The Net and The Weeds

Rolling Stone

February 3, 2013

Parables – The Net and the Weeds

The Weeds – Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43;  Mark 4:26-29

• Audience – the crowds; later the disciples only
• Context/Setting – many crowds had come to him; so he got in a boat and sat down while the crowd stood on the beach as he taught them in parables.  (Matthew 13:1-2)
• This is one of the parables that Jesus explains clearly, so there is little to be interpreted.  
• Who sows the good seed?
• Who sows the weeds?
• What does the field refer to?
• What is the good seed?
• What are the weeds?
• What does the harvest represent?
• Who are the reapers?

• Discussion:
• Read 2 Corinthians 4:18.  Remember that the disciples were very uninformed and uneducated on the Scriptures and the Law.  They did not have the New Testament or Revelation to refer to.  What did this parable help them understand about the unseen, eternal world?
• Read Matthew 13:28-30.  Why does the Master say not to go ahead and uproot the weeds?  What would this have meant for the disciples hearing this message?  (Look at 2 Peter 3:4-10 and Romans 8:28)  What does this mean for us as the Church with relation to our outlook on the world and our mission in the world?
• The parable of the mustard seed and the leaven comes between the parable of the wheat and the weeds and Jesus’ explanation of the parable.  How do those parables maybe shed light on the interpretation of this parable?  
• Read Matthew 7:15-20.  In the end, there will be a clear differentiation between the good seed and the weeds.  This distinction is difficult to see when the wheat and weeds are just sprouting.  How will we know according to this passage?  What does this mean to us as Christians in the meantime?
• Did you know that Jesus prayed for you specifically?  Read John 17.  Identify the parts of Christ’s prayer that relate to this parable of the wheat and the weeds.  How incredible is it that Jesus prays and intercedes for us!!!

The Net – Matthew 13:47-50

• Audience – Disciples
• Context/Setting – now in the house; more intimate conversation between Jesus and the disciples.
• Points of Reference:
• What does the sea represent?
• What does the net represent?
• Who are the good fish?
• Who are the bad fish?
• Who are the men that are sorting the fish?
• What is the fiery furnace?

• Discussion:
• Some of the disciples were fishermen.  They had witnessed Jesus catch many fish in a net in their first encounter with Him.  Read Luke 5:1-11.  How did this parable relate Christ’s promise to make them fishers of men?
• There are many parallels from the parable of the wheat and the weeds and this parable.  However, I want to focus on this idea of the net.  What does the net represent for the fish?  (Read 2 Corinthians 5:10)  
• Net represents anything that ensnares and traps.  For the fish, it meant death.
• A net is something you don’t see coming.  (Proverbs 1:17)

• What does Christ offer to the sons of righteousness?  (Read Psalm 25:1-15.  Pay close attention to verse 15).  What is similar between this passage and the passage about Joshua the High Priest in Zechariah 3?

Marriage for God's glory

I've decided that I want to start sending out a link every week with an article and/or video about marriage...so if any of you have a good link, send it to me and I'll make sure to post it! :)

Here's the one for this week:

Marriage lived for the glory of God

I know its a little long, but its a good one and definitely worth the read.

The Kingdom of Heaven

Rolling Stone

January 27, 2013

THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, Part III

PARABLES: The Mustard Seed, The Leaven, The Hidden Treasure, The Pearl of Great Value

---

The Mustard Seed: (Matthew 13:31-32; Mark 4:30-32; Luke 13:18-19)    Audience: Disciples/Multitudes
    Context: after telling speaking with the multitudes, the disciples are explained the meaning of the parables, then Jesus continues with comparing the kingdom of Heaven to a mustard seed
    These three passages are very similar except for one detail: Mark details the branches shooting out so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade.  
    Is this an immediate occurrence?
    Why do you think Jesus meant to compare it to the mustard seed?
        -It represents the Kingdom.  Only one seed is mentioned, instead of a plot of seeds.  Just one – Jesus was One man in time. At that time the Kingdom may have appeared insignificant but will grow to manifest at the end of the Age.
    What does it take for a mustard seed to grow?
        -Ground: nutrients, water, environment for growth, sunlight, one to cultivate, protect it work is involved, for future greatness, it progresses by intentional growth takes an act of faith to plant ONE mustard seen, but if it represents the kingdom it won’t return void. The world says to plant multiples in case one does not root, but this is the kingdom…it WILL produce
    This parable speaks of the destined greatness of the kingdom, contrasting its limited (at the time) present significance in a small band of original followers with worldwide domination at Jesus’ return – a greatness that will be apparent at its consummation at the end of the Age.  
   
