#list of the parables of jesus

[cinderpresss]

The 30 Parables of Jesus Study Book: A Practical and Easy-to-Understand Perspective

Discover the timeless wisdom and profound teachings of Jesus through His parables with "The 30 Parables of Jesus Study Book: A Practical and Easy-to-Understand Perspective." This study guide is designed for readers of all backgrounds, offering a fresh and accessible approach to understanding the parables that have inspired and guided millions for centuries.

Features:

Explore the deeper meanings and contexts of each parable with simple and clear explanations.

Engage with thought-provoking questions that encourage personal reflection and group discussion, making it perfect for individual or small group study.

Gain a better understanding of the historical and cultural contexts of Jesus' time, enhancing your appreciation of His teachings.

Incorporate the teachings into your spiritual practice with prayers and suggestions for worship related to each parable.

Continue your study with recommended readings and resources for deeper exploration of the parables' themes and messages.

Why You'll Love This Book:

"The 30 Parables of Jesus Study Book" offers a clear and practical guide to understanding and applying the wisdom of the parables. Each chapter is designed to be engaging and easy to follow, ensuring that readers of all levels can benefit from the profound lessons contained within these timeless stories.

Unlock the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven and discover how the parables of Jesus can transform your life with this essential study book. Dive into the teachings that have shaped faith and spirituality for generations, and see how they can speak to you today in a fresh and meaningful way.

Get your copy of "The 30 Parables of Jesus Study Book: A Practical and Easy-to-Understand Perspective" and embark on a journey of spiritual growth and enlightenment!

[blackswaneuroparedux]

If Caravaggio were alive today today, he would have loved the cinema; his paintings take a cinematic approach. We filmmakers became aware of his work in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and he certainly was an influence on us. The best part for us was that in many cases he painted religious subject-matter but the models were obviously people from the streets; he had prostitutes playing saints. There’s something in Caravaggio that shows a real street knowledge of the sinner; his sacred paintings are profane.

Martin Scorsese on Caravaggio

Michelangelo Merisi, known to most of us as “Caravaggio,” was born on September 29, 1571 in Milan, Italy, to parents who were from the small town of Caravaggio. In the span of his 38 years long life he revolutionised painting with innovations like a unique use of chiaroscuro - with dark shadows contrasting with dramatic areas of light - and a deep sense of realism that later inspired the Baroque movement. But most of all, he developed such an iconic style that most of us can probably look at a painting and know if it’s a Caravaggio, or Caravaggio-inspired. 

Merisi spent the first few years of his life in Milan, studying painting, and later moved to Rome, where his early talent impressed Cardinal Del Monte, who introduced the young painter to other high-profile Catholic figures who became commissioners of some of Caravaggio’s best work. It seemed there was no end to the artist’s creative genius. Caravaggio, much to his patron’s delight, would pump out one masterpiece after another. It seemed the more out of control his personal life became (cheating, brawling and murder were standard fare), the more his art would become more refined, more potent.

In the long list of masterpieces he left behind, both secular and religious works stand out. But it is perhaps in his religious works that the artistic transition of the master is more evident. Caravaggio is, in fact, known to have changed his style after harsh personal life experiences led him to reassess his outlook on life.

In May of 1606 Caravaggio took part in a deadly brawl in Rome and was charged with murder. He fled to Malta, in search of asylum from the Order of Saint John, a Catholic order dedicated to helping the sick and the poor. The order commissioned some of the most important late life works of the Milanese artist.

It is in these works that we notice the shift in Caravaggio’s art, from a strong focus on aesthetics to an interest in the spirituality of his subjects, which critics believe was motivated by his own introspection.

On the streets surrounding the churches and palaces, brawls and sword fights were regular occurrences. In the course of this desperate life Caravaggio created the most dramatic paintings of his age, using ordinary men and women - often prostitutes and the very poor - to model for his depictions of classic religious scenes.

By representing biblical characters in a naturalistic fashion, typically through signs of aging and poverty, Caravaggio's populist modernisation of religious parables were little short of trailblazing. Although not without his critics within the church, by effectively humanising the divine, Caravaggio made Christianity more relevant to the ordinary viewer.

For some, though, his art was too real. Bare shoulders, plunging necklines, severed heads; this raw humanity didn’t always fly in 17th century Rome. As a result, many of his pieces were rejected as altar pieces and as church hangings. One such piece, the Madonna of Loretto (now hanging in a church in Rome) was widely criticised upon its unveiling. The people of the day were shocked to behold the Mother of God leaning nonchalantly against a wall in her bare feet while holding baby Jesus in her arms.

It is ironic that the very art that today we consider “classical” and “iconic” to the Catholic faith was considered questionable and perhaps void of modesty and virtue. Yet, the fact remains that no individual artist has made such a lasting impression on the world of modern art. Truly, many have called Caravaggio the “first modern artist”. It is no surprise, then, that his style has sparked both widespread admiration and imitation throughout the centuries.

Before Pope John Paul II refined a theology of the body beautiful, Caravaggio's paintings suggested a reverence for the inherent beauty of human form.

Troubled though he may have been, his art speaks eloquently of the dignity of the mundane. Though the original medium may be weathered and cracked, the message of beauty still echoes down the centuries. And this same beauty still fuels, escapes and reduces artists to relentless seekers as surely and as forcefully as it did in Caravaggio's life.

[momentsbeforemass]

The list

I get to hear a lot of peoples’ ideas about God. It’s a privilege when someone shares that. I’m humbled by their trust.

For many of them, their ideas about God are the source of some of the greatest suffering in their lives.

All you can do is grieve with them, for all that they’ve suffered. When the way that someone used God against them, they ways they internalized it, and the harm that it’s done to them, all comes tumbling out.

When someone who’s been hurt like that is ready to, I ask them to make a list. Of all the things they’ve been told about God that are hurting them, that are driving them away.

