Everyday Truth with Kurt Skelly

Mob Rule

Luke 4:25-30

Having you ever been in a crowd situation that began to get out of control? I read recently about people actually being trample to death in an uncontrollable crowd frenzy. How sad! Our passage today records a violent crowds attempt to throw Jesus off a cliff! What upset them so much? Why would they even think of such a thing? How did Jesus respond?

So Close and Yet So Far

Luke 4:14-24

Aside from being the words to a popular love song of the 70's, the title of today's podcast is a great description of the people of Nazareth in Jesus' day. Humanly speaking, nobody knew Jesus better than they did... yet they rejected him! Familiarity and proximity do not assure belief and acceptance. Just because we know about Jesus doesn't mean that we really know him. 

The Devil made me do it!

Luke 4:1-13

Too often people justify caving to temptation by invoking that statement. But the truth is, the Devil would *love* to make you do it. He is in the temptation business, and his endgame includes the sin and death that temptation brings. What a wonderful example the Lord Jesus gave us of facing and overcoming temptation!

 

Jesus' 23 and Me

Luke 3:23-38

Have you seen the advertisement for this little kits? 23 and me? A little swab of DNA and they'll tell you all kinds of things about your ancestry. The last part of Luke 3 is the human lineage of Jesus all the way back to Adam. Really astounding stuff, if you ask me! You'll be surprised by what you learn from what some people might call a pretty dry passage of Scripture.

A Father's Approval

Luke 3:19-22

Something inside of each of us longs for a father's approval and encouragement. When Jesus inaugurated his public ministry by being baptized by John, he heard the audible voice of God the Father: "Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased." What an encouragement that must have been! In fact, Luke 3:22 is an excellent testimony to the reality of the Godhead/Trinity. Listen in!

Hard Preaching!

Luke 3:7-18

Before you misunderstand the title, we have no clue as to the volume or style of John the Baptist's message. What we do know is his content... And, boy, was it tough to swallow! John was not afraid to bring the Word of God to bear upon people's lives. He spoke the truth in love. Truth is love's best gift; and love is truth's best wrapping.

 

Road Construction

Luke 3:1-6

You've been as frustrated as I have with road delays and construction projects. But we love the feeling of driving down pothole-free, freshly paved roads... especially when there's no traffic. John's job was to make a smooth road for the entrance of an important dignitary--the Lord Himself!

 

Rare Photo of Jesus!

Luke 2:41-52

I can guarantee you that we took more pictures of my grandkids on my cell phone this Christmas alone than my parents took pictures of me over the course of my lifetime! Video images have changed the game, and picture are now everywhere. Not so years ago; and certainly not so during the time of Jesus. In fact, we only have one "picture" of his childhood, and today's episode is a look at that one picture.

 

God's Celebrity

Luke 2:36-40

Americans are enamored with celebrities of every sort: sports, entertainment, politics, and even religion. But God measures greatness is ways we do not. Such is the case with the wonderful testimony of a faithful widow by the name of Anna. Servant-minded and Christ-focused, she seen her life focusing on eternal things. What an example!

Blessings can be painful.

Luke 2:25-35

Already we have learned what a great woman Mary was. In fact, the bible declares her to be blessed among all women. Wow! But blessings often come with their own burdens--a painful fact Mary would learn about the upcoming life and ministry of her Son, as prophesied by Simeon. In one short message she was encouraged by the marvelous truth of the scope of Jesus' ministry, but then soberly reminded that she would feel the bitter pain of rejection herself.