{ "version": "https://jsonfeed.org/version/1", "title": "Daniel Rose: The Pastor Next Door", "icon": "https://avatars.micro.blog/avatars/2026/09/22414.jpg", "home_page_url": "https://danielmrose.com/", "feed_url": "https://danielmrose.com/feed.json", "items": [ { "id": "http://danielmrose.micro.blog/2026/03/15/we-often-ask-who-is.html", "content_html": "

We often ask “Who is my neighbor?” because we’re looking for a boundary—a limit on who we actually have to love.

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But Jesus turns “neighbor” into a verb. 🛑

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It’s not a category; it’s an action.

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New post: danielmrose.com/2026/03/1…

\n", "date_published": "2026-03-15T20:02:42-04:00", "url": "https://danielmrose.com/2026/03/15/we-often-ask-who-is.html", "tags": ["Microposts"] }, { "id": "http://danielmrose.micro.blog/2026/03/15/parables-for-the-long-way.html", "title": "Parables for the Long Way Home - Beyond the Catchphrase", "content_html": "
\"Auto-generated
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To listen to the full unabridged message listen here: Beyond the Catchphrase

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We are currently journeying through the parables of Luke, leading up to Lent. Last week, we looked at the Prodigal Son—or perhaps more accurately, the parable of the Loving Father and the Angry Brother. This week, we turn to one of the most famous stories ever told: The Parable of the Good Samaritan.

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The term “Good Samaritan” has become a cultural fixture. We have Good Samaritan laws, hospitals, and charities. It’s become shorthand for “a nice person who helps out.” But if we look closely at Luke 10, we see that Jesus wasn’t just giving a lesson on being “nice.” He was issuing a radical, scandalous challenge to our tendency to categorize who is—and isn’t—worthy of our love.

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The Setup: A Test of Limits

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The story begins with an expert in religious law standing up to test Jesus. He asks, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

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Jesus points him back to the Law. The man recites what had become the shorthand for the Ten Commandments: Love God with everything you are, and love your neighbor as yourself.

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Jesus affirms this, but the man—seeking to justify himself—asks the million-dollar question: “And who is my neighbor?"

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This wasn’t an innocent question. He was looking for a boundary. He wanted to know the minimum requirements. He wanted a list of who he had to love so he could feel justified in ignoring everyone else.

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The Reversal: Heroes and Villains

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In response, Jesus tells the story of a man beaten and left for dead on the notoriously dangerous road from Jerusalem to Jericho.

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The animosity between Jews and Samaritans was deep-seated, involving both religious disputes and ethnic tension. Jews often took long detours specifically to avoid Samaria. To the expert in the law, a Samaritan was a heretic and an outsider.

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Yet, the Samaritan is the one who stops. He doesn’t just offer a quick prayer; he gets his hands dirty. He bandages wounds, uses his own resources (oil, wine, and his donkey), takes the man to an inn, and pays two denarii—roughly two days' wages—promising to cover any extra costs.

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Neighbor as a Verb

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At the end of the story, Jesus asks: “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man?"

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The expert in the law can’t even bring himself to say the word “Samaritan.” He simply replies, “The one who had mercy on him."

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Notice the shift. The lawyer asked for a definition of “neighbor” as a noun—an object or a category of person. Jesus turns “neighbor” into a verb. He asks who acted neighborly.

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Being a neighbor isn’t a state of mind or a social category; it is an action. It demands engagement. It is not “performative activism” or changing a profile picture; it is diverting your path, spending your money, and risking your safety for someone else.

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Modern-Day Samaritans

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If Jesus were telling this story today, who would he make the hero?

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In 1969, Fred Rogers (Mr. Rogers) provided a powerful modern illustration. During a time of intense racial segregation—where black and white Americans often couldn’t even share the same swimming pools—Mr. Rogers invited Officer Clemmons, a black man, to sit with him and soak his feet in a small kiddie pool.

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It was a simple act, but in 1969, it was a “doing.” It was an act of neighborly love that broke social barriers to provide rest and rejuvenation to another image-bearer of God.

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The Challenge: Who is Your “Samaritan”?

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We all have scorecards. We justify our lack of love by looking at:

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We create lists of people who are “disqualified” from our compassion so we can feel okay about denying them love. But in the Kingdom of God, there is no enemy—there is only the neighbor.