If that list has things like not being good enough, never doubting, not making any mistakes, never hurting anyone, never drifting away from God on it? I ask them to pray today’s Gospel with me.

Here’s what I mean – as Jesus heals him, He tells Bartimaeus, “Your faith has saved you.”

When Jesus talks about faith, He’s not talking about perfect faith. Having no doubts.

As He shows us in the parable of the mustard seed, Jesus is talking about the smallest crumb of faith. Even faith born of desperation. If it’s only the forlorn hope of “I wish it were so.”

“Your faith has saved you.”

That’s it. That’s what God wants from you. That’s God’s complete list.   

If your list has things like not being good enough, never doubting, not making any mistakes, never hurting anyone, never drifting away from God on it?

Compare your list to God’s list. None of that is on God’s list.

Because God loves you far too much to let any of that get in the way.

Today’s Readings

[divinum-pacis]

This is an opinion article by Thomas Reese.

Read below:

"Many people give up on religion when what they really need to do is change their image of God and how they relate to him. Too many people, when they grow older, give up on the God they learned about as children. What they really need to do is think about God in a more mature way. 

This can be a crisis of faith for many people, especially young people who can no longer relate to the God they learned about as children. Too often, priests will tell them that this is a temptation. They are told to have greater faith. Hold on to their God and don’t let go.

In truth, when someone is undergoing a crisis of faith, they may need to leave their old image of God for a new one. We need to change our understanding of God as we mature, just as we need to change our understanding of our parents as we mature.

Psychologists, like Erik Erikson, teach us that humans go through stages of development as they mature. The great Catholic mystics taught the same thing for centuries when they wrote of the purgative, contemplative and unitive ways. More recently, spiritual writers like James Fowler have used modern psychology to enrich our understanding of spiritual development.

My own simplified vision of spiritual development has three stages: turning away from sin, the practice of virtue and being embraced by God’s love. These stages are not airtight compartments but more a matter of emphasis. All our lives involve turning away from sin and practicing virtue, but the emphasis will be different as we mature.

Many of the greatest saints were first great sinners. They had to go through a conversion, reject sin, do penance and accept God’s mercy. Many Christian ministers put a great emphasis on this process, focusing on sin and the need for conversion in their preaching. Their God is a lawgiver and judge and sometimes even a policeman. God’s wrath will fall on sinners, but his mercy will come to those who turn away from sin.

Pentecostals, Baptists and conservative Catholics are good at challenging sinners and calling them to repent. This approach can be especially successful in dealing with prisoners and those with addictions.

Knowing that God is watching can also keep ordinary Christians from falling into sin. The fear of getting caught and punished keeps many people from doing wrong. We are like children who behave because we don’t want to be spanked.

The prayer life of a person at this stage of development is all about contrition, recognizing we are sinners and saying we are sorry. If we hear the parable of the prodigal son, we identify with  the prodigal and his brother, and how we are just like them. We spend a lot of time examining our conscience and listing all the sins we have committed in confession.

At this stage, God can sometimes come across as arbitrary and vindictive. When I was a child in the 1950s, we were taught that it was a mortal sin to eat meat on Friday or miss Mass on Sunday. Adolescents were told that they would go to hell if they enjoyed a “dirty thought.” Wives were told to stick with their husbands, even in cases of abuse.

For many, it seemed absurd to burn in hell alongside Hitler for eating a hamburger on Friday. This was a God who could be easily rejected.

At some point after turning away from serious sin, a Christian needs to move on from a focus on sin to a focus on the practice of virtue. If you are no longer a great sinner, it is time to move from the negative to the positive. We need to move from “How can I stop sinning?” to “How can I be a better Christian?” Scrupulosity is a sure sign that it is time to move on.

In this second stage of spiritual development, God is not so much a judge as a coach. We ask him for help to be a better Christian. He urges us on to greater and greater virtue. When we pray and read the Gospels, we don’t focus on sin, but on Jesus as the person we want to follow and imitate. “What can I do for the Lord?” “How can I be better?”

Most Christians spend most of their lives at this stage of spiritual development. We are not great sinners, but neither are we saints who practice the virtues perfectly. We try to be better but frequently fail. We don’t pray well, we don’t love as much as we should, we struggle and don’t seem to get better.

This can get tiresome after a while. The coach wants us to run faster, but we know we are never going to win a gold medal. We begin to resent the coach for asking too much of us.

At this stage of development, we are like a teenager trying to win someone’s love with the perfect clothes, hairstyle, makeup, conversation and social media. We are looking in the mirror all the time, not at the person we are with. By being good, we think we will earn God’s love.

In the third stage of spiritual development, we focus not on ourselves but on God. We look less at the prodigal son and his brother than at their father. Many Scripture scholars call the story the parable of the prodigal father because of the love that he showers upon his sons.

When we look at Jesus in the Gospels, we see someone who will not just tell us to stop sinning and follow him. Rather he is someone who is wonderful and who tells us about his Father, who is loving and compassionate. In this stage of development, we are not looking for sin or ways to be better; we are looking at the Scriptures to learn how awesome and wonderful God is.

I sometimes think that the hardest act of faith is not to believe a particular dogma but to believe that God loves us unconditionally, that above, behind and in the universe is a benevolent God.

In each stage of spiritual development, our prayer life is different. In the first stage it is mostly contrition (I am sorry), in the second stage it is mostly petition (help me) and in the third stage it is mostly thanksgiving and adoration (you are amazing).

To truly fall in love, we must forget ourselves and focus on the person in front of us. God is amazing and we give thanks to him for all that he has done for us. In the final stage of spiritual development, we fall in love. We aren’t good out of fear or to win God’s love; we are loving and kind because God has first loved us."

