“Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division” (Luke 12:51). This is one of the more obscure mission statements that Jesus gave during his earthly ministry. While it is true that Jesus is the Prince of Peace (Isa. 9:6)—who came to provide the way […]

“Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:15 ). With this saying, Jesus launches into a discourse on the relationship between true discipleship and material wealth. Here we discover one of the most profound and practical implications of the […]

The Bible repeatedly affirms that there is no neutrality when it comes to God and his kingdom. In Luke 11:23 we read: “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters” (see also Matt. 6:24; Rom. 6:16; James 4:4). In the healing of the mute man and the […]

“No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62). Following Jesus is a full-time occupation, and the demands of the kingdom supersede all earthly loyalties. To be a disciple of Jesus involves being sent out as laborers into the harvest—proclaiming the good news of […]

What does it mean to be truly blessed? According to the kingdom of this world, the blessed are those who earn the most and have the best. They are the rich, those satisfied with the comforts of this life, and those who are accepted and praised by all. But according to Christ Jesus, the blessed are […]