“It’s All About Jesus!”Jesus On PrayerOnce Jesus was in a certain place praying. As he finished, one of his disciples came to him and said, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” – Luke 11:1 (NLT)“Lord, Teach Us to Pray!” When I read this verse, I wondered, “What was it about the way Jesus prayed that made one of His Disciples ask Jesus to teach them to pray?” I mean, as good...

“It’s All About Jesus!”Mark 2:13-17 (The Calling of Levi)But when the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees saw him eating with tax collectors and other sinners, they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat with such scum? When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they...

“It’s All About Jesus!”Mark 2:13-17 (The Calling of Levi)Later, Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. (There were many people of this kind among Jesus’ followers.) – Mark 2:15 (NLT)“Belong, Believe, Behave” When I was growing up, it seemed like people wanted you to act right before you came to church. Then ...

“It’s All About Jesus!”Mark 2:13-17 (The Calling of Levi)As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Levi got up and followed him. – Mark 2:14 (NLT)“Follow Me and Be!” As I was camping on this story today, this was the phrase that jumped out at me. “Follow me and be.” That was the invitation that Jesus ...

“It’s All About Jesus!”Mark 2:13-17 (The Calling of Levi)As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Levi got up and followed him. – Mark 2:14 (NLT)“Immediate Obedience” In my daily times of prayer, there is something that I find myself praying regularly. “Lord, help me to be IMMEDIATELY obedient to you...

“It’s All About Jesus!”Mark 2:13-17 (The Calling of Levi)As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Levi got up and followed him. – Mark 2:14 (NLT)“Right Where We Are” I remember years ago going out with a bunch of guys to get something to drink after a city league basketball game. I thought we’d go to...

“It’s All About Jesus!”Mark 2:13-17 (The Calling of Levi)Then Jesus went out to the lakeshore again and taught the crowds that were coming to him. – Mark 2:13 (NLT)“Come Hungry” Are you seeking Jesus? He loves it when you do. As Jesus came out along the lakeshore, people who were anxious to meet Him and hungry to hear Him came looking for Him. You know what? He taught them. That’s God’s promise to...

“It’s All About Jesus!”Mark 2:1-12 (The Healing of the Paralytic)And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, “We’ve never seen anything like this before!” – Mark 2:12 (NLT)“Like We’ve Never Seen Before” “We’ve never seen anything like this before!” Wow! That’s what I want from God today, don’t you? I want G...

“It’s All About Jesus!”Mark 2:1-12 (The Healing of the Paralytic)So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” – Mark 2:10-11 (NLT)“Lord Over All” Today, as I write this, is the 29th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing. It is always a hard day for those of us w...

“It’s All About Jesus!”Mark 2:1-12 (The Healing of the Paralytic)Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk’? – Mark 2:9 (NLT)“Lord, Speak!” Some years ago, I was doing some training with pastors and several who were hoping to become pastors. Each week, I would teach a lesson on leadership or how to be a good communicator. As a part ...

“It’s All About Jesus!”Mark 2:1-12 (The Healing of the Paralytic)Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts?” – Mark 2:8 (NLT)“Honest Conversations” I love how Jesus calls out the religious leaders. Not so much because they didn’t believe or didn’t understand, but because they didn’t speak up. They were obviously disturbed by what Jes...

“It’s All About Jesus!”Mark 2:1-12 (The Healing of the Paralytic)But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves, “What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!” – Mark 2:6-7 (NLT)“Can You Go That Far?” Jesus blew the minds of the religious leaders who heard His declaration to the paralytic, “My child, your sins are forgiven.” They were alr...

“It’s All About Jesus!”Mark 2:1-12 (The Healing of the Paralytic)Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.” – Mark 2:5 (NLT)“Jesus Hears Your Heart” Going through Bible college and spending a good bit of time around people who know the Scriptures, it’s funny to me how passionate people become about the “specifics” of someone coming to Christ or being w...

“It’s All About Jesus!”Mark 2:1-12 (The Healing of the Paralytic)"Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, 'My child, your sins are forgiven.'” – Mark 2:5 (NLT)“Your Faith Is Their Miracle” Augustine was one of the great early saints of the Christian faith. He was instrumental in helping to formulate some of the early doctrinal understandings that came to be the foundation of the churc...

“It’s All About Jesus!”Mark 2:1-12 (The Healing of the Paralytic)"They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus." – Mark 2:4 (NLT)“Don’t Leave Without Seeing Jesus” Wow. Don’t you love the resilience of the friends who brought their paralyzed buddy to Jesus? We don’t know...

“It’s All About Jesus!”Mark 2:1-12 (The Healing of the Paralytic)“While he was preaching God’s word to them, four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat.” – Mark 2:2-3 (NLT)“Divine Interruptions” Some time ago I had one of my prayer partners tell me on a Sunday morning that he was praying that God would give me something that wasn’t listed in the bulletin. I thought it was a funny statement...

“It’s All About Jesus!”Mark 2:1-12 (The Healing of the Paralytic)When Jesus returned to Capernaum several days later, the news spread quickly that he was back home. Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. – Mark 2:1-2 (NLT)“Be Viral” The Sunday after Easter is a hard Sunday for most pastors. On Easter the place is packed, ...

“It’s All About Jesus!”Luke 19:1-10 (The Story of Zacchaeus)“For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” – Luke 19:10 (NLT)“Lost” Troy, Montana is a wonderfully fascinating place for kids. Located in a remote part of Montana, for kids who love the outdoors, it’s like a dream come true. Ryker Webb thought so. The 3-year-old loved to play in his yard and chase bugs. It was that bug...

“It’s All About Jesus!” Luke 19:1-10 (The Story of Zacchaeus)Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham.” – Luke 19:9 (NLT)“From the Inside-Out”Yesterday I wrote about the repentance of Zacchaeus. He went from greedy to generous and from being a “taker” to being a “giver.” But I want to be sure that you understand that when J...

“It’s All About Jesus!”Luke 19:1-10 (The Story of Zacchaeus)Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!” – Luke 19:8 (NLT)“The Walking Dead” This past Sunday, I did a message on Romans 6:4 where Paul says that we can live “new lives.” What a great message t...