[bills-bible-basics]

Run the Race Graphic 09 #Christian #BibleStudy #Jesus "Run the Race With Patience" KJV Bible Verse List: https://www.billkochman.com/VerseLists/verse193.html "Look Forward and Stay on the Path" KJV Bible Verse List: https://www.billkochman.com/VerseLists/verse300.html "Strive for Your Crown of Life" KJV Bible Verse List: https://www.billkochman.com/VerseLists/verse321.html "Be Not Slothful in Business" KJV Bible Verse List: https://www.billkochman.com/VerseLists/verse343.html Article: "Sluggards and Sloths": https://www.billkochman.com/Articles/Sluggards-Sloths-Faithful-1.html Article: "Study, Work, and Don't Be Ashamed!": https://www.billkochman.com/Articles/study-01.html "Faithful in the Least" KJV Bible Verse List: https://www.billkochman.com/VerseLists/verse160.html Article: "Parable of the Sower: Salvation and Service": https://www.billkochman.com/Articles/parsowr1.html Article: "Are You a Burning Ember for the Lord?": https://www.billkochman.com/Articles/ember-01.html https://www.billkochman.com/Blog/index.php/run-the-race-graphic-09/?Run%20the%20Race%20Graphic%2009

[yieldfruit]

Walking Away From The Truth: How Does Apostasy Happen?

As believers, we love Jesus, we follow Him, we’re all in. We’re so thankful for the gospel—for being transformed and given new life. So we don’t understand how anybody who’s tasted that could ever walk away from it. How does apostasy happen? I’ve discovered about thirty different reasons the Bible has for why it happens. Here are a few.

Number one, persecution. People just do not want to pay the price to follow Jesus, especially publicly. Popularity and other people’s opinions are just way too important to them. “If I made a big deal about Jesus publicly, it could hurt my business or my status in the community.”

In Jesus’ parable about the sower and the seed, there are different hearts of people who heard the message. Jesus said that when persecution or tribulation arises because of the Word, some fall away. They stumble (see Matthew 13:20-21).

Another reason is mixed devotion. Some people come to church, but they’re fence-sitters. They think, “I’m attracted to the Jesus who forgives me for my sins and gives me joy and purpose, but there’s a lot of fun stuff to do in this world.” They’re earthbound. They’re after momentary comfort rather than Jesus and discipleship.

The Bible says, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15). In the sower parable, Jesus said, “The cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful” (Matthew 13:22).

A third reason it can happen is because it’s just plain hard to follow Jesus for some—probably for all of us—at one point or another. Have you ever read something and thought, “I have to live that? That’s hard!” I certainly have.

When people heard Jesus’ sermon in John 6, it was a tough message to receive. They said, “This is [a] hard saying; who can hear it?” (John 6:60, KJV). And then we’re told, “From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more” (John 6:66). The demands were too difficult.

Another reason people apostatize is because they’re not paying attention. Sounds like something your teacher would say, right? But it’s possible to fall away because you’re not really grabbing hold of the truth. Hebrews 2:1 says, “Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.”

Another reason it can happen is laziness. Some people just aren’t interested in coming to church. They distance themselves from it because they don’t want that accountability of having other believers around them.

But Hebrews 10:25 says, “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”

These are just a few reasons. The Bible lists many more, including Satan’s devices, an unbelieving heart, a hardened heart, rebellion, bitterness, immorality, disrespect of leadership, not mixing God’s promises with faith.

In fact, the majority of those exposed to the Gospel will turn away from it. Look at the math from the parable of the sower and the seed. Of all the people that heard the truth, only twenty-five percent bore any kind of fruit, and a very small percentage bore what Jesus called hundred-fold fruit (see Matthew 13:23).

It’s no wonder that Jesus said, “Wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction…. Narrow is the gate…which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13-14). Not most, not a lot—few. No wonder Jesus will say to many, “I never knew you; depart from Me” (Matthew 7:23).

Skip Heitzig

[christianbelievers]

PREPARE TO BECOME GOD’S NEW MINISTERS

PREPARE TO BECOME GOD’S NEW MINISTERS (NOW…AND IN THE 1000 YEARS REIGN)

If you are a born again believer, the Bible says that you will rule and reign with Christ. Are we prepared for that? I don’t think many of us can truly fathom what that means, but it still remains a fact written in God’s Word.

Perhaps I should have asked “Is God preparing you for that?” I believe that’s exactly what He’s doing. There are parables that God uses to help us understand how He’s doing it. You can find one of them in Matthew 25:14-30, and there is a similar parable in Luke 19:11-27, among others.

In the Parable of the Talents, from Matthew’s Gospel, a man going on a journey left three of his servants with some of his money, presumably to care for their master’s estate while he was gone. Each was given a certain amount “each according to his ability”. One man was given 5 bags of gold, the second 2 bags, and the third 1 bag.

"After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.” (Matthew 25:19) The first man used his 5 bags of gold to gain another 5. The second man used his 2 bags to gain 2 more. The master was thrilled. To both he said 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!” In the parable from Luke, the 2 men were given charge of cities, 5 for the one, and 2 for the second man.

In both of the parables, the 3rd men that were called in said that they had buried, or hidden the money that they were entrusted with. They both called their master a “hard man”, and claimed to be “afraid” of him. They said “I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed.” (Matthew 25:24) Both of these men’s share of the money was taken from them and given to the ones who had gained 5 bags more. But, not only were the bags of gold taken from the two men, they were also thrown out of their masters estates, and considered “worthless”.

So, what can we learn from these two parables? What did Jesus want the disciples, and us, to understand?

I believe the Lord wants us to understand first, that He wasn’t really talking about money, but knowledge, wisdom, and gifts that are to be used for His kingdom, such as evangelizing, and teaching. These gifts will help us to increase and build God’s kingdom. But there are many other gifts that God has endowed us with, but each according to our abilities. The list is long, but here are some of the gifts that some say are available within God’s Kingdom.

