Kingdom & Discipleship
The Parable of the Net
MATTHEW 13:47–50 47“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. 48When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. 49So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous 50and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be…
The Parable of the Hidden Treasure and the Parable of the Pearl of Great Value
MATTHEW 13:44–46 44“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 45Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” Two of the parables that Jesus told about the kingdom of heaven…
The Parable of the Mustard Seed and the Parable of the Leaven
MATTHEW 13:31–33 31He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. 32It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” 33He told them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that…
The Parable of the Weeds
MATTHEW 13:24 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field . . .” All of us have seen evil in the lives of people, in society, and in the world. We have also likely seen injustice take place, where evil is not punished or put in check. There is so much corruption in the lives of people and also in different spheres of society.…
The Parable of the Sower
MATTHEW 13:1–8 1That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 2And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. 4And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. 5Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they…
Carrying Out the Great Commission
MATTHEW 28:18–20 18And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Jesus used kingdom language when He said that all authority in…
Advancing God’s Kingdom through Discipleship
MATTHEW 28:18–20 18And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” The kingdom of God was the central message of Jesus’ ministry.…