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Oikos, Crestview, FL (2026)

08/02/2024

Luke 20:26 says, “And they were not able in the presence of the people to catch him in what he said, but marveling at his answer they became silent.” Jesus’s enemies were seeking to catch Him in an error so they could use it against Him, but because Jesus is “The Truth” they couldn’t find any errors in the things He said. Rather than catch Jesus in a mistake, they went away marveling at what He had told them. As Jesus’s disciples we are called to be like Him. We too need to be filled with truth. The source of that truth is scripture. It is where we find genuine truth and understanding. We need to fill ourselves with it in everything we are and everything we do. We need to read scripture, study it, meditate on it, and apply it. The problem we face is that we have so many distractions around us. Cell phones, the internet, television, hobbies, etc. can all consume so much of our time and leave very little for the study of God’s word. How much time are we spending saturating our minds with scripture so that we can be full of truth, so we can be more like Jesus. When our enemies try to catch us in our words will we be ready? Will they find a flaw in our truth or our understanding? Will they find something to use against us, or will they go away silent and marveling at the truth of God’s word stored in our hearts? Being full of biblical knowledge takes time and dedication. How much time are you spending filling yourself with God’s truth each day?

08/01/2024

Luke 20:25 says, “He said to them, ‘Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’” Jesus tells us to surrender to the things that are of the government and the things they require, in this case taxes. Romans 13:1 says, “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” As followers of Christ, we are called to submit to what the government requires of us because ultimately it is submitting to authority God has established. God’s authority is supreme, so His authority supersedes any mandates of the government, but if there is no conflict, we are called to obey our government and its laws. Often the government requires things of us that we do not want to do. Giving them some of our hard-earned money, often a lot of it. Drive at a certain speed. I currently have been called for jury duty. I could list more, but I’m sure you get the point. The question is, how often do we look for loopholes or make excuses to get out of doing the things our government requires? Do we fudge our taxes or dishonestly use loopholes? Do we make excuses for speeding? Do we look for excuses to get out of serving on jury duty? Any time we look for ways out of obeying our government we are ultimately looking for ways out of obeying God. Spend some time considering if you are truly rendering unto your government the things your government requires of you so that in doing so you are being obedient to God’s authority through the things God has established.

07/30/2024

Luke 20:21-25 says, “So they asked him, ‘Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and show no partiality, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar, or not?’ But he perceived their craftiness, and said to them, ‘Show me a denarius. Whose likeness and inscription does it have?’ They said, ‘Caesar’s.’ He said to them, ‘Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’” The spies were sent by the scribes and chief priests as an effort to trap Jesus in something He said. The spies tried to get Jesus caught up in a political debate regarding taxes. We see again here the underlying theme of authority similar to what we saw in the previous verses. The previous verses about authority center on God versus man. Now the question about authority is centered around God versus government. Jesus answers by telling us to “render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that God’s.” The Greek word for render, that Jesus uses here, means to “give back”. Jesus tells us to give back what belongs to the government, in this case taxes, but He says to give back to God what is God’s. As followers of Christ everything we have and everything we are belong to God. Our calling is spiritual not political. We are called to be salt and light to the nations. Jesus never taught His disciples to go out and try to bring political change. He called His disciples to seek spiritual change. If God’s people would keep their focus on what we are called to give back to God through being salt and light to the nations, focus on God’s Kingdom rather than an earthly nation, and seek spiritual changes in our nation, God Himself would take care of the political change. Rather than being a political activist, seek to be the salt and light you were called to be in your nation, and trust God, who is the ultimate authority, with the rest. (Romans 13:1-2)

