This article unpacks the meaning of Christ's instruction in Luke 14:25-33 that we should "hate" our fathers, mothers, wives, children, brothers and sisters, even our own lives. Our love for Christ must be so great that by comparison, our love for our own families would actually look like hatred.

Often Jesus called his disciples and followers to leave everything. What is the content of this call? There are also passages in Luke and Acts that seem to require voluntary poverty. Other passages require a right attitude to the continuing possession of wealth. What was Jesus' teaching on possessions?

What is the significance of salt in the Bible? Why are the disciples of Jesus called the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13)? This study argues that there are four central notions that stand out. The binding factor is the biblical idea of covenant. The article proceeds with a survey of salt in the Hebrew Scripture and the disciples as salt in the New Testament.

The central section of the Gospel of Luke poses a problem as far as its purpose is concerned. The thesis of this article is that Luke 9:51-Luke 19:44 presents in sharp relief two conflicting ideological points of view—the view of Jesus and the view opposed to his. Luke 14:14-33 is selected as a test case to prove the thesis.

This article shows the impact that Matthew 19:16-26, Luke 12:33, and Luke 14:33 have on personal wealth and charity. It shows this by looking at how the church in history interacted with these texts, and what Jesus meant by them, and then it draws implication for the church today.