Just like us, the people of Jesus' day spent much of their time laboring for things that perish. Just like us, they often found themselves not satisfied. In John 6:1-40, we read about two of Jesus' most well-known miracles, feeding the 5000 and walking on water. Because the people missed the meaning of the miracles, Jesus followed them up with instruction about bread that truly satisfies and gives life. As it turns out, there is only one thing that we can do to have this bread of life. (full sermon notes)
One of the most difficult parables to interpret is in Luke 16:1-17, which relates the underhanded dealings of a dishonest manager who got fired...
Because humans were dead in our sins, the only possible solution was for God to make us alive because of his grace.
Two stories combine to show how Jesus has power to make people whole again and to call us to believe his words.