Meta tags:
description= The travails of searching for a new church;
Headings (most frequently used words):
the, of, jazzmancf, blog, that, sinking, feeling, you, give, them, something, to, eat, pearl, great, price, what, deal, with, blazing, furnace, good, soil, foolish, wisdom, world, invitation, shouted, from, rooftops, kingdom, heaven, has, come, near, dinner, for, sinners, pages, archives, categories, blogroll, meta,
Text of the page (most frequently used words):
the (1439), and (724), that (654), jesus (272), god (209), this (179), for (165), are (160), who (156), our (139), with (136), his (135), but (129), was (127), not (117), have (112), they (107), what (100), will (100), love (99), people (91), one (91), about (88), those (86), their (86), them (84), you (78), when (76), all (76), has (72), just (71), disciples (69), there (68), would (68), from (67), gospel (65), were (65), can (60), today (57), how (56), world (55), him (54), matthew (53), because (53), more (52), kingdom (51), out (48), had (47), things (46), good (45), these (44), into (44), word (44), may (42), even (42), need (40), seed (40), new (38), story (38), thing (38), every (38), here (37), been (37), words (37), then (36), think (36), something (36), like (35), faith (35), way (35), through (35), called (34), first (34), which (34), others (33), church (31), also (31), some (31), person (31), tells (31), parable (31), little (30), time (30), peter (30), apostles (30), fact (29), two (29), 2026 (28), going (28), see (28), bible (27), part (27), where (27), come (26), said (26), being (26), lives (26), wisdom (26), become (25), make (25), over (25), than (25), himself (25), understand (25), let (25), doing (25), know (24), much (24), week (24), children (24), only (23), really (23), did (23), important (22), life (22), says (22), give (22), share (21), message (21), needs (21), lesson (21), very (21), could (21), don (20), ways (20), water (20), law (20), tax (20), different (20), reading (20), soil (20), darnel (20), why (19), find (19), reward (19), commentary (18), day (18), able (18), well (18), while (18), john (18), take (18), compassion (18), parables (18), after (17), does (17), before (17), bring (17), use (17), work (17), miracle (17), enough (17), now (16), each (16), century (16), her (16), means (16), saying (16), whom (16), wheat (16), loaves (16), june (15), osborne (15), right (15), came (15), same (15), your (15), heaven (15), want (15), doesn (15), justice (15), last (15), news (15), anyone (15), christ (15), july (14), old (14), didn (14), nothing (14), call (14), any (14), spirit (14), greek (14), look (14), idea (14), evil (14), farmer (14), second (13), always (13), place (13), live (13), whatever (13), many (13), done (13), made (13), comes (13), say (13), thought (13), power (13), preaching (13), other (13), small (13), eternal (13), hear (13), welcomes (13), great (13), weeds (13), 2025 (12), leave (12), comment (12), christianity (12), learn (12), understanding (12), times (12), another (12), wouldn (12), collectors (12), remember (12), most (12), someone (12), wanted (12), father (12), faithful (12), seeds (12), field (12), uncategorized (11), messengers (11), own (11), never (11), actually (11), help (11), actions (11), asked (11), themselves (11), sent (11), teaching (11), miraculous (11), single (11), passage (11), mission (11), earth (11), begins (11), nah (11), question (11), crop (11), alongside (11), fish (11), 2024 (10), tags (10), posted (10), still (10), its (10), yet (10), pharisees (10), loving (10), probably (10), kind (10), woman (10), often (10), too (10), should (10), friends (10), righteous (10), almost (10), beloved (10), speak (10), found (10), disciple (10), difference (10), few (10), healing (10), text (10), anything (10), whoever (10), prophet (10), believe (10), grace (10), responsibility (10), treasure (10), fishes (10), testament (9), prayer (9), friend (9), maybe (9), entire (9), teach (9), task (9), completely (9), knew (9), both (9), accomplish (9), tell (9), though (9), order (9), sinners (9), lot (9), used (9), calling (9), grow (9), must (9), twelve (9), next (9), meaning (9), value (9), between (9), offer (9), receive (9), truth (9), plan (9), step (9), whether (9), play (9), learned (9), away (9), isn (9), plants (9), yeast (9), barley (9), herod (9), boat (9), get (8), com (8), 2020 (8), august (8), feeding (8), bit (8), living (8), present (8), wine (8), ritual (8), collector (8), again (8), unclean (8), mean (8), far (8), baptist (8), group (8), hearts (8), ancient (8), ask (8), bread (8), response (8), heart (8), feed (8), force (8), answer (8), show (8), verse (8), asks (8), looking (8), real (8), ever (8), cold (8), future (8), quite (8), witness (8), accept (8), experience (8), saunders (8), along (8), trust (8), tiny (8), banquet (8), already (7), org (7), around (7), hurting (7), better (7), spoke (7), mind (7), years (7), eventually (7), imagine (7), desire (7), jewish (7), suffering (7), mercy (7), pretty (7), having (7), immediately (7), gathered (7), chapter (7), instead (7), eat (7), once (7), 000 (7), exactly (7), fruit (7), recognize (7), reason (7), gives (7), send (7), telling (7), sending (7), whole (7), apostle (7), truly (7), seen (7), describe (7), problems (7), against (7), cup (7), itself (7), revealed (7), path (7), sin (7), ends (7), allow (7), blessed (7), read (7), family (7), planted (7), rather (7), among (7), thrown (7), ourselves (7), believer (7), mixed (7), removing (7), crowds (7), women (7), five (7), wordpress (6), april (6), september (6), grant (6), exegetical (6), won (6), attention (6), talk (6), care (6), told (6), trying (6), went (6), healed (6), hearing (6), hand (6), she (6), man (6), making (6), death (6), teachers (6), child (6), gentiles (6), heard (6), followers (6), king (6), deeper (6), lord (6), seeking (6), driving (6), behind (6), harvest (6), hands (6), became (6), separated (6), saw (6), ministry (6), everyone (6), risk (6), reject (6), reconcile (6), weeks (6), walk (6), fall (6), christian (6), full (6), lectionary (6), year (6), presence (6), back (6), faithfulness (6), key (6), chelsey (6), harmon (6), allowing (6), crowd (6), worldly (6), master (6), deeds (6), bushes (6), knows (6), root (6), hard (6), until (6), enemy (6), working (6), pinch (6), pearl (6), mustard (6), pearls (6), powerful (6), miracles (6), blog (5), food (5), neighbor (5), simply (5), down (5), change (5), put (5), helpless (5), home (5), fell (5), got (5), size (5), please (5), bleeding (5), big (5), example (5), dead (5), third (5), took (5), asking (5), common (5), sure (5), follow (5), possible (5), israel (5), social (5), meal (5), pain (5), sermon (5), matters (5), sharing (5), pray (5), gave (5), wasn (5), διδάσκω (5), focus (5), upon (5), without (5), certainly (5), rejection (5), worth (5), absolutely (5), opposition (5), towards (5), cost (5), consider (5), might (5), indeed (5), difficult (5), best (5), holy (5), music (5), based (5), believed (5), name (5), such (5), given (5), throw (5), gratitude (5), knowing (5), direct (5), bad (5), discourse (5), gospels (5), concerned (5), didache (5), charge (5), long (5), hundred (5), thorn (5), scattering (5), farmers (5), reality (5), end (5), discover (5), continue (5), willing (5), slaves (5), changes (5), begin (5), created (5), waves (5), storm (5), view (4), sign (4), jazzmancf (4), create (4), february (4), 2015 (4), 2016 (4), november (4), folks (4), hungry (4), community (4), fit (4), address (4), circumstances (4), places (4), earlier (4), certain (4), moved (4), minute (4), goodness (4), using (4), touched (4), familiar (4), describes (4), saved (4), following (4), synagogue (4), whose (4), daughter (4), sacrifice (4), continues (4), level (4), critical (4), speaks (4), phrase (4), torah (4), due (4), according (4), teacher (4), sick (4), status (4), point (4), hold (4), scott (4), hoezee (4), fields (4), resources (4), act (4), near (4), believers (4), shows (4), town (4), soul (4), wish (4), seek (4), less (4), workers (4), turned (4), ἀπόστολος (4), english (4), disease (4), sickness (4), entirely (4), either (4), goes (4), beyond (4), seeing (4), existence (4), possibly (4), taken (4), miraculously (4), provided (4), proclaiming (4), myself (4), turn (4), ones (4), context (4), bear (4), known (4), hidden (4), selfish (4), rejected (4), awaits (4), humanity (4), uncompromising (4), choose (4), requires (4), difficulties (4), conversation (4), eye (4), face (4), buried (4), wants (4), calls (4), peace (4), appears (4), davis (4), began (4), happen (4), high (4), body (4), christians (4), respond (4), reveal (4), interesting (4), stanley (4), needed (4), capable (4), learning (4), ideas (4), forceful (4), spoken (4), proved (4), generosity (4), thinking (4), quickly (4), initially (4), human (4), kids (4), anne (4), taylor (4), dirt (4), produce (4), sown (4), received (4), rocky (4), everywhere (4), happens (4), becomes (4), judgement (4), works (4), portion (4), sea (4), participate (4), impossible (4), solitude (4), cousin (4), herodias (4), waiting (4), storms (4), log (3), october (3), march (3), contributes (3), special (3), reach (3), active (3), tried (3), purposes (3), garment (3), wineskins (3), tradition (3), custom (3), lost (3), sight (3), recognizing (3), salvation (3), afford (3), individual (3), light (3), bulb (3), ten (3), greatest (3), lack (3), doors (3), onto (3), drapes (3), threw (3), taking (3), purity (3), actual (3), quoting (3), makes (3), touching (3), break (3), finding (3), instance (3), died (3), touch (3), renders (3), girl (3), house (3), mourners (3), hebrew (3), wealthy (3), israelites (3), commanded (3), arose (3), section (3), spend (3), directly (3), study (3), sort (3), eating (3), worst (3), clear (3), low (3), accepted (3), cepreaching (3), michael (3), marsh (3), changed (3), serving (3), dear (3), sees (3), command (3), core (3), expect (3), capacity (3), commandment (3), responded (3), benefit (3), contribute (3), cause (3), marginalized (3), exploited (3), spread (3), authority (3), off (3), felt (3), heal (3), talked (3), dee (3), translate (3), student (3), meanings (3), explain (3), explanation (3), serve (3), proclamation (3), compassionate (3), shepherd (3), preached (3), taught (3), spiritual (3), true (3), accepting (3), honestly (3), poverty (3), despair (3), yes (3), ear (3), teaches (3), encouragement (3), persevere (3), lose (3), mistreat (3), declares (3), image (3), reconciliation (3), self (3), blessing (3), reconciled (3), directed (3), warning (3), discipleship (3), matter (3), seem (3), deeply (3), realize (3), teachings (3), speaking (3), earthly (3), heavenly (3), paul (3), wrote (3), prepared (3), literally (3), giving (3), persecution (3), ultimately (3), alone (3), assume (3), understood (3), seemingly (3), sit (3), bet (3), enemies (3), sometimes (3), particular (3), andy (3), brueggemann (3), cousar (3), gaventa (3), newsome (3), nrsv (3), readers (3), carry (3), seriously (3), opportunity (3), least (3), afraid (3), manifest (3), ready (3), beginning (3), receives (3), song (3), stay (3), nevertheless (3), line (3), short (3), including (3), modern (3), late (3), written (3), interested (3), romero (3), since (3), creation (3), centered (3), object (3), empty (3), refused (3), righteousness (3), else (3), lame (3), breaking (3), divine (3), poor (3), school (3), types (3), son (3), kinds (3), guess (3), judgment (3), morning (3), played (3), uses (3), exact (3), red (3), wondering (3), month (3), available (3), redemption (3), land (3), falls (3), finally (3), drives (3), stop (3), picture (3), money (3), planting (3), expensive (3), return (3), leaves (3), under (3), searching (3), amount (3), birds (3), couldn (3), satan (3), roots (3), choice (3), spite (3), potential (3), incredible (3), blazing (3), furnace (3), surprise (3), remove (3), desperately (3), price (3), damage (3), rest (3), loss (3), considered (3), failed (3), highly (3), lake (3), fishermen (3), kindness (3), merchant (3), collection (3), gift (3), fed (3), gifts (3), efforts (3), limits (3), feel (3), empowered (3), eaten (3), commands (3), incorporate (3), winds (3), walking (3), strong (3), wind (3), galilee (3), conventional (3), started (2), site (2), content (2), subscribed (2), subscribe (2), privacy (2), account (2), rss (2), entries (2), 2010 (2), 2018 (2), december (2), january (2), search (2), older (2), persistently (2), banks (2), causes (2), reaches (2), programs (2), acquaintance (2), invite (2), incompatible (2), vibrant (2), hope (2), pours (2), touches (2), crucified (2), persecuted (2), political (2), radical (2), countercultural (2), suit (2), fabric (2), patch (2), religion (2), somehow (2), intended (2), interpreted (2), faces (2), stepping (2), cheating (2), neighbors (2), medical (2), addressing (2), takes (2), stand (2), ahead (2), expands (2), wineskin (2), disaster (2), cloth (2), definitely (2), apartment (2), large (2), covering (2), drywall (2), dad (2), loved (2), machine (2), dryer (2), shrink (2), piece (2), hermeneutic (2), challenges (2), method (2), declaring (2), impact (2), gone (2), discovered (2), ruler (2), stories (2), rendered (2), leader (2), approached (2), instantly (2), noise (2), hired (2), raise (2), case (2), reversal (2), poster (2), uncleanness (2), israelite (2), acceptance (2), statement (2), theme (2), exception (2), unlikely (2), wealth (2), unpopular (2), enter (2), groups (2), declaration (2), danny (2), zacharias (2), workingpreacher (2), generation (2), course (2), action (2), worse (2), necessary (2), goals (2), wherever (2), lips (2), escape (2), brokenness (2), yourself (2), plainly (2), prophets (2), hang (2), advocate (2), disadvantaged (2), andrew (2), james (2), original (2), feet (2), embody (2), students (2), ability (2), dás (2), learns (2), pasta (2), las (2), messenger (2), catch (2), drive (2), impure (2), spirits (2), happened (2), amazing (2), listen (2), coming (2), suspect (2), toward (2), wholeness (2), synagogues (2), provision (2), intimate (2), showered (2), depth (2), consistently (2), physical (2), complete (2), avatar (2), movies (2), translates (2), sheep (2), recognized (2), issues (2), emphasis (2), mother (2), shouted (2), rooftops (2), reveals (2), regret (2), danger (2), demand (2), worthy (2), intrudes (2), greater (2), claim (2), powers (2), oppose (2), becoming (2), lovingly (2), reminds (2), fair (2), correction (2), rooted (2), fundamental (2), tempered (2), assumption (2), blind (2), awaited (2), loses (2), sake (2), desires (2), walked (2), corinth (2), conceived (2), astonishing (2), save (2), rested (2), shoulders (2), middle (2), easy (2), warns (2), faced (2), severe (2), quest (2), rightly (2), contradictory (2), information (2), statements (2), hell (2), persecute (2), proof (2), simple (2), choosing (2), try (2), support (2), history (2), killed (2), thousands (2), bumper (2), sticker (2), wholeheartedly (2), elisabeth (2), johnson (2), isaiah (2), shared (2), three (2), forward (2), boldly (2), questions (2), encounter (2), acquaintances (2), redeemed (2), members (2), shape (2), priorities (2), excuse (2), trade (2), rewards (2), brings (2), role (2), neither (2), rewarded (2), honors (2), offers (2), hospitality (2), denied (2), fellowship (2), effort (2), reconciles (2), fine (2), eternity (2), personal (2), increase (2), instructing (2), welcome (2), concludes (2), apply (2), speech (2), reported (2), mark (2), luke (2), importance (2), ensure (2), seems (2), invitation (2), brian (2), center (2), excellence (2), ultimate (2), goal (2), latest (2), shiny (2), possessions (2), forgiveness (2), caught (2), stone (2), game (2), commented (2), receiving (2), accomplished (2), closes (2), wise (2), standing (2), proclaimed (2), rich (2), market (2), moment (2), addition (2), counts (2), identity (2), plenty (2), crazy (2), demon (2), rejects (2), pursuing (2), document (2), drinking (2), attracted (2), hoping (2), palestine (2), comfort (2), impending (2), bored (2), mourn (2), chooses (2), happy (2), pretending (2), weren (2), sad (2), marketplace (2), gather (2), apparently (2), rover (2), sofa (2), outside (2), buy (2), wrong (2), foolish (2), hyde (2), sings (2), warren (2), wiersbe (2), thrive (2), thirty (2), sixty (2), sower (2), keeps (2), throwing (2), regardless (2), generous (2), shares (2), controlled (2), seeding (2), road (2), flying (2), gets (2), guy (2), wasted (2), handful (2), waste (2), agriculture (2), agricultural (2), consistent (2), distribute (2), absolute (2), growth (2), grows (2), sowing (2), service (2), further (2), crisis (2), rug (2), interest (2), sense (2), trusting (2), relates (2), rock (2), choked (2), results (2), explained (2), compound (2), inviting (2), grab (2), final (2), close (2), lifetime (2), open (2), bundled (2), however (2), threat (2), pay (2), left (2), patience (2), unfair (2), saving (2), caused (2), problem (2), lead (2), listeners (2), landowner (2), protect (2), damaged (2), significant (2), crops (2), rival (2), process (2), representing (2), traditionally (2), flat (2), starts (2), returned (2), pull (2), advised (2), weed (2), night (2), practice (2), likely (2), row (2), collected (2), sows (2), related (2), react (2), generously (2), fail (2), david (2), ourisman (2), beare (2), ltd (2), growing (2), grown (2), theologians (2), therefore (2), scribes (2), fate (2), side (2), quiet (2), net (2), shore (2), baskets (2), fully (2), thunder (2), discovers (2), laborer (2), likewise (2), jewels (2), valuable (2), sold (2), sound (2), safety (2), deposit (2), boxes (2), somewhere (2), jars (2), beginnings (2), introduction (2), arrested (2), raised (2), heralded (2), lowest (2), bush (2), men (2), several (2), wright (2), universe (2), hunger (2), homelessness (2), supper (2), remembering (2), glimpse (2), limitations (2), talents (2), result (2), incorporated (2), set (2), smallest (2), focused (2), solution (2), start (2), multitudes (2), evening (2), hadn (2), unique (2), foot (2), arrived (2), bowels (2), noticed (2), prior (2), divorce (2), execute (2), twice (2), forget (2), sinking (2), sink (2), failure (2), doubted (2), doubting (2), διστάζω (2), participants (2), preach (2), travails (2), design, collapse, bar, manage, subscriptions, reader, report, comments, xfn, meta, blogroll, 152, categories, 2014, 2017, 2022, archives, pages, 351, 335, prays, chain, fervently, various, presbytery, supports, services, outreach, occupying, pew, sundays, within, walls, dwells, portions, leaders, constantine, opt, fulfill, zeal, obeying, desperate, extorting, systems, injustices, presbyterians, liked, ferments, skin, expanded, explode, instances, mix, patches, handyman, fix, suffered, occasional, knowledge, tasks, jackie, glass, double, opened, patio, subsequently, zero, store, bought, newlywed, screwed, curtain, rod, hung, rods, screws, pulled, phone, thank, dads, brand, sweater, purple, dirty, washing, cat, fabrics, shrunk, pharisee, obsession, grounded, cases, ritually, menstrual, corpse, willingness, taboos, unwillingness, needy, hallmark, theological, lingo, hermeneutics, interpreting, witnesses, collective, gasp, setting, tragically, maintain, laws, dining, himsel, interrupts, young, believes, surreptitiously, fringes, edge, continued, traditional, fashion, playing, flutes, wailing, crying, generally, professional, stating, asleep, euphemism, laughed, skips, fast, skipped, replies, repair, pouring, answers, book, hosea, kicker, term, rabbis, ironic, admonishing, regular, interactions, constant, handling, foreign, currency, associate, transferred, associated, incensed, complaints, answered, somewhat, healthy, doctor, samaritans, reviled, mostly, extortion, fellow, understatement, routinely, referred, occasionally, lump, repute, prostitutes, meals, occasions, defining, peer, alliance, dinner, interruptingthesilence, 