His disciples and the crowd gathered around Him must have been shocked. Never in their lives had they heard anyone speak to their revered religious leaders as Jesus was doing. For their generation there was no higher religious authority than the scribes, Pharisees and lawyers. From cradle to grave they were taught to revere them … Continue reading –>
Tan grew up in a small city in southern China. Plagued with shyness, he found it difficult to talk to others and often felt intensely lonely. He thought religion was just superstition, and yet he somehow felt a spiritual longing. He decided to set out on an pilgrimage in search of peace. He journeyed to … Continue reading –>
In His life and lessons, Christ has given a perfect exemplification of the unselfish ministry which has its origin in God. God does not live for Himself. By creating the world, and by upholding all things, He is constantly ministering for others. He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, … Continue reading –>
But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, And who is my neighbor? (Luke 10:29, NKJV). An expert in the Jewish law, the lawyer must have known the answer to the question. Leviticus 19:18, where the second great commandment is spelled out, defines neighbors as children of your people. (NKJV). Hence, instead of providing … Continue reading –>
Of the four Gospels, only Luke records the parables of the prodigal son and the good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). The first one illustrates the vertical dimension of love, the extraordinary love of the Father toward sinners; the second one shows us the horizontal dimension-the kind of love that should characterize human life, refusing to acknowledge … Continue reading –>
[Thought questions for Jesus, the Master Teacher May 26, 2015] 1. “And they were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with authority.” Luke 4:32. When did words spoken with authority last get your attention? Why were Jesus’ listeners so astonished? Can you and I also experience surprise as we absorb God’s Word? Where … Continue reading –>
Key Thought : Jesus was given to stand at the head of humanity, that by His example He might teach what it means to minister. His whole life was under a law of service. He served all and ministered to all. [Lesson plan for Jesus, the Master Teacher May 25, 2015] 1. Have a volunteer … Continue reading –>
Great teachers before and since Jesus have taught about unity and love, but usually it is about love within the parameters of a single group; a family defined by the exclusivity of caste, color, language, tribe, or religion. But Jesus broke down the barriers that divide humans and ushered in a new family, one that … Continue reading –>
The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) is often hailed in literature as the essence of Christianity. Luke provides selections of the sermon in Luke 6:20-49 and elsewhere. Because Luke placed the sermon immediately after the official choosing of the disciples (Luke 6:13), some scholars have called it the Ordination Charge to the Twelve. As … Continue reading –>
As a physician and scholar, Luke was acquainted with the role of authority. He was familiar with the authority of philosophy in Greek scholarship and education. He knew the authority of the Roman law in civil matters and government function. As Paul’s traveling companion he knew the ecclesiastic authority that the apostle commanded with the … Continue reading –>
