Kingdom Parables 1

Living the Parables
-Part II-

The Kingdom of Heaven
Jesus came to start a kingdom
Jesus defeated the previous prince
Jesus’ kingdom is unique
Jesus’ kingdom has had tremendous growth
Jesus’ kingdom has enemies/rebels

#4 The 4 Soils
Matthew 13:3-9, Mark 4:2-9, Luke 8:4-8

"A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. He who has ears, let him hear."

The Seed is the WORD of God
The farmer is ANYONE who spreads God’s Word

4 Reactions to the Word of God
You can respond with a Hard Heart
You can respond with a Shallow Heart
You can respond with a Worldly Heart
You can respond with a Good Heart

What we must do as Christians
Turn on our EARS
Take care HOW we listen
Take care WHAT we hear

#5 Wheat & Weeds
Matthew 13:24-30
Click HERE for my lengthier commentary on this passage.

"The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.

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?'

'An enemy did this,' he replied.

The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?'

'No,' he answered, 'because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. 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.'”

What Represents What?
The Man is Jesus
The field is the world
The Wheat represents the children of God
The Weeds represent the children of satan
The enemy is Satan

5 Lessons for Those in the Field
We lose ground when we fail to watch & pray
We tend to blame God for our troubles
We lack the patience of God
We lack the tact of God
We will be harvested when the difference is evident