The Park Forum

April 3, 2026April 3, 2026

Most Excellent Salvation

Links for today’s readings:

Apr 3 Read: Hosea 2 Listen: (3:48) Read: Matthew 7 Listen: (3:31)

Links for this weekend’s readings:

Apr 4 Read: Hosea 3-4 Listen: (3:53) Read: Matthew 8 Listen: (4:09)
Apr 5 Read: Hosea 5-6 Listen: (3:44) Read: Matthew 9 Listen: (4:56)

Scripture Focus: Matthew 7.13-27

The Narrow and Wide Gates

13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

True and False Prophets

15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

True and False Disciples

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

The Wise and Foolish Builders

24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Reflection: Most Excellent Salvation

By John Tillman

Bill and Ted’s epic proverb, “Be excellent to each other,” is less fluffy than it sounds.

If Jesus were born near the San Fernando valley north of Los Angeles instead of the Elah Valley west of Bethlehem, he might have said it. The similarity is no accident. “Be excellent to each other” is an intentional distillation of Jesus’ teachings filtered through Western (and 90s surfer) culture. It pretends so hard to be deep it actually achieves it. Living out “be excellent to each other” would be similarly challenging as “Love your neighbor.” (Mark 12.28-34)

Some falsely perceive Jesus’ teachings as nice and easy, fluffy and feel-good platitudes like Bill and Ted’s. However, even Jesus’ most popular and celebrated teachings, the Sermon on the Mount, contain harsh (as Bill and Ted would describe them) parables. The parables of the narrow gate, false prophets, false disciples, and foolish builders, arranged in a row, share the same message: salvation is hard.

The road is narrow. Few find it. False, ferocious, and fruitless prophets will deceive many. People can do works in Jesus’ name, yet at the judgment, Jesus will call their work evil and deny knowing them. People can build impressive lives on the wrong foundation, yet when the storm of judgment comes, everything crashes down into a sandy mess.

Other parables make salvation seem easy. The ask, seek, and knock parable that directly precedes the “salvation is hard” parables tells us anyone can receive, find, and enter. (Matthew 7.7-8) Jesus says he is the way to be followed, the truth to be found, and the gate we can enter. (John 10.9) We can walk in his way. We can spot false prophets by their fruit. We can build on the right foundation and even a shabby, shotgun shack can stand the storm.

If up to us, salvation is not only hard, but impossible. However, all things are possible with God. (Luke 18.27) If through Jesus, salvation is not only possible but inevitable once we accept his well-meant offer. He knocks on the door of our hearts. Once we open to him he leads us to the gate and narrow path of sanctification. This path is hard, yet he will complete his work within us (Philippians 1.6) to fulfill his purpose. (Philippians 2.13)

The complete process of salvation is both hard and easy, yet when we live through and for Jesus, it is most excellent. (1 Corinthians 12.31)

Divine Hours Prayer: The Call to Prayer

I cry out to you, O Lord; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.” — Psalm 142.5

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.

Heavy Loads Lifted

Links for today’s readings:

Apr 2 Read: Hosea 1 Listen: (2:08) Read: Matthew 6 Listen: (4:35)

Scripture Focus: Matthew 6.24-34

24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Reflection: Heavy Loads Lifted

By John Tillman

Christ’s moral teachings are the most popular thing about him.

The Sermon on the Mount is recognized worldwide as an aspirational description of a beautiful way to live. Even non-Christians recognize the Sermon on the Mount as the most astute moral teachings ever produced in the history of the world.

It may be a beautiful way to live, but isn’t it impossible? Rich Mullins confronts this humorously in the bridge of his song, “Hard.”

“Well His eye’s on the sparrow

And the lilies of the field I’ve heard

And He will watch over you and He will watch over me

So we can dress like flowers and eat like birds.”

It is hard to be like Jesus describes in these teachings.

Jesus generally commended the Pharisees’ moral teaching. “Do what they say…Don’t do what they do.” He critiqued the Pharisees for tying up “heavy loads” of moral requirements but not lifting them themselves or helping people live them out. (Matthew 23.4)

Aren’t Jesus’ hard moral teachings “heavy loads”?

Who can dress like a flower?

Eat like a bird?

Continually turn the other cheek?

Go the extra mile?

Give unrestrainedly to the needy?

Surrender our security for another’s shelter and safety?

In Mammon’s empire, how can we survive without accumulating wealth? In a world that denigrates the poor, how can we be unconcerned with clothing, food, and shelter? In a world where governments fight for the right to end the lives of the defenseless in the womb, the defenseless in war zones, and the defenseless in borderland river crossings, how can we not worry about our lives and the lives of the vulnerable God commands us to protect?

Who can carry this load? Who can “be perfect” as our Heavenly Father is perfect? (Matthew 5.48; 19.21) Not us. Only Jesus.

