God.
Scripture - Luke 18:9-14
Tuesday Feb 27, 2024
Seeing Past Yourself | Rev. Wil Cantrell
Tuesday Feb 27, 2024
Tuesday Feb 27, 2024
You are the only person who can’t directly see yourself. Yet, so often we go through life without really seeing others because we can only see the needs of ourselves. This was true of Simon, the pharisee, who didn’t respect the needs to a women who came to bless Jesus. It was also true of the culture of ancient Israel where the needs of women were often minimized and overlooked. Sadly, in our culture, we still minimize the needs of other who aren’t like us. Jesus challenges us to see the not only the needs but also the dignity, sacred worth, and potential in each person.
Scripture - Luke 7:36-50
Tuesday Feb 27, 2024
Seeing Past Yourself | Rev. Mike Stallings
Tuesday Feb 27, 2024
Tuesday Feb 27, 2024
You are the only person who can’t directly see yourself. Yet, so often we go through life without really seeing others because we can only see the needs of ourselves. This was true of Simon, the pharisee, who didn’t respect the needs to a women who came to bless Jesus. It was also true of the culture of ancient Israel where the needs of women were often minimized and overlooked. Sadly, in our culture, we still minimize the needs of other who aren’t like us. Jesus challenges us to see the not only the needs but also the dignity, sacred worth, and potential in each person.
Scripture - Luke 7:36-50