Living Vertizontal

In this episode, we push on to Luke 15:11-32, where we read the parable of the prodigal son. As we work through the parable we identify the different individuals within the story, the repentant son, the reckless father, and the resentful son, and talk through how each of them resonate with us. As we discuss the older son, we identify our propensity to reflect him rather than the father in our willingness to forgive and seek restoration with those around us. Our invitation and challenge is to forgive and restore extravagantly, just as the father of the parable does, just as Jesus does.

In today’s episode, we continue our journey through Luke 15:1–10, where Jesus shares two more parables with the crowds. Together, we explore the consistent response of both the shepherd and the woman: in the face of loss, they set everything else aside to pursue what is missing. And when the lost sheep and coin are found, their response is one of abundant celebration. As people invited to participate in the Kingdom of God, we are likewise called to recognize the immense value of every person around us. These parables challenge us to pursue the lost with intentionality and to celebrate joyfully whenever someone experiences the grace and life of God’s kingdom.

In this episode we turn to Luke 14:25-35, shifting from the sabbath encounters, to an interaction that Jesus has with the crowds surrounding Him. From this passage we talk about honestly evaluating the cost of following Jesus, from relationships, to security, and identity. When we follow Jesus, we are invited to bid farewell to all those things that we often cling to.

In this episode, we continue on with Luke 14:15-24, still at the prominent Pharisees house for the Sabbath meal, we drop in on another parable of Jesus’. From this passage we talk about misplaced priorities in life: possessions, time/productivity, and relationships/social status, and how we are often tempted to allow these things to distract us from responding to the invitation to participate in God’s Kingdom now.

In this episode we move into Luke 14:1-14 where Jesus heads over to a prominent Pharisees house for a Sabbath meal, while here, Jesus heals a man, and shares another parable. Together we discuss our propensity to pursue prominence, and the invitation that Jesus issues to surrender our position to Him, trusting that He sees us.

In this episode we work through Luke 13:22-35. In this passage we hear Jesus speak on the narrow door in response to a question from the crowd and then we hear Jesus’ lament of Jerusalem. Throughout our conversation we discuss feasts in first century Israel and identified Jesus’ conversation on the narrow door as a metaphor for the opportunity and expectation of relationship with God to enter the feast of the Kingdom of Heaven. Too often, the temptation is to allow proximity to Jesus to substitute for personal relationship with Jesus.

In this episode we continue on with Luke 13:10-21. In this passage we see Jesus heal a woman on the sabbath and also hear two short parables on the Kingdom of Heaven. What does it really mean to be set free—and are we sometimes more bound than we realize? As we explore this passage, three key themes emerge: 1) Jesus’ power and willingness to set us free from what binds us, 2) our tendency to rely on religious structures rather than relationship, and His invitation to live fully in the Kingdom of Heaven here and now, and 3) we also reflect on the nature of this “upside-down” Kingdom—starting small, yet steadily growing, persistent, and transformative.

In this episode we move on into Luke 13:1-9. Within this set of verses we hear Jesus’ call to repentance and the parable of the fig tree. From this passage we talk about who God is, how God acts, and how we are invited to act in the world. God is loving, patient, and active. We are called to respond urgently to His action in our lives. By extension, we are subsequently invited into pointing out where and how God is active in the lives of others so that the God who loves us and pursues us can come into clear focus for the world.

In this episode we move on to Luke 12:49-59 where we hear Jesus continuing to speak to the crowds about the worldly weight/cost of what it looks like to live within His Kingdom. From this passage we address: the mission of refinement and revival that Jesus is on, Jesus’ distress over the baptism of death that He must endure, the division that results as we recognize Jesus as our Lord and Messiah, the importance of recognizing the Kingdom of God here and now, and the urgency of our response to that very Kingdom.