“…if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

07/29/2024

Luke 20:19-20 says, “The scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him at that very hour, for they perceived that he had told this parable against them, but they feared the people. So they watched him and sent spies, who pretended to be sincere, that they might catch him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of the governor.” Our pride can be one of the greatest hinderances from allowing God’s truth to shape us into the people He created us to be and from having a deep intimate relationship with Him. Because of their pride, the chief priests and scribes refused to listen to what Jesus was trying to warn them about. Rather than humbly listen and learn from what Jesus had to say, their egos led them to get angry and reject Jesus’s warnings. Because they knew He was speaking to them, rather than seeing He was trying to help them, they felt like they were being personally attacked. This led to their anger, and their anger led them to a desire to act in unrighteous ways. Ultimately, they wanted to lay hands on Him, but in the meantime, they were willing to settle for a fault-finding expedition. How often am I like the chief priests and scribes when I am confronted with a truth that hurts my ego. Do I get angry with the messenger? Do I look for faults in the person sharing truth so I can dismiss what they say? Or do I humble myself? Do I rely on the Holy Spirit to make an honest assessment of what is being shared? Do I then prayerfully seek to change my thinking and my behavior based on the truth that has been revealed to me? James 1:19-20 says, “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” As followers of Christ, let’s put into practice the habit of being humble, being quick and willing to listen, keep pride and anger in check, and let God’s truth change us so that we can live more and more in the righteousness of God.

07/26/2024

Luke 20:17-18 says, “But he looked directly at them and said, ‘What then is this that is written: ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’? Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.’” The rejection of God’s plans will never alter them. They will come about whether we accept them or not. They will happen even if we refuse to come alongside them and be a part of what He is doing. Throwing yourself against an immovable stone will only result in harm or destruction. In a similar fashion if you try to stand in the place where a large stone is being set it will crush you. The same is true for the person who tries to throw themselves against God’s plans or tries to stand in God’s place of authority over their lives. As the cornerstone, Jesus has all authority over our lives whether we accept it or not. Are you still fighting against God’s authority in your life and throwing yourself against His plans in an attempt to have authority over your own life and to accomplish your plans and the things you want? God is a God of love. He proved how much He loves you at the cross. His plans are perfect and so are His plans for your life. You just need to trust in His love and let go of anything and everything that is keeping you from following His perfect plan for your life. God has amazing plans for your life. Don’t miss those amazing things that He wants to do by not seeking to coming alongside His plans.

07/25/2024

Luke 20:13 says, “Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.’” God had sent the law and the prophets to show His people how to live for Him and walk in obedience to Him and His plan for their lives. In Hebrews 1:1-2 it says, “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son…” God not only sent His beloved Son to die for our sins, but also to teach God’s commands and to be an example for us of how to live for God. The importance of how we respond to Jesus in how we live cannot be overstated. In John 14:15 Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” Do you love Jesus? Are you keeping His commandments? In Matthew 28:20 Jesus refers to “all” His commandments as being taught and obeyed. Are we immersing every part of our lives in the things Jesus commanded or are we in some way like the wicked tenants? Are we respecting and loving Him by keeping all His commandments or do we pick and choose? Do we reject the parts that are hard or would hinder us from doing the things we want? Proverbs 3:6 says, “In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” We need to acknowledge God and His commandments in “all” our ways not just when and where it is convenient. It said that if we will acknowledge what He has commanded us in all our ways, He will make our path in life straight. What better way is there to live than following His straight path.

07/24/2024

Luke 20:10-12 says, “When the time came, he sent a servant to the tenants, so that they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. And he sent another servant. But they also beat and treated him shamefully and sent him away empty-handed. And he sent yet a third. This one also they wounded and cast out.” In Jesus’s parable the owner of the vineyard kept sending servants to collect what was rightfully his only to have them rejected and abused. This is a picture of God repeatedly sending prophets to His people only to see them and the message He sent rejected. As ugly as this part of the parable may be, I see in it a beautiful picture of God’s love and patience. Rather than reacting in anger towards the tenants at the mistreatment of his servants, the owner of the vineyard keeps send more servants and finally, as we will see in verse 13, he sends his son. The tenants didn’t deserve a second or third chance. They definitely didn’t deserve the son, and neither did we. God is so loving and patient. He is the God of second and third chances. Despite our repeated rejection God even sent His only begotten son. The psalmist describes God by saying, “But You, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness.” (Psalm 86:15) Has God been calling you to do something only to have you repeatedly reject His call? It isn’t too late. God loves you and is patient. One day God’s patience will end, but that day hasn’t come yet. You still have time. If you haven’t rejected His calls. If you are seeking to continue in answering each of His calls in your life, take some time today to thank Him for His great love and patience through the times when you weren’t listening. Thank Him for being such a loving and patient God to you. A God of second and third chances.