Prophecy, Pastor, Teaching, Wisdom, Knowledge, Exhortation, Discerning of Spirits, Giving, Helps, Mercy, Missionary, Evangelist, Hospitality, Faith, Leadership, Administration, Miracles, Healing, Tongues, Interpretation, Voluntary Poverty, Celibacy, Intercession, Exorcism, and Service. (This list is taken from the Wagner-Modified Houts Questionnaire)

Several of these gifts are disputed among some denominations, such as Miracles, Healing, Tongues, and Interpretation of Tongues. But I’m not going to debate any of the gifts. I only want to show the different ways that God uses us. One thing that I was surprised to see, is that Prayer was not in the list above. I personally think it’s one of the most important gifts of all. And is truly something that each of us can do, no matter what our abilities are.

In our preparation for ruling and reigning with Christ, I believe that these gifts will somehow help us now, and in the millennium, and perhaps even throughout eternity, but that is purely speculation on my part.

The first gifts that every believer receives from God are…the Holy Spirit, righteousness, grace, and eternal life. Glory to God and Amen for these wonderful gifts!

The Apostle Paul wrote on some of these gifts listed above. He said…

“In Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully."(Romans 12:5-8)

"Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way.” (1st Corinthians 12:27-31)

In that 12th chapter from 1st Corinthians, Paul also tells us how important it is for all of us to work together, as one body in Christ. We all need each other, and the gifts that each of us has. That’s why he said “Are all prophets? Are all teachers?” God’s Kingdom needs ALL the gifts, not just those of prophet and teacher, and so on. And there are no small gifts in God’s Kingdom. Now, no matter how inconsequential your gift might seem, it is priceless to God, and should be used to the best of your ability. To do this, we must remain open and connected to the Holy Spirit who works in us to accomplish these things. One thing that we should remember, is that it is God who is accomplishing our good works in the Spirit. So, as the Word says…

“It is because of him (God) that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord." (1st Corinthians 1:30-31)

Notice the last verse of chapter 12… “And yet I will show you the most excellent way.” Now, turn the page… “If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.” (1st Corinthians 13:2)

Probably the most important trait that you and I can have as members of the Body of Christ is love, especially when it comes to using our gifts. We must try to have the same compassion for people that Jesus had.

God’s love often tears down barriers between people. And one important thing to remember, is that many in this world have not experienced a lot of love in their lives. I think that’s why Jesus was so successful when He talked with “tax collectors and sinners”. He didn’t look down on them, and neither should we. At one time we were all sinners, so we should have sympathy for others, no matter what.

Now, the man who went on the journey is a picture of Jesus when he ascended to Heaven. As Matthew Henry pointed out, these men knew that the “master” would be coming back, so they wanted to make sure that whether he came back in a couple of days, or a couple of months, they would be able to show him how diligent they were in putting his money to work.

I believe the Lord wants us to realize that being a Christian is not about just reading the Bible. It’s about becoming the Bible. It’s about learning to become more like Jesus. We should pray that our faith will be expressed in good deeds toward our fellow man, and especially towards our brothers and sisters in Christ, and for God’s glory, not our own. I remember being on a repair job several years ago, when a woman, in her 80’s, walked up and gave me a glass of water. She knew I was a Christian so she said…

“And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward." (Matthew 10:42)

It may not seem like a lot, but in God’s eyes she was being obedient to His Word. This is all that He asks us to do…to be obedient to His Word. Remember…

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:29-30)

Many think that being a Christian means “rules and regulations”. The men who were only given one talent must have thought their masters were the same, all about “rules and regulations”, hard men. So they hid their talents, so they wouldn’t lose them. (Matthew Henry) Why these men thought this way about their masters is hard to say. But in this parable Jesus is comparing these men to people in the world who think being a Christian is hard, and that God is a God who throws lighting bolts at us every time we goof up. If that were the case I would be scorched beyond recognition.

But our God is a God of love. So, as the chapter about love says…

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” (1st Corinthians 13:4-8)

As I said, God’s love breaks down barriers. Perhaps you and I can break down a few of them before it’s all over.

The Apostle Peter wrote…

“The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” (1st Peter 4:7-11)

Note Peters first words above… “The end of all things is near.” How much closer can we be now to the end of all things if Peter said the end was near almost 2000 years ago?

It’s time for us to be preparing for God’s Eternal Kingdom. We can start by spending quality time with God each day in prayer and Bible study. I say study, because we need to go beyond just reading what the Word says, now we need to understand how to apply its teachings to our lives. The more we do that, the more we will begin to look and act like Jesus.

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14)

Are you one of the few? Are you ready? Are we preparing ourselves for what God has planned for us? Will we rule over 10 cities, or maybe 5? With Christ in us we will rule and reign with love and compassion.

Right now, take a moment to pray. Ask the Lord how you can use your gifts. Is it by helping others, teaching them, encouraging them? The Lord knows the plans that He has for you.

“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

Ask Him to show you where, to whom, and how you can use your gifts. It won’t be long now until we hear those words… “Well done, good and faithful servant! Come and share your master's happiness!”

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1st Corinthians 13:13)

God Bless!

[roman-catholic-mass-readings]

26th July >> Mass Readings (Except USA)

Saint Joachim and Saint Anne, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary 

on

Friday, Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time.

Friday, Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Liturgical Colour: White. Year: B(II))

(Readings for the feria (Friday))

(There is a choice today between the readings for the ferial day (Friday) and those for the memorial. The ferial readings are recommended unless pastoral reasons suggest otherwise)

First Reading Jeremiah 3:14-17 Come back, my disloyal children.

Come back, disloyal children – it is the Lord who speaks – for I alone am your Master. I will take one from a town, two from a clan, and bring you to Zion. I will give you shepherds after my own heart, and these shall feed you on knowledge and discretion. And when you have increased and become many in the land, then – it is the Lord who speaks – no one will ever say again: Where is the ark of the covenant of the Lord? There will be no thought of it, no memory of it, no regret for it, no making of another. When that time comes, Jerusalem shall be called: The Throne of the Lord; all the nations will gather there in the name of the Lord and will no longer follow the dictates of their own stubborn hearts.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Jeremiah 31:10-13

R/ The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.