In this episode, we move into the 10th season of the Living Vertizontal Podcast, and returning to our journey through Luke together. Today, we will be working through Luke 12:35-48 where Jesus speaks of the importance of readiness at any hour. Together, we talk about the what, when, and who of readiness in the Kingdom of God. As servants within our masters’ kingdom, we are each individually called to be ready at all times, serving within His kingdom, in expectation of His imminent return.

In this episode we find ourselves in the sixth week of Lent, a week that began with the Palm Sunday celebration! For this week, our passage is Zechariah 9:9-12 which addresses the coming of Zion’s King. Together, we talk about the importance of our focus. In life, in the midst of chaos, we find discouragement, apathy, and a propensity to place anyone and everything on the throne. When we choose to keep our eyes on Christ, we instead find hope, revival, and a call back to our First Love.

In this episode, we are in week five of Lent, we are going to be turning back to a psalm, Psalm 27, of David. A Psalm of confidence, crying out, and chosen trust amidst uncertainty. Together, we talk about the importance of abiding. Having acknowledged the reality that we cannot control the chaos around us, we recognize that the most important thing we can do in every situation is look to Jesus first. Like David, we can be confident in: who Jesus is, that Jesus listens, and how Jesus responds.

In this episode, we find ourselves in the fourth week following the fourth Sunday of Lent, and we are going to be working through Deuteronomy 30:11-20. In this passage, we hear some of Moses’ final words to the people of Israel as they prepare to enter the promised land. Together, we talk about the choice that we are presented with each and every moment of every day, we can either choose life, or choose death. As we choose life, we grow in love for God, we listen to His voice, and we hold fast to Him; we become a reflection of the Kingdom of Heaven.

In this episode we move into the third week of Lent together where we look at Jeremiah 32:26-41. This passage contains a word from the Lord through Jeremiah the prophet, concerning the unfaithfulness of the people of Israel as a result of their misplaced desires. Out of this passage we address just how imperative it is that we have a properly placed desire for God. As our desire is refined for God, we find that obedience to God becomes simpler. Regardless of the reward, regardless of the difficulty, obedience becomes our default because our desire and focus is nothing else but God alone.

In this episode we continue our Lenten journey in this second week, we are going to be looking at Psalm 84. A pilgrimage psalm of the sons of Korah. Together we talk about the importance of our intentionality in worship. When we stop long enough to recognize who it is we are worshiping, He becomes our desire, and the distractions, cares, and concerns of the world slowly fade away, our complacency is counteracted. The foundation of this though is our intentional focus on the God of all.

In this episode we move into the season of Lent, a season of reflection, a season where we come face to face with our own mortality, a season inviting us to realize our full dependence on Jesus. To kick off this season we are going to be working through Psalm 95 together. As we work through this Psalm, we talk about Jesus’ invitation to trust His plan and provision in the midst of the journey, in the midst of our own wilderness experiences. Together we identified that when we are in the wilderness, we can choose to either harden our hearts and strive to see ourselves through, or we can recognize our need for dependence on God alone. Though it's not always easy to recognize, Jesus is present in our journey every step of the way, even in our own wilderness experiences.

In this episode we work through Luke 12:22-34 together, exploring Jesus’ statement to his disciples to “not worry.” Together we discuss the misconceptions often associated with Jesus’ message of God’s provision and care as we work through the passage.

In this episode we continue on in Luke 12, looking at Luke 12:13-21 where Jesus shares the parable of the rich fool in response to a question from the crowd. As we work through the interaction between Jesus and a member of the crowd, we come to recognize the misplaced focus of the rich fool. Not only is the rich fool nearsighted, he is also functioning in a self-focused way. At no point does the rich fool acknowledge the reality or presence of God. From the parable, we hear Jesus calling them then, and us now, into deeper dependence on God in all things, to live richly towards Him. Practically speaking, this heart disposition walks in humility both recognizing God as the source and also the one we should go to as we work to discern what we should be doing with what we have at each different moment.