“The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.” (Psalm 103:8)

07/23/2024

Luke 20:9 says, “And he began to tell the people this parable: ‘A man planted a vineyard and let it out to tenants and went into another country for a long while.’” The parable Jesus tells here is an indictment against the Jewish religious leaders and they knew it. (Luke 20:19) God had planted a vineyard when He established Israel as a holy nation. He then left it to the religious leaders to tend the vineyard and expected them to produce fruit. Not only were they not producing fruit to honor God through what they had been given to manage, but they would also go on to murder God’s Son in order to keep what they had. Before we start looking down our noses at the religious leaders of that time. Let’s consider ourselves. The former tenants have been destroyed and the vineyard is now occupied by new tenants. (Luke 20:16) As followers of Christ, we are the new tenants managing God’s vineyard. As with the former tenants God expects us to use what we have been given to produce fruit. He has even given us greater tools than the former tenants to perform the work that is required. We have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us to guide us and empower us, but are we producing the kind of fruit that will please God? Are we producing it in abundance? Rather than honoring God with His vineyard are we like the former tenants? Are we using it, and its fruit, for our own personal gain? Let’s be diligent in working in the vineyard we have been so graciously given to manage, with all its benefits, to produce fruit for God in a way that honors and pleases Him.

07/22/2024

Luke 20:7-8 says, “So they answered that they did not know where it came from. And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.” When asked where the authority of John came from, the religious leaders claimed they didn’t know. In one sense their response was accurate, they didn’t know or understand where it came from. The truth, however, was that they did have an opinion, but they were being dishonest, playing politics, and trying to avoid the consequences of speaking the truth about their opinion. They were playing mind games, but Jesus refused to play along. Why do you think Jesus refused to answer their question? Could it be that Jesus had already answered their question many times in many ways, but they refused and would continue to refuse accepting it? Maybe He knew they were and would continue to be rebellious and deaf to what He would say. Ezekeil 12:2 says, “Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, who have eyes to see, but see not, who have ears to hear, but hear not, for they are a rebellious house.” There are times to speak truth to others, but scripture also teaches us that there are times to keep quiet. Proverbs 26:4 says, “Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself.” Proverbs 29:9 says, “If a wise man has an argument with a fool, the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet.” In Matthew 7:6 Jesus says, “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.” We need to learn to be sensitive to the leadership of the Holy Spirit in sharing truth. There are times we need to make a stand and declare the truth of God’s word, but there will also be times we need to realize that we are wasting our time and potentially causing more harm to others and ourselves by share truth with people who are determined not to listen. Fools chose to reject God’s truth. According to scripture, when you are operating under God’s authority, you don’t need to waste time arguing with fools.