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This week, I challenge you to wrestle with this question: > Who would Jesus make the hero of the story if he were telling it specifically to you?

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Identify the group or the person you find it hardest to love, and ask God for an opportunity to show them “neighborly” mercy. This isn’t just about being a “good person”; it’s about the Jesus way.

", "date_published": "2026-03-15T19:59:03-04:00", "url": "https://danielmrose.com/2026/03/15/parables-for-the-long-way.html", "tags": ["Photos","Essays"] }, { "id": "http://danielmrose.micro.blog/2026/03/14/currently-reading-simply-good-news.html", "content_html": "\n

Currently reading: Simply Good News Why the Gospel Is News and What Makes It Good by N. T. Wright 📚

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When you can score an NT Wright book for $3, you don’t ask questions.

\n", "date_published": "2026-03-14T12:05:51-04:00", "url": "https://danielmrose.com/2026/03/14/currently-reading-simply-good-news.html", "tags": ["Quotes and Notes","Microposts"] }, { "id": "http://danielmrose.micro.blog/2026/03/14/finished-reading-the-strength-of.html", "content_html": "\n

Finished reading: The Strength of the Few by James Islington 📚

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I look forward to the completion of this story! A cliff hanger of epic proportions…

\n", "date_published": "2026-03-14T09:54:15-04:00", "url": "https://danielmrose.com/2026/03/14/finished-reading-the-strength-of.html", "tags": ["Quotes and Notes","Microposts"] }, { "id": "http://danielmrose.micro.blog/2026/03/11/bums-in-seats-at-the.html", "content_html": "

Bums in seats at the best barn in the nation. Go Blue! 🏒

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\"\"\"\"

\n", "date_published": "2026-03-11T18:31:24-04:00", "url": "https://danielmrose.com/2026/03/11/bums-in-seats-at-the.html", "tags": ["Photos","Microposts"] }, { "id": "http://danielmrose.micro.blog/2026/03/11/spiritual-fatigue-isnt-a-sign.html", "content_html": "

Spiritual fatigue isn’t a sign of failure; it’s a sign you’re human.

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In this week’s episode, we’re talking about why exhaustion isn’t a badge of honor and how “beginning again” starts with one honest prayer—or even just a nap.

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Grace doesn’t expire.🎙️ Let’s talk recovery

\n", "date_published": "2026-03-11T13:54:06-04:00", "url": "https://danielmrose.com/2026/03/11/spiritual-fatigue-isnt-a-sign.html", "tags": ["Microposts"] }, { "id": "http://danielmrose.micro.blog/2026/03/11/recovery-rest-burnout-and-the.html", "title": "1.5 Recovery - Rest, Burnout, and the Grace to Begin Again", "content_html": "\"\"\n

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In this episode of The Pastor Next Door, we shift our focus from the pressure of “growth” to the necessity of recovery. Spiritual fatigue is real, and often, what we mistake for a lack of faith is simply a soul in need of rest.

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The Anatomy of Spiritual Fatigue

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We often treat burnout as a badge of spiritual honor, but in reality, constant exertion without recovery leads to:

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What Sabbath Actually Is

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Sabbath is more than a day off; it is a theological declaration.

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“Rest is not quitting. Rest is trusting.”

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Practical Steps to Begin Again

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If you are spiritually exhausted, you don’t need to compensate or apologize. You can return quietly.

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  1. Start Small: One honest prayer (even if it’s just “What the heck, God?") is enough.
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  2. Physical First: Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is take a nap and have a snack.
    3. \n
  3. Digital Limits: Turn off the screens and stop the doom-scrolling to protect your inner quiet.
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  4. Embrace Solitude over Isolation: Seek quiet time that prepares you for community, rather than hiding from it.
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Closing Thought

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Jesus doesn’t ask us to come to him once we’ve fixed ourselves. He asks the weary and heavy-burdened to come exactly as they are. Grace does not expire, and your worth is not a social media “streak.”

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Next Week: We wrap up the season by discussing how to build a simple, sustainable Rule of Life.