The Leaven: (Matthew 13:33; Luke 13:20-21)    Leaven and measures. Leaven makes it better – causes bread to rise.
        -ability to spread
        -whatever it touches it affects and “saturates” it.
    The woman took the leaven, hid in 3 measures...about 2 pecks in all…of meal till it was all leavened. Significant that she allowed it to PERMEATE all parts of the meal (every corner of the dough)
    Does bread rise immediately? What happens if you bake unleavened bread?
    Why leaven/yeast? How does it work?
    This parable speaks of the Kingdom not fully being manifest, but it will be made manifest to all.

The Hidden Treasure & The Pearl of Great Value: (Matthew 13:44-46)
    These are similar parables.  Both tell of an item of great worth that is found or sought after.  The treasure was hidden but found, while the pearl was being sought after.  After being discovered, the man in question sold all of his belongings just to purchase the field/pearl.  
    These both stress the superlative value of the kingdom.  
        -something that has incredible worth.  
        -the treasure could be us – how God searches and finds us and out of great joy Jesus went to the cross to secure us for His kingdom.

Love and Forgiveness

Rolling Stone

Parables of Jesus: Love and Forgiveness

January 20, 2013

Review: Forgiveness in The Prodigal Son

The Two Debtors – Luke 7:41-43 (36-50)

Which came first: love or forgiveness? (47)

What saved the woman? What is the evidence of this? (50)

Do we believe that Jesus can forgive sin?

How can we show our faith without having a physical Jesus in our presence like the woman?

The Good Samaritan – Luke 10:29-37

“What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” What is Jesus’ answer?

“Who is my neighbor?”- Why does the lawyer ask this? What would be a better question?

How can I be a better neighbor? How does Jesus answer this question?

How do we respond to this answer?

The Unforgiving Servant – Matt 18:23-35 (21-35)

Background info: 

• ten thousand talents. In NT times, it was a unit of monetary reckoning (though not an actual coin), valued at about 6,000 drachmas, the equivalent of about 20 years’ wages for a laborer. (A common laborer earned about one denarius per day.) In approximate modern equivalents, if a laborer earns $15 per hour, at 2,000 hours per year he would earn $30,000 per year, and a talent would equal $600,000 (USD). Hence, “ten thousand talents” hyperbolically represents an incalculable debt—in today’s terms, about $6 billion.

• a hundred denarii. This was still a large amount (equivalent to about 20 weeks of common labor, or about $12,000 in today’s terms), but compared to the debt that the wicked servant himself owed ($6 billion), it was a relatively small amount.

The forgiveness of such a massive debt is a dramatic illustration of

1. the massive debt that people owe, because of their sins, to the holy, righteous God

2. their complete inability ever to pay such a debt (“For the wages of sin is death … ,” Rom. 6:23a)

3. God’s great mercy and patience (Matt. 18:26, 29) in withholding his immediate righteous judgment that all people deserve for their sins

4. God’s gracious provision of Christ’s death and resurrection to pay the debt for sins and to break the power of sin (“but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord,” Rom. 6:23b)

The two central points of the parable are:

1. that the gift of salvation is immeasurably great (“how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?” Heb. 2:3)

2. that unless a person is comparably merciful to others, (a) God’s mercy has not had a saving effect upon him (Matt. 18:32–33), and (b) he will be liable to pay the consequences himself (vv. 34–35).

January 6 ABF

Here is last week's (Jan. 6) ABF so that you can catch up if you weren't there :)

Rolling Stone

Parables of Jesus: Humility & Prayer

January 6, 2013

The Kingdom of Heaven:

The Workers in the Vineyard

Matthew 20:1-16

I. Background in Matthew

Ch 3 begins the narrative of Jesus’ ministry.

