Passages

The day of Pentecost is a day of "power to the people." Before the coming of the Holy Spirit on the church, the followers of Jesus were waiting and hiding in the city. As Jesus promised, the Spirit would come and give them the power to be His witnesses. That same power and purpose are ours today.

Caring for creation requires us to see the world and God's vision for it with clarity. A future is coming that is free of death and evil. If this vision captivates us enough, we will live lives that faithful point to it.

The story of Adam and Even falls into tragedy when they take matters into their own hands. What started as a paradise in the Garden, has become a nightmare of blame, anger, and fear. How can we find our way when we face the same situations? More importantly, how does Jesus give us new hope in the midst of being human?

Which takes more work: caring or being careless? God's creation is entrusted to our care. The same care God has is the same care we must offer. Creation care means loving others and everything which has been created. If this is true, then the work of care will always take more time and energy. It is exactly how God cares for us.

The creation story in the Bible is filled with so much wonder and blessing. Too often, we read right past it to get to the story of the fall of Adam and Eve. Perhaps we should pause a bit longer over God's creative work and find that all we have ever needed is in Him.

The story of Jesus' resurrection is deeply moving. Jesus goes from seemingly being lost but, instead, is found victorious. Our belief in this Jesus is ever-growing as it was for those first witnesses of the resurrection. Even in our doubts, Jesus invites us to new life.

Jesus' entrance into the city of Jerusalem is cause for celebration by his followers. It is an entrance of peace which hails the soon and coming King, Jesus. Not all people welcome his arrival. The week which follows will be an unfolding of Jesus' destiny. A destiny which will set the world free from sin and evil.

We all know what commitments or duties we have. What about our devotion? More than commitment or duty, devotion invites us into something deeper. In devotion we are changed by gratitude and generosity working in the grace of God. This week we discover the power of devotion.

The Parable of the Prodigal Son (Lost Son) is one of the most well-known stories Jesus told. We should wonder why we are fixated on the "lost" son more than the forgiving father as portrayed in this story. It is a powerful story of forgiveness and grace offered to those who welcome it and even resist it.

All of us wonder why things happen the way they do. Sometimes it is about something that creates joy and wonder while, at other moments, it is pain or grief. Trying to know "why" is hard work. Perhaps there is a different way to live where God's Spirit provides all we need.

We live in one of the most polarizing times in recent memory. We argue about politics, religion, relationships, and so much more. What matters most in these times when we are pushed and pulled by so many? This week's episode opens us up to a new way of being followers of Jesus in a polarized age.

We all face temptation. Sometimes it is on a small scale, and other times it can destroy lives and relationships. The greatest temptation of all is to believe that one has no temptations. This week, we dive into how temptation comes to us and what to do about it.

When is Jesus at His best? The passage of scripture for today's episode might lead us to believe that it is when Jesus is glorified in power and appears with Moses and Elijah on a mountain. Could the lesson of this story be about the moment when people were "amazed" at Him? If it is, then Jesus is at his greatest down in the valley with all of us.

Legalism is always a danger in any religion. Christians are not called to follow a law but a Savior, Jesus. Knowing the difference between following a law versus following a person can make all the difference. When we follow Jesus, we can let go of rule-keeping and rest in a life of grace led by Jesus.

Jesus' parting words to His followers are to go and make disciples. What is a disciple, and how does one go about making one? This week's episode explores how being a follower of Jesus makes us uniquely able to do what Jesus asks of us.

Generosity is a key practice to living as a follower of Jesus. Giving can open doors of thanksgiving and even more giving if we will just trust God's promise to guide us. This week's episode explores how the practice of giving can change our lives in so many ways.

We all face the reality of growing. Sometimes growing older demands much of our attention, especially early in our life and late in our life. What about growing other parts of our lives? This week's episode puts the attention on our spiritual growth and why it matters.

Time is one of the few things in life we cannot find more of. When faced with making time for what is important, it is easy to let urgent things get in the way of the most important things. The worship of God can be easily crowded out in our daily lives. This week's episode explores why the worship of God just might matter the most.

