Everyday Truth with Kurt Skelly

Hear him!

Luke 9:27-36

If you want some direct advice from God the Father about how you should relate to Jesus, then read the title of this podcast again! Although it sounded radical, Jesus' message was completely consistent with the entirety of the Old Testament law and prophets. In fact, he is the very subject of the bible--Old Testament, New Testament, and every book in both!

 

Following Jesus is more than an altar call and decision slip.

Luke 9:23-27

What does it really mean to follow Jesus? We don't have to wonder about the answer to this question, because Jesus told us specifically and pointedly exactly what following him entails. We have one life to invest. And like any other investment, we can spend it now or make the harder choice to invest it for later.

Don't tell people about Jesus!

Luke 9:18-22

If that's sounds shocking, it is! In fact, Jesus himself basically said that to his own disciples. Why? Preconceived ideas about Jesus are dangerous! Jesus didn't want people to misrepresent him to others, so before the disciples were commissioned to tell others who Messiah was, they had to be rid of the preconceptions about who they *thought* he was.

 

Jesus is not your grocery store.

Luke 8:10-17

The Feeding of the 5,000 is one of the most famous miracles in all the bible. Its story is told in all four gospels, and it has been a frequent topic of messages and lessons throughout time. But is it really just a story about a boy's lunch and "little is much when God is in it"? In fact, this event marked a major turning point in Jesus' ministry. Listen and find out why.

 

Interested in, but not convicted by...

Luke 9:1-9

Perhaps the title of today's episode describes someone you know. There seems to be a great many people who express genuine interest in the person of Jesus Christ, but they refuse to acknowledge his authority in their lives or deal with the conviction such knowledge brings. Such was the case with at least one stubborn and hard-hearted character in the bible. Listen in!

When Jesus Shows Up Too Late

Luke 8:40-56

One of the chief times we question the Lord is when he doesn't work according to our calendar. After all, who knows better what we need (and when we need it) than we do? In today's story, the Lord seems to respond to a man's desperate and urgent plea... But it all crashes down when the clock runs out and the little girl dies.

Transformed!

Most of us understand the true change occurs from the inside out. But sometimes our emphasis on the “inside” part of transformation obscures the truth... the truth that transformation will also work its way to the outside! No story in the Bible better illustrates such transformation than the one we will talk about today!

Where is your faith?

Luke 8:22-25

After a full day of faith-building parables about the kingdom of God, the disciples exhibited a profound *lack* of faith that every evening. Granted, I've never been in a life-threatening storm, but Jesus had some strong words for some faithless followers. For the fearful disciples, the issue never was the storm; the issue was their faith.

 

Who is my mother?

Luke 8:16-21

What a strange question for Jesus to ask! The whole world knows that the mother of Jesus is Mary. Why would he even ask such a question? Obviously he was not asking a question of biological origin... he was asking a question of ministry connection and affinity. Who are my brethren? Who is my mother? Those who, like me, seek to follow the will of our Father.

Unknown and Unsung (but not Unimportant)

Luke 8:1-15

When I picture the public ministry of Jesus, I tend to envision one man (Jesus) walking around with 12 men (apostles). But the biblical record provides a different scenario. In fact, many others attached themselves to the itinerant ministry of Jesus, including some women with deep pocketbooks! 

And it was to this group and a large gathered crowd that Jesus spoke the important parable of the sower. Of all the parables Jesus taught, this one seemed to have a priority in his teaching ministry. The parable reveals the importance of a heart cultivated to receive the truth of God's Word.