Stories of the Kingdom
Jesus often used parables – a specific type of story – to explain the nature of God’s kingdom. We will look at why Jesus taught with parables and then explore specific parables for life.
This is part 5 of a 10-part series on the Gospel of Matthew.
The Treasure, the Pearl, and the Net
Jesus describes the kingdom in terms of three different items, all of which are strongly sought after for good reason. Matthew 13:44-50 SERMON OUTLINE The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.” (Matthew 13:44) The Parable of the Treasure and the Pearl (Matthew 13:44-46) The kingdom of God is more valuable than anything…
The Mustard Seed and the Yeast
This Sunday, Pastor Matt continues our sermon series on Jesus’ parables from Matthew with a message on the Parable of the Mustard Seed and the Parable of the Yeast from Matthew 13. SERMON OUTLINE “He told them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field.’” (Matthew 13:31) The Parable of the Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31-32) The small size of the mustard seed – the smallest seed that Jews…
The Wheat and the Weeds
Jesus tells a parable about weeds in a wheat field, then explains it later to His disciples. Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 SERMON OUTLINE “Jesus told them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat.’” (Matthew 13:24-25) Elements of the Parable (Matthew 13:37-39) The Present: Wheat and Weeds Together in the Field (Matthew 13:28-30a) The reality of good and…
The Sower
Jesus shares the parables of the sower and the seed scattered on different sorts of soil, then explains it later to His disciples. Matthew 13:3-8, 13-23 SERMON OUTLINE “Then he told them many things in parables, saying: ‘A farmer went out to sow his seed….’” (Matthew 13:3) The Seed “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you” (13:11) “The message of the kingdom…sown in his heart” (13:19) The Soils Basic contrast: good soil…
Why Parables?
Jesus teaches with parables and even His closest disciples are confused with why He does this. Jesus explains and even His explanation can be hard to understand. Matthew 13:1-3a, 10-17 SERMON OUTLINE What is a Parable? παραβολή [parabole] is a combination of para (along-side) and ballo (to throw), thus “to throw alongside.” “an earthly story with a heavenly meaning”. Why did Jesus teach in Parables? To reveal truth (Matthew 13:11) Two things about this truth the parables reveal: The Kingdom…