Podcasts about Luke 12

In this session, drawing from Luke 12 and his own life, Brant explores Jesus' teachings about wealth, worry, and radical generosity. Greed, Brant reminds us, is sneaky—it doesn't announce itself, and it's not just a “rich people problem.” The takeaway? You don't need to own beautiful things to enjoy them, and you don't have to clutch what you have—because you're partnering with a generous God. Follow along with this sessions slides/notes!

Be on your guard, you are responsible. For more resources on reading through the Bible in a year, visit my church's website at this link or text us at 888-644-4034. Feel free to join me on my other daily podcast, Your Next Step. God bless - Doyle See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Message from David Wojnicki on April 13, 2025

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As Jesus journeys toward Jerusalem, He enters a synagogue in Perea,teaching on the Sabbath as was His custom. There, He encounters a womancrippled for eighteen years, bent double by a spirit of infirmity. This momentbecomes more than a healing, it's a lesson in freedom, compassion, and theclash between God's heart and human tradition.  Youcan imagine the scene. Jesus is preaching when He notices this woman, bowedover, unable to straighten herself. For eighteen years, she'd endured thisaffliction—likely caused by Satan, as Jesus later reveals. Yet, she's faithful,present in the synagogue week after week, seeking God despite her pain. Jesus,ever sensitive to need, calls her forward. It might have seemed harsh to exposeher publicly, but He has a purpose—to defeat Satan, free her, and teach atruth. With a word, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity,” and atouch of His hands, she stands straight, glorifying God. The synagogue eruptsin awe, except for one voice. Theruler of the synagogue, indignant, scolds the crowd: “There are six days towork; come and be healed then, not on the Sabbath!” Too cowardly toconfront Jesus directly, he masks his anger in tradition. His outburst isalmost laughable, did he think healings were routine? Could he have freed herhimself? His bondage to rules was worse than hers to Satan; her body was bent,but his heart and mind were shackled. Jesus calls him out: “You hypocrite!Don't you loose your ox or donkey on the Sabbath to water it? Shouldn't thiswoman, a daughter of Abraham, bound by Satan for eighteen years, be loosed onthis day?” The argument is simple yet profound: if mercy is shown toanimals, how much more to a person made in God's image? Thiswasn't random timing. Jesus chose the Sabbath deliberately, repeating “loose”to drive home the lesson—freedom is His gift, not tradition's prisoner. Thewoman, a “daughter of Abraham,” likely had faith, marking her as one ofGod's own. Her healing wasn't just physical; it mirrored spiritual liberation.Sin, sorrow, and suffering bow us down (Psalm 38:6; 42:5), but Christ lifts usup. Satan oppresses, sometimes for years, even believers (think of Paul's thornin 2 Corinthians 12), but Jesus' power is greater (John 10:10). Not everysickness is demonic (Luke 6:17-19), but when it is, Jesus can break itinstantly. Theruler's reaction reveals a deeper issue. He saw the Sabbath as a checklist, nota gift of rest (Matthew 11:28-30). Tradition became his excuse to avoidcompassion. Jesus exposes this hypocrisy, shaming His critics into silencewhile the crowd rejoices at His “glorious things.” The synagogue ruler'spetty clock told yesterday's time, blind to the new era Jesus brought (Luke12:56). This was no violation; it was God's work, fitting for the Sabbath. Whatdoes this mean for us today? Jesus still calls the bowed-down—those crippled bysin or grief—to come to Him. He offers freedom, not just from physical chainsbut from spiritual ones, often before we even ask. Yet, like the ruler, we cancling to rules or routines that block mercy. The Sabbath here isn't aboutlegalism but heart-rest through grace. When we see suffering, do we respondwith Christ's compassion or hide behind excuses? His adversaries were ashamed;His followers rejoiced. Which side are we on? ClosingChallengeThisweek, look for someone “bowed down”—physically, emotionally, or spiritually.Don't let tradition or busyness stop you; take one step to “loose” them withkindness—a call, a helping hand, or a prayer. Reflect: Are you free in Christ,or bound by your own rules? Act in His mercy today. PrayerLordJesus, thank You for seeing us in our infirmities and calling us to freedom.Forgive us when we prioritize tradition over compassion, like the synagogueruler. Loose us from sin, sorrow, and self-made chains, and help us lift othersas You do. May we rejoice in Your glorious works, living out Your grace thisweek. In Your name, Amen.

