T. M. talks with theologian and pastor Rev. Robert Lynn about the Church's need to recover its missional vision and lifestyle. This is part 1 of a 5-part series of Conversations with Rev. Lynn.

Jesus makes His triumphal entry and proceeds to shake things up, clearing the temple moneychangers and making prophetic connections people understand but don’t necessarily like. This causes the conflict with the religious leaders to heat up fast.

Jesus is marching to the cross, and tells His disciples this, but they don’t understand. He continues to teach about the Kingdom of God and people continue to miss the point, or even oppose things.

Jesus is directly asked by a ruler, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” He knows the ruler’s heart, and knows his claims of goodness are bogus, so He answers with a command He knows the ruler won’t obey. But before this conversation, Jesus teaches some lessons on how to really get saved. You must receive the kingdom as a little child. You must humble yourself. You must pray incessantly. You must be always prepared, for no one knows when the end times will be.

The kingdom of God has arrived and is in the midst of them. The era of the law and the prophets is over. Everyone wants in, but they can’t see it because they’re looking for the wrong thing. Jesus preaches the kingdom, while performing the signs that prove it’s here.

The prodigal son parable gets into some deep concepts. Then Jesus tells the parable of the dishonest manager, who gets praised for his shrewdness. Lastly, Jesus applies this parable by explaining that worldly wealth will go away. The lessons aren’t easy, but they’re as valuable as they are difficult.

Jesus uses parables to teach things his listeners don’t want to hear. Forget the status thing. You must count the cost – even hating your father and mother – for following Him. We don’t celebrate the way we should. Like the prodigal son, we chase the wrong things.

Jesus teaches that the kingdom will grow gradually, like a mustard seed, that few will be saved, that the first will be last, and that he who humbles himself will be exalted.

The book of Daniel is the shortest of the “major” prophets, but its importance in the story of redemption is no less than that of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel.

If we do not know God, we cannot know goodness.

T. M. concludes his Conversations with Philip R. Jackson, American still life painter, with a look at some ordinary, not-so-beautiful objects, that bristle with beauty and spiritual vitality. Watch the video, then download the meditation on Philip's painting, "Tulip and Berries."

With Stephen and Paul as our examples, and understanding the times in which we live, each believer must do his part to advance the Kingdom of Christ. This entails living and proclaiming our witness to Him at all times and by every available means.