Jesus' interaction with the woman at the well shows a beautiful picture of the gospel, as Jesus comes to meet her in the middle of her sin and sets her free.
In Luke 19-20, Jesus comes face to face with the religious leaders in Jerusalem, when he rolls into the temple and starts cleaning house. The leaders at the temple are no doubt unimpressed, and they have one major question for Jesus: "Who do you think you are?!" It begins a conversation about authority – where it comes from, who holds the keys, and who you will follow.
After 3 years of ministry, at the end of the 80-100 miles journey from Galilee to Jerusalem, Jesus crests the Mount of Olives on his way into the city, the crowd breaks into song, and he breaks into tears.
Two men from very different situations in life have a desire to see Jesus. He meets them both in very different ways, but the outcome is the same: Your faith has saved you.
A wealthy man comes up to Jesus looking for the key to eternal life. Jesus tells him to sell everything, and the rich man is extremely disappointed. The idea that you can’t work or earn your way into heaven wasn’t what he wanted to hear.
Jesus gets invited to another dinner party with the Pharisees, and talks to them about who will be invited to the banquet table in the kingdom of God.
Someone asks "How many people will get to heaven? Just a few?" Jesus pauses to reply, and teaches that only those who make every effort to enter the Narrow Door will be saved.
If Jesus' had a mission statement, what would it be? It might not be what you think it would be, and not only that, Jesus surprises the disciples by saying there's no middle ground. You're either in or out.
How do I know I’m saved right now? And how can I be sure I can’t (or haven’t already) sin my way out of God’s grace? Or do I have to be a perfect Christian from now until I die in order to get to heaven?
How do you interpret the world you see on the news and on social media? Would you say that it is all under the loving control of an all-powerful God? It sure seems like whoever is calling the shots is anything but "good" or "holy" or "right." If we go to the news media for answers to this question, there's a good chance we'll end up angry, anxious, and probably very judgmental. If we go to the Bible for answers, we'll find that things aren't always as they seem.