Today we begin a new series looking at some of Jesus’ parables. A parable is a story that serves as an analogy for important eternal realities. In this message from the Parable of the Sower we discover that Jesus came to broadcast an eternal kind of life for us now. We also are challenged to both receive Jesus’ offer for life overflowing and to share it with others.
Sermons by Dean Wertz (Page 39)
The inventor, Charles Kettering said, “My interest is in the future because I am going to spend the rest of my life there.” The Christian’s ultimate hope is in the return of Jesus and the events that will soon follow. In this final message in The Story we celebrate several reasons to long for Christ’s return and a couple of practical ways to fan our anticipation.
As we near the end of our journey through The Story we come to Paul’s final days. Fortunately, as Paul departed he also imparted final words to Timothy and to all who tend to be timid and cautious in sharing the gospel with others. In this message unbelievers receive encouraging words to believe the gospel and believers receive Paul’s final words to help us grow in gospel courage.
After Jesus’ resurrection, he appeared to many people over 40 days. In his final time with his disciples he declared that God’s vision to bless the world was still on track and that they would be a significant part of this plan. As he did in A.D. 30, God’s Holy Spirit empowers followers today to join him in God’s vision to bring people from every language, tongue and tribe to himself through faith in Jesus for the glory of God the Father.
Freedom is a gift from God. One of the miracles that our living Jesus performs is liberating us when we are trapped in lies and unhealthy behaviors. On the day of His resurrection Jesus set Mary Magdalene free and He continues to liberate all who encounter Him today.
On Palm Sunday we celebrate the day when Jesus revealed to Jerusalem that He came to be her King. Yet, as we have been learning in recent weeks, the nature of His Kingdom was different than expected. Of the many qualities Jesus unveiled during His triumphant entry, we see His gentleness, grief and glory. All three of these attributes beckon a response from all who bow to King Jesus.
After announcing “The time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God is at hand” Jesus loved uninvited, overlooked, unwanted, unwelcome, disregarded, ignored, marginalized, unnoticed, discounted, passed over, sidelined, unappreciated, undervalued, misunderstood, misinterpreted, misjudged, devalued, ordinary, sick, demonized, sinful, shame-filled people. What a kingdom. What a King!
When heaven is silent we often wonder, “Where is God?” and “Does He care?” Beginning in the mid 400’s BC God’s voice was suspended from Israel and many gave up hope. Yet everything changed in 5 or 6 BC when God announced and then sent His promised Anointed One through a virgin in David’s town. Some received Him, others did not. This message travels from the days of Caesar Augustus to our own because He came not only to be with 1st century Jews but He came to be with you as well.
Slavery, hunger, sex trafficking, addictions, broken relationships… Have you noticed how many things on our globe are not as they should be? When God decides it is time to renovate a portion of earth so it looks more like heaven He typically does so through His children. Nehemiah wept, prayed and worked with God and others to overturn the “great trouble and shame” in Jerusalem. He embraced God’s assignment for his generation. Will you listen and trust God to do the same for yours?
Esther is the only book in the Bible that does not mention the name of God. Yet, behind the scenes, God is clearly at work fulfilling His vision to protect His people through whom His Son, the “seed” of Abraham, will come to bless all nations. God does this work through two of His children, Esther and Mordecai, who risk their lives to join in His mission. Their examples challenge us to ask, “How can I invest my life for the kingdom of God?”