The Pharisee in Me. “Then Jesus said to the crowds and to His disciples, ‘The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ throne as the authorized interpreters of the Law. So listen and follow what they teach, but don’t do what they do, for they tell you one thing and do another. They tie on …
Beware: Watch Out For Greed. “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own; it does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” (Luke 12:15-21). THE CONTEXT. a. There was a crowd of people surrounding Jesus, and a man in the crowd tried to recruit Jesus to issue …
Beware: Listen Or Else! Jesus warned His audience about many things… False teachers; the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees; our lifestyle; our motives; treatment of children. Jesus often said Watch out! Beware! Take heed to yourselves! Be on your guard! Be careful! And here is another fair warning from Jesus that was too important …
Beware: Examine Your Motives. “Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don’t make a performance out of it. It might be good theater, but the God who made you won’t be applauding. When you do something for someone else, don’t call attention to yourself. You’ve seen them in action, …
Beware: Watch Your Lifestyle. “Be careful! Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Don’t let that Day catch you unawares, like a trap. For that Day will come upon everyone living on the earth. Keep alert at all times.” (Luke 21:34-35). Jesus gave His …
Beware: The Yeast of the Pharisees and the Sadducees. “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees’… Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” (Matthew 16:6, 12). Jesus wasn’t afraid to give fair warning. …
The Process of Temptation. “You can’t keep the birds from flying overhead, but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair.” (Martin Luther). Let’s say we have an especially attractive desire that comes to the surface of our mind and heart. We seriously consider this desire, we give it some attention, even if …
The Temptation of Christ. (Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:1-13). Pushed. The Gospel of Mark doesn’t mince words. “The Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness.” (Mark 1:12). The Holy Spirit didn’t passively encourage Jesus to go into the wilderness. The Spirit didn’t lead Jesus by the hand into temptation. The fact is, the Holy Spirit drove …