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Transcript

", "date_published": "2026-03-11T13:48:39-04:00", "url": "https://danielmrose.com/2026/03/11/recovery-rest-burnout-and-the.html", "tags": ["Photos","Essays","Podcast"] }, { "id": "http://danielmrose.micro.blog/2026/03/11/i-get-to-see-the.html", "content_html": "

I get to see the Michigan hockey team play in the B1G tournament tonight courtesy of @toddwaller@threads.net. Can’t wait! 🏒

\n", "date_published": "2026-03-11T11:26:02-04:00", "url": "https://danielmrose.com/2026/03/11/i-get-to-see-the.html", "tags": ["Microposts"] }, { "id": "http://danielmrose.micro.blog/2026/03/11/the-prophetic-voice-moves-through.html", "content_html": "

The prophetic voice moves through anger and ends in a hope oriented lament.

\n", "date_published": "2026-03-11T09:34:02-04:00", "url": "https://danielmrose.com/2026/03/11/the-prophetic-voice-moves-through.html", "tags": ["Microposts"] }, { "id": "http://danielmrose.micro.blog/2026/03/10/revelation-navigating-the-storm.html", "title": "Revelation 6 - Navigating the Storm", "content_html": "
\"Auto-generated
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You can listen to the unabridged audio here: Revelation 6 - Navigating the Storm

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In our latest study of Revelation, we dove into chapters 8 and 9—a section of Scripture that is as intense as it is misunderstood. We’ve transitioned from the opening of the seven seals into a new cycle: the seven trumpets.

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To understand where we are, we have to use a “fancy $10 word”: recapitulation. Revelation isn’t necessarily a straight line from A to Z; it’s a series of cycles that go back to the beginning to cover the same ground with different symbols, taking us “further up and further in” to the spiritual reality of God’s work in the world.

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Trumpets as Warnings, Not Predictions

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As the angels begin to blow the seven trumpets, we encounter vivid, harrowing imagery: hail and fire mixed with blood, mountains falling into the sea, and stars turning water bitter.

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It is easy to get lost in trying to “decode” these as literal historical events or modern technology, but we must remember:

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The Abyss Within

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Chapter 9 takes us into “nightmare fodder”—the opening of the abyss and the release of locusts that look like war horses. Rather than looking for attack helicopters in the text, we should see this as the unveiling of the human heart.

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The “abyss” is often the depth of our own sinfulness and brokenness. Throughout history, God often restrains this evil, but Revelation shows us what happens when sin is allowed to come out into the open to be dealt with once and for all. The ultimate “exposure” of sin occurred on the cross, where Christ took the full weight of that darkness upon Himself so that we might find grace.

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The Root of the Matter: Idolatry

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The chapter ends on a sobering note. Despite these warnings and the collapse of oppressive systems, many “did not repent of the things they had made”.

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This is the heartbeat of the issue: Idolatry. Whether it’s ancient idols or modern systems of power and greed, when we worship things other than our Creator, our sin goes unchecked. We create systems—economic, political, and social—that reflect our messy hearts.

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Takeaway

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The “woes” of Revelation are not meant to terrify us into hiding, but to wake us up. They remind us that the spiritual realm is real and that our relationship with God matters. God provides the “breathing space” for us to turn back to Him, to acknowledge our need for grace, and to find our identity not as “earth dwellers” lost in the material world, but as people sealed by His Spirit.

", "date_published": "2026-03-10T16:57:15-04:00", "url": "https://danielmrose.com/2026/03/10/revelation-navigating-the-storm.html", "tags": ["Photos","Essays"] }, { "id": "http://danielmrose.micro.blog/2026/03/10/pastors-let-us-remember-that.html", "content_html": "

Pastors, let us remember that the grift from the right and from left are equally damaging. Both promise us large crowds by leveraging politics at the expense of grace centered faithfulness.

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May we be faithful, whatever the cost.

\n", "date_published": "2026-03-10T16:30:16-04:00", "url": "https://danielmrose.com/2026/03/10/pastors-let-us-remember-that.html", "tags": ["Microposts"] }, { "id": "http://danielmrose.micro.blog/2026/03/10/currently-reading-yumi-and-the.html", "content_html": "\n

Currently reading: Yumi and the Nightmare Painter A Cosmere Novel by Brandon Sanderson 📚

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Starting the next read. I am enjoying Sanderson so much!