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Theme From Sunday's Sermon: Sanctification: Growing in Holiness On this edition of One Single Story, Pastors Stephen Mizell, Sheryl Daughety, and Wendy Korbusieski discuss the following questions: Yesterday we talked a lot about how one generation assumes they are the standard for the next generation. When I read verse 56, it seemed like a perfect description of the generation we live in. We can interpret the weather (sort of?), but we miss the clear signs of the spiritual timeline in which we live. That is an interesting perspective, especially because in our modern generation, Christians are often accused of being divisive. Are you suggesting it is actually Jesus who creates division? Obviously we do not want to see families divided. How do we respond when one or two members of a family unit believe in Jesus and it creates division within that family? What kind of division do we see in our day that might be a "cloud," or a sign that we should pay attention to? The reading for the day is: Deuteronomy 32:28-52 Luke 12:35-59 Psalm 78:56-64 Proverbs 12:24

Full Barns and Empty Hearts: The Gospel According to Luke Luke 12:1-21The Village Chapel - 04/06/2025Fear is a powerful force. It can drive us to action or paralyze us in uncertainty. But the question Jesus asks us in Luke 12:1-21 is not whether we fear, but whom we fear. The solution Jesus gives us to our fears may come as a surprise. Rather than fearing man, He calls us to fear the One who holds eternal authority—God Himself. But what does it mean to truly fear the Lord? When feared rightly, what does a life of faithfulness look like? Join us as we continue our study in the gospel of Luke and uncover why the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom—and the key to fearless, faithful living!To find more resources like these, follow us:Website: https://thevillagechapel.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQVTzDbaiXVUAm_mUBDCTJAInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tvcnashville/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tvcnashvilleX: https://twitter.com/tvcnashvilleTo support the ongoing mission of The Village Chapel go to https://thevillagechapel.com/give/. If you are a regular giver, thank you for your continued faithfulness and generosity!

Pastor David Johnson

Luke 12:13-34 English Standard VersionThe Parable of the Rich Fool13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” 16 And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17 and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' 18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”' 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”Do Not Be Anxious22 And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on.23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! 25 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 26 If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28 But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! 29 And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. 30 For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.32 “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.English Standard Version (ESV)The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. 

Message from David Wojnicki on April 6, 2025

Confessing Christ (Luke 12: 8-12) by Edgington EPC

Welcome to today's pastor's chat as we conclude Luke 12. Jesus closes with a sobering call: beware of spiritualdullness.  First,let's consider discernment (Luke 12:54-57). Jesus turns to the crowd and says, “Wheneveryou see a cloud rising out of the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower'scoming,' and so it is. And when you see a south wind blow, you say, ‘There'llbe hot weather,' and there it is.” The people could read the sky like abook, predicting storms or heat with ease. Yet, Jesus calls them hypocrites: “Youcan discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do notdiscern this time?” The Jewish nation had centuries of prophetic Scripturespointing to the Messiah, yet they missed Him standing right in front of them.Their religious leaders led them astray, blinding them to the signs of thetimes. Isn'tthis a mirror for us today? We live in an age of incredible knowledge—humanscan predict planetary movements, split atoms, and land on the moon. We'vemastered getting to the stars, but so many are clueless about getting toheaven. Our world boasts scientific brilliance but often lacks spiritualwisdom. Jesus challenges us: if we're so quick to prepare for a storm we seecoming, why aren't we discerning the spiritual reality around us? The King hascome, and He's coming again. Are we awake to what God is doing? Next,Jesus calls for diligence (Luke 12:58-59). He paints a picture of a lawsuit: “Whenyou go with your adversary to the magistrate, make every effort along the wayto settle with him, lest he drag you to the judge, the judge delivers you tothe officer, and the officer throw you into prison. I tell you, you shall notdepart from there till you have paid the very last mite.” The message isclear—if someone sues you, you'd hustle to settle out of court, hiring a lawyerto avoid jail. You'd do whatever it takes to escape that fate. But how muchmore urgent is it to prepare for the ultimate Judge—Almighty God? Jesusknew Israel was marching toward judgment. He wept over Jerusalem, foreseeingthe Roman armies that would destroy the city and temple (Luke 19:41-44), yetthe people wouldn't repent. Their debt to God was piling up, and they'd pay theprice. Today, the stakes are just as high for us. The storm of God's wrath iscoming, and as James 5:9 warns, “The Judge is standing at the door.” Ifwe'd prepare for a physical storm or fight a lawsuit with all we've got,shouldn't we be even more diligent about our souls? “Behold, now is theaccepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2).The time to act is now. So,what does this mean for us personally? Spiritual dullness creeps in when we getcaught up in the busyness of life, relying on science, philosophy, or worldlyanswers to fill the deepest need of our hearts—a need only Jesus can meet. Healone offers salvation, a new heart, and eternal hope. We can't afford to belike the crowd, sharp about the weather but blind to eternity. As stewards inthese last days, we must stay alert, discerning God's work and diligentlypreparing for His return. ClosingChallengeTakea moment this week to examine your spiritual sharpness. Are you discerning thesigns of the times, or are you distracted by the world's noise? Pick onepractical step—maybe a focused prayer time, a Scripture reading, or aconversation about faith—to sharpen your focus on what's eternal. Act now,trusting Jesus to guide you. PrayerHeavenlyFather, thank You for Your Word that wakes us up. Forgive us for the timeswe've been spiritually dull, chasing worldly answers instead of You. Open oureyes to discern Your work in our lives and the world. Give us diligence toprepare our hearts for Your return, settling our debt through faith in Jesus.Help us live for what lasts, not what fades. Bless us with Your wisdom andpeace today. In Jesus' name, Amen. Godbless!

