Point of Grace Worship        8.1.21     Sermon Notes – Parables of the Kingdom – “The Unexpected Jesus”

We are called to be “contenders for the kingdom” …… but what is the Kingdom (Reign) of Heaven (God)?

The Kingdom of Heaven is what God is doing to reestablish His reign in creation through Jesus.

Parable – A small past-time narrative that Jesus tells in order to communicate a deeper meaning. They “hide” before they “reveal” making the listener think, consider, question etc.

Matthew 1324 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.’”

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[b] 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. 

Three Parables that “subversively” reveal important aspects of the experience of God’s reign breaking in to His estranged world through Jesus inviting every listener to join Him in surrendered faith contending for His reign to come. 

Jesus styled “breaking in of the reign of God on earth” now appears Messy (weeds), Small (mustard seed), Weak (yeast) but don’t look elsewhere or lose heart because the reign of God is purer, bigger and stronger than we could ever imagine! 

Messy means contenders get to be gracious while living out truth soaked with love.

Small means contenders get to trust the King and His life for them in a myriad of small but potent ways.

Weak means contenders get to be faithful, persevering, humble, patient agents of the King knowing loving influence is a  slow but graciously effective way to change lives.

How does this matter? 

Prayer of the Week

Lord Jesus, I come to You now to be restored in You, to be renewed in You and to receive all the grace and mercy I so desperately need this day.  I honor you as my Lord and God and surrender every aspect of my life totally and completely to You.  Thank you for loving me so very much and I now intentionally enter that love relationship with You as I pray. 

Jesus, I admit that there are times I don’t “get” You.  I don’t understand how You and the Father and the Spirit are working at this moment in my life and in my world.  (Take a couple of moments and candidly admit frustrations with Jesus and situations where you find it difficult and frustrating to trust and obey Him.) 

Even as I admit these frustrations I am, in some way, surrendering them to You.  You are God and I am not.  You see a much bigger picture than I do.  I surrender to You – not in a sense cynical defeat but in life giving faith.  Jesus, I believe in You help my unbelief. 
Holy Spirt, I need your counsel, comfort, strength and guidance.  I ask You to fill me afresh with Your presence and life so that I might see the many little ways Your kingdom is breaking in to this broken world.  I want to see and seize the opportunities You are giving me to share love and forgiveness, grace and kindness, truth and justice, sacrifice and service, joy and compassion, words and actions all done in Your name as a small but vital parts of Your kingdom breaking into our broken world. 
I thank You so much for calling me to be Your child, to be Your witness in this world and contend for Your kingdom even in small and seemingly insignificant ways.  It is refreshing to know that little things done in Your name do matter and matter greatly.  Thank you for being the kind of God where someone as insignificant as me can matter so very much to You.  I love You,

Amen

Resources for this Week

Here are some suggested readings for each day of this week. The Meditation Hints below may help you listen and receive all God has for you.

Mon – Matthew 13:31-35
Tue –  Matthew 11:1-6
Wed – Matthew 25:31-40
Thu – Matthew 13:24-30
Fri –  Philippians 2:5-11
Sat  - Isaiah 53:1-6

Meditation Hints:

Solitude – Spend TWO minutes quietly alone. Take some deep breaths… Just be… “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word!  I rest in You!”

Scripture – Read the scripture slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there!  Reflect on what you are noticing and where He is leading your thoughts.

Prayer – Have a conversation with God, “What are You saying to me, God?”  Talk about what you notice is on your heart.  Begin to own the “word of God” being revealed to you. 

Finish - Spend TWO minutes again with God, resting and listening and being loved.