Kingdom Obedience Matthew 7:13-28 Purpose: to hear and obey the teachings of Jesus Christ 1. Jesus Teaches the Way to Life (Matthew 7:13-14) Only two roads to take, which one are you on? 2. Jesus Warns About False Prophets (Matthew 7:15-20) Again, only two possibilities: good or bad, life or thrown into the fire 3. Jesus Reveals the Final State of the False Ones (Matthew 7:21-23) Only two options See John 6:29 Do we truly do God’s will? “¦ or not? 4. Jesus’ Parable of the House’s Foundation (Matthew 7:24-27) Again, only two options: The False hear and do not obey, theirs is the life built upon shifting sand The True hear Jesus and obey, theirs is the life built upon the rock Which one are you? Will you survive the storms of life? Will you be in heaven?
Kingdom Faithfulness Matthew 25:14-30 Purpose: to be faithful until the end with what the Lord has given you 1. Stewardship of the Lord’s Kingdom Given to Us (Matthew 25:14-18) 2. Faithful Investment of the Lord’s “Property” (Matthew 25:19-23) 3. The Lord Expects Return on His “Investment” (Matthew 25:24-28) 4. The Final Accounting (Matthew 25:29) How have you served Jesus the King and how may that affect your eternity? Only two outcomes: faithful or wicked, saved or lost, heaven or hell And it is reflected in the way you invest all that the Lord has given you now This parable is not just about money, it’s about Kingdom stewardship of your whole life Will God proclaim over your life, “Well done! Good and faithful servant”?
The Wedding of Christ and His Church for Eternity (Matthew 22:1-14; see Isaiah 25:6-9) 1. The king who gave the wedding feast: ____(God)_______ This king is gracious (v. 2) He is patient with the lazy (v. 4, 2nd invite) He is angry with those who refuse (v. 7) He is generous (v. 9) He is shrewd (vv.11-13) 2. The king’s son: _______(Jesus)___________ 3. The invited guests: ________(Jews)________ They were unwilling (v. 3). They are preoccupied with other things (v. 5). They are hostile and disrespectful toward the king (v. 6). 4. The “slaves” or king’s messengers: ____(Prophets)________ They call out to the invited (v. 3). They invite & re-invite people to the king’s table (vv.4, 8). They are seized, mistreated, and killed (v. 6). They are obedient to go wherever the king sends (vv.9-10). 5. The guests from the “highways”: __(Gentiles/All Nations)____ They recognize the privilege and fill the hall(v.10). 6. The guest “not dressed in wedding clothes”: _(False Believer)_ He wants the food of the feast (v. 11, he’s there). He does not honor the wedding by dressing right (v. 11). The point: Be dressed (repent) for the occasion (kingdom)! (see Matthew 4:17; 7:22-23 & context). How have you responded to the invitation to Jesus?
The Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:14-31) Purpose: What will it take to bring you to repentance? 1. Why this parable? The Context (Luke 16:14-15) Money-Lovers Scoff at Jesus But God Knows Their Hearts, They’re Unrepentant 2. The Absolute Standard of the Scriptures (Luke 16:16-18) 3. The Parable Begins: Worldly Perspectives (Luke 16:19-21) God’s Law taught the rich to have mercy on the poor 4. The Parable Takes a Turn: Kingdom Realities (Luke 16:22-23) This is yet another picture of Heaven and Hell But in the afterlife, we unexpectedly find the rich in hell and the poor in heaven 5. The Parable’s Warning: No Mercy in Hell! (Luke 16:24-26) How permanent is heaven and hell? Is there ever a chance to move from one to another? 6. The Parable’s Heart: Finally, Compassion for Others (Luke 16:27-28) 7. The Parable’s Point: What will it take to bring you to repentance? (Luke 16:29-31) Ignore the Scriptures at your own peril Harken unto the Scriptures to save your very lives It’s all about Jesus Deuteronomy 32:45-47 Matthew 4:4 John 5:39-47 John 6:63 John 12:48 1 Thessalonians 2:13 1 Corinthians 15:1-5
MATTHEW 13 ““ THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER & FOUR SOILS Picture #1 ““ The Footpath vv. 1-4; 18-19 Picture #2 ““ The Rocks vv. 5-6; 20-21 Picture #3 ““ The Thorns vv. 7; 22 Picture #4 ““ The Good Soil vv. 8-9; 23
The Fair Employer (Matthew 20:1-16) Purpose: Jesus is fair to all those who believe in Him 1. The Parable of the Fair Employer (Matthew 20:1) 2. Pre-agreement reached (Matthew 20:2) 3. More Workers Hired (Matthew 20:30-7) 4. Pay-Day (Matthew 20:8-12) 5. The Employer’s Right to Do Whatever He Wants with His Own (Matthew 20:13-16) Jesus the King has absolute authority and ownership over all (Matthew 20:18) Everyone stands in the place of receiving the wages, either way! (cf. Romans 6:23) No one is treated “unfairly” by Jesus when everyone who believes is given eternal life Therefore, no one in the Kingdom should ever be envious of another, but look to Christ!
The Kingdom is Like a Dragnet (Matthew 13:47-52; 25:31-46) Purpose: to warn everyone of impending judgment 1. The Parable of the Dragnet (Matthew 13:47-48) The dragnet catches both good and bad fish The fisherman separates the bad from the good 2. The Kingdom is Like a Dragnet (Matthew 13:49-50) In the final judgment, Jesus will separate the wicked from the righteous Hell is real 3. Teach to Draw the Net Now (Matthew 13:51-52) Are you a disciple of the kingdom of heaven? Therefore, what should we be doing now? Will you teach others about the coming dragnet? 4. Separation of the Good and Bad: A Preview (Matthew 25:31-46) God catches all, saves some Judgment is universal, salvation is not Which side are you on? Hell is real Heaven is real
The Parable of the Wheat and Tares (Matthew 13:24-30; 36-43) Purpose: Are you believing the lies of the evil one, or the truth of God? 1. The Parable of the Good and the Wicked Together”¦ For Now”¦ (Matthew 13:24-30) 2. Jesus is the Farmer in the World (Matthew 13:36-38a) 3. The Evil One Oversows (Matthew 13:38b-39a) 4. Look Through the Parable to the Reality (Matthew 13:39b-43) Jesus is the Farmer The devil is the enemy The wheat are the righteous children of the Father harvested unto eternal heaven The tares are the sons of the evil one thrown into the fire of eternal hell What is sown in your heart? Who are you listening to?