(Matthew 5:43-48) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Make me perfect as the heavenly Father is perfect. Imagination Picture Jesus asking the disciples to imitate the Father. Context: Jesus continually demands that his disciples show goodness towards enemies. They must act as children of a heavenly Father. At the end Jesus reveals …
(Matthew 5:20-26) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Let your gentleness overcome my anger. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching his disciples to reconcile.) Context: Jesus teaches a “greater goodness” which is demanded by the holiness of this new Kingdom. In this gospel, he compares the Old Testament teaching on anger and his new …
(Matthew 7:7-12) Prayer: O Jesus, teach me to ask and to seek and to knock. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching His disciples to have confidence in prayer.) Context: God wants to bless you. First, he wants you to seek his blessings (so when you receive them you will thank God and …
(Luke 11:29-32) Prayer – O Lord, I seek no sign or wonder. I seek only you. Imagination – (Picture Jesus speaking to the crowds.) Context: Although Jesus’ enemies asked for a sign, Jesus addresses his teaching to the crowds. He cites two Old Testament examples of foreigners having a change …
(Matthew 6:7-13) Prayer: O Jesus, teach me to pray as you prayed. Imagination (Picture Jesus teaching His disciples the Our Father.) Context: The Lord’s prayer has seven petitions. The first three – “hallowed be your name. Your Kingdom come. Your will be done” are really the same, showing a desire …
(Matthew 25:31-46) Prayer: O Jesus, You are the King who is to come. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with His disciples.) Context: Some people never heard Jesus’ gospel. In this parable, Jesus confronts the question of how they will be judged. Although they do not know Jesus (Lord, when did we see …
(Luke 4:1-13) Prayer: O Jesus, help me to remain faithful to you in all my temptations. Imagination: (Picture Jesus tempted by Satan.) Context: These temptations show that Jesus experienced temptations just as we do. By going into the desert, Jesus is like the Israelites who spent forty years there. However, …