In this episode we move into Luke 12:1-12 where we see Jesus warn against the Leaven of the Pharisees, speak on fearing God alone, and the encouragement to confess Christ. From this passage we discuss the pervasiveness of hypocrisy in our own lives and the lives of those around us, and the importance of removing our masks so that we may live in authentic relationship with Jesus even now. Too often hypocrisy is rooted in fear of what others may do to us or think about us, and Jesus’ invitation in this passage is to keep our focus on Him and trust that He has our back through it all.

In this episode we continue on with Luke 11:37-54 where Jesus goes to a Pharisees house for dinner and subsequently speaks woes to both the Pharisees and the scribes. From this passage we discuss how each of the woes sheds light on the misconceptions and misrepresentations of the Pharisees and scribes while also simultaneously extending an invitation for each of them to abide with God. In the same way, these woes can expose our own misconceptions and misrepresentations and invite us to abide with Him as we seek to live in His kingdom.

In this episode we move on into Luke 11:29-36 where Jesus talks to the growing crowds about the sign of Jonah as well as the lamp of the body. From this passage, we talk about the humility of both the Ninevites and the Queen of the South. As we allow this passage to speak to us today, we addressed the importance of always coming humbly to Jesus for the next step, rather than operating on our own assumptions and expectations.

In this episode we look at Luke 11:14-28. Within this passage, Jesus addresses the idea of a house divided, the returning of unclean spirits, and true blessedness. From this passage, we discussed how Jesus was cementing His identity in the minds of His disciples and those listening; as God, He has all power and all authority. He is the “stronger man” and through Him, the Kingdom of God is at hand. This conversation is so important because just as Jesus identifies the two choices for those listening, we also have two choices as a result of knowing who He is; we are either for Him, or against Him. There is no middle or neutral ground. In God’s Kingdom, we are invited into an active participation and if we are not actively pursuing Him, then we are getting further and further from Him. The invitation is His, and the choice is ours.

In this episode we jump back into our journey through Luke together, picking up in Luke 11:1-13. In this passage, Jesus continues to prepare His disciples for His departure by teaching his disciples how to pray. Together we discuss how this passage helps shape a proper orientation in prayer (who God is, and who we are), a proper orientation in persistence (keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking), and a proper orientation in God’s response to our persistence (God is a good Father who gives good gifts). As His children, we must remember that we don't know it all and cannot see it all, but He can, and, through the Holy Spirit, we have the opportunity to follow after Him in everything.

In this episode, we finish our Advent journey in Jonah 4:1-11. In this chapter, we have an opportunity to see Jonah’s response to God’s mercy on Nineveh. Together we discuss Jonah’s feelings of resentment towards both Nineveh and God, and how God uses the circumstances around Jonah to hold up a mirror to Jonah, functioning to expose Jonah’s heart and working towards transformation into God’s likeness. From this we identified that when we direct our focus and attention to Jesus, in the midst of our pain and hurt, He can help us move beyond that pain as we open up the space for Jesus to fill us with His hope, peace, joy, and love, regardless of what has happened to us.

In this episode we carry on into Jonah 3:1-10 (again the entire chapter). Finally, here in Jonah 3, we see both Jonah’s obedience as he arrives in Nineveh and shares the message from God and the response of the Ninevites. Together we talk about the miracles of obedience, belief, repentance, humility, and salvation found throughout this chapter. We reflect on God’s loving nature as the God of second chances and examine the depth and completeness of Nineveh’s repentance. Ultimately, we recognize that as people sent by God, our calling is not to condemn, but to offer salvation to those around us through Christ.

In this episode we pick up in Jonah 2, and work through the whole chapter. In this passage we explore Jonah’s prayer as he finally breaks the silence and takes the time to talk to God. Together we discuss the joy that Jonah finds as we see his focus shift from his own circumstances, to the unchanging character of God. In the same way, when we choose to focus on God’s unchanging character over our circumstances, we can find unshakable joy, this is the joy of Advent.

