Steven Miller

  Faithful Stewardship in the Kingdom of God A Study on Luke 19:11–27   Introduction Luke 19:11–27 records one of Jesus’ most sobering parables—the Parable of the Ten Minas. Spoken as Jesus approached Jerusalem, this teaching confronts false expectations about the immediate arrival of God’s kingdom and clarifies what faithful discipleship looks like while awaiting the King’s return. The parable emphasizes accountability, stewardship, obedience, and the certainty of judgment, offering a timeless warning and encouragement to all who claim allegiance to Christ. Scripture Text: Luke 19:11–27 (ESV) 11 As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately.  12 He said therefore, “A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return. 13 Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Engage in bus...

  Blessed in Christ: God’s Eternal Plan of Redemption Ephesians 1:3–14   Ephesians 1:3–14 stands as one of the most exalted passages in the New Testament, offering a sweeping vision of God’s eternal plan of salvation. In a single, extended doxology, the apostle Paul praises God for the spiritual blessings believers possess in Christ. These verses reveal salvation not as a reaction to human failure, but as a divine plan conceived before the foundation of the world, executed through Christ, and applied by the Holy Spirit. At its heart, this passage calls believers to worship, humility, and assurance, grounding faith in God’s sovereign grace rather than human effort. Paul begins with praise: God has blessed believers in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. The emphasis is not on material prosperity but on spiritual riches. These blessings are rooted in heaven, secured by God, and mediated through Christ. Believers do not strive to earn these blessings; the...

  An Undivided Heart: Treasures, Vision, and Loyalty Matthew 6:19–24   Matthew 6:19–24 stands as one of Jesus’ most penetrating teachings on the nature of the human heart and the competing loyalties that shape a person’s life. Situated within the Sermon on the Mount, this passage exposes the spiritual danger of divided devotion and calls believers to a wholehearted allegiance to God. Through the interconnected themes of treasure, vision, and mastery, Jesus reveals that what we value most determines how we see, how we live, and whom we ultimately serve. TREASURES THAT REVEAL THE HEART Jesus begins with a command that confronts natural human instincts: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth” (Matthew 6:19). Earthly treasures include more than money; they encompass possessions, achievements, reputation, and any source of perceived security apart from God. These treasures are inherently unstable. Jesus points to moths, rust, and thieves to emphasize that every...

  God’s Standard in a Self-Justifying World Luke 16:14–18   Luke 16:14–18 serves as a pointed and penetrating conclusion to Jesus’ teaching on stewardship, faithfulness, and the nature of true righteousness. In this brief but weighty passage, Jesus confronts the Pharisees’ love of money, exposes the emptiness of self-justification, affirms the enduring authority of God’s law, and addresses the seriousness of covenant faithfulness. Together, these verses reveal the tension between human approval and divine judgment, calling believers in every generation to align their hearts with God’s unchanging standards rather than reshaping righteousness to fit cultural or personal desires. The Love of Money and the Spirit of Mockery Luke begins by identifying the spiritual condition of Jesus’ critics: “The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him.” Their response to Jesus’ teaching was not thoughtful reflection or repentance, but mockery....

  Faithfulness, Stewardship, and the Wisdom of Eternal Perspective A Teaching on Luke 16:1–13   Luke 16:1–13 presents one of Jesus’ most challenging parables—the account of the dishonest manager. At first glance, the story can seem confusing, even troubling, because Jesus appears to commend a man who acts deceitfully. However, when read carefully and in its broader theological context, this passage offers a profound teaching on stewardship, faithfulness, wisdom, and the proper relationship between material resources and eternal values. Jesus begins by telling His disciples about a rich man who had a manager accused of wasting his possessions. Upon hearing the report, the master calls the manager to account and informs him that he will be removed from his position. Faced with the loss of his livelihood, the manager devises a plan to secure his future. Before his dismissal takes effect, he reduces the debts of his master’s debtors—cutting one bill by half and another ...

  Do We Celebrate Christmas on the Right Day—and Does It Really Matter?   Introduction: A Question Worth Asking For many Christians, Christmas is one of the most cherished times of the year. Churches fill with worship, Scripture readings recount the birth of Christ, and believers pause to reflect on the miracle of the incarnation. Yet alongside this joy, a recurring question often arises: Was Jesus really born on December 25? Closely connected to that question is a deeper concern: If the date is incorrect, are we honoring God properly—or participating in something misleading? These are not questions of unbelief, but of sincerity. Christians who ask them are often seeking faithfulness to Scripture and truth. To answer them well, we must look at what the Bible says, what history tells us, and what God ultimately values. What the Bible Says—and Does Not Say—About the Date The Bible gives detailed accounts of the birth of Jesus in Matthew 1–2 and Luke 1–2, yet it never...

  Living Ready in the Light of Christ’s Return (Luke 12:35–40) 35 “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, 36 and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. 37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. 38 If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! 39 But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (ESV) Introduction In Luke 12:35–40, Jesus calls His disciples to a life marked by watchfulness, readiness, and faithful expectation. This passage stands as one of Scriptur...