Messages

James calls the tongue a restless evil. Proverbs shares both the good and the bad that can come with our words . This week we will explore them both.

Proverbs 1:7 begins with one premise…the Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. We live in a culture (Christian Culture included) where Jesus is our homeboy and God is my friend. We have lost a sense of awe and reverence of God. Everyone who ever encountered our Holy God and glorified Jesus had the same response…fall on their face. This series we are going to begin by recognizing his greatness knowing that will lead us to live wisely.

Today we unpack the parable of the lost sons in Luke 15, as we celebrate the life and freedom that God has brought us through the resurrection of His son Jesus.

Why wouldn’t everyone want to follow Jesus? Why wouldn’t everyone want to live forever in the kingdom of God? In this Parable Jesus helps us understand that while everyone is invited, only a few will actually participate in the wedding supper of the Lamb.

For many people, one of the most difficult things Jesus calls us to do is to forgive those who hurt us. In this parable, Jesus helps us to understand that forgiving others isn't a suggestion or even strongly recommended is it an essential part of being a follower of Jesus.

Have you ever heard a deathbed conversion story and part of you was sad or frustrated or angry at the thought? Grace is glorious when it is given to us. But often grace becomes offensive when it is offered to those we deem not worthy of it. In this parable Jesus reminds us that his grace is given freely to all who come to him.

In Matthew 13 we find four very short parables that teach us about the worth and value of Jesus as well as the ability of the Gospel to impact our whole lives…and the whole world.

Why doesn’t God get rid of the evil in the world now? In this parable Jesus helps us to understand why he has waited so long to destroy the evil in the world, and how it will be dealt with at the end of the age.

The sharing of the Gospel does not have the same effect on everyone. For some, it is immediately life-changing. For others, it is initially life-changing. For others, it has no impact at all. Is the problem with the gospel? According to Jesus, the problem is with the hearts of those who hear it. In this parable, Jesus explains why the gospel produces fruit in some people’s lives and not in others.

Jesus’ parables were not meant to be sermon illustrations or to bring clarity. Parables weren’t given to make the complex simple and more attainable. They were given to confuse and confound those who did not love and follow Jesus. But for those who do love him, who do have his mind through his spirit, the parables help us see the truth in new and profound ways.