The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard

A rich young man approaches Jesus and asks him: “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Now we often read that in a timeline sense, like “how do I live forever?” This young man was asking a much deeper, more pressing question: “What must I do to live the kind of life that God wants, that is true to God’s ultimate intention for humanity?”

Valid question. One we all wonder about. “How do I live the kind of life that God wants me to live?” For the rich young man, Jesus’ answer was targeted toward the man’s wealth because it was in riches that the man hoped to be “saved” or taken care of in this life. In other words: “Surely God’s ultimate intention for humanity is to accumulate wealth so you can live comfortably and without fear.”

Jesus says, “Nope. You are serving two masters. Sell everything you have then follow me.” This was something the rich young man either could not or would not let go of.

I wonder what it is that I serve right alongside of God sometimes…?

Sunday, December 17, 2011

Main Street | Year 3 | Week 16

Audio file NO DOWNLOAD

The Rich Young Man

A rich young man approaches Jesus and asks him: “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Now we often read that in a timeline sense, like “how do I live forever?” This young man was asking a much deeper, more pressing question: “What must I do to live the kind of life that God wants, that is true to God’s ultimate intention for humanity?”

Valid question. One we all wonder about. “How do I live the kind of life that God wants me to live?” For the rich young man, Jesus’ answer was targeted toward the man’s wealth because it was in riches that the man hoped to be “saved” or taken care of in this life. In other words: “Surely God’s ultimate intention for humanity is to accumulate wealth so you can live comfortably and without fear.”

Jesus says, “Nope. You are serving two masters. Sell everything you have then follow me.” This was something the rich young man either could not or would not let go of.

I wonder what it is that I serve right alongside of God sometimes…?

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Main Street | Year 3 | Week 15

Audio file DOWNLOAD mp3 (12.75mb)

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

“Just who is my neighbor?”

We’ve (humans) been asking this question for millenia. And this was the very question posed to Jesus back 2,000 years ago:

“Who do I have to LOVE?”

And it was just like the Son of God to pinpoint exactly “who” it was to the person (or group of people) asking this question. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus shoots straight at the religious leaders and Jews of the day with their hated neighbors, the Samaritans. It was in this iconic and classic story that Jesus shares “you need to be a neighbor (and love them) to the one (or group of people) that you seem to hate the most.”

Jesus always had a way of accurately pinpointing exactly what the “hearer” needed.

I wonder who it is that I hate and need to love as my neighbor? Maybe you should wonder and let Jesus ask you that question as well…

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Main Street | Year 3 | Week 14

Audio file DOWNLOAD mp3 (10.63mb)