Not so Secret secrets: The Parables of Jesus

Time

September 1, 2024 • Pastor Derek Crawford • Philippians 2:12–13

Key Scripture https://www.bible.com/bible/111/php.2.12-13 12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. Prayer Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for your provision. Thank you for allowing us to join in your mission, to be a part of your community. Thank you Holy Spirit for moving into the Park this season. Thank you Jesus for being Lord. Please bless our return to The Dock. Amen

The Parable of the sheep and the goats

August 25, 2024 • Pastor Jason Miller • Luke 6:43–45, Micah 6:8, Matthew 25:31–46

Key Scripture https://www.bible.com/bible/111/luk.6.43-45 43 “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44 Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. 45 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. https://www.bible.com/bible/111/luk.6.43-45 8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Prayer Heavenly Father, Thank you for Jesus, the perfect example of love, grace and mercy. Holy Spirit, teach me to walk in His footsteps, to love as He loved, and to serve as He served. Help me to have your heart, to grow in compassion, to seek justice and to extend mercy to those around me. Shape my heart to reflect Your heart so I can show those around me your amazing love. In Jesus’ name, amen!

Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman

August 18, 2024 • Pastor Jason Miller • James 2:5–13, Luke 7:36–50

Key Scripture https://www.bible.com/bible/111/jas.2.5-13 5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong? 8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11 For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. 12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment. -------- Prayer Father, thank you for your mercy. Holy Spirit, speak and move through your Word in my life. Help me to listen when you speak, to respond when you call and to turn my life over to Jesus. In Jesus’ holy name, amen!

The Parable of the Bags of Gold

August 11, 2024 • Pastor Jason Miller • 2 Corinthians 9:6–11, Matthew 25:16–30

Key Scripture 2 Corinthians 9:6-11 6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 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. 9 As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;     their righteousness endures forever.” 10 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. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. Prayer Lord, here I am. Holy Spirit, speak to me. I want more of you! Increase my faith, my trust and my obedience. In Jesus’ name, Amen

The Parable of the Shrewd Manager

August 4, 2024 • Pastor Jason Miller

Key Scripture https://www.bible.com/bible/111/col.3.23-24 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. https://www.bible.com/bible/111/1pe.4.10 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. ---------- Prayer Holy Spirit, give me ears to hear. Open the eyes of my heart for what you have for me. Reveal any lies I might be trusting in and help me to live my life for King Jesus. In Jesus name, Amen!

The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders

July 28, 2024 • Megan Dennis • Luke 6:46–49

Key Scripture https://www.bible.com/bible/111/luk.6.46-49 46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. 48 They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.” Prayer Heavenly Father, Thank you for a beautiful day spent in your creation, for the freedom to worship you freely. Help me to reflect on your words. May I learn to have a strong foundation so that I will be able to follow and obey you no matter what storms come my way. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Parable of the Rich Fool

July 21, 2024 • Pastor Derek Crawford • Luke 12:13–21

Key Scripture https://www.bible.com/bible/111/luk.12.13-21 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” ’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

July 14, 2024 • Pastor Jason Miller • Colossians 1:13–14, Luke 18:9–17, Romans 1, James 1:13–15

Key Scripture https://www.bible.com/bible/111/col.1.13-14 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Prayer Holy Spirit, reveal the parts of my life, of my heart, of my mind that I have not surrendered to you. I know you want so much more for me. So, I declare where the spirit of the Lord is there is freedom. Break the chains of sins keeping me in the dark and away from life in you King Jesus! Come alive in me King Jesus, Amen!

The Parable of the narrow door

July 7, 2024 • Pastor Jason Miller • John 10:7–10, Luke 13:22–30

Key Scripture https://www.bible.com/bible/111/jhn.10.7-10 7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. Prayer Holy Spirit, give me eyes to see my need for Jesus, ears to hear what you have for my life. And soften my heart. In Jesus’ name, we bind the lies of the Devil present this morning! I want more of you and less of me! In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen!

The Parable of the workers in the vineyard

June 23, 2024 • Pastor Jason Miller • Matthew 20:1–16, John 18:36

https://www.bible.com/bible/111/mat.20.1-16 The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard 1 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. 3 “About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4 He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ 5 So they went. “He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. 6 About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’ 7 “‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered. “He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’ 8 “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’ 9 “The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. 10 So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12 ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’ 13 “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? 14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ 16 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” https://www.bible.com/bible/111/jhn.18.36 36 Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”

The Parable of the lost sheep, lost coin and lost son

June 16, 2024 • Pastor Jason Miller • Luke 5:1–10

The Parable of the hidden treasure, pearl and nets

June 9, 2024 • Megan Dennis • Matthew 13:44–52

Key Scripture https://www.bible.com/bible/111/mat.13.44-52 44 “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. 45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. 47 “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. 48 When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. 49 This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous 50 and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 51 “Have you understood all these things?”Jesus asked. “Yes,” they replied. 52 He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”

The Parable of the weed, mustard seed and yeast

June 2, 2024 • Pastor Jason Miller • Matthew 13:24–35, 1 Peter 5:8–9

Key Scripture https://www.bible.com/bible/111/mat.13.24-35 24 Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26 When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. 27 “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ 28 “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ 29 “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’” The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast 31 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.” 33 He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.” 34 Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. 35 So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: “I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.” https://www.bible.com/bible/111/1pe.5.8-9 8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

The Parable of the Sower

May 26, 2024 • Pastor Jason Miller • Matthew 13:10–17

Key Scripture https://www.bible.com/bible/111/mat.13.10-17 10 The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” 11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. 14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “ ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. 15 For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ 16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.