Matthew 16:5-12 - One day Jesus was crossing a lake with his disciples, and they had forgotten to take bread with them. Jesus said to them, “be careful of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” The disciples didn’t understand what he meant at first and thought he was talking about bread. Jesus corrected them and said that he was actually talking about teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees which spread like yeast, and which they must be careful about.

Luke 4:14-30 - As Jesus traveled around Galilee, preaching and teaching, news of him spread throughout the countryside and the people praised him. Then he went to the synagogue in Nazareth, his hometown, and read a prophesy from Isaiah, which he then stated was now fulfilled in the hearing of the people. The people were amazed and asked, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” Jesus then went on to say that the crowd would surely ask him to prove himself through miracles and that a prophet is never accepted in their own hometown. This angered the people, who tried to drive Jesus out of town and off a cliff, but he walked through the crowd and went on his way.

John 15:1-18 - Jesus uses the illustration of a vine and branches to describe our relationship with him. He says that he is the vine, we are the branches, and his Father is the gardener. When we stay connected to him we can bear fruit, just as a branch must stay connected to the vine as its life source so that it can bear fruit. He goes on to say that we remain in his love by keeping his commands, that is, to love one another as he has loved us. In doing so, we have great joy and Jesus calls us his friends.

John 11:17-27 - Mary and Martha’s brother Lazarus had passed away and had been in the tomb for four days by the time Jesus arrived to visit them. Martha came out to meet Jesus, but her sister Mary stayed inside. In her grief, Martha told Jesus that if he had been there, their brother wouldn’t have died, but that she believes that even now Jesus could save him. Jesus responded that Lazarus would rise again, and Martha thought that he was talking about the resurrection at the last day. Jesus replied that he is the resurrection and the life, and Martha professed her faith in him as the Messiah and Son of God.

John 10:11-21 - Jesus taught his followers that he is the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep. The shepherd protects the sheep from the attacks of predators, rather than running away to protect his own life. He spoke about having a close and loving relationship with the sheep, as well as having sheep from different sheep pens that will one day join to become one flock under one shepherd. Jesus also alluded to the fact that he would sacrifice his life of his own accord and return to life again. There was division among those who heard his words, with some calling him demon-possessed and others pointing to his miracles as proof that he is from God.

Luke 7:36-50 - Once Jesus was invited over for dinner at a Pharisee’s home. While he was there, a woman from town who had a reputation for being a sinful woman came in with a jar of perfume. She began pouring the perfume on Jesus’ feet while wiping them with her hair and tears. The Pharisee saw this and started muttering to himself, wondering how Jesus could allow a sinful woman to touch him like that. Jesus then told a parable about two people who owed differing amounts of money to a moneylender, both of whom were forgiven their debts. He concluded that the one who was forgiven more would have more love and appreciation for the one who forgave their debts. In the same way, the woman who had been forgiven much by God, showed her great love for Jesus.

Luke 14:7-14 - Once when Jesus was at a dinner party at the home of a Pharisee, he noticed that the guests were taking the places of honour at the table, and he told them a parable. He told them, when someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the places of honour or someone more important might come along and you will be asked to give up your seat and will be humiliated. Instead, take the lowest seat, so that the host will will honour you by moving you up to a better seat. In saying this he taught that those who exalt themselves will be humbled and those who humble themselves will be exalted. Furthermore, he taught that when one hosts a banquet, they should welcome those who are left out and on the margins, and that in doing so they will be blessed.

Luke 1:57-80 - When it was time for Elizabeth to give birth to her baby, her neighbors and relatives celebrated with her. Then when time came for the baby to be circumcised, they wanted the baby to be named after his father Zechariah. However, Elizabeth said that the name was to be John. Zechariah confirmed this by writing on a tablet that the baby’s name is John. Right then and there, Zechariah was able to speak once again and began praising God for bringing salvation and redemption to the people. He testified that John was to be a prophet who would prepare the way for the Lord.

