THE STORY OF JESUS: Matthew 13:36-43 “Will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil.” (Matthew 13:41) The disciples have ears that are hungry to hear, so they press Jesus to explain. Jesus answers plainly: the field is the world, good seed are people of the kingdom, etc. The punchline of…
When the church feels like this
Mustard seed confidence!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Matthew 13:31-35 “I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.” (Matthew 13:35) As I understand it, the kingdom of God is THIS world under God-like human rulers. This is how God set up His creation kingdom at “the creation of the world”. But since we were ejected from paradise, it…
He gives us great victories!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Psalm 18 “He gives his king great victories; he shows unfailing love to his anointed, to David and to his descendants forever.” (Psalm 18:50) This is a song of extremes. God rescues David by shaking up the whole earth (vv.7-15) David is helped because he is innocent, guiltless (vv.20-24) David totally smashes his…
So many laws… HELP!!!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Leviticus 18-20 “Keep all my decrees and all my laws and follow them. I am the Lord.” (Leviticus 19:37) A variety of laws on many different issues, though mostly regarding sex. Some laws make sense, some don’t; some seem irrelevant and some universal. But which is which, and who decides? Are we bound…
Life is precious!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Leviticus 16-17 For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.” (Leviticus 17:11) God makes us alive by His Spirit; blood keeps us alive, giving our body…
I don’t have to give in to the weeds!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Matthew 13:24-30 “No… you may uproot the wheat with them.” (Matthew 13:29) The kingdom of God/heaven is this world, as originally created by God. We know the story from Genesis 1-3 how the Enemy sows weeds of selfishness. But God does not give us up on, He doesn’t kill us to start over. God…
Good soil?
THE STORY OF JESUS: Matthew 13:18-23 “Good soil… produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (Matthew 13:23) The point of planting seed is producing a crop. Jesus often explains that the crop God desires is goodness, love, mercy, justice. Also known as the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) This is what…
Ears that long to hear!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Matthew 13:10-17 “Many… people longed to see what you see but did not see it…” (Matthew 13:17) Jesus identifies the key to faith: longing. To seek and desire with intensity, to desperately want something. Faith is more than agreeing with the mind, it is seeking with the heart. All that is required is…
Hearing God requires listening better!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Matthew 13:1-9 “Whoever has ears, let them hear.” (Matthew 13:1-9) Jesus has a large audience, a perfect opportunity to WOW them with His wisdom. Instead He tells them a simple little story, and essentially says ‘figure it out!’ If my messages were this cryptic, I’d lose my job. But Jesus wasn’t trying to…