O nations, hear the word of the Lord, proclaim it to the far-off coasts. Say: ‘He who scattered Israel will gather him and guard him as a shepherd guards his flock.’

R/ The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.

For the Lord has ransomed Jacob, has saved him from an overpowering hand. They will come and shout for joy on Mount Zion, they will stream to the blessings of the Lord.

R/ The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.

Then the young girls will rejoice and dance, the men, young and old, will be glad. I will turn their mourning into joy, I will console them, give gladness for grief.

R/ The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.

Gospel Acclamation James 1:21

Alleluia, alleluia! Accept and submit to the word which has been planted in you and can save your souls. Alleluia!

Or: cf. Luke 8:15

Alleluia, alleluia! Blessed are those who, with a noble and generous heart, take the word of God to themselves and yield a harvest through their perseverance. Alleluia!

Gospel Matthew 13:18-23 The man who hears the word and understands it yields a rich harvest.

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘You are to hear the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom without understanding, the evil one comes and carries off what was sown in his heart: this is the man who received the seed on the edge of the path. The one who received it on patches of rock is the man who hears the word and welcomes it at once with joy. But he has no root in him, he does not last; let some trial come, or some persecution on account of the word, and he falls away at once. The one who received the seed in thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this world and the lure of riches choke the word and so he produces nothing. And the one who received the seed in rich soil is the man who hears the word and understands it; he is the one who yields a harvest and produces now a hundredfold, now sixty, now thirty.’

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

------------------------------

Saint Joachim and Saint Anne, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary 

(Liturgical Colour: White. Year: B(II))

(Readings for the memorial)

(There is a choice today between the readings for the ferial day (Friday) and those for the memorial. The ferial readings are recommended unless pastoral reasons suggest otherwise)

First Reading Ecclesiasticus 44:1,10-15 Their name lives on for all generations.

Let us praise illustrious men, our ancestors in their successive generations. Here is a list of generous men whose good works have not been forgotten. In their descendants there remains a rich inheritance born of them. Their descendants stand by the covenants and, thanks to them, so do their children’s children. Their offspring will last for ever, their glory will not fade. Their bodies have been buried in peace, and their name lives on for all generations. The peoples will proclaim their wisdom, the assembly will celebrate their praises.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 131(132):11,13-14,17-18

R/ The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David.

The Lord swore an oath to David; he will not go back on this word: ‘A son, the fruit of your body, will I set upon your throne.’

R/ The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David.

For the Lord has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his dwelling: ‘This is my resting-place for ever; here have I chosen to live.

R/ The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David.

‘There David’s stock will flower; I will prepare a lamp for my anointed. I will cover his enemies with shame but on him my crown shall shine.’

R/ The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David.

Gospel Acclamation cf. Luke 2:25

Alleluia, alleluia! They looked forward to Israel’s comforting and the Holy Spirit rested upon them. Alleluia!

Gospel Matthew 13:16-17 Prophets and holy men longed to hear what you hear.

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Happy are your eyes because they see, your ears because they hear! I tell you solemnly, many prophets and holy men longed to see what you see, and never saw it; to hear what you hear, and never heard it.’

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

[carmelitesaet]

Download #CelebratingAtHome for the Feast of Christ, King of the Universe at https://carmelites.org.au/celebratingathome

Being the living presence of God

Only Matthew tells us this story of final judgement in the Kingdom of God. He paints a picture of the glorious arrival of the King and the assembly of all the nations of people who are then separated into two groups, sheep and goats.

Judgement is then pronounced - not on the basis of physical beauty, wealth, power, status or even religious practice.

What determines who will inherit the eternal life of the Kingdom are the works of service done to fellow human beings in need: the hungry, the thirty, the stranger, the naked, the sick and those in prison.

Perhaps surprisingly, there is no mention in the list of religious duties like prayer, liturgical worship, fasting, giving tithes or indeed any identifiably religious practice.

Very likely these things are presumed to be present in all the assembled people. But, the difference between the two groups is how they responded to fellow human beings in need.

At the end of the day, the disciple is called to be the Kingdom (living presence) of God in the world and to transform the suffering of its people into joy by deeds of loving kindness. The goats appear to have made horrible situations suffered by human beings worse by their neglect, their lack of love.

The virtuous disciple is the living presence of Jesus in the world. He or she realises that Jesus has entrusted the kingdom into his/her hands. In the Kingdom of Jesus, the disciple is not master but ‘servant’ - remember how frequently we have heard about the first being last and the last first?

The whole idea of ‘kingdom’ has been thoroughly re-written in the teaching of Jesus: there is only one master and you are all brothers… The disciples are indeed kings – they have the power of Jesus’ spirit in them. But this power is not to be exercised in the classical sense ‘having power over others’, but by being true servants. The power of the spirit of Jesus fuels deeds of loving kindness for the brothers and sisters of Jesus – reversing horrible human conditions, and bringing healing and salvation.

This is, once again, a ‘warning’ parable for disciples to make sure that they are living the life of the Kingdom properly. It is not meant as a ‘prophecy’ about the last day. It is meant for careful consideration by the disciples in their attempt to live the life of the kingdom which has been entrusted to them.

Disciples of Jesus are not to repeat the mistake of the Pharisees in objectifying faith in God and reducing it to external observance.

Disciples are to seize the life (grace) of the Kingdom within them, to work industriously with this great gift so that the life of Jesus at work in them overflows into deeds of loving kindness; so that, becoming one in heart and mind with Christ (as St Paul puts it), the disciple becomes Christ in his/her moment of history - seeing, thinking and acting as Jesus would.