In this episode we push on in Jonah, reading Jonah 1:9-17, finishing the conversation on the great storm and also Jonah being cast into the sea. Our Advent theme this week is Peace, and so we explore what our passage today has to do with peace. Together we discuss the satirical form of this week's passage which forces us to see truths that we often would rather ignore. Additionally, we identify the peace that we find when we cease our striving and choose to rest in the presence of God in the midst of the storms and chaos of life.

In this episode we explore the Advent theme of Hope. while working through Jonah 1:1-8. This passage explores Jonah fleeing from God’s call, and the great storm that Jonah encounters. From our conversation on Jonah 1:1–8, we see that Jonah’s limited understanding of God’s presence may have shaped his reluctance to respond to God’s call. Believing he could escape God, Jonah attempted to flee from the Lord’s presence. Yet the hope in this passage is unmistakable: God is ever-present, and God pursues. God pursued Nineveh through Jonah, and God pursued Jonah through the storm. Just as God sought to draw near to Nineveh by inviting Jonah to participate in restoring their relationship through his prophecy, God still desires to draw near to all people today. The question, then, is this: Are we willing to answer God’s call in our own lives and allow ourselves to be instruments of relational restoration?

In this episode we finish Luke 10 with a look at Luke 10:38-42. In this passage we see an interaction between Mary, Martha, and Jesus. From this passage, we talk about the hospitality reflected by Martha, Mary, and even Jesus. We address the propensity that we have as a culture to focus more on tasks and productivity, over time and presence with others. As we live in Jesus’ upside down kingdom, we are invited into a countercultural way of living whereby we focus on time and presence with both Jesus and others, over task and productivity in action.

In this episode we look at Luke 10:25-37, we move into Jesus’ parable on the good Samaritan as Jesus responds to an expert in the law who asks about inheriting eternal life. From this we discuss how Jesus uses questions and parables to slow people down and allow a truth to move beyond head knowledge and into heart knowledge, increasing the likelihood of life transformation. From the parable, we hear Jesus’ invitation to “do and do likewise,” to participate in the kingdom even now, open to interruptions and opportunities to care for those around us, as an active reflection of the heart of God.

In this episode, we pick up in Luke 10:21-24 and look at Jesus’ prayer of thanksgiving, following the sending out of the 72. From this passage, we explore the different aspects of Jesus’ prayer of thanksgiving — from His praise for who God is, to His recognition of what God has done, and finally to a benediction that reaffirms God’s authority. As we walk through the text, we see several key themes emerge: the vital role of humility in God’s Kingdom, the authority of Jesus, the intimate relationship between God the Father and God the Son, and the open invitation for all who are willing to listen and enter that relationship. With Jesus as our model, we are reminded of the clear call to live in such a way that others may see, experience, and participate in the upside-down Kingdom of God.

In this episode, we jump back into the discourse happening between Jesus and the 72 both before their sending out, and after their return in Luke 10:13-20. Together, we reflect on the sense of expectation that comes with experiencing God’s Kingdom. When we encounter Jesus—when the Kingdom of God draws near—we face a choice: to embrace it or to turn away. Further, Jesus also deepens the mission blueprint by grounding both the disciples and their work in their identity as full representatives of the Kingdom. As appealing as fruit may be, it cannot flourish unless it is rooted in our identity in Christ. Therefore, as we seek to participate in and proclaim the Kingdom, our efforts must first and foremost be anchored in who we are in Christ.

In this episode we continue to walk with Jesus on His journey to Jerusalem through Samaria and watch as He sends out 72 on mission in Luke 10:1-12. Together, we reflect on how this passage echoes the sending of the Twelve, following the mission blueprint Jesus established in Luke 9:1–9. Yet, this passage also invites a shift in perspective as the disciples enter the mission field. Rather than focusing on the hopelessness that opposition can bring, Jesus draws attention to the potential within it. In the same way, as Jesus sends us out to participate in and proclaim the Kingdom of God, we are called to move with urgency, humility, and dependence—while also embracing the invitation to see potential in every encounter, even when the situation appears hopeless.

