Crossway Christian Church Doug Wallaker

We have all heard the saying that “familiarity breeds contempt.” The more we get to know people, the more of their issues and problems you are privy to. The people of Nazareth have the same issue with Jesus. His teaching is immaculate, but they are too knowledgeable of his people, indeed they think, of him to trust him. Let us learn from their mistake today!

Treasures are lost and found every day. Many of us have stories of such losses; fewer have stories of such finds. And while we might not find great artwork under our mattresses, or buried in our backyards, we have placed before us the greatest treasure we could ever hope for in the Kingdom of Heaven. But what does it take to make it ours?

Parables are a rich way to teach the truths of the Kingdom to all. Memorable and illustrative, they nevertheless provide a good deal of material for us to think through. Today, Jesus gives us three parables to consider, focusing on how the Kingdom of God relates to the world. Let those who have ears to hear, hear!

Appetizers are designed to simply whet the appetite for the real entrée. Often, though, we make full meals out of them. Last week we looked at the nature of the parables as something of an appetizer for them. While it was a full meal, it is hoped that meal simply made us hungrier for the rest! Today, we start by looking at the parable of parables, the parable of the sower.

The Gospels, as pictures of the life of Christ, run in a general chronological pattern. From his birth to the beginning of his ministry, to the triumphal entry and the eventual and fateful crucifixion and resurrection, the main timeline is kept intact. But the individual events are often compiled for the author’s own reason, as Matthew has done in his 13th chapter. But why teach in parables, when Jesus was so capable of teaching in other methods which were clearer and more straight-forward? The disciples ask the same question of him, and we look at his answer today.

Paul has finished the main body of the letter, the vast majority of his exhortations, and did it with quite a flourish. The resurrection is important to us, theologically as well as personally. We who await a better place than this, who know of bitterness and sadness here, are justifiably excited about a new and better home. Yet, it does us little good to just look up at the sky. Paul reminds the Corinthians that there is yet work to do here on earth, and much of it imperfect and filled with hardship.