Jesus tied this load for his own back. He carried it perfectly. He carries it for us. The teaching of the Sermon on the Mount glimpses the Kingdom of Heaven. One day, we will arrive.

It is too simplistic to say, “We don’t have to do it. Jesus did it.” However, we can say, “Jesus did it for me, and he is doing it within me now.” Together with the same power that raised Christ from the dead, strain toward heavenly living today. (Ephesians 1.19-21; Philippians 3:12-14) Don’t walk away discouraged or sad. “With God, all things are possible.” (Matthew 19.21-26) Heavy loads can be lifted.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Request for Presence

Make me understand the way of your commandments, that I may meditate on your marvelous works. — Psalm 119.27

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.

Let’s Talk about Sex

Links for today’s readings:

Apr 1 Read: Song of Songs 8 Listen: (2:23) Read: Matthew 5 Listen: (6:03)

Scripture Focus: Song of Solomon 8:4

4 Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you:
Do not arouse or awaken love
until it so desires.

Reflection: Let’s Talk about Sex

By Erin Newton

Song of Solomon repeats the plea to “refrain from arousing or awakening love until it so desires” in 2:7, 3:5, and 8:4. But what does this phrase mean?

Admittedly, this phrase had left scholars with more questions than answers. Early church fathers saw the intimate relationship as an allegory for God and the Church. Others and later interpreters read the poetry as a typical human love poem.

Still more troublesome is our culture’s relationship with sex. Everything is over-sexualized from clothing to cologne ads to music to Halloween costumes. Our imago Dei is good and lovely, yet the exploitation of our bodies crosses many moral lines.

Setting aside an allegorical reading of the book, let’s talk about sex.

Some have read the phrase to refer to abstinence from sex altogether. Since the phrase is repeated twice before chapter 8, the two have already been intimate so that cannot be the meaning here.

Sheila Gregoire, author and founder of Bare Marriage, speaks regularly about Christians’ (mis)understanding about sex. In her blog post about this phrase, she notes that for many Christian women who grew up in the 90s-00s, “we’re taught that we are responsible both for our own purity and for his.” It was this verse that was used to support not arousing him until it was time.

The problem with this concept was that the onus fell on women. “Boys can’t stop” was the mantra. Failure to refrain meant the female in the relationship was the cause of both of their failures to follow this scriptural admonition. This is untrue.

Shame that often followed has added to many Christian couples’ struggles in bed.

What can we learn from this phrase? Sexual desire is good and inevitable, but don’t underestimate its power (for both men and women). There is wisdom in timing. The better “purity teaching” would highlight how waiting is meant to benefit couples, protecting from heartache, unplanned pregnancies, or abandonment.

For many Christians, the admonition might be far too late to heed. There is so much more to this topic, more than we can fit in our short reflections here at The Park Forum. But I think Sheila concludes it well:

“Please know, even if love was awakened too early, you can still re-awaken it. I think that’s what God loves to do—restore that which was broken. All of creation is broken, but Jesus is always working towards wholeness.”

Divine Hours Prayer: The Request for Presence

Send out your light and your truth, that they may lead me, and bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling;

That I may go to the altar of God, to the God of my joy and gladness; and on the harp I will give thanks to you, O God my God. — Psalm 43.3-4

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.

Following and Fishing

Links for today’s readings:

Mar 31 Read: Song of Songs 7 Listen: (1:55) Read: Matthew 4 Listen: (3:09)

Scripture Focus: Matthew 4.18-21

18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.

21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Acts 4.13

13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

Reflection: Following and Fishing

By John Tillman

It’s interesting that Matthew emphasizes that at least one-third of the 12 were fishermen. Jesus’ closest disciples, the three, were all fishermen.

We aren’t told the occupations of most of the disciples, but we know they were politically and economically diverse. Among them were those very close to the High Priest (John 18.15-16), those close to Herod (Luke 8.3), those advocating rebellion against Rome (Matthew 10.4), and those working for Rome (Matthew 9.9-11). Matthew had been a Roman tax collector. He was hated because he collaborated with the occupiers and for having a lavish lifestyle and sinful friends.

Perhaps Matthew highlighted the fishermen because he recognized that they would be more sympathetic to his Jewish audience. Eventually, these simple tradesmen would stand before the most learned council of religious experts and stump them with their understanding of scripture and of God. The council would note that although they were “ordinary,” they “had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4.13) By simply being with Jesus, they had “seen the Father” (John 14.9) more clearly than many on the council. How did that happen?

When they started, the disciples may have only understood how to fish or how to collect taxes for an empire. But they learned how to fish for people and how to distribute the blessings of the Kingdom of Heaven.