\n", "date_published": "2026-03-10T16:00:18-04:00", "url": "https://danielmrose.com/2026/03/10/currently-reading-yumi-and-the.html", "tags": ["Quotes and Notes","Microposts"] }, { "id": "http://danielmrose.micro.blog/2026/03/10/that-moment-when-you-realize.html", "content_html": "

That moment when you realize that you didn’t turn on the mic for your last recording and got a cruddy phone recording instead.

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Also? That moment when you realize you need to be sure to do post production on your audio recording.

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Pastor life is not always what I thought it would be. 😅

\n", "date_published": "2026-03-10T10:18:15-04:00", "url": "https://danielmrose.com/2026/03/10/that-moment-when-you-realize.html", "tags": ["Microposts"] }, { "id": "http://danielmrose.micro.blog/2026/03/09/the-defense-being-played-by.html", "content_html": "

The defense being played by Team USA in the WBC is unreal.

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These guys are laying out for everything.

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Goodness. ⚾️

\n", "date_published": "2026-03-09T21:45:09-04:00", "url": "https://danielmrose.com/2026/03/09/the-defense-being-played-by.html", "tags": ["Microposts"] }, { "id": "http://danielmrose.micro.blog/2026/03/09/finished-reading-the-frugal-wizards.html", "content_html": "\n

Finished reading: The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England by Brandon Sanderson 📚

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Another fun read from Sanderson. It’s not a Cosmere novel. It’s lighthearted and has a bit of a Terry Pratchett feel to it. I really enjoyed it!

\n", "date_published": "2026-03-09T15:50:35-04:00", "url": "https://danielmrose.com/2026/03/09/finished-reading-the-frugal-wizards.html", "tags": ["Quotes and Notes","Microposts"] }, { "id": "http://danielmrose.micro.blog/2026/03/09/i-am-very-excited-about.html", "content_html": "

I am very excited about this addition to the micro.blog suite! The potential is pretty great.

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Inkwell the RSS app from Micro.blog

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Great work, @manton@manton.org

\n", "date_published": "2026-03-09T15:44:37-04:00", "url": "https://danielmrose.com/2026/03/09/i-am-very-excited-about.html", "tags": ["Microposts"] }, { "id": "http://danielmrose.micro.blog/2026/03/09/i-am-preparing-to-preach.html", "content_html": "

I am preparing to preach Amos after Easter. I’ve never more excited or intimidated to preach a text.

\n", "date_published": "2026-03-09T12:19:14-04:00", "url": "https://danielmrose.com/2026/03/09/i-am-preparing-to-preach.html", "tags": ["Microposts"] }, { "id": "http://danielmrose.micro.blog/2026/03/08/the-loving-fathers-wide-grace.html", "title": "The Loving Father's Wide Grace", "content_html": "
\"Auto-generated
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To hear the full unabridged message listen here: Parables for the Long Way Home - The Loving Father’s Wide Grace

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As we continue our journey through Lent, wandering toward the resurrection, there is one story I haven’t been able to escape. It’s a parable that seems to creep into almost every sermon I preach, regardless of the text. It’s the story many of us know as the “Parable of the Prodigal Son," but the more I sit with it, the more I’ve fallen in love with a different title: The Parable of the Loving Father.

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Found in Luke 15:11-32, this story is a cornerstone of our cultural consciousness. We use the word “prodigal” to describe anyone who wanders away and eventually returns with their tail between their legs. But if we look closer at the cultural context and the second half of the story, we find that Jesus wasn’t just talking about reckless rebels—He was talking to the “good people” standing in the room.

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“You’re Dead to Me”

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The story begins with a younger son looking at his father and saying, essentially, “Old man, you’re dead to me. Give me what’s mine." In the first century, asking for an inheritance early wasn’t just rude; it was gut-wrenching. It was a complete rejection of the father’s life and authority.

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In an act of overwhelming mercy, the father doesn’t disown him. He divides the estate. But here is the detail we often miss: He divided the property between them. The older son got his payday, too. He likely received the larger portion—the land, the farm, the bulk of the wealth—right then and there.

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The Myth of the “Clean” Return

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We know what happens next. The younger son squanders everything on “wild living” and ends up starving in a pigpen. To a Jewish audience, this was the ultimate rock bottom. Feeding pigs made him ceremonially unclean; he was getting “worse” by the moment.

