space for grace

December 17th THE PARABLES Weeds among the Wheat (Matt 13:24-30) The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather from His kingdom everything that causes sin and those guilty of lawlessness. Matthew 13:41, HCSB Context: An enemy over-sowing a wheat field with weeds is not...

December 16th THE PARABLES |The Unmerciful Slave (Matt 18:23-35) Then his lord called him in, and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt, because you begged me. Shouldn't you also have had mercy on your fellow servant, even as I had mercy on you?' Matthew...

December 15th THE PARABLES | The Talents (Matt 25:14-30) His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few [things]; I will put you [in charge] over many [things]. Enter into the joy of your master!' Matthew 25:23, Lexham Expanded Bible Context...

THE PARABLES The Rich Man and Lazarus Luke 16:19-31 He replied to him, 'If they do not respond to Moses and the prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.' Luke 16:31, The NET Bible Context: The setting shows that the proud, “rich man” Pharisees were...

December 13th THE PARABLES The Grand Evening Meal (Luke 14:16-24) When the dinner hour came, he sent around his slave, to say to those who were invited, 'Come! for it is now ready!' Luke 14:17, Goodspeed New Testament Context: This parable was related to a guest at a meal who said...

December 12th THE PARABLES The Foolish Farmer (Luke 12:13-21) He told the people, "Be careful to guard yourselves from every kind of greed. Life is not about having a lot of material possessions." Luke 12:15, GOD'S WORD® Translation Context: This parable was part of Jesus’ reply to a...

December 11th THE PARABLES The Lost Sheep (Luke 15:3-7) Then when you find it, you will rejoice and [carry it home] on your shoulders. And when you get home, you’ll call your friends and neighbors and say: Come and with me, rejoice, for I’ve found my sheep that was lost! Luke 15:5-7...

December 10th THE PARABLES The Pearl Seeker (Matt 13:45-46) The kingdom of heaven is like a traveling merchant-buyer seeking beautiful pearls; having gone off, sold all, as much as he was possessing, having staked all that he had in one business venture which would either make or break him...

December 9th THE PARABLES The Neighbourly Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37) Beloved children, our love can’t be an abstract theory we only talk about, but a way of life demonstrated through our loving deeds. We know that the truth lives within us because we show love in action, which will reassure...

December 8th THE PARABLES The Unproductive Fig Tree (Luke 13:6-9) “Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.” Luke 13:8-9, New International Version Context: It was...

December 7th THE PARABLES The Persistent Friend (Luke 11:5-13) Keep on asking for something to be given, and it will be given you. Keep on seeking and you will find. Keep on reverently knocking, and it shall be opened to you. Luke 11:10, An Expanded Translation (Wuest) Context: This...

December 6th THE PARABLES The Unrighteous Steward (Luke 16:1-8) Here’s the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home. Luke 16:9, New Living Translation Context: A steward...

December 5th THE PARABLES The Mustard Seed (Matt 13:31-32) It is smaller than all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than the plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and roost in its branches. Matthew 13:31-32, The Translator’s New Testament Context...

December 4th THE PARABLES The Sower (Matt 13:1-9,18-23) He does not have rootage in himself, but is by nature a temporizer, and the pressure of circumstances having come, and persecution because of the word, immediately sees in it that of which he disapproves and which hinders him from...

December 3rd THE PARABLES The Two Debtors (Luke 7:36-50) [Therefore] I tell you that her many sins are forgiven, so [that is why] she showed great love. But the person who is forgiven only a little will love only a little. Luke 7:47, The Expanded Bible Context: The illustration of...

December 2nd THE PARABLES Wineskins (Luke 5:37-39) New wine must be put into new wineskins. But no one after drinking the old wine seems to want the fresh and the new. ‘The old ways are best,’ they say. Luke 5:38-39, Living Bible Context: “Have you heard? Levi has been converted! He...

December 1st THE PARABLES Why Parables? This is why I speak to them in these parables; because they go through life witth their eyes open, but see nothing, and with their ears open, but understand nothing of what they hear. Matthew 13:13, J.B. Phillips New Testament The Greek word...

LOST and FOUND When do we receive Eternal Life? And this is the eternal life, namely, that they might be having an experiential knowledge of you, the only genuine God, and of Him whom you sent on a mission, Jesus Christ John 17:3, An Expanded Translation, Wuest What is eternal...

LOST and FOUND A Real Christian (b) Christ IN You To reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the nations, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood Galatians 1:16, Modern English Version Locked inside a prison cell, undernourished and dying. Perhaps you felt that...

LOST and FOUND A Real Christian (a) You IN Christ So then if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away, behold, they have become new 2 Corinthians 5:17, Recovery Version What makes a real Christian? Is he someone who has reached higher levels on a...