What is a prophet? How were the Israelites meant to recognise them? Why did God send them? How did the Israel respond? Is there anything better than a prophet?
Read more...Jesus urged his disciples to be careful how they listened. Too often we listen but never put what we hear into practice. Jesus’s mother and brothers saw no need to listen and obey his words – they thought that their relationship with him gave them a special status. But Jesus made clear that the only people who can claim a genuine relationship with him are those who listen to his words and act on them.
Read more...Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables – puzzling, enigmatic stories. He explained the stories to his disciples when they asked. But he gave the crowds no explanation. Why not? This was Jesus’s way of sifting out his true disciples from the rest. The mark of the elect is that they ask, knock, seek until God opens to them the secrets of his kingdom.
Read more...Every preacher knows that much of the work we do will be fruitless. But do we despair? No. Jesus Christ promised that some seed will fall on good soil.
Read more...When the Lord Jesus preached the good news of the kingdom, many people listened with joy and excitement. But Jesus knew that out of all who heard, few would press on to true repentance and faith. Yet he was sure that from the seed sown, harvest would come at last.
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