Of what does life  consist?

We are looking at Christ's teaching in Luke 12 on possessions and money. In the last post we looked at verses 13-15 of this chapter. Christ makes a dramatic observation to a man who was quarreling with his brother about his inheritance. He says that one's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions. This was a counter cultural proposition then--and it certainly still is now in the 21^st century! But Jesus does not leave us hanging  with that statement. He tells a parable to go along with his teaching to the man in the crowd. In the gospels, a parable is a literary device used to underscore a particular truth. The point of a parable is to make the teaching memorable so that it can be easily recalled.  In the next five verses, Jesus does exactly that. He gives us a vivid--even shocking--word picture of a man who did think that life consisted of the abundance of his possessions. Also, we are shown the alternative--being rich towards God.

Life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.

Financial security is one of life's universal concerns. So it is not surprising that the issue of financial security was raised to Jesus by a worried Israelite. A man had a dispute with his brother about an inheritance he thought was due him. He asks Jesus to settle the dispute. But the response that Jesus gives is not what the man was expecting. Instead of issuing a ruling or giving a formula by which to settle the dispute, Jesus uses the opportunity to warn the man and the crowd around them about the dangers of covetousness. At first glance, Jesus' reply seems to be a strong reaction to this man's request--he is just concerned about his financial future and well being. But remember, this is the Lord of heaven and earth speaking. Christ knew this man's heart. He knew there was a larger issue to be addressed. Here is the text in Luke 12:13-15 that records this encounter:

Money seems to be on everyone's mind these days. There are fears and concerns about the economy that are constant topics of talk radio and cable news. Your children will undoubtedly hear some of these concerns as they listen to adults who listen to television, radio and the search the internet.  In the midst of all the concerns about money and wealth it is a good idea to help your kids develop a biblical worldview about these subjects. One good place to start to do this is Chapter 12  of Luke's gospel. Here is an excerpt:

The 2010 Winter Olympic Games are in their final week. The performances have once again been tributes to the skill and dedication of those who participate in the games. The sacrifice has been huge. As the numerous NBC personal vignettes testify, many of these athletes have given their whole lives to reach for Olympic glory. It is a heady goal to be acknowledged as the best in the world--to win the gold medal. For many at the games, it is enough just participate in the Olympics, to compete with the best, even if they don't win the gold. The glory of the Olympics compels these athletes as well. But there is a problem with pursuing Olympic glory. In the pursuit of medals there is the danger of making this pursuit the most important goal in life. You see, the Living God has demanded of man that He be most important in our lives. It is the pursuit of God's glory that is to dominate human life. That is what people were designed to be: pursuers of the glory of God. Romans 1:21-32 addresses this very issue.

Shepherd Press is grateful for the enthusiastic response to the interview with Nancy Ganz and the special offer for the set of the Herein Is Love commentaries. Because of this response we have decided to extend the sale through this Wednesday, February 24. 

This set is a tool that will enable parents to carry out God's instruction in Deuteronomy 6 to impress the Word of God on the hearts of their children.  Why not let others know about this offer, available through Wednesday? This series is a wonderful way for families to start teaching their children about the riches of God's word.

As an added incentive, from now through Wednesday you may order up to three sets of commentaries. So, if you would like to purchase a set for friends, children or grandchildren, you now have this opportunity. For those of you who have already ordered a set, you may order the extra sets as well.

Here is how to take advantage of this offer:

All four volumes of Herein Is Love will be available at a special price from now until Wednesday, February 24. Here are the specific instructions to take advantage of this special:

                The coupon code for the set is JYGANZ4.

The special price for this set of 4 volumes is $29.95! That's $16 off the usual set price, or $23 off the price for all four books sold separately.

You may need to be logged into the website for the coupon code to work!

To enter the coupon code, add the Herein is Love Set to your shopping cart. Click "View Cart" on the right side of your screen. At the bottom of the shopping cart page is a field titled "Redeem a discount coupon." Enter the coupon code there and click "Submit." Then proceed with the checkout process.

This is a limited time offer. Up to three sets per customer.

This post concludes our interview with Nancy Ganz, author of Herein Is Love, a set of Bible commentaries designed specifically for children. We believe this series is unique, with thoroughly biblical material presented in a warm, flowing narrative. Parents, teachers, and children will gain fresh insights into the biblical texts, insights that will impact everyday life. If you have ever wondered how to make the Bible come alive to your children and to yourself, Herein is Love will do just that.

Shepherd Press is offering the set of all four commentaries for $29.95. The details of this special can be found at the end of interview questions in this post.

Today we continue our interview with Nancy Ganz, author of Herein Is Love. This is a set of Bible commentaries designed specifically for children. We believe this series is unique, with thoroughly biblical material presented in a warm, flowing narrative. Parents, teachers, and children will gain fresh insights into the biblical texts, insights that will impact everyday life. If you have ever wondered how to make the Bible come alive to your children and to yourself, Herein is Love will do just that.

Shepherd Press is offering the set of all 4 commentaries for $29.95. The details of this special can be found at the end of interview questions in this post.

Today we continue with our interview with Nancy Ganz, author of Herein Is Love. This is a set of Bible commentaries designed specifically for children. We believe this series to be unique. The material in these commentaries is thoroughly biblical and it is presented in a warm, richly flowing narrative. Parents, teachers and children will gain fresh insights into the biblical texts that will impact everyday life. If you have ever wondered about how to make the bible come alive to your children and to yourself, Herein is Love will do just that. To help encourage you to take advantage of this series we are offering the set of all 4 commentaries currently available for $29.95. You will find the details of this special at the end of interview questions in this post.

Nancy Ganz is author of the Herein is Love commentary series, a Bible commentary set for children. They are written following the model given to God's people in Deuteronomy 6; that is, these books talk to children about God and his Word. The writing is from the heart to the heart. In other words, the books are written from the heart of a mother and teacher passionately committed to teach the glory of God to her children. Then, the writing is directed to the hearts of children so that the things of God will be deeply impressed upon them. We believe this series to be unique. The material in these commentaries is thoroughly biblical, and it is presented in a warm, richly flowing narrative. Parents, teachers and children will gain fresh insights into the biblical texts, insights that will impact everyday life. If you have ever wondered how to make the Bible come alive to your children (and to yourself), Herein is Love will do just that.

To encourage you to take advantage of this series we are offering the set of all four commentaries for $29.95. You will find the details of this special at the end of interview questions in this post.

We are grateful that Nancy has done this interview. We are trusting God that your appreciation for this series will be deepened and that God will use this interaction for his glory and your good.  This interview will come in several posts, concluding this Saturday.  I believe you will find her answers to provide an intimate and encouraging look at what makes Herein is Love so special.

There are many concerns that compete for your thoughts. Paul's admonition in Philippians 4:8 is to think about things that are excellent. One of these excellent things is thinking about how to be a good, biblical listener. This post is part 2 of listening to your children from a biblical perspective. Today's post  continues material with material taken from Chapter three of Everyday Talk.