Laurie Norlander

This week, let’s look at two more parables: “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid;...

Last week we looked at the first of seven parables that Jesus began with the words “the kingdom of heaven is like …”  Although the...

Immediately after the Parable of the Soils from last week, Jesus tells another agricultural story, the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares...

Since parables are told in simple stories, we often assume they’re simple to understand—but that’s not always the case. Since one good...

Jesus often taught in parables—a brief story using relatable characters and familiar activities to illustrate a deeper moral or spiritual...

Years ago, an older co-worker occasionally asked me to explain the meaning of life. At the time, I didn’t have a particularly good answer...

In Philippians 2:3, Paul says, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves.”...

My Lutheran and Catholic friends might be surprised to learn that other denominations typically don’t observe Lent, and those who attend...

Unless you’ve read through the front matter in your Bible, you may wonder why the word Lord is sometimes presented in all capital letters...

A Christian friend was asked recently if she thought God was angry with the horrible things happening in the world today. She wasn’t sure...

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 5:10). If you’ve hung with me...

Matthew 5:9 states “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Wow. What can possibly compare to the privilege of...

This week we come to “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). Although we may serve in our churches, give...

Our look at the Beatitudes has shown how each truth builds on the previous one and can be seen as a progression of our spiritual...

If we continue to see the Beatitudes as a progression of instructions, then Matthew 5:6 (“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for...

Our look at the Beatitudes has shown that mourning is a natural response to an awareness of our spiritual poverty and the darkness of our...

In Matthew 5:3, Jesus speaks a blessing over those who are poor in spirit. In Luke 4:18-21, He announces that He has fulfilled Isaiah’s...

Many of us probably have at least one Bible in which all the words of Jesus are printed in red letters, a device intended to highlight...

A Christian friend recently admitted she found the story of Lot unsettling. She certainly isn’t alone! You remember the story. When...

If asked to sum up the Christian faith, many of us would immediately think of John 3:16 and for good reason. It’s an incredible verse....