How do the followers of Jesus live during a time of "anything goes”? It may seem like a question for today, but it was also the same question Christians struggled with 2,000 years ago. This week's podcast episode explores the seldom-read book of Jude with its surprising truth for us and the age in which we live.

The story of the Magi visiting the young Jesus is a rich story which often gets lost in the Christmas celebration. The Magi represent a deep expression of love and worship as they bring their three gifts to the Christ child. This week's episode explores how those gifts give us an example of how we should give our own gifts to Jesus today.

From "God bless you!" to " Count your blessings", the word "blessing" has come to mean many things. Most everyone would like a blessing to be sure! What is a blessing and how does it come to us? Is it just another word for luck or enjoying God's special favor? This week's episode explores what it means to be blessed and how we see blessings in a new light.

Repentance can make us stop in our tracks. We then have to wonder about where to go from there. John the Baptist tells his own listeners to focus on generosity as a response to repentance. He says that these acts of gratitude are "worthy" fruits of repentance.

We are usually more in touch with feelings of remorse and regret than we are with repentance. The first two words focus on emotions of guilt and shame while repentance places the focus squarely on changing our behaviors and practice. Remorse and regret may lead us to repentance but, they are not the same. This week's episode explores the hope which can be found in repentance.

The second coming of Jesus is surrounded by such controversy and disagreement which makes it hard to even talk about without a debate. If we simply set aside some finer (perhaps petty) details, we can find a certain hope for our lives and the redemption of the world.

"The truth is out there", was the slogan of the popular TV show, The X-Files. The truth in the case of this week's passage is the source of disagreement between Pilate and Jesus. Pilate believes that the truth is a "what" while Jesus knows that truth is a "who", namely himself. Our search for the truth eventually points to Jesus who gives life meaning and wholeness unto salvation.

Jesus speaks a word of peace and grace in the midst of troubling times. Conflicts seem near and far today as they were in Jesus' time. The fact that He is, "the way, and the truth, and the life" gives us hope for the future.

At the center of Christian living is Jesus, our source and giver of life. As Jesus prepared his followers for his death and resurrection, he makes clear that a connection with him is vital for their lives. We, too, must make the same choice each day: to stay connected to the only source of true life, Jesus.

People of faith often talk about how they are different or transformed because of their faith. When times of testing come, however, that faith may not be as important as it seems. This is especially true when we face death. Too often, we face the reality of death in the same way the world does. In this week's episode, Jesus challenges us to a new kind of faith, especially in the face of death.

When something amazing happens, we often first ask how it happened. During a difficult season for us or others, we often ask what caused things to be this way. What gets lost here is caring in the moment. In this week's episode Jesus helps us to stay focused on caring for the person right in front of us.

Feeling and knowing we are safe is important. When this is true, we have confidence to live in new ways. Jesus makes it clear to his disciples that they have this through his death and resurrection. This week's episode highlights Jesus' role as our protector and our provider.

One never knows where faith will be found. Sometimes we find it unexpectedly present and other times we must bring a faith where there is none. Either way, we can have confidence that God is doing a new work. This week's episode explores how faith is discovered in remarkable ways!

As 21st century American Christians, it is hard to relate to being a persecuted Christian. Jesus tells us that we are being sent out like, "lambs in the midst of wolves." What chance do Christians have in a hostile world? This week's episode explores the teaching Jesus gave his followers for just such a time.

The people of God have always been on the move. Since the days of Abram, God invites people to look outward rather than just inward. All of this is still a choice. Like Abram had to decide to "go", so do we.Program Note: Passages will be taking a break and will return on Tuesday, October 1, 2024.

What matters in life? In many ways, the book of Ecclesiastes exists to tell us what DOES NOT matter in life. The closing chapter of Ecclesiastes invites us to wonder about the right kind of question we need to ask about life.

You have likely heard someone say, "We are waiting until just the right time." You may have also heard someone say, "Here today and gone tomorrow." Opportunity seems to strike at a time when we are not always ready for it. Do we wait or go? This week's episode explores the importance of trust in God as we decide if to wait or go.

