Queen's Road Cell

 A note on the women following Jesus: It was uncommon for a rabbi to allow women to accompany him. Luke is the gospel that most highlights Jesus' interaction with women. Mary Magdalene has been (wrongly) identified as the 'sinner' of the previous passage. The women came from different backgrounds. Many other women (the Greek of 'many others' and 'their' is feminine) supported Jesus' ministry.  1. What main point is Jesus trying to commuicate in this parable to the crowds who flocked around Him(see 8:5-8, 11-15)? The Parable of the Sower (Mt 13:3-9, Mk 4:3-9) is given on the background of large/great crowds.  because there are those to whom 'is given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God' (v.10), whereas those outside the kingdom are taught in parables in order that they may not 'see... and.. understand' (cf Is 6:9-10). 'Secrets' (Gk mysteria ) are truths which we could never discover for ourselves, but which God has revealed....

Edmund Chan asks us to radically redefine success. Success is not related to largeness, but greatness. We are all called to the latter, but not the former. We are not called only to grow in numbers. While Scripture is clear that numbers are not everything, it also teaches us that barrenness is not desired by God - we are to be fruitful. We are not to lose heart because our ministry is not growing, and we must not lose the courage to do what it takes to make it grow. Numbers are there to help us assess our effectiveness, not to boost our egos. Chan says that success is about fulfilling purpose. When we redefine success, we must relook at our purpose. We are successful when we accomplish what God has called us to do. What comes to mind when we say that someone we know is successful? Many times our idea of success aligns with material prosperity. We could also say that the successful are able to fulfill their dreams. They accomplish the purpose that they set out to do. Jesus was suc...