In this episode we move into Luke 9:51-62 where we see Jesus and His disciples rejected by Samaritans, and also two interactions with others about the cost of following after Him. Together we start by exploring the importance of prioritizing people over principles. When we choose to keep relationships at the center, we leave room for the Spirit of Jesus to keep working in the lives of those who may hold different convictions. From there, we unpack some of the common barriers that can keep us from fully participating in God’s Kingdom here and now—our desire for security, our struggle to surrender control, and our divided loyalties. Jesus’ invitation to follow Him is immediate, urgent, and all-encompassing. The real question is: will we answer that call and step fully into His Kingdom here and now?

In this episode, we reflect on Jesus’ patience with the crowds and His disciples, who once again fail to grasp what it truly means to fully participate in the kingdom of God, even though He had taught and modeled it many times. In the end, we recognize that the way of humility—following Jesus step by step—is the only path to fully participate in and embody His kingdom here and now.

In this episode, we read about the event known as the Transfiguration, found in Luke 9:28-36. Together talk about the difference between the static and dynamic message from God. We identify that unlike the Law and the Prophets, Jesus is present and dynamically leading us through life. Our invitation is into a dynamic relationship with Jesus, over a static dependence on the tools that were meant to point us to Jesus in the first place.

In this episode, we move to Luke 9:18-27. Within this set of verses we read about Peter’s declaration of Jesus as the Messiah, Jesus’ prediction of His death, and Jesus' explanation of the cost of following Him. Together, we talk about how important it is for us as Jesus’ disciples to have a clear understanding of who He is. Who we understand Jesus to be will impact what we think Jesus does and says, and what we think Jesus does and says, influences what we do and say. We must set aside our misconceptions of dominance and overthrowing within the context of culture and politics and embrace the reality of suffering and rejection. Living in the way Jesus lived, His upside down Kingdom is put on full display for all to see.

In this episode we continue on in Luke 9:10-17. Within this set of verses we read about the miraculous feeding of the 5,000. Together, we jump into the topic of sabbath. Viewing this miracle account through the lens of sabbath challenges us to recognize sabbath as having more to do with dependence than sleep. When we grow more and more in our dependence on Jesus for everything, we enter the rest He has for us. This points us to the reality that sabbath is not just a moment we set aside; instead, sabbath is something we can experience on a moment by moment basis as we depend on Jesus. Sabbath carries with it more of a connotation to rest in, rather than rest from.

In this episode, we move on into Luke 9:1-9 where we read of Jesus sending the 12 apostles out on ministry, and King Herod’s desire to see Jesus and understand who He is. Together, we reflect on the missional blueprint that Jesus laid out—both for His apostles then and for us today. As we live on mission, we not only proclaim the Lordship of Christ but also embody it in our daily lives. In doing so, the attractive nature of the Kingdom is revealed, drawing the world irresistibly toward Him.

In our episode this week, we cross back over the Sea of Galilee and read from Luke 8:40-56. Within this passage we read of two different miraculous encounters. First, the healing of the bleeding woman, and second, the raising of Jairus’ daughter from the dead. Together we discuss the implications of the way we choose to live our lives. When our life is oriented to Jesus in every way, we confess our desperation for Jesus to all those around us. The only hope that we have in finding restoration and resurrection is through dependence on and desperation for Christ alone.

In this episode, we look at Luke 8:26-39. In this passage we read about the story of the demon possessed man in the Gerasenes. Together we talk about the importance of following Jesus into the difficult places of life, meeting people where they are, to participate in the upside down kingdom that Jesus initiated.