Ch3-7:29 à Proclamation of the Kingdom of Heaven, ending with the Sermon on the Mount – how people should live under the reign of the Almighty

Ch 8-11:1 à Ministry in Galilee, instructions to disciples for their ministry

Ch 11:2-13:52 à controversial events involving Jesus; 7 parables describing some aspect of the Kingdom of heaven coupled with necessary human response (we will get into these around Jan 27^th)

Ch 13:53-18:35 à concerns the conduct of believers within Christian fellowship

Ch19-25:26 à final journey to Jerusalem and conflict with Judaism; the last things, events/teachings pertaining to the Crucifixion, Resurrection, Commission to the church

The Kingdom of Heaven

Matthew 5 – beatitudes

Poor in Spirit: recognizing spiritual poverty, denying self-dependence, seeking God’s grace

Those who mourn: including those who experience sorrow for repentance – they will be comforted

Meek:  controlled strength; humility and self-discipline

Persecution: because of loyalty to righteousness – great is your reward in heaven.

Christ Fulfills the Law – 5:17-20

            - Christ came to fulfill the law, to be preserved as He interprets it: Jot and tittle signifying small marks that distinguish letters in the Greek/Hebrew alphabet.  v20 – the Kingdom requirement is righteousness at heart – not by legalism

The Narrow Way – 7:13,14

            - Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. Jesus is the way to salvation and righteousness.

Purpose of Parables – 13:10-17

            - make spiritual truths clearer to hearers; put truth in form easily remembered; avoid offense with hostile peple who would not receive the truth; declare judgment upon those who were willfully blind

            -followers of Jesus will understand or will probe for deeper understanding.  Those who have shut their eyes/ears to the truth will not realize the significance of what they are seeing and hearing, consequently will not repent and receive forgiveness.

We pick up in 19:23 that leads up to 20:1-16

1. Who is the audience?

            -Disciples; it grows out of the attitude they had toward service and rewards.  Jesus rebukes the spirit of serving for a reward itself rather than out of love

            -What is 19:23,24 saying? – trust in riches over God makes it impossible to enter heaven

            .

2. What are the points of reference?

            -Landowner: God

            -hirees: Jews, Gentiles

            -vineyard: Kingdom, the work to be done

            -days wage: Denarius, the reward

            -the Marketplace: the world

3. What is the meaning to each potential audience?

            -landowner: decides how to manage his land, the worth of a days wage, who to hire/fire

            -hirees: at the mercy of the landowner, do not own the land, awaiting for work

                        -what are their complaints?

                        -how does the landowner respond?

                        -what about those who are hired later?

                                    -what are their two states? Idle  vs hired/diligent

            -vineyard: the kingdom, the work zone, mission field, etc

            -days wage: the reward, is it out of debt? does he reward obedience and effort?

4. How can we tell this parable in our own words?       

            -parallel the reward to eternal life: those who acknowledge JC as Savior and confess sin, follow Him receive eternal life; however, ones who on their death bed who acknowledge JC as Savior and confess sin receive eternal life.  

5. How can we see the gospel/kingdom at work in this parable?

            -the hirees were handpicked…chosen

            -they had their reward coming – their inheritance, if you will

            1. Jews were called first – they had the law

            2. The gentiles heard the gospel later – they should receive the same gospel, same reward, equal privileges in the kingdom

            3. the reward is given to SAINTS, believers not by their work or the timing of their conversion (it’s not who you know) but it’s the reward of salvation

            4. We all were idle in the market, unhired, awaiting for something to happen.  Jesus came, with life and salvation and now God calls us to eternal life – he calls us out of the marketplace

           

6. How do these ideas apply to our lives/marriages?

    - Love is the theme – God’s love.  His grace.  Salvation.  It is not by our work, but by His grace.  Not by what good we do, but by the goodness of His love.  How deep can we get to this?

Love and Marriage Conference

You're Invited!!

Who? All nearly and newlyweds

What? The 11th annual Love and Marriage Weekend

Where? First Irving

When? Friday February 8th (6:30-8pm) AND Saturday February 9th (8:15am-12:15pm)

Why? To gain wisdom, get encouragement, and learn Biblical truths about marriage

The cost for the entire weekend is only $30 per couple. This covers two meals, childcare, and marriage enrichment!

