In the parable of the widow and the unjust judge (Luke 18), we can get hung up on details that aren’t in the message:

• We see God in the role of the unjust judge
• We see ourselves in the role of the widow

Neither of these is a good reading of the parable and the lesson it contains. Listen for more…

Praying Until Something Happens (Luke 18), 10/16/2016

Doug

When Jesus’ disciples asked him to increase their faith, he told them their faith was enough. Then he launched into a parable about a servant doing what he’s told to do. We looked at what we’re telling our faith to do, and how we can put our faith to work for us.

Your Faith is Enough (Luke 17), 10/2/2016

Doug

In Luke 14, Jesus told his audience that discipleship is costly. In this message, I share some examples from my own life – both successes and failures.

Discipleship is Costly (Luke 14), 9/4/2016

Doug

I gave this message at Out to the Nations Conference in Asheville NC on April 15, 2016.

1 John 3:2 says “Beloved, now we are children of God”… but often we don’t think like it, believe it, or act like it. 1 John contains the word Father 12 times and Children 13 times.

We are first and foremost beloved children of God – we will never be less than that.

Being a Child of God (1 John 3, Luke 15, and others), 4/15/2016

Doug

Don’t get hung up on the cross. Remember that we live by the resurrection – me

The cross was a means to an end. The cross gave us forgiveness, but it’s the resurrection that gave us life.

As we celebrate Easter, let’s appreciate the cross, be grateful for the cross, but remember the empty tomb, remember the resurrection, remember the eternal life we’ve been given.

Don’t Get Hung Up on the Cross (John 20), 3/27/2016

Doug

Two of our readings today spoke of plants – the Gospel reading about an unproductive fig tree, and the first reading about Moses and the burning bush. The lesson we can look for in this is that as believers, we don’t need to be looking for the scolding, but look for our identity as Sons and Daughters of God by way of Jesus Christ.

Fig Trees and Burning Bushes (Luke 13, Exodus 3), 2/28/2015

Doug

Immediately after Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit descended on Him, and the Father said “You’re my beloved Son, and you please me”, he was led – or sent – into the desert to be tempted.

Jesus was tempted with food, power, and to go against what God instructed him to do. He came through just fine. We can learn three lessons from this:

• There’s nothing wrong with being tempted.
• We don’t have to let temptation win.
• When we’re tempted, rejoice.

Temptation Happens (Luke 4), 2/14/2016

Doug

In Luke 5, we can watch Peter’s transformation – from an acquaintance to a skeptic, from a skeptic to a fearful man, and from a fearful man to an invited disciple. On our way from being converts to being disciples, we have to bridge some of the same gaps.

Peter’s Transformation (Luke 5), 2/7/2016

Doug

Healing and forgiveness (OT) and salvation (NT) are connected throughout the Bible. This message was about that connection.

I gave this message at Jesus People of Asheville NC on January 17th, 2016.

The Connection Between Salvation and Healing, 1/17/2016

Doug

It had to be uncomfortable for Mary to say “Be it unto me according to your word”, even if she meant it with all her heart. She knew she was going to bear a child – but not by her husband, and not fathered by a man at all!

There are times in our faith life when we’re moved out of our comfort zone, when we have to be patient, when bad things happen on the way to the good we are headed for. We have to “hang in there” by faith in the midst of those uncomfortable times.

Faith is Uncomfortable (Luke 1), 12/20/2015

Doug