364, 365, passed, queen, decide, determine, expend, nurtures, behaviors, lifestyles, pour, heads, babies, remembrance, foundational, compelling, verb, noun, glorify, misunderstand, engagement, commandments, ours, participant, grieved, fulfilling, unjust, ongoing, daily, gain, prayers, align, enact, ceased, passing, charging, concern, exhibited, skills, compelled, transliterated, names, turns, plentiful, carefully, follows, hint, depending, traditions, nations, reside, focuses, disconnected, similarly, ministries, holistic, integral, embodied, exhibiting, healings, deep, breadth, addressed, filling, cameron, language, pandora, attach, reddit, page, excellent, definition, essence, profound, acknowledgment, interconnectedness, silly, quote, science, fiction, movie, ministered, spreads, spreading, harassed, debt, advantage, above, powerless, helplessness, broken, niv, towns, villages, repeats, village, miss, comprehensive, ministers, contact, hesitant, included, belief, offended, whispered, shout, carrying, threatening, relative, worker, opposes, transcends, presents, serious, deserve, served, respect, effective, controlling, exploiting, cries, ring, undermines, claims, unequivocably, concealed, assuring, validated, agendas, favor, sinful, introducing, animosity, truthful, accurate, description, harsh, corrections, foundation, evaluate, passages, fits, reconciling, typically, steadfast, refusal, overlook, harmful, unfortunately, inevitable, humans, fiercely, sinner, ton, studying, overarching, stated, proceed, interpretation, premise, bluntly, lay, sided, discouraged, closest, glories, strength, endure, certainty, commitment, bringing, finds, ago, returning, adam, eve, conversed, casually, naturally, sugar, coat, reassure, eventual, forgive, billions, instructions, lest, lets, uncomfortable, parents, siblings, relatives, fatal, interpret, accuracy, mortal, personified, stands, getting, fuller, gleaned, sentence, parts, contrasting, notice, nuance, cursory, glance, sufficient, sanctioned, contempt, earnestly, mount, peacemakers, fool, fires, centuries, critics, pointed, conundrums, inconsistencies, submitted, errors, contradictions, complicated, discerning, suppose, sword, condoning, violence, countless, wars, throughout, innocent, justify, attitude, separates, endorse, settles, appreciate, ibid, twojourneys, darren, morehouse, ross, parsley, 2004, integrity, hosanna, 386, past, keenly, observed, marching, orders, responsibilities, assigned, assigns, stopped, expecting, initiative, workplace, neighborhood, interaction, bearers, families, fondest, fear, mine, instruct, guide, worry, obey, cannot, sensitive, voice, despise, elevate, ground, sinned, cups, pattern, arranged, emerging, advancement, form, complex, function, feature, leading, engage, elaborates, helps, sang, silent, loves, redeems, giant, motives, invites, anytime, treading, mercenary, forgiven, adopted, joy, realization, responds, control, convert, opportunities, responsible, follower, roy, grateful, blend, contrast, implicit, corollary, wider, audience, encompassing, worked, relevant, mention, effect, omission, highlight, synoptic, particulars, showing, instructed, persevering, success, mainly, preparing, emotionally, overly, logistics, podcast, 106, filled, refers, inheritance, satisfaction, fulfillment, riches, influence, moot, acquisition, lie, redefining, guiding, principle, transform, adultery, cast, sins, remained, defended, herself, argued, stood, except, meets, presenting, accomplishments, praise, pleased, inadequacy, foolishness, acquires, reflects, exhibit, accepts, succeeding, acquiring, mastering, exalt, stock, build, buildings, office, disregard, foul, environment, twist, someday
Text of the page (random words):
