God's Kingdom

Wedding - Have you ever been to a wedding? What kind of clothes do people wear at weddings? Would you see someone in overalls, like the farmer? Or shirtless, like the guys at the beach? No

Proper clothes for the proper occasion is really important! Eric Baucom story!

Today, we’re going to read about a story (parable) that Jesus told the religious leaders of His day (the chief priests & pharisees - Matthew 21:45.

The story is about how we can be part of God’s Kingdom! It doesn’t matter what we’ve done in the past or what our life looked like. Jesus extends an invitation to everyone (good and bad) to become part of His family and His Kingdom.

The story is found in Matthew’s gospel, chapter 22, verses 1-14. Remember that Matthew was a tax collector who was not liked by others because he cheated people with their money. But, when Jesus called Matthew to follow Him in Matthew 9, Matthew responded and became one of Jesus’ disciples.

**Watch Gospel Project video

Matthew 22:1–14 (NLT)

Jesus also told them other parables. He said, 2 “The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding feast for his son. 3 When the banquet was ready, he sent his servants to notify those who were invited. But they all refused to come! 4 “So he sent other servants to tell them, ‘The feast has been prepared. The bulls and fattened cattle have been killed, and everything is ready. Come to the banquet!’ 5 But the guests he had invited ignored them and went their own way, one to his farm, another to his business. 6 Others seized his messengers and insulted them and killed them. 7 “The king was furious, and he sent out his army to destroy the murderers and burn their town. 8 And he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, and the guests I invited aren’t worthy of the honor. 9 Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see.’ 10 So the servants brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike, and the banquet hall was filled with guests. 11 “But when the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn’t wearing the proper clothes for a wedding. 12 ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how is it that you are here without wedding clothes?’ But the man had no reply. 13 Then the king said to his aides, ‘Bind his hands and feet and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

The first thing you need to understand about God’s Kingdom is that...

1. You’re Invited!!

You’re invited to become part of God’s Kingdom & family!! Will we make excuses, or will we respond appropriately?

Luke 14:16–18 (NLT)

“Jesus replied with this story: ‘A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations.

17 When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to tell the guests, ‘Come, the banquet is ready.’ 18 But they all began making excuses...”

Notice that everyone who was invited was invited before the servants went out to announce that the feast, the wedding, was starting. They should have been ready!

The Bible teaches us that every person is invited to believe in Jesus and be welcomed into His Kingdom. However, not everyone accepts this invitation. And, only those who accept His invitation and believe in Him (place their faith in Him as TRUTH) are welcomed into His Kingdom and family!

Part 2 (10 Minutes)

The second thing you need to understand about God’s Kingdom is that...

2. Everything is ready!

All of the preparations have been made. Notice that the King tells the servants in verse 4 that “the feast has been prepared! The bulls and fattened cattled have been killed and cooked. Everything is ready!”

Matthew 22:4 (NLT)

But, when no one responds to the wonderful invitation, notice that the King declares in Matthew 22:8

Matthew 22:8 (NLT)

“The wedding feast is ready, but the guests I invited aren’t worthy of the honor!”

How is it that the guests aren’t worthy of the honor, since verse 10 tells us that both evil and good people were invited?

What makes someone worthy? Worthy of high degrees of responsibility or leadership? Worthy of recognition or special honor? Worthy of God’s blessings?

The world teaches us that people are worthy based upon their position or title or accomplishments.

But, Jesus teaches us something completely different!

And His answer is found in a simple truth in our story:

Those who respond to the invitation of the King are found worthy!

Ephesians 2:8–9 (NLT)

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.

But, there’s also one more essential part of being worthy that Jesus teaches in this story:

We have to be dressed properly!

Matthew 22:11–12 (NLT)

“But when the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn’t wearing the proper clothes for a wedding. 12 ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how is it that you are here without wedding clothes?’ But the man had no reply.”

What does it mean to be dressed properly?

Answer: To Wear the Clothes That Are Provided!

Part 3 (10 Minutes)

The last thing you need to understand about God’s Kingdom is that...

3. You Need To Respond!

How will you respond? Will we give excuses like the people in Luke’s version of the story? Will we just flat-out ignore the invitation - like the people in Matthew’s version of the story?

Remember that it’s in saying, “YES!!” to Jesus’ invitation that we become worthy and are able to become part of His Kingdom & family!

Matthew 22:14 (NASB95)

“For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Many are called, but few respond!

**Invite Jim and kids on to the stage!

Key Passage Kids Have Been Learning In All Their Lessons:

It’s really a fitting closing prayer!

1 Chronicles 29:11 (NLT)

“Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things.”