Luke 1:39-56 - After Mary had learned the news about her cousin Elizabeth’s pregnancy, she hurried to visit her. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby in her womb jumped for joy and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She exclaimed, “blessed are you among women and blessed is the child you will bear.” She wondered about why she had been so favored that the mother of the Lord would visit her. Mary also began praising and worshiping God for bringing down the rulers of the world and lifting up the humble.

Luke 1:26-38 - When Elizabeth was six months pregnant, God sent the angel Gabriel to visit a young girl named Mary who lived in the town of Nazareth and was engaged to be married to Joseph. The angel greeted Mary and said that she was highly favored by the Lord, and this troubled her. The angel told her not to be afraid, and that she would become pregnant and give birth to a son who would be named Jesus, and would be the Son of God as well as a great King who’s kingdom would never end. Mary was confused about how this would happen, and the angel said that the Holy Spirit would cause it to happen, and that even Elizabeth would be having a baby in her old age. Mary then accepted the angel’s words and God’s plan for her.

Luke 1:5-25 - In the time of King Herod, there was a priest named Zechariah who was married to a woman named Elizabeth. They were very old and were childless because Elizabeth was unable to conceive. Once when Zechariah was serving God in the temple, he was visited by the angel Gabriel who gave him the news that Elizabeth would become pregnant with a son, who was to be named John, and who would be the one to prepare the way for the Lord. Zechariah didn’t believe the angel at first, and asked how he could be sure of it since he and his wife were so old. The angel responded that Zechariah would not be able to speak until the day it happened, since he didn’t believe in his words.

Luke 7:11-17 - Once when Jesus was in a town called Nain, he approached the town gates and saw a man who had died* and was being carried out, he was the only son of his mother who was a widow. There was a large crowd surrounding her, and Jesus felt compassion for her. He said to her, “don’t cry” and went up to the man being carried out, touched him, and said, “Young man, get up!” The man got up, and Jesus returned him to his mother. Everyone who saw praised God and said, “God has come to help us.”

Passage: Luke 8:43-48 - Once there was a woman who had bn bleeding for twelve years and no doctors could heal her. She saw Jesus in a crowd and reached out to touch the hem of his cloak and she was immediately healed. Jesus asked who touched him, because although there were crowds of people pressing into him, he felt that power had gone out from him. The woman was scared but she stepped forward and admitted that it was her and explained why she had done it and that she had been healed. Jesus responded to her by saying, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”

Luke 17:11-19 - Once when Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem, he went into a village where ten men with leprosy (a skin disease causing sores to appear all over their bodies) met him. They cried out to Jesus to have mercy on them. Jesus told them to go back to their communities and show themselves to the priests. As they went along, they were healed. One man, a Samaritan, seeing that he was healed, went back to Jesus, praising God and throwing himself at Jesus’ feet in thanks. Jesus asked about where the other nine were and why only one, a foreigner, had returned. He told the man to go in peace and that his faith had healed him.

Luke 18:35-43 - Once when Jesus came to Jericho, there was a blind man sitting on the roadside begging. He heard the noise of the crowds and asked what was happening. When he was told that Jesus was passing by he started to shout at the top of his lungs, “Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me.” He was told to be quiet, but shouted all the more. Jesus took notice of him, stopped, and called him over to him. When Jesus asked what he could do for the man, he asked for his sight. Jesus healed him on the stop and said that his faith had healed him.

John 4:46-54 - Once when Jesus was visiting Cana in Galilee, there was a royal official who’s son was very sick. He heard that Jesus was in town and went to him to beg him to heal his son. Jesus simply said, “Go, your son will be healed.” The man took Jesus at his word and left. While he was still on his way, his servants met him and told him the news that his son was healed. When he asked about what time his son was healed, he learned that it was at the exact time that Jesus said, “your son will be healed.” So he and his whole household believed.

Matthew 17:24-27 - Once when Jesus and his disciples were traveling in Capernaum, the temple tax collectors came up to Peter and tried to ask him a trick question, whether Jesus paid temple taxes or not. Peter said that he does, and went to Jesus to tell him what happened. While Jesus stated that it wasn’t right to make the children of God pay taxes to the temple, he told Peter to go and catch a fish and look inside its mouth. When Peter did this, he found two coins inside, just enough to pay for his and Jesus’ temple tax.