ess it s just a part of being a teenager in fact looking back through the mists of time i believe that i can see myself planted on that sofa also in today s lesson jesus uses this exact imagery a group of children have gathered in the marketplace to play the marketplace was the customary place for first century kids to gather there were apparently two groups of children the one group was is in charge of figuring out what they all want to do the other group well they were in charge of nah do you want play hide and seek nah do you want to play tag nah do you want to play red rover nah i find myself wondering if my grandchildren even know what red rover is but jesus chooses this image this morning to make a point for the folks who are constantly looking for that new and different experience always looking for the latest new thing the world probably doesn t have a whole lot to offer them that is going to inspire them the children in jesus parable today played a happy song maybe pretending that they were having a wedding but the kids in charge of nah weren t interested they didn t play along and they didn t dance to the happy music then the children in the parable played a sad song maybe pretending that they were having a funeral but the kids in charge of nah weren t interested in that either they didn t play along and they didn t mourn with the sad music because for the kids in charge of nah nothing was new enough or interesting enough or exciting enough or fresh enough to hold their attention for the adult people of first century palestine john the baptist was new and interesting for a while and initially he attracted a lot of attention but i guess eventually quite a few people decided that he was maybe a little weird after all john was an ascetic a man who denied himself almost every human comfort in order for him to be able to focus entirely on his message of impending judgment repent for the kingdom of heaven is near and while there were plenty of folks who heard his message and believed him there were many more who became bored with his message and refused to play along or to mourn with him i think it s fair to say that jesus attracted a lot of attention also the bible tells us that a lot of people followed him around just hoping to see a miracle but when jesus refused to perform a miracle on demand in capernaum people turned against him so quickly that they tried to throw him off of a cliff so i guess you could say that they didn t play along or sing along with him either our story today tells us that john came neither eating nor drinking and they say he has a demon the son of man came eating and drinking and they say here is a glutton and a drunkard a friend of tax collectors and sinners but then our story tells us that wisdom is proved right by her deeds and that last line that wisdom is proved right by her deeds is really the key to understanding today s story because today s story is teaching us that there are two kinds of wisdom there is worldly wisdom and there is god s wisdom there is an extremely old christian document called the didache most scholars place the writing of this document in the late first century and there is a prevalent school of thought that the didache actually pre dates the gospels thinking that it may have been written as early as the year 60 the didache was subtitled the teaching of the twelve apostles and it is a summary of christian thought presumed to have been written by jewish christians to teach the gentile christians about jesus teachings and about their new faith and the didache begins by saying there are two ways one of life and one of death and between the two ways there is a great difference and then the didache describes the difference between these two types of wisdom chelsey harmon summarizes this teaching saying the way of life is founded upon the great commandment you shall love god who made you second love your neighbor as yourself and do not do to another what you would not want done to you the way of life among other things includes generosity hospitality and taking personal responsibility to work the way of death is made up of all the evil things including those characterized as from whom meekness and endurance are far loving vanities pursuing revenge not pitying a poor man not laboring for the afflicted not knowing him who made them murderers destroyers of the handiwork of god turning away from him who is in want afflicting him who is distressed advocates of the rich lawless judges of the poor utter sinners in other words the destructive way of death is greedy selfish and lazy 1 in today s parable jesus introduces us to this idea of the two ways of living john the baptist came preaching a message of repentance his preaching was forceful and direct and the gospels make it quite clear that he was widely accepted by the people as a prophet and indeed jesus called him the greatest of all prophets and yet there were plenty of people who said nah he s crazy he s demon possessed but remember what our lesson said last week whoever rejects john the baptist s words rejects the one who sent him that forceful preaching that message that john preached so passionately that his passion cost him his life was dismissed by many because his message didn t resonate with those who