Following Jesus means setting your heart on God's Kingdom, not this world's worries.

Welcome to today's pastor's chat on Luke 12, where Jesus speaks to the heart ofwhat it means to follow Him in a broken world. As believers, we are called towait, watch, and work for His kingdom, but this calling comes with a challenge:it won't be easy. We are aliens in enemy territory, living as stewards of God'sgrace while engaged in a spiritual war. Jesus doesn't shy away from thisreality—He confronts it head-on, addressing the struggles that threaten toderail us and the battles we must face. First,Jesus warns against hypocrisy, covetousness, worry, and fear. These creep intoour lives when we pretend to be something we're not, when we chase the thingsof this world over the things of God, or when we let anxiety take root.Coveting, at its core, is idolatry—placing anything above our Creator. Theresult? Restless, insecure lives, always chasing the next thing but neverfinding satisfaction. Yet, there's hope. True fulfillment comes through anintimate relationship with Jesus Christ. He loved us, died for us, and roseagain, filling the void within us and making us new creations. Only He cantransform our hearts and give us lasting peace. InLuke 12, Jesus shifts to a story of stewardship. A master returns to find hisservants either faithfully waiting, watching, and working—or distracted andunfaithful. He concludes with a principle: “To whom much is given, from himmuch will be required” (Luke 12:48). The more God entrusts to us—be it time,talents, or opportunities—the more He expects us to use them for His glory.We're accountable for what we've been given, and that accountability shapes howwe live. Butstewardship isn't just about diligence; it's also about warfare. Jesus says, “Icame to send fire on the earth… I have a baptism to be baptized with… Do yousuppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but ratherdivision” (Luke 12:49-51). Fire represents judgment, and His baptism points toHis suffering on the cross—a death He endured in our place, pictured by Hisbaptism in the Jordan. He didn't need to repent, but He identified with us,taking our sin and rising victorious on the third day. That's the triumph wecelebrate at Easter. Yet,His coming also brings division. Families may split—father against son, motheragainst daughter—because faith in Jesus demands a choice: “If you're notwith Me, you're against Me.” The Gospel of Luke begins with “peace onearth” (Luke 2:14), and yes, Jesus offers a peace that calms our hearts andovercomes worry as we seek His kingdom first. But in this world, He warns, “Youwill have tribulation” (John 16:33). He was persecuted, and as Hisservants, we won't escape it either. We're at war—against the flesh, the devil,and the enemies we face as believers. Taking a stand for Christ may cost us,but there's a promise: if we suffer with Him, we will also reign with Him. So,where does this leave us? We're called to be faithful stewards, watching andworking for Jesus, even as we navigate a world that opposes Him. The peace Hegives isn't the absence of conflict but the presence of His strength within us.As aliens in this territory, we live differently, trusting that our battles aretemporary and our victory is sure. ClosingChallengeReflecton what God has entrusted to you—your resources, relationships, oropportunities to share His love. This week, choose one specific way to stewardthese faithfully, even if it means facing resistance. Stand firm, knowing Jesusis with you in the fight. PrayerLordJesus, thank You for the peace You bring to our hearts, even in a world oftribulation. Help us turn from hypocrisy, covetousness, and fear, and find oursatisfaction in You alone. Strengthen us to be faithful stewards, watching andworking for Your glory, no matter the cost. Give us courage for the battles weface and hope in Your promise of victory. In Your precious name, Amen. Godbless!