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When he finally “comes to his senses,” he crafts a manipulative speech: “I’ll tell Dad I’m not worthy to be a son, just let me be a servant." He’s still trying to manage the situation. But he doesn’t count on the Father’s grace.

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The Father, who must have been walking to the end of the road every single day to look for him, sees him from a long way off. He doesn’t wait for the speech. He runs. He embraces the “unclean” son. He throws a party.

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The Undercurrent: The Older Brother

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If the story ended there, it would be a beautiful tale of redemption. But Jesus’ real targets weren’t the “tax collectors and sinners” listening to Him—it was the Pharisees and teachers of the law who were muttering under their breath.

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The older brother returns from the field and hears the music. He is indignant. He’s been “slaving away,” doing the right thing, and he is furious that the “younger loser” is getting a fattened calf.

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The tragedy of the older brother is that he doesn’t realize how good he already has it. The father tells him, “Everything I have is yours." The older brother didn’t need permission to throw a party; the goats and calves already belonged to him! But he was so focused on his brother’s sin that he missed out on his father’s joy.

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Where Do You Sit at the Party?

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Most of us like to cast ourselves as the younger son because we want the “grace for the screw-up.” But many of us—especially those of us who grew up in the church—are much more like the older brother.

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We look at others beginning to taste grace and we think: Not them. They don’t get a pass. They’re grubs, they’re icky, they’re awful. We have a choice:

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  1. Stand outside in the dark: Bitter, judgmental, and alone—separating ourselves from the party because we can’t stand who else was invited.
    2. \n
  2. Go inside: Set aside our scorecards and embrace the “overwhelming wideness” of God’s mercy.
    3. \n
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The Challenge of Lent

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As we progress toward Easter, we are moving toward the moment when God broke into history to say, “I’m tired of waiting. I want my people reconciled." Christ went to the cross to tear the curtain open so that grace could flow out like a flood.

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God’s grace is either a massive, uncontrollable flood, or it is stingy and small. We can’t have it both ways. If we want the flood for ourselves, we have to embrace the flood for everyone else, too.

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This week, take a hard look in the mirror. Are you excited about the ever-expanding wideness of God’s mercy, or are you trying to control it?

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The party is happening. The Father is inviting you in. Will you join the celebration?

", "date_published": "2026-03-08T14:27:43-04:00", "url": "https://danielmrose.com/2026/03/08/the-loving-fathers-wide-grace.html", "tags": ["Photos","Essays"] }, { "id": "http://danielmrose.micro.blog/2026/03/05/amy-and-i-are-enjoying.html", "content_html": "

Amy and I are enjoying our brief get away to Iowa City to spend some time with Ethan. We hiked Indiana State Dunes yesterday and Lake MacBride North Shore today.

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\n", "date_published": "2026-03-05T14:45:47-04:00", "url": "https://danielmrose.com/2026/03/05/amy-and-i-are-enjoying.html", "tags": ["Photos","Microposts"] }, { "id": "http://danielmrose.micro.blog/2026/03/03/flexibility-faith-that-bends-without.html", "title": "1.4 Flexibility - Faith that Bends Without Breaking", "content_html": "\"\"\n

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About This Episode

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In this episode, I’m digging into something I’ve been thinking a lot about in my own physical fitness: flexibility. We often talk about building “strength” in our faith, but strength without the ability to bend leads to injury. If our spiritual muscles are rigid, they’re going to tear when life gets heavy.

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I want to talk to you about the difference between a rigid faith and a resilient one. Whether you’re wrestling with questions, feeling the weight of “certainty,” or unlearning things you were taught as a child, I want you to know that a faith that stretches isn’t a faith that’s failing—it’s a faith that’s growing.

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Key Takeaways

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1. Rigid Faith vs. Resilient Faith

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I’ve noticed that some faith collapses under pressure, not because it’s weak, but because it’s brittle. Here is how I see the two:

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2. Why I Value Doubt

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Doubt isn’t the enemy of your faith; it’s often a signal of three very healthy things:

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3. The Necessity of Unlearning

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I’ve realized that growth requires “pruning.” My childhood understanding of stories like Noah’s Ark—animals and rainbows—doesn’t survive adult scrutiny. And that’s okay! Shedding distortions and letting go of unhealthy theology isn’t abandoning God; it’s moving closer to who He truly is. Remember: God is not fragile. He can handle your inquiry.