were looking for that next big worldly thing that next shiny object that would capture their attention jesus came with preaching that was forceful and direct too but in addition to his preaching jesus healed the sick and the lame right there in front of everybody he gave sight to the blind speech to the mute and hearing to the deaf and every good jew who had learned their torah knew that these things that jesus was doing were spoken of in the torah as things that the messiah was going to do those who rejected him should have recognized him but they didn t and the reason why they didn t is to be found in that key verse that i told you about that says wisdom is proved right by her deeds so what does that verse mean well saunders says that the phrase wisdom is proved right by her deeds means that actions and outcomes reveal confirm and vindicate what counts for wisdom meaning god s will and way jesus has just recounted the deeds that define his messianic identity and the deeds that reveal the power of god are these really just the work of a carouser bent on breaking social mores or do they demonstrate divine power and express the intimate connection between jesus and the father 2 worldly wisdom is centered on worldly thought those who the world accepts as wise are those who understand the world s ways of doing things of succeeding of acquiring of mastering we exalt the rich who master the stock market or who build great buildings or who hold high office while we disregard the way that these same people mistreat others or foul the environment or twist the word of god to suit their purposes but here is the thing about worldly wisdom the ways of worldly wisdom are someday going to disappear in a flash one moment someone is affluent and respected with assets and possessions that boggle the mind and then suddenly they will find themselves standing completely empty handed before god with nothing of heavenly value to show for their lives my friends true wisdom comes from god again chelsey harmon tells us that true wisdom is proven by what the person does with their life not their ideas not their opinions not their twitter threads or tiktok videos not their instagram inspirational photos and captions or facebook comment diatribes do they join in to whatever it is that god is doing or do they sit out and curmudgeonly pout about what god is doing 3 the bible tells us that the wisdom of the world is foolishness to god because in god s kingdom what matters is not what one acquires but how one lives their life are we loving god are we allowing our love for god to manifest itself in our love for others do we live as if every person matters do we live in a way that reflects the fact that no one person is any more important than anyone else that no one person is more worthy of love or compassion or justice than anyone else these are the things that matter to god the wisdom of god is at its core all about his children learning how to create a community of love of compassion and of justice and the wisdom of god teaches us that the creation of this community begins with us begins with his church living in ways that exhibit his love his compassion and his justice to the world our passage this week closes with jesus saying a prayer i praise you father lord of heaven and earth because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned and revealed them to little children yes father for this is what you were pleased to do there are those in this world who imagine that they are something that they have some standing before god due to their self proclaimed righteousness or their self proclaimed goodness then there are those who recognize their complete inadequacy before god i read a great thing this week about the parable of the woman who was caught in adultery jesus said to those who had gathered to stone her to death for her sin let he who is without sin cast the first stone what jesus knew was the fact that the woman needed grace but that the pharisees also needed grace and so did the gathered crowd the only difference between them was the fact that the woman s sin had been revealed and the sins of the other s remained hidden jesus refused to play the which sin is worse game instead through his answer he revealed the fact that all who were there were in need of god s forgiveness all of them romero commented on the parable saying the woman never defended herself she never argued her case she stood with nothing to offer except her need that is exactly where grace meets every one of us the gospel has never been about presenting god with our accomplishments it has always been about receiving what christ accomplished for us empty hands are the only hands capable of receiving grace 4 the children in jesus prayer are those with the empty hands they are those who recognize their need