Enjoying life can be difficult for some. There are many who hold a sense of guilt, obligation, or some other duty which keeps them from experiencing the enjoyment of life today. Being too goal-driven can lead us far away from enjoyment with our nose to the grindstone. This week's episode explores how God calls us to enjoy life while always being aware of what really matters most.

Talking about death is hard. Most of us steer clear of the topic and only touch upon it when required. Is there wisdom for us to gain in a conversation about dying? Is there a good death? What lessons can we take from others to deepen our life of faith? This week's episode explores the tough topic of death and dying. The good news is that there is a hope for wisdom and life through death.

Joy is less of an emotion and more of a choice. When we choose to live our life only for ourselves and those who benefit us, we find ourselves in an endless cycle of greed. It is a joyless way of life. When we make the choice for joy we can find a way toward true enJOYment and gratitude.

The choice to be together or "go it alone" is one we face now more than ever. The isolation of pandemic may have led us to believe that isolation is better for us. God's wisdom is filled with encouragement to find joy in shared work, support, and protection. This week's episode explores how a "cord of three strands is not easily broken."

We have all had the "time of our life" or "killing time." Knowing that there are times and seasons in our lives should not surprise us. It is part of being human. How will we hold the time we are in? What will we do...or not do...in this season of life? This week's episode explores how can hold time better.

The Book of Ecclesiastes is not a book we read too often. Its darker and more cynical wisdom sounds just a little too dreary. What this book offers us is a realistic view of the world we live in whether we chose to admit it or not. If this is true, what can we learn here? This rich book is about how we hold our work, play, love, and most of all, joy.

Jesus' ministry of healing is not just limited to what people may ask of Him. Jesus brings a healing beyond everyone's expectations. The whole person matters to Jesus. It may cause us to wonder about how we pray for healing. Are we praying for what we seek or are we praying for what Jesus seeks? Is our faith directed at what we want or is it directed at Jesus?

Jesus' teaching on money is hard for the 21st century Christian to hear. Much of our culture is focused on getting and having enough. Worry about financial security continues to confront families in poverty and in wealth. In this sense, worry happens regardless of how much we have. Jesus offers us a way to be set free through generosity. If we can embrace generosity, it will have lasting effects on our lives.

Greed continues to plague the human condition. For thousands of years human beings have  often been gripped by their fear of loss and security. This fear gives rise to the practice of greed which sees the "self" as the center. In this week's episode, Jesus begins to open us up to the power of greed in our lives and how we might be set free.

The Gospels record a significant amount of Jesus' teaching on money. Over all of these centuries, very little has changed in our relationship with wealth. This week's episode explores how money can become a great resource when it serves us as we serve the God who gives all things.

Passing on a legacy is complicated. For parents, it often means sharing the learnings from one's successes and failures. When King David draws close to his own death, he pauses to share some important words with his son Solomon. Like any parent, David wants his son to learn from his father, for good or ill.

Being a child or being a parent is filled with joy and challenges. We have all experienced moments when we wished things between our parents or children were different. What is it like to have a perfect parent? This week's episode explores what it means for us to have joy and freedom as children of God.

The coming of the Holy Spirit marks an unprecedented change in how God is at work in the world. Rather than speaking through a single prophet or even through Jesus, God now comes in the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is "distributed" to the followers of Jesus so that many might embody the word and works of Jesus. The Spirit is what makes the church truly alive.

Jesus offers his followers some important parting words before his ascension. Not only does he tell them that everything they have seen and heard has been according to the scriptures but, he also makes them witnesses to proclaim the message. By listening to Jesus' words in this text we better understand our work to worship, wait, and witness.

The story of Esther is a gripping tale of conspiracy, intrigue, and integrity. Here we find a great hero in Esther, who defies all constraints placed upon her. She is the agent of God's justice where evil is exposed. She saves herself and her people by being true to who she is.

When we don't know where we are going in life or are simply confused, we often think it is easier to retreat inward. Our response of fear in these situations will bring isolation rather than openness. The followers of Jesus are called to live lives of "salt and light" which means that we must be open to sharing ourselves with the world.