Take a moment to reflect-- is the Holy Spirit truly welcome in your life? Today in his teaching, Pastor Mark shares about a woman in the Bible named Rebecca. When Abraham's servant showed up, she and her family were hospitable and gracious. This is the same way that you should treat the Holy Spirit. Consider the T.V. shows you watch, the language you use, your social media, and the way you treat others. Are you cultivating a welcoming environment for the Holy Spirit to dwell in? If not, ask the Lord to show you the areas in your life that grieve Him. Respond in obedience by making adjustments that please the Spirit.

Remember Luke 12 begins with Jesus warning againsthypocrisy—don't be a pretender. He cautions against covetousness—don't chasethe things of this world, because they only bring pain, worry, and fear. And Heurges us not to be careless. Why? Because He's coming back. “I will go away,but I will come again,” He promises. This isn't just a distant hope; it's acall to action. In verse 36, He paints a picture of servants waiting for theirmaster's return from a wedding, and in verse 40, He declares, “Therefore beyou also ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”This urgency frames our passage today. Jesus wants us waiting, watching, andworking when He returns. Peter has been listening to Jesus' teachings, and in verse41, he asks, “Lord, do You speak this parable only to us, or to all people?”It's a fair question. Is this just for the inner circle—the disciples—or forthe crowds too? Jesus doesn't give a simple yes or no. Instead, He respondswith a parable that broadens the scope and deepens the responsibility. Hisanswer shows this isn't limited to the Twelve; it's for every follower, everyperson who claims His name. That's you and me, friends. We're all in thisstory. In this parable Jesus describes two kinds of servants. Onewho is faithful and can be trusted and one who is careless and will bepunished. Jesus clearly points this out: “The master of that servant willcome on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is notaware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with theunbelievers” (v. 46) Jesus doesn't stop there. He then speaks of a day of accountability.One day we will all give an account of stewardship at the Judgment Seat. Asfollowers of Christ, we're stewards of God's resources. Jesus isn't justwarning us to stay busy; He's preparing us for accountability. This isn't aboutearning salvation—Jesus took care of our sins on the cross, and by faith, we'resecure in Him. But how we live matters. Some think, “I'm saved, I'm going toheaven—nothing else counts.” But that's not what the Bible teaches. Jesus andPaul both point to a moment of reckoning for believers: the judgment seat ofChrist. In Romans 14:7-10, Paul writes, “For none of us lives tohimself, and no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord; andif we die, we die to the Lord… For we shall all stand before the judgment seatof Christ.” This isn't the final judgment for unbelievers; it's an evaluationof our service as believers. In 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, Paul likens our lives toa building project. He laid the foundation—Christ—and we build on it. “Eachone's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will berevealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is”(v. 13). Good works endure; worthless ones burn up. We're saved, yes, but wecan still “suffer loss” in terms of rewards (v. 15).Then, in 2 Corinthians 5:10, Paul again reminds us “Forwe must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one mayreceive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whethergood or bad.” Everything we do will be judged at that judgment seat ofChrist—every idle word, we'll give an account for.” This isn't aboutfearmongering; it's about purpose. Knowing this “terror of the Lord” (v. 11),Paul persuades others to live rightly. It's a sobering motivator. In light of this we should be waiting, watching, andworking. Jesus could come at any moment—His return is unpredictable, like amaster slipping in unannounced. We can't afford to be careless, assumingthere's time to get our act together later. The faithful steward doesn't slackoff; he's diligent, using everything the master's given for His glory. Thecareless servant, though, gets distracted by the world—hypocrisy, covetousness,indulgence—and faces the consequences. 

