Serving Out of Compassion: The Divine Invitation
Compassion and the feeding of the 5000.
Speaker: Michael Catlett
The Subversive Kingdom
Jesus’ parable of the mustard seed uses a very provocative symbol. He uses a symbol of shame. A mustard bush is closer to that of a weed than it is to wheat. Why?
Matthew 13:3-9; Matthew 13:24-33; Matthew 13:44-48
Speaker: Mike Steele
The Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds
In the thirteenth chapter of Matthew, Jesus teaches us in parables about what he called, “the kingdom of heaven.” He has told his disciples that the kingdom has come near — that God’s reign has broken in to this time and space. So, maybe it would be natural for them (and us) to ask, “If the kingdom is here, why is there still evil in the world?” In telling the Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds, Jesus addresses this issue.
Matthew 13:24-30; Matthew 13:36-43
Speaker: Wayne Cox
Parables: Why?
Sometimes, it seems like Jesus’ greatest desire is not to pass out the right answers but rather to prick the imagination and to tease out even more questions. Surely, Jesus could have found a more effective mode of explaining his message … unless explaining was not his chief goal.
Text: Matthew 13:1-23
Speaker: Wayne Cox
Palm Sunday 2011
In the celebration of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, there is an unmistakable political statement being made. Jesus is King, and Caesar is not!
When Christians confess, “Jesus is Lord,” we are saying, “The position has been filled, fully and forever — no other candidates need apply.” Jesus, and not any earthly ruler, nor any power or principality, is Lord of all that is. This is the story of Palm Sunday. Anything that would vie for our allegiance — whether it’s entertainment, family, money, patriotism, or self! – must be seen as a usurper to God’s rightful reign in our lives.
Text: Matthew 21:1-11
Speaker: Wayne Cox
Because You Know Me
All debating aside, it’s life-changing when you figure out Jesus knows you personally.
Text: John 4: 1-42
Speaker: Craig Catlett
Sermon on the Mount, Part 6: Escaping the Tyranny of ‘More’
In the Sermon so far, Jesus has defined righteousness spiritually in the Beautitudes, socially in the commands we looked at the past couple of weeks, and now he defines righteousness economically.
Following Jesus gives disciples the power to have a completely new relationship to money and property.
Text: Matthew 6:19-34
Speaker: Wayne Cox
