Today’s Community Scripture – 4/21/2025 

Jesus told another story to the people: “A man planted a vineyard. He handed it over to the farmhands and went off on a trip. He was gone for a long time. In time, he sent a servant back to the farmhands to collect the profits, but they beat him up and sent him off empty-handed. He decided to try again and sent another servant. That one they beat black-and-blue, and sent him off empty-handed. He tried a third time. They worked that servant over from head to foot and dumped him in the street. “Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘I know what I’ll do: I’ll send my beloved son. They’re bound to respect my son.’  “But when the farmhands saw him coming, they quickly put their heads together. ‘This is our chance—this is the heir! Let’s kill him and have it all to ourselves.’ They killed him and threw him over the fence. “What do you think the owner of the vineyard will do? Right. He’ll come and clean house. Then he’ll assign the care of the vineyard to others.” Those who were listening said, “Oh, no! He’d never do that!”  But Jesus didn’t back down. “Why, then, do you think this was written: That stone the masons threw out—It’s now the cornerstone!? “Anyone falling over that stone will break every bone in his body; if the stone falls on anyone, it will be a total smashup.” The religious scholars and high priests wanted to lynch him on the spot, but they were intimidated by public opinion. They knew the story was about them.

Luke 20:9–19 (MSG)

– Reflection:

In the passage above, the chief priests and Pharisees were questioning the reasoning of the story he had just told. Did they think he was speaking of GOD leaving the vineyards with those who had protected them up to that point? The farmhands, if they were listening, were evil and only looking out for themselves. They had laid claim to a land that wasn’t even theirs and claimed it as their own, even though the owner was asking for the profits from it. Surely they didn’t think that GOD was going to give more grace to those who killed the son of the owner of the vineyards. Even today, as we see leaders in our country and others, some people can only see the greed in their own minds, which they attribute to themselves. Think about it; this is before Christ went to the Cross. He had performed all these miracles and great acts of healing and soul saving up to that very point, and they pulled what they wanted out of the story he told. Amazing.

– Where do we go from here?

This story raises the question: how do we see ourselves in this world, as owners or tenants? Faith teaches us that GOD is the owner, and we are simply tenants, stewarding what has been entrusted to our care. Are we faithful tenants, managing all that has been entrusted to us, returning to the owner what rightfully belongs to them? This is ultimately what the life of faith is all about.

– Our Prayer for Today

Father, grant us the strength to recognize when our blessings are right in front of us, even when we struggle to do so. Keep us on the path you have set for us. Provide us with the ability to see the wrongs we are doing to others and the strength to correct them immediately. It is with all the grace and mercy within me that I ask for these things for myself and for others. In Jesus’ name, we are allowed to say. Amen

Today’s Community Scripture – 4/17/2025

No sooner were the words out of his mouth than a crowd showed up, Judas, the one from the Twelve, in the lead. He came right up to Jesus to kiss him. Jesus said, “Judas, you would betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” When those with him saw what was happening, they said, “Master, shall we fight?” One of them took a swing at the Chief Priest’s servant and cut off his right ear. Jesus said, “Let them be. Even in this.” Then, touching the servant’s ear, he healed him. Jesus spoke to those who had come—high priests, Temple police, religion leaders: “What is this, jumping me with swords and clubs as if I were a dangerous criminal? Day after day I’ve been with you in the Temple and you’ve not so much as lifted a hand against me. But do it your way—it’s a dark night, a dark hour.” Arresting Jesus, they marched him off and took him into the house of the Chief Priest. Peter followed, but at a safe distance. In the middle of the courtyard some people had started a fire and were sitting around it, trying to keep warm. One of the serving maids sitting at the fire noticed him, then took a second look and said, “This man was with him!” He denied it, “Woman, I don’t even know him.” A short time later, someone else noticed him and said, “You’re one of them.” But Peter denied it: “Man, I am not.” About an hour later, someone else spoke up, really adamant: “He’s got to have been with him! He’s got ‘Galilean’ written all over him.” Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about.” At that very moment, the last word hardly off his lips, a rooster crowed. Just then, the Master turned and looked at Peter. Peter remembered what the Master had said to him: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” He went out and cried and cried and cried.

Luke 22:47–62 (MSG)

Key Verse – When those with him saw what was happening, they said, “Master, shall we fight?” One of them took a swing at the Chief Priest’s servant and cut off his right ear. Luke 22:49–50 (MSG)

– Reflection:

Have you ever been tempted to defend Jesus? It’s unlikely that you have wielded a sword to cut off anyone’s ear but perhaps you have found yourself irate about some cultural shift that impacts your faith. I remember when I had read the bible the first time and was starting to understand a few things and what some of it meant. The doorbell rang and it was a group that likes to minister in the local neighborhoods. So I allowed them in and the conversation went somewhere I didn’t expect. I felt like I was defending the bible, because only small pieces were being used to tell me a story of what happened at a certain point in the Bible. So I was finishing the story and asking why they weren’t. That was a while ago though; now I know what my place is, and what path I am on.

– Where do we go from here?

What if Jesus doesn’t want to be defended? Actually, he doesn’t need to be defended; it is our arrogance that puts us in the position to defend him. When it was written for it to happen just as it does at that moment. When he was arrested in the garden, one of his disciples cut the ear off a slave. Jesus reacted, saying, “No more of this!” He then touched the slave and healed the ear. Even when being arrested, Jesus responded with love. Jesus met violence with love. Jesus met his enemies with love. Jesus went to the cross with love. May we follow as he leads us.

– Our Prayer for Today

Father, transform us with your loving power so that we may live in a way that honors you. When we are tempted to fight back on behalf of our faith, remind us to take up our crosses and follow you. Grant us courage. Grant us strength. Grant us resolve. Amen.

Today’s Community Scripture – 4/14/2025

But I don’t want to go on about them. It’s you, the outsiders, that I’m concerned with now. Because my personal assignment is focused on the so-called outsiders, I make as much of this as I can when I’m among my Israelite kin, the so-called insiders, hoping they’ll realize what they’re missing and want to get in on what God is doing. If their falling out initiated this worldwide coming together, their recovery is going to set off something even better: mass homecoming! If the first thing the Jews did, even though it was wrong for them, turned out for your good, just think what’s going to happen when they get it right!

Romans 11:13–15 (MSG)

– Reflection:

Live Like There Isn’t A Tomorrow

No question, many of us men and women are living in “I know, I know” mode… in “I’m gonna do it, but just not right now” mode. You see, we understand what’s important; we’ve just convinced ourselves that we have all kinds of time. And because life is incredibly busy right now, we’ve resolved to get around to doing what we know we should be doing, later—when things slow down a bit. We’ll change our ways, later. We’ll actually live out our faith, later. But what if there’s no later? What if today is our last day? Then what?

– Where do we go from here?

Take a look at your life. Where are you spending money and talent? Where and with whom are you spending time? What’s being neglected? What needs to change? Are you willing, brother? It’s time—time to shift into “I’m on it” mode.

– Our Prayer for Today

Father, It is our paths that you placed before us that we are not working diligently to satisfy and work towards. Continue to bless us with the time you see fit for us to have. We will continue to honor your name and work Jesus. Amen.