Sunday Inspiration
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Sunday, August 3rd, 2008The Gracious Landowner
READ Matthew 20:1-16
“When those hired at five o’clock were paid, each received a full day’s wage.”
Matthew 20:9
Jesus did not tell the story of the generous landowner to comment on the validity of human pay scales. He was not suggesting that, in real life, those who work little should be paid just […]
Sunday Inspiration from The High Calling
Sunday, July 27th, 2008Childlike Discipleship
READ Matthew 18:1-4
Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven.”
Matthew 18:3
When the disciples came to Jesus to ask who was the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven, they were expressing the values of […]
Sunday Inspiration from The High Calling
Sunday, July 20th, 2008The Compassion of Jesus
READ Matthew 15:29-39
Then Jesus called his disciples and told them, “I feel sorry for these people. They have been here with me for three days, and they have nothing left to eat. I don’t want to send them away hungry, or they will faint along the way.”
Matthew 15:32
A few days […]
Sunday Inspiration from The High Calling
Sunday, July 13th, 2008Buried Treasure
READ Matthew 13:44-52
“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.”
Matthew 13:44
The phrase “kingdom of heaven” appears commonly in the Gospel of Matthew. It is a […]
Sunday Inspiration from The High Calling
Sunday, June 29th, 2008Not Peace, but a Sword
READ Matthew 10:34-42
”Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword.”
Matthew 10:34
At first glance, we might recoil from this statement of Jesus. Isn’t he the Prince of Peace? Hasn’t he come to bring peace on earth? Didn’t Jesus […]
Sunday Inspiration from The High Calling
Sunday, June 22nd, 2008Jesus Forgives Sins
READ Matthew 9:1-8
Some people brought to him a paralyzed man on a mat. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “Be encouraged, my child! Your sins are forgiven.”
Matthew 9:2
It’s easy for us to read the story of Jesus forgiving and healing the paralyzed man without being unsettled or even surprised. […]
Sunday Inspiration from The High Calling
Sunday, June 15th, 2008The Golden Rule
READ Matthew 7:12
”Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.”
Matthew 7:12
We find versions of the so-called “Golden Rule” in the ethical teachings of many philosophers and religions. Yet these versions almost always take […]
Sunday Inspiration from The High Calling
Sunday, June 8th, 2008Treasures in Heaven
READ Matthew 6:19-21
“Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.”
Matthew 6:20
These words of Jesus are as relevant to us as they were to his first audience. But if he were speaking today, he might not refer to moths, rust, and thieves. […]
Sunday Inspiration from The High Calling
Sunday, June 1st, 2008A Call to Truthfulness
READ Matthew 5:33-37
”Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one.”
Matthew 5:37
In the time of Jesus, people made vows to offer assurance that they would do as they had said. But they didn’t “swear to God” for fear that if they […]
Sunday Inspiration from The High Calling
Sunday, May 25th, 2008Blessed Are Those Who Are Maligned for the Sake of Jesus
READ Matthew 5:1-12
”God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you […]
Sunday Inspiration from The High Calling
Sunday, May 18th, 2008Blessed Are Those Who Mourn
READ Matthew 5:1-12
“God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
Matthew 5:4
Ever since sin broke God’s perfect world, sadness pervades our existence. Oh, to be sure, there are times when we rejoice. But we also experience times of mourning, even extended seasons of grieving. We mourn for many reasons: […]
Sunday Inspiration from The High Calling
Sunday, May 11th, 2008 The Ministry of John the Baptist
READ Matthew 3:1-12
“Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”
Matthew 3:2
These days, if we even use the word “repent” in common discourse, we emphasize feeling bad for something we have done. “I have repented” means “I am truly sorry for […]
Sunday Inspiration from The High Calling
Sunday, May 4th, 2008God Intended It All for Good
READ Genesis 50:19-21
“You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good.
He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.”
Genesis 50:20
Joseph’s brothers, fearing that he would mistreat them after their father’s death, begged Joseph to forgive them, perhaps even conjuring up a […]
Sunday Inspiration from The High Calling.org
Sunday, April 27th, 2008Reunion
READ Genesis 46:5-34
Joseph prepared his chariot and traveled to Goshen to meet his father, Jacob. When Joseph arrived, he embraced his father and wept, holding him for a long time.
Genesis 46:29
What a touching scene! After years and years of separation, Jacob was finally reunited with his beloved son, Joseph. It comes as no […]
Sunday Inspiration from The High Calling.org
Sunday, April 20th, 2008It’s Not About You!
READ Genesis 43:1-7
“Why were you so cruel to me?” Jacob moaned. “Why did you tell him you had another brother?”
Genesis 43:6
The story of Joseph overflows with self-centeredness, beginning with Joseph’s dreams, continuing through his brothers’ treachery, right up to Jacob’s self-absorbed response to his sons’ report. They had risked their lives […]
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