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We are still celebrating resurrection in this Season of Easter. Paul refers to the Resurrected Christ as the "firstfruits" of a massive resurrection harvest. Firstfruits are the first, best portion of the annual harvest that signal a bounteous crop to follow. We will be resurrected in the bounteous kingdom that comes finally and fully at the Second Coming. Until that happens, Paul describes what will happen as a way of encouraging us to remain faithful, because it is all going to be worth the wait and effort! To investigate this most important of stories further, go here. 

Luke 24:30-49 The resurrection of Jesus has far-reaching implications in our lives. Understatement! To investigate this most important of stories further, go here. 

The resurrection of Jesus is the lens through which everything else in scripture is to be seen and understood. His victory over sin and death changes the universe, including our small portion of it. Luke 24. To investigate this most important of stories further, go here. 

Larry looks at John's account of Jesus' last night with His disciples, beginning the evening by washing their feet, ending it by praying for their unity. And ours.  To investigate this most important of stories further, go here. 

Luke 19:28-44 is Dr. Luke's account of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, launching what we call Holy Week. The good doctor is spare in his details so that we can focus on one thing.  To investigate this most important of stories further, go here. 

In the second half of His Sermon on the Plain in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus uses colorful, nearly comic illustrations to convey His primary point of our need to see to our hearts and lives before we presume to check others'. Then Jesus shares the core secret of how to live the best of all lives: (1) Come to Him; (2) Hear His Words; and (3) Act on Them.  To investigate this most important of stories further, go here. 

Jesus chooses His 12 closest disciples and then teaches for the first time in the Gospel of Luke in today's message. A parallel to the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew, Luke has Jesus convey the bulk of His teaching in today's Sermon on the Plain. It's not in Spain, nor does it rain, at least during this episode.  To investigate this most important of stories further, go here. 

Today’s Luke sequence begins with a miracle and ends with a parable, but parable is present from the beginning. The featured friends believe and care deeply enough to take dramatic action to bring a friend to Jesus. We can do the same with and for those we love, family or friend. Jesus’ display of power and compassion continues in us and others. We are called to witness with wonder & awe. Levi, like Peter, sets an example of immediate full following of Jesus, telling everyone he knows about it. Our new walk with Jesus in His kingdom is not something to add to our life. It is our life. He is our life. Pass it on.  To investigate this most important of stories further, go here. 

We come to Luke 5:1-11 in our journey through that gospel and see how Jesus customizes His call on Peter (and his gang) in a way uniquely suited to the fisherman's sensibilities. He does the same with us, just not with fish.  To investigate this most important of stories further, go here. 

Here's the audio podcast of Sunday's sermon, the next lesson from Luke's gospel. Jesus pushes back against darkness and brokenness as His kingdom break in, then and now.  To investigate this most important of stories further, go here. 

In Luke 4:14-30, Jesus is without honor in His hometown because everyone is too familiar with Him, His family, etc. We run the risk of being too familiar with Him to the point of losing our wonder and taking Him for granted. To investigate this most important of stories further, go here. 

Focusing on Luke 3:21-4:13, Jesus begins His ministry by submitted to baptism by His predecessor, John. Jesus' identity is majestically confirmed by the presence of the Spirit and the voice of the Father booming affirmation from the heavens: You are My beloved Son, in You I am well pleased!  We are each His beloved children as well, just as affirmed and blessed as part of the family (of which His Spirit is a seal upon us). Jesus goes straight into temptation - a pattern of the enemy's, coming after us when we've had a mountaintop experience. Jesus shows us the way to parry the temptations sent our way by being centered in our identity in God and knowledge of His word.  To investigate this most important of stories further, go here. 

The ministry of John the Baptist fulfills prophecies made about him by Isaiah and Gabriel, and as he calls the people to repent and be baptized, we are called to do the same, and if we've already done so, it's time to renew our commitments to the King. Luke 3:1-20.  To investigate this most important of stories further, go here. 

We begin a series on the Gospel of Luke today, whose first sentence states he will summarize "the things that have been fulfilled among us," in a far reaching work that begins with Gabriel's visit to Zechariah in the temple predicting the birth of John the Baptist through to the gospel being taken to all the known world at the end of the Book of Acts, the companion volume to Luke's gospel. Luke devotes his introductory first two chapters to Jesus' birth, and we look briefly today at Luke 2:22-40 and its themes of waiting and promise fulfillment.  To investigate this most important of stories further, go here. 

The mercies of God are new every morning, and each day offers us a fresh start in Him. God is in the business of making all things new, including us, and He reminds us today of the moment when everything changed.  To investigate this most important of stories further, go here.