Parable of the Wedding Banquet

Intro

Group Intro

- What we do

Scripture

Hear God speak, not self help or opinions

Scripture transforms us

It is the foundation for the other two

Prayer

Us speaking back to God

Acknowledging the truth of scripture

Community

The context that scripture and prayer are effective

Not just socializing - ministering the gospel to each other

- Goal

Series Intro

We will be looking at some of the parables of Jesus

As Jesus taught people, he would often use these short stories

Some of these are well known - the prodigal son, the talents, the good Samaritan

And sometimes they are taken by us moderns as folksy trite teachings of primitive ancient teacher - like Aesop’s fables

But they are much more than a story of the tortoise and the hare - more than just a moral

Jesus is using them to explain His kingdom

Bill Gleason titled his study “Blueprints for the Revolution”

We will be focusing on parables that introduce the Kingdom of God

How do you become a part of it

Once you become part of the Kingdom, what does it look like to be a servant

Why study scripture?

God’s firm revelation

Do we or God define reality? Revelation givers vs receivers

“And we have something more sure [than the transfiguration], the prophetic word…for no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” – , 21

Scripture has power, not just trivial truth

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” –

“All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness.” –

Understanding the Word of the Lord

Meaning vs application

Meaning of scripture

A definite unchanging meaning independent of the reader. Yet, one meaning does not mean the it is one dimensional

Scripture is rich and multifaceted

Diamond analogy – Makes connections to multiple truths

Target analogy - Certain aspects are more central than others

Ex: promise to David & his throne

One sense it was a promise to have a literal king over a literal Israel, but that only lasted 500 years

Another sense it means something greater - Jesus is king over the people of God throughout all time

Application of scripture

How does biblical truth intersect your life?

Looks different for individuals, cultures, times, etc.

ex. Idols - we are not bowing down to little wood figures, but we still have things in our life that we are worshipping instead of God

Scripture reading toolbelt (Hermeneutics)

You need the Holy Spirit and faith to properly understand

Not due to the fact scripture is inherently confusing. As we will see in the parables, even clear truths are obscured by our sinful nature

Exegetical understanding - We pull meaning out of the text, rather than bring in our own predefined categories

Immediate context in passage & book

Means context is necessary to fully understand – ex. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours. ( ) on an inspirational calendar

Grammar and meaning of words (ultimately original languages)

Flow of thought – why is this here?

Historical context

Who, what, when, where etc.

Cultural references, etc (Meaning of swift she-camel)

Type of literature - figurative vs story

Scriptural context

Scripture interprets scripture

All scripture points to Christ

What themes does the passage connect to

Outside help - Our reason, commentators, preachers, & tradition

Not all truths are explicitly stated – Trinity

But hold scripture, not our reason as ultimate

Intro question

Read

The unexpected guests

Context of the telling

The invitation

The response of the “worthy”

The king’s response

The unexpected rejection

The banquet

Thrown out

What happens

Background

meaning

The application

Original target

How are we indifferent?

Where our worthiness comes from