*If you are getting married (or know a couple who is), this weekend also gives you a voucher for $60 off of the Texas marriage license fee.

Make sure to be praying about inviting someone that you know could use encouragement in their marriage- this is such a great opportunity!

Go here to register and find out more.

The Lost Sheep, Lost Coin, and Prodigal Son

I want to start by apologizing that things on here haven't been updated as regularly as I would like lately, but with 2 broken computers and traveling for the holidays, its been more difficult to get things posted! I promise that I will do better from now on :)

Here are the notes from ABF today!

Rolling Stone

January 13, 2013

Parables – The Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, and the Prodigal Son

The Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin – Matthew 18:10-14; Luke 15:3-10

·         Audience – Pharisees and scribes, tax collectors and sinners

·         Context – this parable is given by Christ in response to the Pharisees grumbling and complaint about Jesus’ time spent and meals shared with tax collectors and sinners. 

·         These stories are identical.  There is a precious coin or a single lamb that has been lost from among the others.  As a result, the shepherd and the woman go in search of it, and when they find it, they rejoice!

·         Jesus shares this parable to describe the response that is experienced by the angels in heaven over one lost sinner who repents.  There is great joy in heaven when what has been lost is found. 

·         I love that his words are “there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”  Knowing his target audience is the Pharisees, what could this have meant to them?

o        Isaiah 64:5-8

o        Psalm 51:16-17

The Prodigal Son – Luke 15:11-32

·         Same audience and context.

·         Two Sons:

o        Younger – takes his share of the property and squanders it in reckless living.

o        Older – faithfully serves the father and obeys all that he commands

·         The younger son reaches the end of himself in verse 16.  At this point he realizes his wrong and decides to return to his father and repent of his sin. 

·         Notice the incredibly gracious and merciful response from the Father:

o        Saw him and felt compassion

o        Ran to where he was, met him on the path, and embraced him

o        Put the best robe on him, a ring on his head, shoes on his feet

o        Prepared the fattened calf and celebrated

o        Read Zechariah 3:1-5

·         The response of the older son:

o        Angry and refused to go in to celebrate

o        His pride and hope was in the things HE HAD DONE for the father, not in the father himself

o        He felt deserving of and entitled to a greater reward than the younger son.  Sound familiar to the parable of the laborers in the vineyard?

o        We need to always remember that our works are not our hope for salvation.  When compared with Christ’s standard of perfection and holiness, our best day is “filthy garments.”  Sacrifices he desires not, but a broken and contrite heart, he will not despise. 

Let’s close by reading Isaiah 53.

Discussion:

1.       Which son are you?  Do you find yourself struggling with the same thing the older son did?

2.       Seeing the father’s response of grace and forgiveness, and even restoration to the younger son’s repentance is a great encouragement for us.  What implications does this have for us in our marriages when we face marital conflict or one or both spouses exhibits selfishness?

3.       What did the younger son have to do to earn his father’s affection?  What does this mean to you?  Hebrews 4:14-16

Luke 16:1-18

Here is the lesson from ABF this past Sunday, which was the last ABF before the new year! I hope you are all having a wonderful week so far :) God bless!

The Parables of Jesus

December 16, 2012

Rolling Stones

Parable of the Shrewd Manager – Luke 16:1-18

·         Vs. 8 – the master “commended” the dishonest manager because he had acted “Shrewdly.”

o   Shrewd – good at judging people or situations: showing or possessing intelligence, insight, and sound judgment, especially in business or politics; clever and accurate, crafty, tricky, disposed to artful and cunning practices, Characterized by keen awareness, sharp intelligence, and often a sense of the practical.

o   It is obvious why the dishonest manager’s actions in this parable would gain the favor of the debtors, but why the master?  In Christ’s day, it would have been forbidden in the Law to loan out money at interest, so many people got around this by overcharging for goods and services.  It is likely that this dishonest manager had dealt unfairly with the master’s debtors, and thus earned his favor when he corrected this injustice.