[santmat]

Spiritual Guidance from the Great Master Hazur Baba Sawan Singh - Spiritual Awakening Radio Podcast @ Youtube, (Now at Youtube Music), also Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible, Google Podcasts, etc...

"The goal is to catch and rise up on the Sound Current to our Eternal Home. The Saints have only one message to give and that they give in the manner that suits the times. Their message is: "Soul! Thou has forgotten thy Source. That Source is Sach Khand. The Sound Current within you is the way to it, and we guide you to That." (Hazur Baba Sawan Singh Ji)

Today, the wisdom of the Great Master Hazur Baba Sawan Singh covering several major subjects central to the spiritual journey of the soul back to God: prayer to, and faith in, the Supreme Being Radhaswami (The Lord of the Soul, also spelled Radhasoami); Each Soul is a Drop from the Ocean of God, a Soul-Drop from the Ocean of Love; A Discourse on the Spheres of Kal, the Demiurge, Ruler of the Lower Planes of Time, Samsara, Impermanence and Illusion, and the Means of Salvation, of the Liberation of the Soul Through the Word, also Known as the Logos, the Shabda, The Sound Current; Why Does Sant Mat Follow Vegetarian Ethics? The Fleshless Diet of Those Whose Goal is God-Consciousness, to… in Spirit… Rise above the Flesh, to Rise Above Body-Consciousness and Make Heavenly Ascents Upwards via the Third Eye Center; The Way of the Sound Current: Our Duty to Follow the Sound Current Back to Sach Khand During Meditation Practice (Surat Shabd Yoga); Hazur Baba Sawan Singh on Our Spiritual Mission During This Life to Find the Pearl of the Soul and the Soul's Natural Habitat: Sach Khand, the Sphere of the Soul, and Ascend Back to that Heavenly Spiritual Realm Again Through The Hymn of the Pearl, The Audible Life Stream, The Holy Stream of Sound, also called The Sound Current, the True Name or Naam of God. (राधास्वामी)

Other texts quoted during today's satsang podcast include: the Gnostic Parable known as the apocryphal Hymn of the Pearl, The Hymn of the Soul, embedded in The Acts of Saint Thomas in India, the 2023 edition of the Sant Mat Glossary, Rumi, Kirpal Singh, Baba Devi Sahab of Hathras and Moradabad, and a saying of Jesus from an unknown Coptic language gospel fragment discovered in Egypt: "Now therefore have faith in the love of My Father." (RadhaSwami)

Spiritual Guidance from the Great Master Hazur Baba Sawan Singh - Spiritual Awakening Radio Podcast @ YouTube: https://youtu.be/qTj3EdpNz2k

@ YouTube Music: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqzXkcs_2TwAvbR6ev3goFSbDBj8FnRS8

Spiritual Guidance from the Great Master Hazur Baba Sawan Singh - Spiritual Awakening Radio Podcast - Listen and/or Download MP3 @: https://traffic.libsyn.com/spiritualawakeningradio/Spiritual_Guidance_from_Sawan_Singh_Sant_Mat_Radhasoami.mp3

& @ Wherever You Subscribe and Follow Podcasts (YouTube, Apple, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon, Audible, PodBean, Overcast, Jio Saavan, iHeart Radio, Podcast Addict, Gaana, CastBox, etc…): https://linktr.ee/SpiritualAwakeningRadio

In Divine Love (Bhakti), Light, and Sound, At the Feet of the Masters, Radhasoami, James Bean Spiritual Awakening Radio Podcasts Sant Mat Satsang Podcasts A Satsang Without Walls

[theformulaforsuccess]

Prayers and Parables of Jesus: Timeless Lessons from the Bible: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgv8G9op8hDM4JADH_aPQLDy2AdCjJzWS

Explore each of the powerful prayers and parables of Jesus in this carefully curated playlist. Dive into the profound stories shared by Christ, including the Parable of the Good Samaritan, the Prodigal Son, and many more. Understand the wisdom behind these teachings and their relevance in modern life. Whether you're seeking spiritual growth, biblical insights, or meaningful life lessons, this playlist is your guide to unlocking the truths in Jesus’ words. Perfect for Bible study, personal reflection, or sharing the Gospel with others. Subscribe and join the journey of faith today!

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#parablesofjesus #biblestudy #faith #christianteaching #christianteachings #gospel #Lessons #biblestories #jesusteachings #spiritualgrowth #biblicalwisdom #christianlife

[lennart11412]

Luke, Gospel according to [EBD]

was written by Luke. He does not claim to have been an eye-witness of our Lord's ministry, but to have gone to the best sources of information within his reach, and to have written an orderly narrative of the facts (Luke 1:1-4). The authors of the first three Gospels, the synoptics, wrote independently of each other. Each wrote his independent narrative under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Each writer has some things, both in matter and style, peculiar to himself, yet all the three have much in common. Luke's Gospel has been called "the Gospel of the nations, full of mercy and hope, assured to the world by the love of a suffering Saviour;" "the Gospel of the saintly life;" "the Gospel for the Greeks; the Gospel of the future; the Gospel of progressive Christianity, of the universality and gratuitousness of the gospel; the historic Gospel; the Gospel of Jesus as the good Physician and the Saviour of mankind;" the "Gospel of the Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man;" "the Gospel of womanhood;" "the Gospel of the outcast, of the Samaritan, the publican, the harlot, and the prodigal;" "the Gospel of tolerance." The main characteristic of this Gospel, as Farrar (Cambridge Bible, Luke, Introd.) remarks, is fitly expressed in the motto, "Who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil" (Acts 10:38; comp. Luke 4:18). Luke wrote for the "Hellenic world." This Gospel is indeed "rich and precious."

"Out of a total of 1151 verses, Luke has 389 in common with Matthew and Mark, 176 in common with Matthew alone, 41 in common with Mark alone, leaving 544 peculiar to himself. In many instances all three use identical language." (See MATTHEW; MARK »2419; GOSPELS.)