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4. Habits for a Flexible Faith

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Here’s how I’m trying to cultivate this resiliency in my own life:

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Reflection from the Word

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My Encouragement to You

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If your faith feels like it’s stretching right now, don’t panic. That may not be a collapse; it may simply be growth. You are allowed to ask. You are allowed to wrestle. You are allowed to take your time.

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Next time, we’re going to talk about Recovery—how grace meets us when we’re burnt out and tired. Until then, remember: bending is not breaking.

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Transcript

", "date_published": "2026-03-03T17:00:43-04:00", "url": "https://danielmrose.com/2026/03/03/flexibility-faith-that-bends-without.html", "tags": ["Photos","Essays","Podcast"] }, { "id": "http://danielmrose.micro.blog/2026/03/01/ive-preached-the-parable-of.html", "content_html": "

I’ve preached the Parable of the Sower more times than I can count.

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Turns out I’d been getting it wrong. 😬

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🔗 danielmrose.com/2026/03/0…

\n", "date_published": "2026-03-01T16:37:56-04:00", "url": "https://danielmrose.com/2026/03/01/ive-preached-the-parable-of.html", "tags": ["Microposts"] }, { "id": "http://danielmrose.micro.blog/2026/03/01/parables-for-the-long-way.html", "title": "Parables for the Long Way Home - Mow the Yard, Miss the Point", "content_html": "
\"Auto-generated
\n

For the full unabridged audio: Mow the Yard, Miss the Point

\n

A couple of years ago, I made a commitment — at the very least, I would go for an intentional walk for 15 minutes a day. Not much, but I needed it. I had reached that place in life where I knew I had to start moving, or I was going to lose the ability to. Surely I could walk out my door and around my block. I could do that.

\n

I made the incredibly bad decision to ask a handful of good friends to hold me accountable. By 8 o’clock each night, I needed to text the group and confirm I had gone for my walk.

\n

It was going great — until I got a minor injury. My shoes had worn out, and a leg muscle was making every step uncomfortable. So one evening I mowed the yard instead, tracked the whole thing, and texted the group: Guys, I mowed the yard. That’s my walk for the day.

\n

One of my buddies wasn’t having it. “No, it’s not,” he said. I argued. I showed him the data — 40 minutes of movement. He said, “Yeah, but your commitment wasn’t to mow the yard. Your commitment was to go for an intentional 15-minute walk.”

\n

I lost my mind. I muted the chat and threw an absolute temper tantrum. It was kind of ridiculous.

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And then I went for a 15-minute walk.

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I texted back: Fine. You win. It took me 30 minutes to get around the block because my leg hurt so bad. My buddy replied: I’m so proud of you. I love you. This is how it’s supposed to work.

\n

I was 46 or 47 years old. It was the first time in my life anyone had ever held me accountable to anything. And I didn’t like it one bit.

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What Isaiah Has to Do With It

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Isaiah 6 is Isaiah’s call to ministry. It’s that dramatic moment: Who will go for us? And Isaiah says, Here am I — send me. But right there at his commissioning, God essentially says: you’re going to preach my love, my mercy, my grace. You’re going to speak truth to power. You’re going to challenge people in places they don’t want to be challenged. And they are going to turn a blind eye. They’re going into exile.

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When you read through Isaiah, it’s heartbreak after heartbreak. There are glimpses of redemption, but Israel still goes into exile.

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Jesus understood himself to stand in Isaiah’s lineage. He functioned as prophet, priest, and king — and here, he’s operating as prophet. He tells parables for the same reason Isaiah preached: to reveal things people don’t want to hear.

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And notice what he says just before the Isaiah quote — “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you.” Whenever Jesus talks about the “secret” or “mystery” of the kingdom, it’s always in the sense of something being revealed, not hidden. Paul uses the same language: the mystery is what has been concealed and is now being disclosed. The very next parable Jesus tells is the lamp on a stand: Whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed. Whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open.

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Parables aren’t meant to confuse. They are the means by which Jesus reveals the nature of the kingdom of God.

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What People Expected to Hear

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So what is it, exactly, that people didn’t want to hear in the Parable of the Sower?