before god and accept god s forgiveness and grace and with gratitude they are those who follow as jesus calls them to follow redefining their understanding of the world and accepting god s wisdom as the guiding principle in their lives allowing the spirit to transform them into people whose hearts look like god s heart when we seek god s wisdom when our lives and our actions are centered not on the latest shiny object but on the needs of others and on the call of the kingdom we will find a satisfaction and a fulfillment in our lives that will never ever be found by those who are seeking the wisdom of the world riches possessions power influence status all of these things will eventually be rendered moot because they will be of absolutely no value in god s kingdom and the world s wisdom that says that the acquisition of these things is life s ultimate goal is a lie the truth is that the ultimate goal is love and those who accept that wisdom those who live lives of love love for god and love for others lives that reveal a heart that god has filled with his love and his compassion and his justice these are the little children to whom jesus refers and these are the little children to whom jesus will say come you who are blessed by my father take your inheritance the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world 1 chelsey harmon center for excellence in preaching commentary on matthew 10 40 42 2 stanley p saunders preaching the gospel of matthew proclaiming god s presence pg 106 3 chelsey harmon center for excellence in preaching commentary on matthew 11 16 19 4 brian romero the brian romero podcast tags bible christianity faith god jesus posted in uncategorized leave a comment the invitation june 29 2026 june 28 2026 matthew 10 40 42 this week s lesson continues for the third week a part of a discourse where jesus is instructing the disciples as he is about to send them out as apostles as messengers for the first time sharing the gospel teaching and healing and while the story of this sending is reported both in mark s chapter 6 and in luke s chapter 9 there is an interesting difference in the way that matthew tells this story where the other synoptic gospels focus on the particulars of the apostle s mission matthew is more interested in showing how jesus instructed the disciples about the importance of the mission and about the importance of persevering through difficulties to ensure the success of the mission in mark and luke the emphasis is on how the apostles are to go about their ministry but in matthew jesus just seems to be mainly concerned about preparing the apostles emotionally for their task rather than being overly concerned about the logistics and i believe that the reason for this is because matthew in telling this story was understanding the fact that his words would speak to a much wider audience than just his late first century readers this entire discourse encompassing part of matthew chapter 9 and all of chapter 10 is written to speak not only to those first century apostles but to speak to us as well in fact matthew s teachings on the words of jesus here could apply to everyone who has ever worked to share the gospel and his words are still completely relevant today my lectionary commentary tells us that matthew makes no mention of the mission itself whether the twelve ever went or what their mission experience was the effect of the omission is to highlight jesus speech as a direct address to all of matthew s readers 1 in short this discourse appears to be directed to all who share the gospel and in today s reading jesus concludes his discourse with some very important information for his disciples including us modern disciples and i think that there are three different things that matthew is trying to teach here the first thing as matthew begins this lesson is he tells us that jesus said whoever welcomes the apostles welcomes him and whoever welcomes him welcomes the one who sent him when we blend last week s reading into today s reading we find a contrast that is implicit in jesus words last week s story revealed jesus instructing the disciples on how they may face opposition and so the corollary here is the fact that those who do not welcome the apostles reject jesus and reject the father as well and so the way that those with whom we share the gospel respond to us is in itself their direct response to jesus and ultimately is their direct response to the father for good or for bad their response to our words is going to reveal their heart an important part of this lesson is the realization that how someone responds to our words is not in our control it is not our responsibility to convert anyone it is simply our responsibility to be faithful to share the good news when we are blessed with opportunities to do so i can tell y...
|