There are seventeen of our Lord's parables peculiar to this Gospel. (See List of Parables in Appendix.) Luke also records seven of our Lord's miracles which are omitted by Matthew and Mark. (See List of Miracles in Appendix.) The synoptical Gospels are related to each other after the following scheme. If the contents of each Gospel be represented by 100, then when compared this result is obtained:

Mark has 7 peculiarities, 93 coincidences. Matthew 42 peculiarities, 58 coincidences. Luke 59 peculiarities, 41 coincidences.

That is, thirteen-fourteenths of Mark, four-sevenths of Matthew, and two-fifths of Luke are taken up in describing the same things in very similar language.

Luke's style is more finished and classical than that of Matthew and Mark. There is less in it of the Hebrew idiom. He uses a few Latin words (Luke 12:6; 7:41; 8:30; 11:33; 19:20), but no Syriac or Hebrew words except sikera, an exciting drink of the nature of wine, but not made of grapes (from Heb. shakar, "he is intoxicated", Lev. 10:9), probably palm wine.

This Gospel contains twenty-eight distinct references to the Old Testament.

The date of its composition is uncertain. It must have been written before the Acts, the date of the composition of which is generally fixed at about 63 or 64 A.D. This Gospel was written, therefore, probably about 60 or 63, when Luke may have been at Caesarea in attendance on Paul, who was then a prisoner. Others have conjectured that it was written at Rome during Paul's imprisonment there. But on this point no positive certainty can be attained.

It is commonly supposed that Luke wrote under the direction, if not at the dictation of Paul. Many words and phrases are common to both; e.g., compare:

Luke 4:22; with Col. 4:6. Luke 4:32; with 1 Cor. 2:4. Luke 6:36; with 2 Cor. 1:3. Luke 6:39; with Rom. 2:19. Luke 9:56; with 2 Cor. 10:8. Luke 10:8; with 1 Cor. 10:27. Luke 11:41; with Titus 1:15. Luke 18:1; with 2 Thess. 1:11. Luke 21:36; with Eph. 6:18. Luke 22:19, 20; with 1 Cor. 11:23-29. Luke 24:46; with Acts 17:3. Luke 24:34; with 1 Cor. 15:5.

[bills-bible-basics]

Brevity of Life * Redeem the Time Graphic 13 #Christian #BibleStudy #Jesus "Brevity of Life" KJV Bible Verse List: https://www.billkochman.com/VerseLists/verse216.html "From Dust to Dust" KJV Bible Verse List: https://www.billkochman.com/VerseLists/verse520.html "Now is the Time" KJV Bible Verse List: https://www.billkochman.com/VerseLists/verse050.html "Redeem the Time" KJV Bible Verse List: https://www.billkochman.com/VerseLists/verse400.html "Be Not Slothful in Business" KJV Bible Verse List: https://www.billkochman.com/VerseLists/verse343.html Article: "Are You Redeeming the Time?": https://www.billkochman.com/Articles/redeem-1.html Article: "Are You a Burning Ember for the Lord?": https://www.billkochman.com/Articles/ember-01.html Article: "Sluggards and Sloths": https://www.billkochman.com/Articles/Sluggards-Sloths-Faithful-1.html Article: "Parable of the Sower: Salvation and Service": https://www.billkochman.com/Articles/parsowr1.html https://www.billkochman.com/Blog/index.php/brevity-of-life-redeem-the-time-graphic-13/?Brevity%20of%20Life%20%2A%20Redeem%20the%20Time%20Graphic%2013

[veale2006-blog]

March 21, 2025

CONDITIONS TO RECEIVE SALVATION

Salvation is not a "one off" instantaneous thing that we receive from God by faith that we cannot lose. Many who become Christians fall away later for various reasons. One reason is that they never really considered what was involved before they started the Christian journey. Jesus once told some parables about counting the cost before making a decision (Luke 14:28-33), and they are worth reading. In order to help you, this bible study lists four things that you need to be prepared to do in order to receive salvation before Jesus returns.

BE PREPARED TO REPENT OF SIN

LUKE 13:1-5 1 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus answering said to them, Do you suppose that these Galileans were sinners above all Galileans, because they suffered such things? 3 I tell you, No: but, except you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower of Siloam fell, and slew them, think you that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, No: but, except you repent, you will all likewise perish.

ACTS 17:30 (Paul) 30 And the times of this ignorance God overlooked; but now commands all men everywhere to repent.

Note: Repentance is a most important teaching of scripture. John the Baptist preached it (Matthew 3:2), Jesus preached it (Matthew 4:17; Mark 1:15; Luke 13:3-5), the disciples preached it (Mark 6:12), which they continued to do even after Jesus' death (Acts 2:38; 3:19), and Paul preached it (Acts 17:30; 26:20; 2 Corinthians 7:9-11). To repent really means "to have a change of mind", and this is what we need to do with regard to sin and our former way of life when we come to Christ. God has commanded all men everywhere to do this (Acts 17:30), and it seems clear that no one will be saved without it (Luke 13:3-5). It is the goodness of God that leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4), and he has promised to give us the power to do it thoroughly when we are born again:

(John 1:12-13) "But as many as received him, to them he gave authority to become the sons of God, even to those who believe in his name: Who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."

BELIEVE IN JESUS

JOHN 3:16-18 (Jesus) 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He who believes in him is not condemned: but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Note: Every saved person is saved through faith (Ephesians 2:8; 1 Peter 1:5; 1:9), which includes believing in the heart. 'Believing' is a verb, and is what we do; 'faith' is a noun, and is what we can have when we believe. So what do we need to believe in order to be saved?

