September 22, 2024 • Luke 15:25–32, Matthew 20:8–15
Parables // The Parable of the Elder Brother
Luke 15:25-32 (NIV)
““Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ “ ‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ ””
Symptoms of “the elder brother syndrome”
1. Projects judgment towards others and God.
2. Inflated view of their own righteousness.
3. Misunderstanding of God’s grace.
Matthew 20:8-15 (The Message)
“’Call the workers and pay them their wages. Start with the last hired and go on to the first. Those hired at five o’clock came up and were each given a dollar.’ When those who were hired first saw that, they assumed they would get far more. But they got the same, each of them one dollar. Taking the dollar, they groused angrily to the manager, ‘These last workers put in only one easy hour, and you just made them equal to us, who slaved all day under a scorching sun.’ [sound like the older brother?] He replied to the one speaking for the rest, ‘Friend, I haven’t been unfair. We agreed on the wage of a dollar, didn’t we? So take it and go. I decided to give to the ones who came last the same as you. Can’t I do what I want with my money? Are you going to get stingy because I am so generous?’”
The loving father’s message to the elder brother.
1. It’s not your works I cherish, it’s you.
2. All I have is yours.
3. I want you to enjoy my party.
Parables // Lost & Found
September 15, 2024 • Luke 15, Luke 19:10
Parables // Lost & Found
Lost & Found
Luke 15
The Lost Sheep
The Lost Coin
The Lost Son
Two Kingdom attitudes to embrace.
1. Compassion
2. "For the Son of Man [Jesus] has come to save that which was lost." LUKE 19:10 (NKJV)
Celebration
"The Lost Sons”
God seeks sinners and wants them to come to Him.
God and all of heaven rejoice when a sinner turns to God.
Do you need to up your practice of Compassion and Celebration?
Parables // Jesus Wants To Do A New Thing In Your Life
September 8, 2024 • Isaiah 61:3, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Hebrews 3:7–9, Luke 5:27–39, Psalm 34:8
Parables // Jesus Wants To Do A New Thing In Your Life
Luke 5:27-39 (NIV)
“Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. ‘Follow me,’ Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.
Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, ‘Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?’
Jesus answered them, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.’
They said to him, ‘John’s disciples often fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours go on eating and drinking.’
Jesus answered, ‘Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast.’
He told them this parable: ‘No one tears a piece out of a new garment to patch an old one. Otherwise, they will have torn the new garment, and the patch from the new will not match the old. And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for they say, ‘The old is better.’”
1. Jesus came to give you a spirit of joy not burdensome sorrow.
Psalm 34:8 (NIV)
“Taste and see that the Lord is good;”
Isaiah 61:3 (NIV)
“to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.”
2. Jesus came to do something brand new in your life.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”
3. Resisting what Jesus is doing will cause your life to get messy.
Hebrews 3:7-9 (NIV)
“So, as the Holy Spirit says: ‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert, where your fathers tested and tried me and for forty years saw what I did.’”
Parables // Have You Found What You Are Looking For?
September 1, 2024 • Colossians 1:19, Luke 17:20–21, Matthew 13:31–33, Matthew 13:44, Revelation 19:16
Parables // Have You Found What You Are Looking For?
Matthew 13:44-46 (NIV)
“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. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.”
1. Searching
Matthew 13:45 (NIV)
“the Kingdom of heaven is like merchant in search of fine pearls.”
2. Finding
Matthew 13:44,46 (NKJV)
“The Kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found…the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, when he had found one…”
Why is Jesus of such supreme Value?
- Because of who He is.
Revelation 19:16 (ESV)
“On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.”
Revelation 1:5 (ESV)
“Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.”
Colossians 1:19 (ESV)
“in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.”
Colossians 2:3 (NKJV)
“in [Christ] are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
- Because of what He has done for you.
Luke 17:20-21 (ESV)
“The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”
Matthew 13:31-33 (ESV)
“’The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.’ He told them another parable. ‘The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.’”
- Because of what He offers you.
- He can never be taken away from you.
John 10:28-30 (NIV)
"I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
3. Selling
Matthew 13;44,46 (ESV)
“In his joy he goes and sells all that he has…Finding one pearl of great value, [he] went and sold all that he had.”
Philippians 3:4-7 (ESV)
“I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.”
Parables // Prayer // The Key to Living an Overcoming Life
August 18, 2024 • Luke 18:1–8, Proverbs 3:5–6, Joshua 1:9, 2 Thessalonians 3:3, 2 Corinthians 9:8
Parables // Prayer // The Key to Living an Overcoming Life
Luke 18:1-8 (NLT)
“One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. ‘There was a judge in a certain city,’ he said, ‘who neither feared God nor cared about people.’ A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’ The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people, but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’
Then the Lord said, ‘Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?’”
Prayer: The Key to Living an Overcoming Life
1. God uses prayer to guide you in confusing times.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.”
2. Prayer helps you overcome the temptations that come in the midst of difficulties.
1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
3. Prayer will steady you in trouble.
Joshua 1:9 (NIV)
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Matthew 28:20 (ESV)
“I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
2 Thessalonians 3:3 (ESV)
“But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.”
Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
4. Prayer keeps you focused on God’s character.
Hebrews 6:10 (NLT)
“For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do.”
Philippians 4:19 (NIV)
“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”
2 Corinthians 9:8 (NIV)
“And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”
2 Corinthians 9:10 (NIV)
“Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.”
Matthew 6:31-33 (NIV)
“do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Parables // Object on Road Ahead, Do Not Avoid
August 11, 2024 • Jason King • Luke 10:33, Luke 10:25–29, Luke 10:30–37, Luke 10:31, Luke 10:32
Parables // Object on Road Ahead, Do Not Avoid
Luke 10:25-29 (NLT)
“One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”
Jesus replied, ‘What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?’
The man answered, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
‘Right!’ Jesus told him. ‘Do this and you will live!’
The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’”
Luke 10:30–37 (NLT)
“Jesus replied with a story: A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road.
By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side.
Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’
‘Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?’ Jesus asked.
The man replied, ‘The one who showed him mercy.’
Then Jesus said, ‘Yes, now go and do the same.’”
The priest and the assistant.
Luke 10:31 (NLT)
“he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by”
Luke 10:32 (NLT)
“A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side.”
Opportunity lost due to personal inconvenience.
The Samaritan.
Luke 10:33 (NLT)
“when he saw the man, he felt compassion”
Parables // The Parable of the Soil
August 4, 2024 • Matthew 13:22, Matthew 13:23, Matthew 13:1–13, Matthew 13:19, Matthew 13:20–21
Parables // The Parable of the Soil
Matthew 13:1-13 (NLT)
“Later that same day Jesus left the house and sat beside the lake. A large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat there and taught as the people stood on the shore. He told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one:
“Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds. As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died. Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted! Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”
Why did Jesus teach in Parables?
Matthew 13:10-13 (NLT)
“His disciples came and asked him, “Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?”
“He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. That is why I use these parables:
What does all this mean?
Matthew 13:18-23 (NLT)
“Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds:
What is the condition of the soil of your heart?
1. Is your heart hard?
Matthew 13:19 (NLT)
“The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts.”
2. Is your heart shallow?
Matthew 13:20-21 (NLT)
“The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word.”
3. Is your heart strangled?
Matthew 13:22 (NLT)
“The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced.”
4. Is your heart soft?
Matthew 13:23 (NLT)
“The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”