·         Vs. 9 – Use “worldly wealth” to gain “friends” for yourselves, so that when it is “gone”, you will be welcomed into “eternal” dwellings.

o   Verse 8 stated that nonbelievers are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than believers are.  In other words, they know how to use their position, authority, and resources to gain influence and favor from others.  If nonbelievers do this in a worldly context, we should be doing this to gain eternal treasure.  Do not confuse this by thinking you must use your worldly position, authority, and influence to gain favor or salvation from God, as this is a free gift of grace received through faith in Christ.  We should, however, use the things we have been entrusted with (time, resources, money, possessions) to gain rewards and treasures in heaven. 

§  I love that Christ uses the image of a master and a manager in this parable.  God is the master in this story; He is above all and in all, and everything that has been made has been made by Him, through Him, and for Him.  We are simply the managers of that which he has entrusted to us.  We are to deal shrewdly with the things given to us in this world, and use them to gain reward in heaven.

o   “He is no fool who gives that which he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”  - Jim Elliott

·         Vs. 10 -11 – Be faithful with little things, and you can be trusted with larger things.  We ought to be people that are marked with integrity in everything, both large and small.  What areas of your life may be lacking integrity? 

o   The cause of compromise often exists in financial gain.

·         Vs. 13 – You cannot serve both God and Money.

o   This is straight out of the commentary in my Life Application Bible.  I thought it was very good: “Money can easily take God’s place in your life.  It can become your master.  How can you tell if you are a slave to money?  Ask yourself: Do I think and worry about it frequently?  Do I give up doing what I should do or would like to do in order to make more money?  Do I spend a great deal of time caring for my possessions?  Is it hard for me to give money away?  Am I in debt?”

·         Vs. 14 – 15 – What is highly valued among men is detestable in God’s sight.

o   “The Lord does not look at the things man looks at.  Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)

o   The Pharisees did things with their money in order to be seen by others and praised for it.  They did not do the things they did out of a heart to honor and glorify God.  Understand that everything you have has been given by God and to be used for his purposes and His glory.

Parable of the Rich Man and the Beggar

·         The Pharisees believed, like many in our culture today, that material wealth was a sign of God’s approval or favor.  This is the prosperity gospel.   This parable would have been a shock to them as the man who was rich was cursed and the man who was a beggar was rewarded.  

·         Notice that it had nothing to do with the fact that the rich man was rich, but everything to do with the way he used his wealth.  The passage says that the man lived in luxury everyday while a man stood at his gate and waited for scraps from the rich man’s table.  The rich man acted selfishly and hardheartedly, and did not repent or care for the poor as Jesus commanded. 

·         I think it’s ironic that the man’s name in this parable was Lazarus.  This is not the same Lazarus that was raised from the dead by Christ, but the story of the parable involves him appearing to the rich man’s brothers after he died.

What I think is profound about these parables is that they are not really about the money itself, but the attitude of the heart toward the money and possessions that these men were entrusted with.  I think this should be a big eye opener for all of us.  As Americans, we are some of the most blessed and wealthy people in the world.  We need to take seriously God’s Word, and submit to the commands He has given us in the Scriptures.  Do not allow God’s blessing to terminate on yourself, but be good stewards of what He has entrusted you with, and deal selflessly with those around you, caring for the poor, the orphans, and the widows.  In closing, I’d like to read Philippians 3:7-14.

Discussion:

1.       Is it bad to have a lot of money or to have nice things?  Read 1 Timothy 5:8 and 1 John 2:15-17.  What is the balance in making sure we are providing well for our families and having a love for the things of this world? 

2.       What are some sources of accountability we can implement to make sure we do not get caught up in money, possessions, or the desires of this world? 

Party!

This is just reminder that tomorrow morning will be our last ABF until 2013 (so sad)! Come join us and bring some food to share with the class if you want! I apologize that I did not write the list down so I'm not sure who signed up to bring what, but hopefully you can remember what you're bringing :) 

Then at 2:30, we will all go to the Ledbetter's home to celebrate Christmas together. Bring your favorite finger foods and join us for a ton of fun. There will be a white elephant gift exchange, so for those who want to participate, bring a $5 gift for each spouse. We'll have one exchange for the girls and one for the guys. 

If you have any questions, let me know. Hope you can make it to one or the other tomorrow!