Gripping The Gospel On Another Level

Sermon Scripture

Matthew 13:51–52 MSG

Jesus asked, “Are you starting to get a handle on all this?” They answered, “Yes.” He said, “Then you see how every student well-trained in God’s kingdom is like the owner of a general store who can put his hands on anything you need, old or new, exactly when you need it.”

Introduction- Get a grip…

Idiom- get a grip on (something)

COMMON If you get a grip on a difficult situation, you start to understand it and take control of it.

Idiom- get a handle on (something)

To have a firm, clear understanding or determination of something.

to begin to understand or be able to deal with something

Urban Slang- On another level

stand out from/among/amongst) To have features and qualities which make someone or something superior to the rest of its class

Feelin all sorts of high, whether it be drugs or adrenaline

When we think of the good news:

Matthew 1:21–23 ESV

She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).

The church ought be gripping the gospel on another level…

Transition To Body- Jesus’ Parabolic Teaching

Matthew 13:51 ESV

“Have you understood all these things?” They said to him, “Yes.”

Matthew 13:51 MSG

Jesus asked, “Are you starting to get a handle on all this?” They answered, “Yes.”

Body- The Ways Which We Meet Jesus

Sometimes Salvation Appears To Be Accidental

Matthew 13:44 ESV

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

Matthew 13:44 MSG

“God’s kingdom is like a treasure hidden in a field for years and then accidentally found by a trespasser. The finder is ecstatic—what a find!—and proceeds to sell everything he owns to raise money and buy that field.

treasure- a room for the storage of valuables, what is deposited, what is valuable, “treasure”

found- to learn the location of something, either by intentional searching or by unexpected discovery

covered up- to cause to be safe or protected by hiding, in some contexts with the intent of not being found—‘to keep safe, to cause to be protected, to protect, to hide.’

joy- a state of joy and gladness—‘joy, gladness, great happiness.

The Adventure of Salvation

Don’t Let The Stones Cry Out

Luke 19:37–40 ESV

As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”

Joy of the Thessalonians

1 Thessalonians 1:4 ESV

For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you,

The Gospel in WORD, Power, & the Holy Spirit

1 Thessalonians 1:5 ESV

because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.

1 Thessalonians 1:6 ESV

And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit,

1 Thessalonians 1:9 ESV

For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,

1 Thessalonians 3:9 ESV

For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God,

Make A Joyful Noise

Psalm 100:1–5 ESV

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

After Resurrection

Matthew 28:8 ESV

So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.

So we must be sensitive to those who bumped into Jesus…

{

Sometimes Salvation Appears To Be Accidental

but at

}

Other Times Salvation Occurs After Searching

Matthew 13:45–46 ESV

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

Matthew 13:45–46 MSG

“Or, God’s kingdom is like a jewel merchant on the hunt for excellent pearls. Finding one that is flawless, he immediately sells everything and buys it.

search- to try to learn the location of something, often by movement from place to place in the process of searching

fine- pertaining to having acceptable characteristics or functioning in an agreeable manner, often with the focus on outward form or appearance

one- one, in contrast to more than one—‘one

great- pertaining to being of great value or worth, implying in some contexts a monetary scale—‘valuable, expensive.’

Some people want the church to operate on another level

went and sold all that he had and bought it

{

Sometimes Salvation Appears To Be Accidental

and at

Other Times Salvation Occurs After Searching

}

Sorting Through The Kingdom’s All-encompassing Net

Matthew 13:47–50 ESV

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 13:47–50 MSG

“Or, God’s kingdom is like a fishnet cast into the sea, catching all kinds of fish. When it is full, it is hauled onto the beach. The good fish are picked out and put in a tub; those unfit to eat are thrown away. That’s how it will be when the curtain comes down on history. The angels will come and cull the bad fish and throw them in the garbage. There will be a lot of desperate complaining, but it won’t do any good.”

all-encompassing including everything or everyone

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 6.13 σαγήνη, ης

In Mt 13:47 the actual form of the net is not so important. What is significant is that the net was sufficiently large to catch a large number of different kinds of fish.

