Parables of the Kingdom - Session 1
Notes
Transcript
Session 1
I. Questions of the Kingdom
I. Questions of the Kingdom
Matthew 13
INTRODUCTION
“Kingdom Parables” – Teaching on the Kingdom of heaven and who Jesus is
Jesus came to set up a Kingdom.
Not the Kingdom Jews expected.
These are parables that explain the Kingdom of God.
5 Questions Answered by Parables in Chapter 13
1- Why Parables? (13:10-17; 34-35)
1- Why Parables? (13:10-17; 34-35)
Matthew 13:10-17
10 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?”
11 And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.
12 For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
13 This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.
14 Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: “ ‘ “You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.”
15 For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’
16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.
17 For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
vs. 11 – “Secrets” / “Know”
The Reason People Don’t Understand Parables (15)
They can understand if they were willing.
Just for those who want to understand.
Matthew 13:34-35
34 All these things Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed, he said nothing to them without a parable.
35 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet: “I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world.”
Matthew 13:51-53
51 “Have you understood all these things?” They said to him, “Yes.”
52 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.”
53 And when Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from there,
Old= original meaning
New= application to your life.
2- Who is in the Kingdom? (13:1-9; 18-23)
2- Who is in the Kingdom? (13:1-9; 18-23)
INTRODUCTION
The Civil War- early on each city or province provided own uniform- caused confusion
Later- Blue for North/ Grey for South—Important for face to face combat.
Modern Warfare- Camouflage- don’t want to be seen- Can’t see target.
Leads to more friendly fire deaths.
Identification of a Christian
How do we know who is on our side? Church membership? T-shirt?
Bumper sticker?
Jesus’ Answer= You will know them by their fruit.
Read Matthew 13:1-8 / Pray
1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea.
2 And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach.
3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow.
4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them.
5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil,
6 but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away.
7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.
8 Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
Set-UP
How fields are prepared and planted.
Jesus defines this parable.
4 Ways People Respond to the Gospel
I. Hard Hearted (4, 19)
I. Hard Hearted (4, 19)
Matthew 13:4, 19
4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them.
19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path.
Mike at Wister—Church had let him down- became an excuse he was willing to die over.
ILL—Sales at Radio Shack- want buyer to say “yes” early on. Easy questions.
Some people have had a hard life—learned to hide feelings to protect self.
They never listen to the Gospel—never enters the soil.
II. Emotional (5-6, 20-21)
II. Emotional (5-6, 20-21)
Matthew 13:5-6
5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil,
6 but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away.
20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy,
21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.
Rocky Soil—Common is Israel – grows fast but dies with sun.
Grass around rocks in garden. – spring, green – Summer, brown.
Camps—non-churched kid to Falls Creek. Have a blast. No Sleep. Want to be accepted by new friends. Accept Christ. Go Home. Never see again.
New fad or fashion/ sickness or death of loved one/ revival service
Can you be saved because of these events?
The Difference= only lasts for a moment- not forever.
Sun= Trials and persecutions of life.
The result of trials is the key.
James 1:2-4 , 12
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
Christians are Overcomers
Revelation 2-3= 7 Churches
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.
4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
E. LIFE CHANGE
III. Side-Tracked (7, 22)
III. Side-Tracked (7, 22)
7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.
22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.
Weeds= friends or culture
Weeds of Muslim World/ Hindu World/
Weeds of Secular Gov (China- persecution) (Western Europe, U.S.)
Weeds of Education
Time= #1 resource in our society.
Not enough time is leading many to hell.
These are not excuses for God
He gave us creation.
20 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.
Christianity is growing faster in China than in history of the church.
What’s our excuse?
IV. Changed (8, 23)
IV. Changed (8, 23)
8 Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”
Either radically saved or not saved at all.
4 Stages of Change
Open Mind= willing to hear a new idea
14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?
Prepared to hear= not too proud to listen.
Understand= thought it through and willing to accept
Life Change= puts hearing into action = fruit
fruit= not just for self—for the world
not a private relationship between you and God.
Jesus, “If you deny me before man, I will deny you before my Father in heaven.”
CONCLUSION
What type of soil characterizes your life?
