When the Spirit comes, God’s presence is no longer distant but dwells within His people. At Pentecost, the promised Holy Spirit filled ordinary believers with boldness, power, and the ability to speak the gospel to every nation. This outpouring marks the beginning of a new era where all who call on the name of the Lord are saved. The same Spirit who empowered the early church is still moving today—filling, transforming, and sending us out for God’s mission.

In Luke 24:36–53, the risen Jesus appears to His disciples, speaking peace to their fear, showing the power of His resurrection, and giving the promise of the Spirit. He opens their minds to understand the Scriptures and commissions them as witnesses of His victory over death. His ascension is not a farewell but a beginning, as they are clothed with power from on high. In Christ, we receive peace for our fears, power for our mission, and the promise of His presence always.

In Luke 19:1–10, grace comes home when Jesus enters the house—and heart—of Zacchaeus, a man lost in greed and shame. Though the crowd saw only a sinner, Jesus saw a son in need of saving and called him by name. That day, grace broke through the walls of status and sin, bringing repentance, joy, and restoration. When grace comes home, salvation follows, because Jesus came to seek and save the lost.

In Luke 15:11–32, Jesus reveals the heart of the Father through the parable of the prodigal son—a heart full of mercy, longing, and lavish grace. The father runs to the repentant sinner, not with condemnation, but with open arms and a feast of restoration. He pleads with both the wayward and the self-righteous, desiring that all His children live in the joy of His love. This is the Father’s heart: patient, generous, and always ready to welcome us home.

In Luke 11:1–13, Jesus responds to His disciples’ request with a model prayer that centers on God’s holiness, kingdom, provision, forgiveness, and guidance. He not only teaches what to pray, but reveals the heart of a Father who loves to give good gifts to His children. Prayer is not a ritual to perform but a relationship to pursue—with boldness, persistence, and trust. When we ask, seek, and knock, we find that the Father is eager to answer, especially by giving us the greatest gift of all: the Holy Spirit.

In Luke 4:14–21, Jesus declares in the synagogue that He is the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy—the one anointed to bring good news to the poor, liberty to the captives, and sight to the blind. On that day, grace itself spoke through Him, proclaiming the arrival of God’s favor. His words were not just ancient promises, but present reality in His person and mission. In Jesus, grace is not an idea—it is a voice, a presence, and a power that transforms lives today.

The Word of God accomplishes more in this world than we can dare dream of. After all, God created our world with words. The Word of God smashes rocks. The Word of God is sharper than a two edged sword. The Word of God never returns to God without producing something. it’s worth listening to.

The Bible, in many places and ways, calls us to 'Rejoice always! Give thanks and trust in God at all times.' Easy enough to do when life is going the way we want. How can we do this in the midst of grief, injustice, uncertainty, and doubt? Is it just a matter of confessing we are falling short and being forgiven? Or does GOD have something more in mind for us? With three readings (Psalm 66:1-7; Philippians 4:4-9; Matthew 5:1-12), and examples from three people in congregations he served, and his own life, Pastor Craig invites us to consider our options.