Welcome to today's Pastor's Chat! In Luke 12, Jesus warns us to beware ofhypocrisy, covetousness, worry, and fear—traps that keep us from pleasing Godin every part of life. These lead to anxiety, but Jesus says, “Do not worry, donot be anxious, do not fear.” His remedy? Believe He's coming soon. He tells astory of a master returning from a wedding, urging us in verse 40, “Be ready,for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” We often get socaught up in temporary things that doesn't last, that we forget this truth. Lest we get the idea that watching and waiting are all thatHe requires, Jesus added this parable to encourage us to be working when Hecomes. The Apostles had a special responsibility to feed God's household, Hischurch; but each of us has some work to do in this world, assigned to us by theLord. Our responsibility is to be faithful when He comes. We may not appearsuccessful in our own eyes, or in the eyes of others; but that is notimportant. The thing God wants is faithfulness (1 Corinthians 4:2). Once a believer starts to think his Master is not comingback, his life begins to deteriorate. Our relationship with others depends onour relationship to the Lord; so if we stop looking for Him, we will stoploving His people. The motive for Christian life and service must be a desireto please the Lord and be found faithful at His return. In this passage Peter asks, “Lord, is this parable just forus or for everyone?” Jesus responds with another story: a faithful stewardtends the household well and is blessed when the master returns, gainingauthority over all he has. But if a servant thinks, “My master's delayed,” andstarts mistreating others, indulging in reckless living—eating, drinking,getting drunk—the master will come unexpectedly, judge him, and cast him withunbelievers. Those who know the master's will and don't prepare face manystripes; those who don't know but still err, fewer. “To whom much is given,much is required.” We've been given heaven's resources, how are we using them? I do not think that Luke 12:46 teaches that unfaithfulbelievers lose their salvation, because our going to heaven depends on faith inJesus Christ and not good works (Eph. 2:8-10; 2 Tim. 2:11-13). The phrase"cut him in sunder" means "cut him off, separate him"; and"unbelievers" can also be translated "unfaithful." Our Lordwill separate the faithful believers from the unfaithful; He will reward thefaithful, but the unfaithful servants will lose their rewards (1 Cor. 3:13-15). This ties to 1 Corinthians 15, where Paul describesChrist's return: the trumpet sounds, the dead rise, and we're changed in atwinkling of an eye, receiving immortal bodies like Jesus. He says, “Therefore,be unmovable, always abounding in the Lord's work, knowing it's not in vain.”Jesus could come any moment, friends. We must watch, wait, and work. TheBible's final prayer is, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” If He came today, wouldyou be ready? Would He find you working in His fields, living for His glory? Prayer:Lord Jesus, free us from hypocrisy and worry. Help us steward Your giftsfaithfully, staying unshakable in Your work. May we be ready when You return.Come quickly, Lord. Amen. Challenge:Reflect today: Are you living carelessly or carefully for Christ? Study theseverses, pray, and let's be found working for our Master. God bless you—have awonderful day! God bless!

Deuteronomy - God's Gracious Dealings, Israel Provoked GodLuke - God Knows and Cares, Covetousness Denounced, Be in Readiness, Christ Divides Men

In these verses, Jesus shifted the emphasis from beingworried about the present to being watchful about the future. It is interestinghow all the themes in Luke 12 go together, for one of the best ways to conquerhypocrisy, covetousness, worry and fear is to look for the return of our LordJesus Christ. When you are "living in the future tense," it isdifficult for the things of the world to ensnare you. In this section, Jesusexplained how we can be ready for His return by waiting and watching (vv.35-40).  In the days of Christ, Jewish weddings were generally heldat night and could go on late into the night and early morning hours. Rememberin John 2 at the wedding that Jesus attended with His mother and His disciplesthat they ran out of wine. It must have been a long wedding! After the weddingthe bridegroom's servants would have to wait for their master to come home withhis bride. The new husband would certainly not want to be kept waiting at thedoor with his bride! But the servants had to be sure they were ready to go towork, with their robes tucked under their girdles so they were free to move.  That is why Jesus said in verses 35-36, "Let yourwaist be girded and your lamps burning; and you yourselves be like men who waitfor their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes andknocks they may open to him immediately.” Peter later would write to thesaints and say something very similar in 1 Peter 1:13-16, “Therefore gird upthe loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace thatis to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedientchildren, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; butas He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because itis written, "Be holy, for I am holy." But the remarkable thing that we should also notice in thisstory is that the master serves the servants! In Jewish weddings, the bride wastreated like a queen and the groom like a king; so you would not expect the"king" to minister to his staff. Wow!!!!! Our King will minister toHis faithful servants when He greets us at His return, and He will reward usfor our faithfulness. Jesus said the servants who were watching and waiting fortheir Master's returned would be blessed (v. 37). To "watch" means tobe alert, to be ready, not to be caught by surprise. That is the attitude wemust have toward the second coming of Jesus Christ. His coming will be likethat of a thief: unannounced and unexpected. Jesus Himself promised His disciples that He would returnin John 14:3, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come againand receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” AsJesus ascended into heaven from the Mount of Olives 40 days after Hisresurrection, His disciples were told by two angels in Acts 1:11, "Menof Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who wastaken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him gointo heaven." If we really believed that Jesus would return today, howwould we be living? Prayerfully, if we are living with this “blessed hope”in our minds and hearts, we should purify ourselves and be ready! (1 John 3:2-3).Titus 2:11-14 also promises and encourages us with these words: “For thegrace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that,denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, andgodly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearingof our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that Hemight redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own specialpeople, zealous for good works.” Are you waiting and watching for Jesus return today? We can'tafford to be careless!!!!! God bless!

