Luke 4

"Dear Friend of Grace, Some reactions are predictable, but still hurt. At first, the people of Nazareth — the town where I spent most of My..."

"Dear Disciple, Human nature leads you to be fascinated with miracles. Many folks through the ages have portrayed Me as a miracle-worker. While it is...."

"Dear Beloved, Temptation. You face it. It is hard. The devil makes sure that the temptation is presented at just the right time, appealing to just..."

"Dear Follower, My half-brother James warned that simply believing in the existence of God was nothing special — even the demons believe in God...."

Do you ever get a glimpse of God behind the stories we hear everyday? Ron Rose reminds us that God stories are everywhere, but don't make the press because God's work can't be nailed down to a snippet, a spin, a sound byte, or a headline.

"When [Jesus] came to the village of Nazareth, his boyhood home, he went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the Scriptures....."

"Once when [Jesus] was in the synagogue [in Capernaum], a man possessed by a demon — an evil spirit — cried out, shouting, "Go away! Why are you..."

"[Continuing his temptation of Jesus,] the devil took him up and revealed to him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. "I will give you..."

"[Continuing his temptation of Jesus,] the devil took him to Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, "If you are the Son of God, jump...."

When Jesus was hungry, alone, and had been contemplating his mission that would end on a cross, Satan's temptations were quite enticing! Phil Ware shares very frank and clear teaching about how Jesus resisted temptation and reminds us that simply knowing the Bible is not enough to win the war with Satan.

"When they heard [what Jesus said about Elijah's ministering to foreigners], the people in the synagogue were furious. Jumping up, they mobbed him and...."

"[Jesus continued,] "Certainly there were many needy widows in Israel in Elijah's time, when the heavens were closed for three and a half years, and a...."

"Everyone spoke well of [Jesus] and was amazed by the gracious words that came from his lips. "How can this be?" they asked. "Isn't this Joseph's son?"..."

"Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Holy Spirit, and stories about him spread all through the area. He began to teach in their synagogues,...."

"Early the next morning [after healing many people and casting out many demons,] Jesus went out to an isolated place. The crowds searched everywhere..."

"[After his temptations in the wilderness,] Jesus returned to Galilee, filled with the Holy Spirit's power. Reports about him spread quickly through..."

"[Jesus, in the synagogue, reading from Isaiah:] "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to..."

"After [casting a demon out of a man and then] leaving the synagogue that day, Jesus went to Simon's home, where he found Simon's mother-in-law very..."

"[While Jesus was fasting in the wilderness,] the devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become a loaf of bread." But....."

"[Following his baptism,] Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where he was..."

"As the sun went down that evening [after Jesus healed Simon's mother-in-law], people throughout the village brought sick family members to Jesus. No....."

"[After the attempt in Nazareth to kill him,] Jesus went to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and taught there in the synagogue every Sabbath day. There,....."

Satan will tempt us to prove our importance just like he tempted Jesus. Max Lucado reminds us that Satan will try to tempt us to be important and to show out rather than to serve, just like he did with Jesus.

Where can I find true freedom? Tom Norvell thinks about July 4th and reminds us that freedom is found in Jesus.

"Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, ..."

"Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside."

"But [Jesus] said, "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.""

"None but Jesus can give deliverance to captives. Real liberty cometh from him only. It is a liberty righteously bestowed; for the Son, who is Heir of...."

"When the devil had finished tempting Jesus, he left him until the next opportunity came."

Inspirational illustration of Luke 4:43 -- I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.

How do they do it? I see them, am amazed by them, and want to be more like them. Tom Norvel sees the folks who face uphill challenges and yet keep on keeping on and is amazed and thanks them and affirms them and wants to be more like them.

Is there hope for these kids? A description of the Dry Bones minsistry and a hard night a kid died.

When sports fail to bring us together as one, then what will we do? Rubel Shelly reminds us of MLK, Martin Luther King, Jr., and how he taught us we were all equal in God's eyes and that Jesus was the answer to uniting us into one people under God.

With all the crazy stuff going on, how am I supposed to know what to do? Tom Norvel reminds us as leaders that we are promised wisdom, we just need to pray for it and ask for it genuinely and in faith.

What do we do with the dry patches in our lives? How do we handle the depression and spiritual dryness in our lives?

How can this bring me more joy? Patrick Odum tells about a boy who shared his winnings with his father rather than spending it only on himself and the joy that this attitude brought the father and Patrick compares this to the joy we give our Father, God, when we share.

What do all these events in Jesus' life have in common? Phil Ware continues his series on Luke 8 and 9 and this week he focuses on what each of these events has in common -- in each one, someone falls at the feet of Jesus.

We are Jesus' heart, hands, and feet. Let's remind each other that we should bless the broken, forgotten, left out, and needy. Phil Ware and Demetrius Collins lead us into worship through songs, Communion, and the Word God, inviting us to experience, proclaim and rejoice in the love of God for all people and to be stirred to share that love with others.

The best way I know to start trying this love language shift is to use it with Jesus. Phil Ware reminds us how important it is to use love language with those who are precious to us and we can begin by doing this with Jesus.

Take time to reboot and let God do the rest with you. Patrick Odum reminds us of the importance to rest, to have a Sabbath, to reboot.

What really is the value of food? Food has been an object of fascination for a variety of reasons, but Jesus has helped us determine the value of a good diet.

Where do we begin to change the cynicism and negativity we bring into our families, workplaces, and churches? Phil Ware continues his series on building a culture of honor focusing on affirmation.

Have you been slicked lately by the ads? Just like the fast food ads decieve us by making their product look too good to be true, so also satan deceives and tempts us.

How dark is it in your world? Phil Ware continues his series called Light on the Dark Side of the Mountain and reminds us that risky faith is rewarded.

First Stage of Jesus' Ministry First stage of Jesus' ministry.