The mission statement of Jesus that He came to seek and save that which was lost is an affirmation of a holistic ministry. He came to make men and women whole, to transform them physically, mentally, spiritually, and socially. Luke gives us two instances that illustrate how Jesus restored two broken men into wholeness. One … Continue reading –>
Although Jesus came to seek and save those lost in sin, He never forces anyone to accept the salvation He offers. Salvation is free and available to all, but one must accept the free offer in faith, which results in a life in conformity with God’s will. The only time we have for such an … Continue reading –>
The return home (Luke 15:17-20) was a journey of repentance. The journey began when he came to himself. Recognition of where he was, in comparison with what his father’s home was, drove him to arise and go to his father. The prodigal son returns home with a four-part speech that defines the true meaning of … Continue reading –>
Hailed in history as the most beautiful short story ever told on the forgiving nature of love, the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32), narrated only by Luke, may well be called the parable of the loving father and two lost sons. One son chose the lawlessness of the distant land over the love … Continue reading –>
Read Luke 15:4-7. What does this tell us about God’s love for us? Why is it so important to understand that it was the shepherd who went looking for the lost sheep? In a world that can appear uncaring and indifferent to us, this parable reveals a startling truth: God loves us so much that … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Luke 15:4-7, Luke 11-32; Luke 16:19-31; Luke 18:35-43; Luke 19:1-10. Memory Text: The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10, NKJV). If we were to write a mission statement for Jesus, we could not do any better than to repeat His … Continue reading –>
South Korea – Song Sungsub: Wherever Song Sungsub goes, people follow-sometimes with stares, other times with their feet-and that’s OK with him because he has a message to share. The idea began when I was distributing literature door-to-door, Sungsub explains. We can give [the literature], but of course some people just throw it out. One … Continue reading –>
Further Study: The soul that turns to God for its help, its support, its power, by daily, earnest prayer, will have noble aspirations, clear perceptions of truth and duty, lofty purposes of action, and a continual hungering and thirsting after righteousness. By maintaining a connection with God, we shall be enabled to diffuse to others, … Continue reading –>
Immediately after giving His disciples a model prayer, Jesus taught them, through the parable of a friend at midnight (Luke 11:5-13), the need for persistent prayer. Then, as He neared the end of His ministry, He reminded His followers of the need for penitence and humility in prayer (Luke 18:9-14). Both of these parables show … Continue reading –>
Give us day by day our daily bread (Luke 11:3, NKJV). The petition begins with the word give. Whether the word comes from the lips of a millionaire or an orphan in perpetual want, the prayer is at once an expression of dependence and acknowledgment of trust. We are all dependent on God, and the … Continue reading –>