Again, I want to thank all my dear friends who responded toour pleas for prayer for my grandson Luke and his extensive brain surgery thispast Friday! The surgery and the recovery went well, and “Praise the LORD”, hewas able to go home yesterday afternoon! Your prayers, and the Lord's miraculoushealing hand, made this possible! Thank you! Thank you! It is amazing to me how this passage in Luke 12:22-34,along with Dr. Towns devotion today for April 01, from 365 Ways to Know God,entitled: JESUS: THE LORD OF PEACE, is exactly what we needed for this periodof time, and crisis in our lives. God's timing and reminders are always exactlyon time!!!! You can always trust Him! So far in Luke 12, we have learned that we should “bewareof hypocrisy”, we should “beware of covetousness”, and we should “beware ofworry”. It is interesting to me how all of these sins are linked to each other.And for sure, hypocrisy, pretending to be something that we are not, and covetousness,lusting and desiring things that we really don't need, always lead to this incapacitatingemotion that we call worry! They “strangle” and destroy us, they deceive usinto believing a false view of life and of God. We are attempting to live a lifethat will never ever satisfy or fulfill us. Not only does worry destroy and deceive us, but it can alsodeform us. It keeps us from growing and it makes us like the unsaved in theworld (Luke 12:30). In short, worry is unchristian; worry is a sin. How can wewitness to a lost world and encourage them to put faith in Jesus Christ if weourselves are doubting God and worrying? Is it not inconsistent to preach faithand yet not practice it? The late chaplain of the United States Senate, PeterMarshall, once prayed "that ulcers would not become the badge of ourfaith." Too often they are! How do we win over worry? The first step is to realize thatGod knows our needs, so we can trust Him to meet them. We are sheep in Hislittle flock, children in His family, and servants in His kingdom; and He willsee to it that our needs are fully met. It is His pleasure to give us Hiskingdom, so will He not give us everything that we need? Romans 8:31-32 remindsus of a great promise: “What then shall we say to these things? If God isfor us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but deliveredHim up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” But God's pleasures and our treasures must go together. Wemust look at earth from heaven's point of view and make sure that we put God'skingdom first in everything. The main question is, "Where is yourheart?" If our hearts are fixed on the transient things of earth, then wewill always worry. But if we are fixed on the eternal, then God's peace willguard our minds and hearts (Philippians 4:6-9). We must "hang loose"when it comes to this world's goods and be willing even to sell what we have inorder to help others (Acts 2:44-45; 4:34-35). It is not wrong to own things solong as things do not own us. Worry always leads to fear, and that is why Jesus, in verse32 added, “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father'sgood pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Worry is proof that our “faithis little” and that we need to believe God's Old Testament promise in Proverbs3:5-6: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your ownunderstanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct yourpaths.” We are our Father's “little flock” that He dearlyloves and takes pleasure in! You can trust Him to care for you today! God bless!

This was Dave Richards looking at Luke 12: 13-21 from our 10 am service on Sunday 30 March 2025. This is part of our "The Shape of Discipleship" series.

