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Luke 13 - Will All of Israel Be Saved?

Luke 13 - NIV Luke 13 - Enduring Word Commentary Repent or Perish 13 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless yo u repent, you too will all perish.” Jesus mentions two disasters. One, caused by a man, Pilate. The other a natural cause, the tower of Siloam, which fell about 14 Jewish people who all died. In Jesus' day people would often assume something bad would happen to you if you sinned. They might have assumed the Galileans and the victims of the tower of Siloam deserved their fate. But the rain falls on the just and just, the b...

Luke 12 - Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is!

Luke 12 - NIV   Enduring Word Commentary - Luke 12 Warnings and Encouragements 12 Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: “Be[a] on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 3 What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs. The crowds swelled as news of Jesus' ministry spread, but Jesus took time to address only his disciples. He warned them against the hypocrisy. Although it wasn't noticeable at first, the Pharisees' hypocrisy was like yeast, just a little bit worked its way through the whole dough. Though they did not think it would be noticed, Jesus reminded them that though man may try to hide things from God, they will be revealed.  4...

Luke 11 - Did You Know You Can Ask God for the Holy Spirit?

Luke 11 - NIV Enduring Word Commentary - Luke 11 Luke 11 Verses 1-5   The disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. Note there is a pattern to prayer that can help us. There are no rigid rules about prayer, but if Jesus taught this to the disciples, it is worth our time to learn and practice the model he gave us. Note the prayer is simple. There are five main petitions. When you pray remember God is holy . God is holy, but when we pray we need to remember to come into his presence with reverence. While prayer is a conversation with God under the influence of the Holy Spirit, we are also coming into the presence of an awesome and powerful Creator.   We pray for God’s kingdom to come . Other versions add that it will come on earth as it is in heaven. How exciting it is to know our prayers can cause God’s kingdom, his rule and reign, to come to this world. Powerful! Give us each daily our daily bread . This reminds us to not worry about tomorrow but trust that God wil...

Luke 10 - The Simple Gospel. Do You Believe It?

Luke 10 - NIV Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-Two 10 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two[a] others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. 2 He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. 3 Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4 Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. Jesus goes from doing the ministry and the disciples watching him, to sending them out in two's to do the ministry themselves. Though we normally think of 12 disciples, in this case Jesus sent 72 disciples out together. They went ahead of him to every town to prepare the way for his message. He was sending them out into the harvest field, which he described as plentiful . At this point most of the people were not Christian, so the mission field was wide open. When you compared the 72 with how many people were in the har...

Luke 9 - Why Children are the Greatest According to Jesus!

Enduring Word Commentary Jesus Sends Out the Twelve 9 When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases,  Jesus gave them his power and authority.  You can have power but no authority to use it. Or, you can be in a position of authority but no power to use it. Jesus gave them both. This group of fishermen and tax collectors will now go out and do the same things Jesus did. They would heal the sick, deliver demons, and even raise people from the dead. I would call that power. In the Great Commission Jesus us that He has given us the authority and power and authority to carry it out. And, He will be with us until the end of time when he returns in great and promised glory. 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. They would use his power and authority to do this. Notice again the content of their proclamation and preaching, “ The Kingdom of God” . 3 He told them: “Take nothi...

Luke 8 - A Disciple Must Be A Disciple To Make A Disciple!

Luke 8 - NIV Enduring Word Commentary The Parable of the Sower 8 After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 3 Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means. Jesus' primary message was the " Good News about the Kingdom of God" , which he came to inaugurate. His disciples were with him as well as the other women he had cured of evil spirits and diseases. Mary Magdalene had seven demons come out of her. There were other women too. Jesus did not follow a patriarchical model that was prevalent in his culture.  There have been plenty of arguments over some of Paul's writings about women in ministry. Some of Paul's writing were culturally...

Luke 7 - What Does Marvelous Faith Look Like?

Luke 7 - NIV Enduring Word Commentary The Faith of the Centurion 7 When Jesus had finished saying all this to the people who were listening, he entered Capernaum. 2 There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. 3 The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4 When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this, 5 because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” 6 So Jesus went with them. Jesus went into Capernaum, which became his home. It was on the Northwest side of the Sea Galilee. This was also the city that he lived in. A centurion was a Roman soldier who oversaw 100 soldiers. Clearly, he knew of Jesus and his ability to heal people. Interestingly the centurion went to the Jewish elders to ask for Jesus. The elders came to Jesus and apparently this centurion had given to build the synagogue, so they had a vested interest i...