Kingdom Truths: Parable of Prodigal Son
June 16, 2024 • Pastoral Intern Evan Ng • Luke 15:11–32
Kingdom Truths: Parable of Prodigal Son Scriptures: Luke 15:11-32 Pastoral Intern Evan Ng What is a parable? A story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson, told by Jesus. Why does Jesus use parables? Because it gives us as the listeners the invitation to respond back to Him. Prodigal: spending money or resources freely and recklessly; wastefully extravagant. “It would seem that our Lord finds our desires not too strong but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with selfish ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased. —C. S. Lewis Both brothers had wrong motives. But in this story we only see one of them repent. If God were to think about you, what would his first feelings be? Love and compassion, not disappointment or letdown. Big Idea: God wants us to rely on him, not because we already have everything together, but because we don’t. When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” —Mark 2:16-17 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. —John 3:16-17 How should we live? Romans 12:9-21.
Names: Jehovah Jireh (The Lord Who Provides)
May 5, 2024 • Pastoral Intern Evan Ng • Genesis 22:1–14
Names: Jehovah Jireh (The Lord Who Provides) Scriptures: Genesis 22:1-14 Pastoral Intern Evan Ng And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. —Philippians 4:19 God is so high and beyond human comprehension that the divine names can describe real characteristics of God, but even then, the divine names are only analogical to the real essence and might of God. —Thomas Aquinas Questions to Ask Yourself: Do you know what your name means? Is there a situation in your life right now where you feel confused or frustrated? What are some ways that God has provided for you in your life or in the others you know?
Come and See
March 17, 2024 • Pastoral Intern Evan Ng • John 1:45–51
Come and See Pastoral Intern Evan Ng Scripture: John 1:45-51 Think about this: What if one of your friends is just one ask away from believing in Jesus? How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” Romans 10:14-15 Reflection Questions: What is one thing that you learned from today’s lesson? Have you ever experienced encounters like Nathanael’s or have had chances to share the good news like Philip? Who is one friend that you could invite to BBT Night? Invite them sometime these upcoming weeks.
Asking for a Friend - Why do bad things happen?
March 3, 2024 • Pastoral Intern Evan Ng • Romans 5:3–5, Habakkuk 3:17–18, James 1:2–4, Romans 8:28
Asking for a Friend - Why do bad things happen? Pastoral Intern Evan Ng Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. —Romans 5:3-5 Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. —Habakkuk 3:17-18 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. —James 1:2-4 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. —Romans 8:28 Big Idea: God uses difficulty to grow us.