Read With Me, Please

Read along as Matthew guides us through the Gospel of Luke. In these verses, Jesus is finishing his conversation with the disciples at "The Last Supper," then he goes out to pray on the Mount of Olives. While praying in the middle of the night, Judas arrives and betrays him. Jesus is arrested while "darkness reigns." When they take him away, Peter follows at a distance. Peter disowns, denies, his allegiance to Jesus, a signal that ...

Read along as Matthew guides us through the Gospel of Luke. In these verses, Jesus and his disciples are in Jerusalem in the last days before the Passover. Jesus is warning his disciples about the apocalypse, the changing of the times. He tries to teach his followers to not lose heart, to keep watch, to rely on his trustworthy words. One of his closest followers, Judas, agrees to betray him when no crowds can see the twisted plot t...

Read along as Matthew guides us through the Gospel of Luke. In these verses, Jesus continues to teach from within the Temple in the days leading up to the Passover Festival. The city and the Temple are abuzz with energy and much of the todo is centered on this Messianic figure--Jesus of Nazareth. The religious leaders are beyond skeptical and wish to trap Jesus, to turn the crowds against him, to rile people up, but meanwhile, Jesu...

Read along as Matthew guides us through the Gospel of Luke. In these verses, Jesus enters Jerusalem as King, enters the Temple as the true High Priest, and thus causes much conflict between himself and the religious leaders. They question his authority, and Jesus retorts their challenge with a brilliant answer. Listen along with us, please!

Matthew Schmidt is the Pastor of St. Paul's United Church of Christ located in the beautiful ...

Read along as Matthew guides us through the Gospel of Luke. In these verses, Jesus continues his traveling towards Jerusalem. He stops outside Jericho and heals a blind man, then he parades through Jericho and meets a tax collector named Zacchaeus. Questions pervade these stories: What is blindness and what is true sight? Who is welcome in this Jesus movement? Who does Jesus seek? 

Matthew Schmidt is the Pastor of St. Paul's Un...

Read along as Matthew guides us through the Gospel of Luke. In these verses, Jesus tells the Parable of the Persistent Widow and the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector. Jesus also welcomes little children to have a special place in the kingdom of God. Then he has a discussion with a certain ruler about eternal life. Finally, Jesus predicts his own death and resurrection a third time. 

Matthew Schmidt is the Pastor of...

Read along as Matthew guides us through the Gospel of Luke. In these verses, Jesus is traveling between Galilee and Samaria, and he heals ten men with leprosy. But only one of them returns to say thank you. Why do some of us recognize God's handiwork and blessings in our lives, while others fail to see what's really going on? Next, Jesus get's into a discussion with the Pharisees about the kingdom of God and when or how that might ...

Read along as Matthew guides us through the Gospel of Luke. In these verses, Jesus tells the Parable of the Shrewd Manager and teaches about money, Moses and the prophets,  and our ultimate hope -- God's redeeming grace. In a world where sin is very real, Jesus is asking his followers to be people of forgiveness, trusting in Christ's redeeming grace. And we respond like the disciples, "Increase our faith!"

Matthew Schmidt is th...

Read along as Matthew guides us through the Gospel of Luke. In these verses, Jesus encounters a challenge from Pharisees about his table fellowship practices that include sinners and tax collectors. Why does Jesus choose to associate with "those people"? Jesus tells the Parable of the Lost Sheep to explain, as well as the Parable of the Lost Coin. God, Jesus explains, is seeking and saving the lost. God wants to find and rescue and...

Read along as Matthew guides us through the Gospel of Luke. In these verses, Jesus tells the Parable of the Mustard Seed, teaches about the Narrow Door, and expresses his sorrow for the city of Jerusalem. Then Jesus goes to eat at a prominent Pharisee's house where he explains a little about God's version of true hospitality.

Matthew is the Pastor of St. Paul's United Church of Christ located in the beautiful small town of Grand Hav...

Read along as Matthew guides us through the Gospel of Luke. In these verses, Jesus continues to teach us not to worry, to trust in Him and seek the Kingdom. He also teaches about apocalyptic time and the current time of "now" (i.e. his life, death and resurrection), and given the time, he invites repentance and encourages new growth. It's not too late to change your ways, to be transformed by the redeeming love of Jesus. He tells a...

Read along as Matthew guides you through the Gospel of Luke. In these verses, Jesus offers warnings and encouragement. He tells a parable about a rich fool and teaches that we need not worry about our lives because God has already given us everything we need: life and everlasting life.

Matthew is the Pastor at St. Paul's United Church of Christ in the beautiful small town of Grand Haven, MI. Discover more about St. Paul's today. www...

Read along as Matthew guides you through the Gospel of Luke. In these verses, Jesus is accused harnessing demonic power to drive out demons. He explains that a house divided against itself cannot stand. Jesus bemoans the crowd for wanting signs (for all the wrong reasons) and teaches about true repentance and the sign of Jonah. He pushes the issue further to teach that our hearts (inner life) need to be in holy harmony with our act...

Read along as Matthew guides you through the Gospel of Luke. In these verses, Jesus is tested by an expert in the law. Spoiler Alert: Jesus passes the test and what emerges is a beautiful expression of what is required of all humanity–to love god and love your neighbor. A important question is asked, "who is my neighbor?", and Jesus responds by telling the Parable of the Good Samaritan. 

Matthew is the Pastor at St. Paul'...

Read along as Matthew guides you through the Gospel of Luke. In these verses, Jesus asks who people say he is. Then Jesus explains that he must suffer, be killed, and on the third day be raised to life. Finally, Jesus takes Peter, John and James with him up a mountain to pray. And Jesus is transfigured before them.

Matthew Schmidt is the Pastor of St. Paul's United Church of Christ in the beautiful small town of Grand Haven, MI. Dis...

Read along as Matthew guides you through the Gospel of Luke. In these verses, Jesus heals another child, and for the second time foreshadows the crucifixion by saying he must be handed over men. Meanwhile, the disciples continue to misunderstand Jesus and argue over who amongst them is the greatest. Jesus explains the cost of following him.

Matthew Schmidt is the Pastor of St. Paul's United Church of Christ in the beautiful small to...

Read along as Matthew guides you through the Gospel of Luke. In these verses, Jesus heals a woman and raises a girl who everything thought was dead. Then Jesus sends out the Twelve disciples, giving them a certain type of authority and power. Next, Jesus feeds a massive crowd of people, while humbling his recently empowered disciples. 

Matthew Schmidt is the Pastor of St. Paul's United Church of Christ in the beautiful small to...