Romans 1:18–22 ESV

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools,

Stop being so judgemental and let Jesus’ angels perform the sorting

Matthew 25:32–40 ESV

Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

{

Sometimes Salvation Appears To Be Accidental,

Other Times Salvation Occurs After Searching,

Sorting Through The Kingdom’s All-encompassing Net,

but also our text teaches us that

}

Kingdom Training Is Disciples’ Timeless Treasure

Matthew 13:51–52 ESV

“Have you understood all these things?” They said to him, “Yes.” And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”

Matthew 13:51–52 MSG

Jesus asked, “Are you starting to get a handle on all this?” They answered, “Yes.” He said, “Then you see how every student well-trained in God’s kingdom is like the owner of a general store who can put his hands on anything you need, old or new, exactly when you need it.”

Intersecting Understanding & Training (you are trained, disciples, to work- to do something):

Rightly Handling the Word of Truth

2 Timothy 2:15–17 ESV

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,

2 Timothy 2:15–17 MSG

Concentrate on doing your best for God, work you won’t be ashamed of, laying out the truth plain and simple. Stay clear of pious talk that is only talk. Words are not mere words, you know. If they’re not backed by a godly life, they accumulate as poison in the soul. Hymenaeus and Philetus are examples,

1 Peter 2:1–5 ESV

So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Trained to Distinguish Good From Evil

Trained to Train Others

Hebrews 5:11–14 ESV

About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

Maturing in Jesus Christ

Hebrews 6:1–8 ESV

Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits. For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.

{

Sometimes Salvation Appears To Be Accidental ,

Other Times Salvation Occurs After Searching,

Sorting Through The Kingdom’s All-encompassing Net, &

Kingdom Training Is Disciples’ Timeless Treasure

}

Transition to Close

I am reminded of the STORY of a king who pardoned two criminals who were headed for death. They were on their way to be killed for their crimes but he issued a pardon. Both men could now go free. But the reactions of the two criminals were totally different.

The first criminal who had been pardoned was full of joy, excitement, and exuberance. He was shouting and screaming as he looked at the pardon: “What joy to know that I was on my way to death and I have been given life, and not because of anything I have done.”

The other criminal stood trembling and thinking, “Could this really be true? Was this a joke? Nobody would do anything like that for me. Look at what I have done!” He was terrified and rather than having the joy of the first criminal, he felt miserable.

In fact, the second criminal tried to discourage the joy of the first criminal by telling him not to get too excited. He tried to convince him that this might not be real. Because the first criminal believed the pardon, he had both the assurance and joy of his release. Because the second criminal questioned the pardon, he had neither the joy nor the assurance of his release.

One criminal looked at the piece of paper that held his pardon and believed it. The other criminal looked inside of himself to see whether he really believed it, and because what he saw in himself was doubt, it took away the joy of his assurance.

Why We Worship

Psalm 16:9–11 ESV

Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Kingdom of Righteousness & Peace & Joy In The Holy Sprit

Romans 14:17 ESV

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Inexpressible Glory Filled Joy

1 Peter 1:8–9 ESV

Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Close

John 10:10–18 ESV

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

John 16:21–24 ESV

When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

John 15:16–17 ESV

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

The Hymnist Would Say

Jesus Paid It All

1 I hear the Savior say,

"Thy strength indeed is small,

Child of weakness, watch and pray,

Find in Me thine all in all."

Refrain:

Jesus paid it all,

All to Him I owe;

Sin had left a crimson stain,

He washed it white as snow.

2 Lord, now indeed I find

Thy pow'r and Thine alone,

Can change the leper's spots

And melt the heart of stone. [Refrain]

3 For nothing good have I

Where-by Thy grace to claim;

I'll wash my garments white

In the blood of Calv'ry's Lamb. [Refrain]

4 And when, before the throne,

I stand in Him complete,

"Jesus died my soul to save,"

My lips shall still repeat. [Refrain]