Freed from Ourselves Luke 17:5-10 Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost Analysis by Jonas Ellison 5The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6The Lord replied, “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. 7Who among you …

Jesus Prizes Us Luke 16:19-31 Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost Analysis by Timothy Hoyer [14 The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all this, and they ridiculed him. 15 So Jesus said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of others; but God knows your hearts; for what is prized by human beings …

Cheating Death Luke 16:1-13 Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost Analysis by Lori A. Cornell 1Then Jesus said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was squandering his property. 2So he summoned him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? …

Irony is Not Lost with God Luke 15:1-10 Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost Analysis by Mark A. Marius 1Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to Jesus. 2And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3So Jesus told them this parable: 4“Which man …

Terms of Peace Luke 14:25-33 (Philemon 1-21) Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost Analysis by Fred Niedner 25 Now large crowds were traveling with him; and he turned and said to them, 26 “Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. …

Preferred Seating Luke 14: 1, 7-14 Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost Analysis by Bruce K. Modahl 1On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely. … 7When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told …

The Sabbath Given, Embodied, and Shared Luke 13: 10-17 Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost Analysis by Matthew M. DeLoera 10 Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 11 And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable …

Refocused on the Family Luke 12:49-56 Tenth Sunday after Pentecost Analysis by Nathan C. Hall 49 “I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! 51 Do you think that …

Conspiring with the Holy Thief Luke 12:32-40 Ninth Sunday after Pentecost Analysis by Lori A. Cornell [Jesus said:] 32“Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where …

Seeing God in Christ and Our Neighbor Colossians 3:1-11 Eighth Sunday after Pentecost Analysis by Brad Haugen 1So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, 3for …

Lord, Teach Us to Pray Luke 11:1-13 Seventh Sunday after Pentecost Analysis by Steven E. Albertin 1[Jesus] was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”2He said to them, “When you pray, say:  Father, hallowed be your name. …

Your Credentials, Please Colossians 1:15-28 Sixth Sunday after Pentecost Analysis by Cathy Lessmann 15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; 16for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers – all things have been created through …

The New Neighborhood Luke 10:25-37 Fifth Sunday after Pentecost Analysis by Matthew Metevelis 25 Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” 27 He answered, “You shall love the …

Beyond Preferences and Routines Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 Fourth Sunday after Pentecost Analysis by Ben Williams 1After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. 2He said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask …

The Kingdom of God is Forever Luke 9:51-62 Third Sunday after Pentecost Analysis by Peter Kevel 51 When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to prepare for his …

Power that Kills and Power that Makes Alive Galatians 3:23-29 Second Sunday after Pentecost Analysis by Glenn L. Monson 23 Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be reckoned as righteous by faith. …

The Trinity Conspires to Justify Sinners Romans 5:1-5 Holy Trinity Sunday Analysis by James Squire 1Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. …

Getting Un-clumped Genesis 11:1-9 Pentecost Analysis by Chris Repp 1Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. 2 And as they migrated from the east, they came upon a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. 3 And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.” …

Unfettered Freedom Acts 16: 16-34 Seventh Sunday of Easter Analysis by Jonas Ellison 16One day, as we were going to the place of prayer, we met a slave-girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners a great deal of money by fortune-telling. 17While she followed Paul and us, she would cry out, “These men …

HELP! I NEED SOMEBODY! Acts 16: 9-15 Sixth Sunday of Easter Analysis by Timothy Hoyer 9During the night Paul had a vision: there stood a man of Macedonia pleading with him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10When he had seen the vision, we immediately tried to cross over to Macedonia, being convinced that …