The Barefoot Evangelist

Story Time Scripture   Parable of the Talents 14 “A man was leaving on a trip. He called his servants and handed his possessions over to them. 15 To one he gave five talents, and to another he gave two, and to another he gave one. He gave to each servant according to that servant’s ability. Then he left…

Story Time Scripture   Parable of the ten young bridesmaids Matthew 25 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten young bridesmaids who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom. 2 Now five of them were wise, and the other five were foolish. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but didn’t bring oil…

Story Time Scripture   The Beatitudes Matthew 5 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them. He said: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.4 Blessed are those who mourn,    for they will be comforted.5 Blessed are…

Story Time Scripture   The Greatest Commandment Matthew 2234 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question:36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all…

Story Time Scripture   Paying the Imperial Tax to Caesar Matthew 2215 Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words.16 They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance…

Story Time Scripture   The Parable of the Wedding Banquet Matthew 22 Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: 2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. 3 He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come. 4 “Then…

Story Time Scripture   The Parable of the Tenants Matthew 2133 “Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place. 34 When the harvest time approached, he sent his…

Story Time Scripture   The Authority of Jesus Questioned Matthew 2123 Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?” 24 Jesus replied, “I will also ask you one question.…

Story Time Scripture   The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard Matthew 20 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. 3 “About nine in the morning he went…

In-person services in most worship communities have resumed, so we are turning from weekly worship to reflections on the scriptures. Story Time Scripture   The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant Matthew 1821 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven…