Luke 19

"Dear Friend, I came to Jerusalem and was greeted with wild enthusiasm. I came as the Prince of Peace, humbly riding on the colt of a donkey as..."

What does it matter really, if I am community or not? Phil Ware talks about the tension between insiders and outsiders and how we are to view community and the way we connect our outside friends to it.

Who would you have eat with you at your table? We show our fellowship and friendship through those for whom we extend table fellowship and meals.

Who would have thought he would be out on a limb? Patrick Odum does a fictional biography styled account of Zacchaeus and Jesus and the special moment in the tree.

What do you do when you've truly wronged someone else? A return of money from a thief reminds us that we must seek to right the wrongs we've committed.

"After telling this story, Jesus went on toward Jerusalem, walking ahead of his disciples. As he came to the towns of Bethphage and Bethany on the..."

"[Jesus concluded the story about the nobleman who became king,] "But the third servant brought back only the original amount of money and said,..."

"Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he....."

"As [Jesus] rode along, the crowds spread out their garments on the road ahead of him. When he reached the place where the road started down the Mount..."

"[Jesus continued the story about the nobleman,] "After he was crowned king, he returned and called in the servants to whom he had given the money. He...."

"Dear Friend, You are most likely seeking to be one of My disciples or you wouldn't be reading this. Or you already are a part of My family. Then you...."

"But as [Jesus] came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep. "How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to..."

"Then Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the people selling animals for sacrifices. He said to them, "The Scriptures declare, 'My Temple....."

"The crowd was listening to everything Jesus said. And because he was nearing Jerusalem, he told them a story to correct the impression that the..."

Maybe your Easter was picture perfect and everything you hoped it would be. Or, maybe you found yourself too far away to see or hear anything clearly. Melissa Troyer shares her busy and messy Easter morning when she arrived in a mess and exhausted from the messiness of the morning only to meet Jesus there.

Do you know your janitor's name? A story reminds us of how important it is to know people by their name and treat them with dignity.

"Jesus responded [about Zacchaeus], "Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. For the Son of...."

"[While people were grumbling that Jesus was going to eat with Zacchaeus, "a notorious sinner," he] stood before the Lord and said, "I will give half....."

"Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. But the people were displeased. "He has gone to be the guest....."

Why the connection between Jesus and 'the leftovers' and why does the modern church not have the same relationships? Phil Ware reminds us that our times at the Lord's Table should be filled with the same kind of people who joined Jesus at the table when he was on earth!

"Dear Disciple, After My triumphal entry, Jerusalem was a tangle of tension and evil plotting. Look at a few excerpts from Luke's descriptions of the...."

""Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!""

"The Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."

"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."

"But could the stones cry out? Assuredly they could if he who opens the mouth of the dumb should bid them lift up their voice. Certainly if they were....."

Inspirational illustration of Luke 19:10 -- 10   For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.

The question the Holy Spirit left on my heart after reading this whole chapter was as convicting as it was clear. Phil Ware discovers a verse in Luke 19 that the Holy Spirit uses to confront him about an important question.

Who will you show God's love today? Rick Brown writes of Johnny Brown in Bermuda who greets and welcomes and shares greetings with people six hours each day.

"Dear Beloved, Are you ready? That's a question that could be asked about so many things that are a normal part of life — things like marriage,..."

When injustice happens anywhere, we cannot turn a blind eye or deaf ear to what breaks the heart of God! Phillip Morrison reminds us that the hate-driven events break the heart of God, should break our hearts, and call each of us to speak and act to prevent them from happening.

When's the last time you helped a lost person? What would happen in church, church folks, got serious about seeking lost people like Jesus did?

God's people have been in lost places before our time. They made it safely through their wilderness to better times and better places. James Nored in video and Phil Ware with words reminds us that God is the finder and mender of lost and broken things and lost and broken people.

In the middle of our grief, loss, and brokenness, we must remember that we are not alone in our brokenness. Phil Ware reminds us that God shares our pain in our worst moments of grief and loss, God is heartbroken with us.

"Dear Follower, The Father's role for Me when I came to earth as the Son of God shocked many people. They expected a warrior or kingly ruler who would..."

Why all the talk about the Passion? God loves us so much that he sent his Son to save us.

What does Jesus look like? Brian McCutchen reminds us that the first real glimpse of Jesus most people see is our own face.

What are we forgetting before we try our ultimate ascent? Phil Ware reminds us that in a search for a new minister, especially a preacher or preaching minister, that we need to know our specific mission as a congregation.

What is your life really about? Is our life about us or about God, about giving him the praise in everything or about everything revolving around us.

If we are willing, and if we allow ourselves the space to listen, God’s voice surrounds us. Jackie Halstead reminds us to listen for God's voice in creation.