In this episode we turn to Luke 8:16-25. In this passage, we read about the lesson of the lamp, Jesus’ interaction with his mother and brothers, and Jesus’ calming of the storm. Together we walk together through three key parts of the passage. First, we consider how Jesus, though speaking in parables, was still clearly revealing the Kingdom of Heaven—and how coming to Him in humility opens us to receive His wisdom and understanding. Second, we reflect on Jesus’ ability to use every day moments, even interruptions, as opportunities to teach, expanding our view of who truly belongs to His family. Finally, we look at how Jesus calming the storm shows us, through creation itself, what it means to respond with humility and obedience to what Jesus says.

In this episode we move on to look at Luke 8:1-15. In this passage, we read of the involvement of women in Jesus’ ministry and also encounter Jesus’ parable of the sower and its explanation. Together we discuss two main themes. First, we again address just how far Jesus’ upside down kingdom reaches and how not only does the kingdom welcome everyone and anyone, but it invites all to play a part as well. Second, we talk about the open door of parables, and Jesus’ invitation for us to ask the question, “what soil am I?”

In this episode we are finish Luke 7 with a look at Luke 7:36-50. In this passage, Jesus is invited over to Simon, the Pharisee’s house, and is encountered by the sinful woman. Together we again discuss the role of dependence in our lives and the importance of our undivided dependence on Jesus in everything we do. When our dependence is divided among multiple things, we find anxiety and fear, but when our dependence is focused on Jesus alone, despite the uncertainty around us, we can find true peace.

In this episode we remain in the seventh chapter of Luke, exploring Luke 7:24-35. In this passage, Jesus continues to speak about John the Baptist and call out the fickle nature of so many of those gathering. Together we discuss the implications of this upside down kingdom that Jesus introduced. Within Jesus’ kingdom, all are lifted up, positions disappear, and justice reigns. In Jesus’ kingdom, we are invited to set aside our expectations of others, and see them for who they were created to be, rather than what they have been defined as by the world. We are invited to see people right, rather than set people right.

In this episode we continue on into Luke 7:18-23. In this passage we see John the Baptist send his disciples to Jesus to ask an important question. Together we discuss the different possibilities as to why John the Baptist would be sending his disciples to ask Jesus if He is in fact the Messiah. As a result of our conversation, we realized the potential validity of each option and how the ambiguity points towards the importance of humbly coming to Jesus to get to know Him.

In this episode, we move on into Luke 7:1-17. Within this passage we see two different miracles, one involving a centurion, and one involving a widow. Together we discuss these two different healing stories and all that Jesus demonstrates about His upside down kingdom. Following His Sermon on the Plain, we have the opportunity to see Jesus live out these teachings. Living in Jesus’ upside down kingdom, we are invited to love, to see, to care for, to trust others, and to identify all Jesus is doing in our lives and in the lives of those around us.

In this episode we finish up the sermon on the plain, looking at Luke 6:46-19. In this passage, Jesus asks a question of those around Him, emphasizing the importance of hearing His words and listening and then issues a warning through the example of the wise and foolish builders. Together we discuss just how important it is for our foundation to be rooted in Christ alone, both for our own lives, and the lives of those around us.

In this episode, as has been for a couple weeks, we continue to look at the sermon on the plain, looking at Luke 6:37-45. In this passage we read of Jesus’ instruction as it relates to judging others, and a tree and its fruit. Together we again discuss how dependence has been a consistent theme that Jesus has been addressing throughout the Sermon on the Plain. We are called to be dependent on Jesus in all things: our actions, our words, our thoughts, and even the fruit in our lives. Recognizing just how blind we are, we continue to understand more and more just how critical dependence is for each moment.

In this episode, we continue to look at the sermon on the plain, looking at Luke 6:27-36. In this passage we read of Jesus’ instruction to love our enemies. Together we discuss the importance of radical obedience in our lives. As we intentionally listen to Jesus, with every step and every word, we reflect Jesus, and as a result, we usher in His upside down kingdom here and now.