What it Really Means to Follow God

Reflections from a young father listening to the Sermon on the Mount

. . . It was a warm day. Sitting with hundreds of people from the surrounding villages we strained to hear the voice of Jesus. He was talking clearly to his twelve key disciples, but we could hear it too!

“Being Noticed is Part of Who I Am”

Reflections from an older male community leader listening to the Sermon on the Mount.

. . . It had been a long walk to this hillside to hear this radical young rabbi. I didn’t want to go, but everyone told me I had to hear him. There were more people than the population of our whole village sitting on the side of the hill. We waited. Then we saw him. He was unassuming, but commanding at the same time.

When You Can’t Sleep for Worry

Reflections from a young woman with five children listening to the Sermon on the Mount.

. . . It was hard to concentrate and listen to Jesus. My mind was full of worries. There was never enough food. Having enough for today, let alone tomorrow, was always gnawing inside me. I worried. I had trouble sleeping. Getting to sleep, then waking up early.

Jesus Challenges

Reflections from a grandfather listening to the Sermon on the Mount

. . . It was hard to listen to this young Rabbi. He was challenging me in areas I did not want to be challenged.

Generosity Beyond Our Wildest Imagination

Reflections from a young man listening to the Sermon on the Mount

. . . I am a shepherd. It had been a hard week. I had been out on the hills with the sheep. Our best ewe had fallen in a crevice and died in the storm. I had just come into town last night. I had run out of food and was so hungry.

Not just do’s and don’ts

Reflections from a young leader listening to the Sermon on the Mount

. . . I had never heard any message from any Rabbi like this! This Jesus was radical. So different from what I had ever heard in any synagogue or the Temple.

Which House Will You Choose?

Reflections from Jesus at the end of the Sermon on the Mount

. . . It had been a long day. It was time to finish sharing with these wonderful people. They had walked a long way to listen to me, and hear my simple message of what it meant to follow our Father.

Can I Step Out and Call to Jesus Too?

Reflections from a man with family members dealing with recurring pain and illness

. . . Jesus had finished his sermon, or his teachings, on the hillside. I was shocked by the simplicity, clarity and authority of it all. It was so different than anything I had ever heard. I had never heard anything like it before. It was like he was speaking right into my heart.

When an Outsider’s Faith is More Than My Own

Reflections from an officer’s friend

. . . Many Romans had been in our town before, but none like him.

This Roman officer was so different. He respected me, a Jew. He watched out for us. He didn’t abuse us. He was so different. He asked questions – really good questions.

Eyes of Compassion

Reflections from a mother

… Grief. Anguish. I had no more tears. My body ached with exhaustion. I felt like I was in a catatonic pain-filled walk. My soul was being squeezed as if it had no life.

My son had died. My only son. My only son.