In the Evangelical Commentary on the Bible, Knox Chamblin points out a two-stage process of being a disciple. The Greek word translated disciple is mathētēs, which means one who learns. However, Chamblin says, “A disciple is not first a learner, but a follower. Jesus calls first for a commitment to his person, which in turn entails obedience to his teaching.”

You don’t have to know everything before following Jesus. You just have to be willing to follow him. The disciples were often confused, often wrong, often frightened, and often in danger. But the longer they were with Jesus, the more fearless, the more reliable, and the more knowledgeable they became.

You may be, like the disciples, confused or fearful, and you may not have a perfectly formed theology. Follow him. In doing so, you will be formed by him. He will show you what God is like. (Colossians 1.15) He’ll teach you to fish.

The disciples left their tax-collecting booths and fishing nets to follow Jesus. What will you leave in order to spend time with Jesus in scripture and prayer?

Whatever it is, it will be worth it.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Call to Prayer

Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter them; I will offer thanks to the Lord, — Psalm 118.19

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.

Pass Through the Water and Walk in the Spirit

Links for today’s readings:

Mar 30 Read: Song of Songs 6 Listen: (1:48) Read: Matthew 3 Listen: (2:17)

Scripture Focus: Matthew 3.11, 13

11 “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”

Reflection: Pass Through the Water and Walk in the Spirit

By John Tillman

The baptism John wanted did not come how or when he expected.

John was a phenomenon. Crowds came from a wide geographic area to be baptized on the east bank of the Jordan, probably across from Jericho. (John 1.28; 10.40)

The repentant stood in lines to be baptized. Cynical, self-righteous, and unrepentant religious leaders stood in clusters to watch with suspicion and judgment.

No one (especially the religious leaders) could miss the location’s symbolism. One generation of Israelites failed to trust God and cross here and the next generation crossed on dry land to victory. (Numbers 14:29-31; Joshua 3.14-17) Elijah passed the mantle of his calling to Elisha here. They crossed eastward on dry ground together, (2 Kings 2.7-8) Elijah was taken up to heaven, and Elisha crossed back on dry ground. (2 Kings 2.13-14)

John used the Jordan as a symbol of choosing faith. Pass through the water of repentance or die in the desert of your sin? Abandon your way and enter God’s kingdom or go your own way to destruction?

John longed for a greater baptism than he practiced. He prophesied about one coming to baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. Then, Jesus, the promised one, asked John to baptize him in ordinary Jordan river water just like every repentant sinner standing in line.

To obey his father, as an example to us, and to move toward his battles with sin and death, Jesus had to pass through the water. He experienced the baptism of John to bring the greater baptism John prophesied.

The baptism John wanted came not only after John’s death, but after Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension. The baptism John prophesied was poured out on the early church and on every follower of Jesus. (Acts 2.1-3)

Churches do water baptism differently, but we all recognize the water as a symbol of the Spirit. Remember your baptism. Not just being sprinkled or dunked. Remember that you are baptized into the Holy Spirit and fire.

Like John, our experience of the Holy Spirit might not look, feel, or function as we anticipate and we may have doubts. (Matthew 11.2-3) But don’t take for granted what John died longing for and Jesus died to obtain for us. “Eagerly desire the greater gifts” and walk in “the most excellent way” of love. (1 Corinthians 12.31-13.1)

Take up the mantle passed to us by those who have gone before. If you have passed through the water, walk in the Spirit.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Request for Presence

Give me the joy of your saving help again and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit. — Psalm 51.13

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.

Posts

Most Excellent Salvation

Links for today’s readings:

Scripture Focus: Matthew 7.13-27

Reflection: Most Excellent Salvation

Divine Hours Prayer: The Call to Prayer

Read more: Our Good Friday—Guided Prayer

Read more: Looking Back at Good Friday

Heavy Loads Lifted

Links for today’s readings:

Scripture Focus: Matthew 6.24-34

Reflection: Heavy Loads Lifted

Divine Hours Prayer: The Request for Presence

Read more: The Shema and the Lord’s Prayer

Read more: The Naked Emotion of God

Let’s Talk about Sex

Links for today’s readings:

Scripture Focus: Song of Solomon 8:4

Reflection: Let’s Talk about Sex

Divine Hours Prayer: The Request for Presence

Read more: Jesus Is as Serious as Leviticus

Read more: Love Stronger Than Death

Following and Fishing

Links for today’s readings:

Scripture Focus: Matthew 4.18-21

Reflection: Following and Fishing

Divine Hours Prayer: The Call to Prayer

Read more: Proper Desire

Read more: Who Needs Anger?

Pass Through the Water and Walk in the Spirit

Links for today’s readings:

Scripture Focus: Matthew 3.11, 13

Reflection: Pass Through the Water and Walk in the Spirit

Divine Hours Prayer: The Request for Presence

Read more: Love without Red Flags

Read more: Clear the Old Growth