Now amazing, the place we pick up in Luke 12:22-29, seemsto specifically be for our family during a time like this! Remember Jesusbegins this chapter telling His disciples to “beware of hypocrisy” (vv. 1-12).Then Jesus tells them to “beware of covetousness” (vv. 13-21). You might havenoticed like me, that in verse 22, this is the second time Jesus specificallyaddresses His disciple in this chapter. In verses 1 and 22, we read, “…Jesussaid to His disciples”. Now, In verse 22, Jesus basically is saying to them,and to us, “beware of worry”. Jesus had just told the story of the rich farmer who was afool, not because he was rich, but because he forgot to consider God and eternity.The rich farmer worried because he had too much, but the disciples might betempted to worry because they did not have enough! They had given up all theyhad in order to follow Christ They were living by faith, and faith is alwaystested. First, we should remember that worry is destructive.The word translated "worry" in Luke 12:22 (or “anxious” in othertranslations), means "to be torn apart," and the word “anxious”,translated "doubtful mind" in Luke 12:29, KJV, ASV, means "to beheld in suspense." It is the picture of a ship being tossed in a storm.Our English word worry comes from an old Anglo-Saxon word that means "tostrangle." "Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow," saidCorrie Ten Boom; "it empties today of its strength." Someone said, “Worryis like being in a rocking chair. It will give you something to do but won'tget you anywhere”. It will emotionally wear you out! Worry is also deceptive. It gives us a falseview of life, of itself, and of God. Worry convinces us that life is made up ofwhat we eat and what we wear. We get so concerned about the means that wetotally forget about the end, which is to glorify God (Matt. 6:33). There is agreat difference between making a living and making a life. Worry blinds us tothe world around us and the way God cares for His creation. God makes theflowers beautiful, and He even feeds the unclean ravens who have no ability tosow or reap. He ought to be able to care for men to whom He has given theability to work. Jesus was not suggesting that we sit around and let God feedus, for the birds themselves work hard to stay alive. Rather, He encourages usto trust Him and cooperate with Him in using the abilities and opportunitiesthat He gives us (2 Thes. 3:6-15). But worry even blinds us to itself. We can get to the placewhere we actually think that worry accomplishes good things in our lives! InLuke 12:25, Jesus pointed out that our worries do not add one extra minute toour lives (Ps. 39:5) or one extra inch to our height. The rich farmer'sfretting certainly did not lengthen his life! Instead of adding to our lives,our worries take away from our lives. People can worry themselves into thehospital or into the grave! Once again, Jesus argued from the lesser to thegreater. If God feeds the birds, He will surely feed His children. If Hebeautifies the plants that grow up one day and are cut down the next, surely Hewill clothe His own people. The problem is not His little power, for He can doanything; the problem is our little faith. The emotion of worry should be like an alarm clock to us.It warns and alerts us that we are looking and thinking more about our needs,and focusing on them, rather than our great God who loves us and cares for us, andis more than sufficient to meet those needs. May the Lord often remind us of His cure for worry in Philippians4:6-7, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer andsupplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; andthe peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts andminds through Christ Jesus.” God bless!

Message from David Wojnicki on March 30, 2025

The Fear that Comforts (Luke 12:4-7) by Edgington EPC

Luke 12:22-34 Jesus assures us that we have a Father in heaven who knows what we need better than we do. The Foundation Preacher Podcast is provided to you by WELS Congregational Services. The Foundation resources were created to help churches allow the gospel message heard in worship, to echo throughout the week. Listen to […]

Date: March 16, 2025 |Preacher: Rev. Shawn Slate |Series: The Lord's Prayer

Jesus offers us a way of escape. It's called repentance. We either repent or we perish. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1170/29

Send us a textGood morning! Thank you for taking a few minutes to listen. If you are interested in the Daily Bible Devotional, you can find it at the links below:Amazon - (paperback, hardcover, and Kindle)Spiritbuilding.com - (premium quality paperback)Youtube Video Introducing the ContentFeel free to reach out with any questions: emersonk78@me.comLuke 12 As the Pharisees become more aggressive, Jesus openly warns others about them. While some fear them, Jesus teaches that the only One worthy of fear is God, and they must show this by speaking up for Jesus in the face of opposition. Disciples must also defend the Holy Spirit's integrity against all who blaspheme. As Jesus is speaking, a man interrupts and asks for part of his family's inheritance. This displeases Jesus and leads Him to adjust His sermon topic. He addresses the sin of monetary greed. He speaks of putting trust in God and even selling possessions to help others. The most important thing is to be ready for Christ's return. These truths must be settled in their hearts because times of great persecution and temptation are coming.  Religious movements and groups can have a heavy hand of influence on believers. The only one we fear and answer to is God, and we must defend the Father, Son, and Spirit, no matter who speaks against them. This demands a sense of spiritual priority. It is so easy to get caught up in greed, too much focus on money, and a sense of dependency on things that are not of God. So many will not be ready when Jesus returns. We need to trust God, use our goods to help others, and always be ready to answer to our Lord. In the meantime, true faith can be divisive, and great trials may be in the near future. Get prepared today.   Powerful God, we fear You and offer worship and praise to You alone. Please help us to carry that same boldness into every conversation and every part of our lives. We get so distracted with worry and money and the judgment of others. Great God, help us to lean fully upon You, and to find rest in Your Son's kingdom. Please present us with opportunities to be givers and servants. All that matters is to be faithful to You at Your Son's return. Please help us keep that fresh in our minds as we face unbelievers and temptations in this life.  -       The Pharisees were wrong, and their hypocrisy was dangerous. How does fearing God sometimes mean opposing religious people? -       Greed is also very dangerous. How do you guard against it? What keeps you charitable and spiritual in this material world? -       Are you ready for the Lord to return? How does the way you handle difficult people and temptation today help answer that question? 