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They expected the kingdom of heaven to be a sweep. The Messiah arrives, the word goes out, everyone bows the knee, and the kingdom wins — and wins big. That’s the expectation.

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But Jesus says: actually, some people are going to hear the word and it’ll be gone before they get home. Some will receive it with joy and then disappear the moment things get hard. Some will start down the path but let the worries of life and the pull of wealth choke it out. And some — some — will hear it, receive it, and be completely transformed.

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This is how the kingdom of heaven is going to work.

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And people don’t want to hear that — because the moment you start framing it this way, we do what we always do. We start sorting the people around us. Bob’s clearly first-soil. Jimmy was second-soil all the way. Larry got seduced by prosperity. But me? I’m in church every Sunday. I’m doing great.

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We turn it into a taxonomy for judging other people. And that’s exactly the moralistic trap I fell into for years.

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Notice that there’s nothing in this parable about tilling the soil. In that era, farmers often sowed first and tilled afterward. The whole “get your heart right so you can receive the word” framework isn’t actually in the text. That’s us importing our assumptions.

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The Real Question

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The question this parable actually puts before us is simpler and harder than soil types: What are you going to do when you hear something in the gospel that you don’t like?

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Because the Jesus way will challenge you. It challenged people then and it challenges us now. Love your neighbor. Who’s my neighbor? He tells a story about a Samaritan — despised, written off — and says, that’s your neighbor. Love them. Love your enemy? That doesn’t compute. And yet Jesus says, if you only love people you already like, what’s the point?

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The path is narrow. The Jesus way demands dying to self. It demands a self-sacrificial love that actually costs something. That’s the whole point of Lent. That’s why we take communion — to remember who Jesus is, what he has done, and that his way is the way of the cross.

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And self-sacrificial love hurts. It isn’t tidy. So the question is: when we encounter gospel truth that demands we live and love differently — toward our neighbors, our enemies, and sometimes even toward ourselves — how will we respond? Will we hear and be changed? Or will we find some way to kick the seed back out?

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Will we be ever seeing, but never perceiving? Ever hearing, but never understanding?

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There is grace here. The kingdom Jesus reveals is grace and mercy and unconditional love, through and through. But the kicker is this: we are called to turn around and live that same way.

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That’s the hard part. And it’s worth wrestling with all week.

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Questions to sit with: Where am I hearing the gospel and resisting it? What is the Jesus way asking of me that I’d rather not do? And is there someone — like that friend in my group chat — who loves me enough to hold me to it?

", "date_published": "2026-03-01T15:10:49-04:00", "url": "https://danielmrose.com/2026/03/01/parables-for-the-long-way.html", "tags": ["Photos","Essays"] }, { "id": "http://danielmrose.micro.blog/2026/02/28/oh-man-manton-i-am.html", "content_html": "

Oh man, @manton, I am loving Inkwell!

\n", "date_published": "2026-02-28T15:49:13-05:00", "url": "https://danielmrose.com/2026/02/28/oh-man-manton-i-am.html", "tags": ["Microposts"] }, { "id": "http://danielmrose.micro.blog/2026/02/28/psalm-really-speaks-today-i.html", "content_html": "

Psalm 120 really speaks today.

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I call on the LORD in my distress,\nand he answers me.

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Save me, LORD, from lying lips and from deceitful tongues.

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What will he do to you, and what more besides, you deceitful tongue?

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He will punish you with a warrior’s sharp arrows,\nwith burning coals of the broom bush.

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Woe to me that I dwell in Meshek, that I live among the tents of Kedar!

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Too long have I lived among those who hate peace.

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I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war.

\n", "date_published": "2026-02-28T13:51:02-05:00", "url": "https://danielmrose.com/2026/02/28/psalm-really-speaks-today-i.html", "tags": ["Microposts"] }, { "id": "http://danielmrose.micro.blog/2026/02/28/did-you-know-that-as.html", "content_html": "

Did you know that as an adult you can choose to have breakfast food for any meal of the day?

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Wild right?!

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#TIL

\n", "date_published": "2026-02-28T13:21:27-05:00", "url": "https://danielmrose.com/2026/02/28/did-you-know-that-as.html", "tags": ["Microposts"] } ] }