I like to think of Jesus as someone we can relate to, someone who asks simple questions and expects straight answers. Take the question for today: "Why do you call me good?" How would you answer that? Why do you call Jesus good?
"Let the little children come to me; and do not hinder them." "Hinder" suggests active, conscious, deliberate obstruction. But the obstruction may come simply from neglect to take some positive action.
Children comprise one of the largest groups of unchurched people in the community; yet. The tragedy is that the children's lack of faith is not their fault; it's a choice their parents are making.
If you're laboring under the burden of guilt because you're divorced, leave that burden behind you. And if you're still holding on to hurt and anger caused by a divorce, let go of that, as well. In Christ, all is forgiven; all things are new.
Recognizing that "It is not good that the man should be alone," God created woman and man together as a beautiful way to meet human needs. He created marriage as a lifelong relationship with one person. However, many marriages fail to capture that kind of beauty today.
Our tendency is to take what Jesus said to the rich young ruler and apply it across the board. To be faithful, you’ve got to have a big garage sale and get rid of everything you own, giving the proceeds to those in need. I don’t think that’s what Jesus had in mind.
Preaching about divorce is like running through a field of thorns, and listening to a sermon on divorce can seem the same way. One misstep and we just add to the hurting. But let us venture together carefully into the thorny field.
Jesus had just upbraided his disciples for trying to one-up each other. He told them to become like children, humble and unassuming. Now the disciples are still at it—making sure that they are in control, that everyone will recognize their greatness.
The implication is that, just as food is bland without salt, the believer is ineffective without seasoning. A seasoned disciple can make a difference, whereas those without seasoning are of no use to anyone. So, what does it mean to be a seasoned disciple or a salty believer?
Ask a hundred people to identify their favorite Bible passage, and it's unlikely that any of them will mention these verses from the ninth chapter of Mark's Gospel: "If your hand causes you to stumble, cut if off."