(1) Believe in God (John 5:24; Hebrews 11:6), (2) Believe in Jesus (John 3:16; 3:36), (3) Believe in the name of Jesus (John 1:12; 3:18), (4) Believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God (Matthew 1:18; 16:16; John 20:31; Acts 8:37; Romans 1:4), (5) Believe that Jesus died to pay the price for our sins (Isaiah 53:5-6; 1 Corinthians 15:3; 1 Peter 2:24), and (6) Believe that God raised Jesus from the dead (Romans 10:9). (See Matthew 28:1-10; 28:16-20; Mark 16:9-20; Luke 24:1-53; John 20:11-31; Acts 13:30-33; 1 Corinthians 15:1-23).

Because we could not save ourselves, every Christian needs to believe that God sent Jesus to die for us, and to pay the price for our sins, so that we could be saved. Belief in God, or Jesus Christ, by itself, is not enough to be saved, because "the demons also believe, and tremble." (James 2:19). There were also many of the chief rulers who believed in Jesus, but would not confess him because they did not wish to lose their position in the synagogue (John 12:42-43); they did not have salvation.

BE PREPARED TO CONFESS JESUS

MATTHEW 10:32-33 (Jesus) 32 Whoever therefore will confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever will deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father who is in heaven.

ROMANS 10:9-10 (Paul) 9 That if you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart man believes to righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made to salvation.

Note: A living faith has two ways of expressing itself, and confession with the mouth is the first of these, so we need to confess what we believe in order to stand in faith:

(2 Corinthians 4:13) "We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore I have spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak."

Confessing Jesus can mean several different things, but to start with we must be prepared to confess Jesus as Lord:

(Philippians 2:11) "every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

This means that we should be prepared to confess to others that Jesus is our Lord - that we are Christians. It is clear that there is no salvation without this, because if we deny Jesus, he will also deny us before the Father (Matthew 10:33). Even the malefactor on the cross was prepared to call Jesus "Lord" (Luke 23:42), and defend him against the malefactor on the other cross (Luke 23:40-41). If we believe and confess, is that enough by itself to obtain salvation for us? The answer is 'no' - there are many who are prepared to call Jesus 'Lord' who will not be accepted by him when he returns (Matthew 7:21; 25:11; Revelation 3:16), and even the demons are prepared to confess who Jesus is in public (Matthew 8:29; Mark 1:24; 5:7; Luke 4:34; 8:28). We need to go on to obey Christ, because we can deny him just by not doing the works that he has for us to do (Titus 1:16).

BE PREPARED TO DO GOD'S WILL

MATTHEW 7:21 (Jesus) 21 Not every one who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

1 JOHN 2:17 17 And the world passes away, and the lust of it: but he who does the will of God abides for ever.

Note: The second way of expressing faith is with our actions, which should correspond with what we believe and confess. Without this we do not have a living faith, because "Faith without works is dead." (James 2:17; 2:20; 2:26). If we have a living faith, we will go on to find out God's will in our life and do it, because we will believe that this is necessary to maintain our salvation (Matthew 7:21). The malefactor on the cross never had the opportunity to do this (Luke 23:39-43), which shows again that salvation is totally by faith, without works, but if he had escaped the cross, there is no doubt that he would have endeavored to find out God's will for his life, and to do it. One reason why the unwise virgins did not enter the kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 25:1-13) was because they did not do the will of God:

(Ephesians 5:17) "Therefore do not be unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is."

In order to determine what God's will is for our lives, we need to study the word of God, and renew our mind with it:

(1 Peter 2:2) "As new born babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that you may grow by it:"

(Romans 12:2) "be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

Then, step by step, as God reveals his will to us, we need to put it into practice in our lives, which is how we grow and thus consolidate our salvation. If we are prepared to give diligence to this, then we have the assurance that we will not fail:

(2 Peter 1:10-11) "Therefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if you do these things you will never fall:

For so an entrance will be ministered to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."

Salvation is for those who obey Jesus (Hebrews 5:9; Revelation 22:14; 2 John 1:9), but not for the disobedient (Romans 2:8; Ephesians 5:6; Colossians 3:6; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8).

We receive salvation first by repentance, which is “turning away” from sin. Secondly by being water immersed using the name of (the Lord) Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38, Acts 19:5). Thirdly, we accept the Holy Ghost (of Jesus), evidenced by the Spirit speaking “in other tongues”.

HAVE A BLESSED DAY AND WEEKEND!

[elimu-assistant]

The Parable of the Good Samaritan: A Lesson in Compassion

Explore the parable of the Good Samaritan from Luke 10:25-37, highlighting the importance of compassion and love for one’s neighbor. Discover how Jesus redefined the concept of a neighbor through this powerful story. Questions Narrate the parable of the Good Samaritan from Luke 10: 25-37. List the following points: A teacher of the law wanted to know who a neighbor was from Jesus, A man was…

[mattanaministry]

Mattana Ministry Welcomes You To:

Daily Bible Study: 20 January 2025

Theme: Book of Ezekiel (11)

Scripture: Ezekiel 38; Ezekiel 39; Ezekiel 40; Ezekiel 41; Ezekiel 42; Ezekiel 43 & Ezekiel 36:25

Message:

THE COMPLETE RESTORATION

There is a sign that we can see whether God has done His work: when the work has been done completely. That is why we must believe that God can do and solve every problem we have.

God is fully able to recover any situation, but He waits for us to join Him. The same was true with the Israelites. What was the reason? It was due to the stubbornness of their hearts. In addition, they doubted God's help.

Although the Israelites were still stubborn and rejected truth whenever God spoke through His prophets, He remained patient, waiting for the right moment to fulfill His plan for the people of Israel. 

God has a wonderful plan for His people. This means God has a wonderful plan for each of us, as believers. Before this is accomplished, God will restore our hearts to make us ready to receive the best from God.

Recovery means replacing the old with the new. The Lord Jesus gave the parable of the new wineskins to receive new wine, showing that our hearts must be renewed daily so that God's plan will be fulfilled in our lives. Let the new temple of our lives be full of the glory of God.

God will restore our hearts first to make us ready to receive the best from God.

MM

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