Send us a text****Read the New Testament in a Year with me in 2025 right here on the podcast!***Bible Verses of the Week: Matthew 5:25-26Welcome to the podcast Move Forth With Grace!  We will be reading the New Testament in a year.  This is such a perfect way to get into God's Word each day and to develop your own relationship with God our Father through His Son Jesus Christ. I am your host Angela and want to first of all say that I am not an expert in Theology or Church History or a Minister and I never will claim to be.  I am a  wife and mother who has been reborn and want to be of service to God in gratitude for calling me back home. Welcome to the Podcast! The Bible that I will be reading from is the English Standard Version Study Bible.  You can find one at www.crossway.org.Thank you for being here....thank you for becoming less like you and more like Jesus.May you Move Forth with Grace today!Love, Angela One of the most important things that we can be doing is teaching our children about the Bible and helping them to develop a Biblical Worldview.  The way that we are doing this in our family is by using My Father's World Curriculum in our homeschool.  For more information on that, please go to https://www.mfwbooks.comTo learn more about my story and the products that I love to use daily, please go to my website:www.move-forth.comThe Holy Roast Coffee  Pro Life Blend: https://theholyroastco.com/products/pro-life-blendPlease donate today to save unborn souls!https://preborn.comI am reading the ESV Study Bible in 2025: Get your copy today if you would like to read along...this is not required of coursehttps://www.crossway.org/bibles/Connect with me on social media or send a prayer request to me on my website here:https://campsite.bio/moveforthBible Teachers that I recommend:Mike Winger on https://biblethinker.org/meet-mike/Dr. Chuck Missler on www.khouse.orgNancy Missler on www.kingshighway.orgDale Partridge on www.relearn.orgChuck Smith on http://www.pastorchuck.org/RC Sproul Eschatology Playlist:https://youtu.be/n22MRa0P6_I?si=Aw53nQLSteu6T3-ASupport the show

Luke: The Action | Jesus Disappoints | Luke 12:13-34 Sermon from March 23, 2025 – Deron Spoo, Pastor Part 12 of 18 of the series The Action

The gospel of Jesus is a gopsel of grace. We are saved not by our works but by the grace of Jesus Christ. But the following of Jesus Christ is a relationship where He is our master, He is our boss. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1170/29

With parables and warnings, Jesus told everyone in his day and ours to be ready for the coming of the Son of Man.

Sunday, March 23, 2025"Kingdom Stories: A Kingdom Story of Foolishness" - Tyler TankersleySermon based on Luke 12:13-34(reading by Jess Tankersley)

When Hypocrisy Meets Omniscience (Luke 12:1-3) by Edgington EPC

Because Jesus said we either do one of two things; we either fear God, confess Jesus and experience the help of the Holy Spirit or we fear man, we deny Jesus and we blaspheme the Holy Spirit. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1170/29

Numbers chapter 2 describes the arrangement of the camp of Israel. Everything that their Sovereign gave to His people Israel was orderly and purposeful. Even in what might seem to be simple matters there were divine principles being taught to the Almighty's family. Each tribe had its banner, or flag. Three tribes camped on each side of the central Sanctuary, where the Tabernacle was located. The three tribes grouped on the eastern side of the Tabernacle under the flag of Judah – the lion – were Judah, at the head, and Issachar and Zebulon. On the southern side encamped a further three tribes under the standard of Reuben, the man, these were – Reuben, Simeon and Gad. The order stated for the tribes and for the furniture and tent of the Tabernacle was for camping and setting forth; as verse 34 tells us. What this chapter does not tell us is that the ark of the covenant led the Israelites on their journeying(Numbers 10:33-36).

The Miscalculation of Hypocrisy - Luke 12:1-7

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Download study notes for this chapter.Download study notes for this entire book.**********Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version ®, NIV ® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.The “NIV”, “New International Version”, “Biblica”, “International Bible Society” and the Biblica Logo are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.  Used with permission.BIBLICA, THE INTERNATIONAL BIBLE SOCIETY, provides God's Word to people through Bible translation & Bible publishing, and Bible engagement in Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and North America. Through its worldwide reach, Biblica engages people with God's Word so that their lives are transformed through a relationship with Jesus Christ.Support the show