07/18/2024

Luke 20:3-6 says, “He answered them, ‘I also will ask you a question. Now tell me, was the baptism of John from heaven or from man?’ And they discussed it with one another, saying, ‘If we say, from heaven, he will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’ But if we say, from man, all the people will stone us to death, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.’” Who is influencing and/or controlling your opinion? The chief priests and scribes wanted to know where Jesus got His authority. In response, Jesus asked a question in order to make a point. The point was that they should have known. They knew the scriptures. They knew what the scriptures foretold of the Messiah. They should have known and understood the truth of what Jesus, and John, was saying because it was backed by what had been written in the law and the prophets. The problem was that they let their emotions, their own personal desires, and public opinion lead them astray. As a result, they played politics. I normally steer away from discussions on politics, but it is a great illustration of my point. We are in an election year and there will be many opinions that can have an influence on yours. Let me use one point to illustrate. What is your opinion on who people should vote for as president? Is this opinion based on scripture or on some other factor? I hear people say one side or the other is destroying our country. I hear thoughts on the economy, inflation, or taxes. But where does the Bible factor into our political opinion as followers of Christ. Let me illustrate further. In 2021 the CDC reported 625,978 abortions in the U.S. Other groups reported even higher numbers in their statistics. Current estimates say that approximately 63 percent of abortions are the result of the abortion pill. The Bible says that we are a person before we are born. (Psalm 139:13, Psalm 139:16, Jeremiah 1:5) Scripture also repeatedly says that it is wrong to shed innocent blood. (Exodus 23:7, Proverbs 6:16-17, Isaiah 59:7, Jeremiah 22:3) What has your candidate clearly said about the issue of abortion? Do they support it, do they ride the fence on the matter, or do they take a clear stand against it? Do they view abortion as the premeditated murder of children, or do they sidestep calling it what it is? Scripture doesn’t call us to pick the lesser of two evils. Scripture tells us to take a stand for what is right and that should include our opinion and how we vote. I don’t say any of this to stir up anger. I don’t say any of this to tell you who to vote for. I tell you this to illustrate how we should let the truth of scripture be the foundation of our opinion and its truth alone, not just in politics, but in every opinion we hold and every aspect of how we live. Don’t be like the high priests and scribes. Don’t let your emotions, your personal desires, or public opinion influence what you hold as truth.

07/17/2024

Luke 20:1-4 says, “One day, as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes with the elders came up and said to him, ‘Tell us by what authority you do these things, or who it is that gave you this authority.’ He answered them, ‘I also will ask you a question. Now tell me, was the baptism of John from heaven or from man?’” The religious leaders of the time wanted to know where Jesus got authority to say and do the things He did. By His own claims Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” (Matthew 28:18) We know from scripture that God gave Jesus His authority and that authority extended over all things. (Hebrews 2:5-9) Everything was placed under Jesus’s authority by God the Father. (Ephesians 1:20-23) The religious leaders rejected Jesus’s claims of authority, but their rejection didn’t affect the reality of the authority Jesus had been given because it came from a source greater than the religious leaders. This is an important truth in the life of a believer since Jesus has passed on some of His authority to His disciples. After Jesus claimed that all authority had been given to Him, He went on to say, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20) The disciples didn’t need a commission or an ordination from religious leaders to carry out what Jesus had called them to do. Their authority came from the King. Don’t get me wrong, being ordained isn’t a bad thing. There were times in scripture where the church commissioned and gave authority to people like Paul, Barnabas, and many others, but this was simply a recognition and a conformation of the calling God had already placed on these people’s lives. That being said, as disciples of Jesus, He has already called us to go, make disciples, baptize, and teach. He has given us that authority. We don’t have to wait to be ordained or commissioned in order to carry out what Jesus has called us to do. We simply need to start living out our calling in the authority we have already been given by the King.

07/16/2024

Luke 19:47-48 says, “And He was teaching daily in the temple. The chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people were seeking to destroy Him, but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were hanging on His words.” Jesus entered Jerusalem as King, but people saw Him in very different ways. Some saw Him as an earthly king who could rid them of earthly problems and bring earthly blessings. Some saw Him as nothing more than a teacher. Some saw Him as a prophet from God and a miracle worker. A few saw Him as the only begotten Son of God, creator and sustainer of heaven and earth. They saw Him as King of the Universe and all that is in it, and they were right. But Jesus isn’t just the King. He is King, but He is also all of these other things as well. According to today’s verses He is a teacher. In verses 36 through 38 He is described as not just King of heaven but also of earth. He is a King who brings freedom from earthly problems and brings earthly blessings, but He is also a King who brings spiritual freedom and spiritual blessings. According to verses 41 through 44 Jesus is a prophet proclaiming the word of God and of things to come. We also know that our King is a miracle worker. The important question isn’t what kind of king people think Jesus is. The important question is what kind of King do you think He is? How you see King Jesus and who you believe Him to be affects how you serve Him. How you see Him affects who you are and how you live. Verse 48 says that the people were hanging on His words. Do you long for and hang on the words of your King? If you aren’t, what does that say about what you think of your King and who you believe Him to be? How great or how small is your King?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzqTFNfeDnE

Oikos

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