Thoughts about Sunday's Message
Blogging through my mind as I craft my Sunday sermon.
Wednesday, March 27, 2024
Sunday, March 24, 2024
Saturday, March 23, 2024
Kingdom Treasure: Go Fish 3-24-24
Kingdom Treasure: Go Fish 3-24-24
INTRODUCTION
Week
one we learned that the Kingdom is worth any price, and that no matter what we
have to give up to live in relationship with Jesus, it is worth it.
Week
two we learned that God’s Kingdom starts small but grows to make a major impact
in the world around us.
Last
week we discovered that when the Kingdom of God is planted in the hearts of
faithful Christians, it takes root and produces a wonderful harvest in them and
through them.
Today
we are going to take a look at one more Kingdom treasure that helps us
experience the full life of God. The imagery that Jesus uses in this passage is
one that I love, because I love to fish.
FISHING
ROD
Illustration: One
of my favorite pastimes is to go fishing. My son loves to fish too.
When
you go fishing, you go with one goal in mind: to catch as many fish as
possible. I typically don’t care what kind of fish is taking my bait, just as
long as I am catching something. Usually, the key to successful fishing is
being in the right place at the right time. Making sure you are presenting
something that fish want is important as well. That is the way to catch as many
fish as possible.
I.
GOD WANTS US TO KNOW THAT HE IS A GOOD FISHERMAN
Jesus
gives one more parable explaining what the Kingdom of God is like in the book
of Matthew. There are multiple instances where Jesus is trying to give handles
for people to get their hands around what God’s work in the world is like and
how they can be a part of it. Once again, Jesus is speaking to a large group of
people, and here is what He said.
“Once
again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and
caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the
shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the
bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come
and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the blazing
furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Matthew 13:47-50 NIV
A.
God
uses a net (not a rod).
B.
God’s
net can catch many fish (unlike a rod).
C.
God’s
net requires many workers (unlike a rod).
1.
Teamwork
2.
Effort
of many
NET
Illustration: So,
a net looks like it is made up of one continuous piece of string that is woven
together to make a tool that can catch fish. However, a net is actually many
pieces of string or rope that are tied together to make a strong net for many
fish.
Story: City
Mission in metro Cleveland. Suburban
kids reaching out to inner city kids.
The
early church was diverse.
II.
GOD WANTS US TO FISH LIKE SOMEONE’S LIFE DEPENDS ON IT
Fishing
for a living v. Fishing for enjoyment
1.
Vocation
v. Hobby
2.
Necessity
v. Luxury
3.
Need
v. Want
Dr.
Daniel B. Wallace has taught Greek and New Testament courses on a graduate
school level since 1979. He wrote about this idea based on Matthew 4 “19 He
said to them, “Follow me, and I will turn you into fishers of people.” 20 They
left their nets immediately and followed him.” “It’s strange how we read the
Bible: we filter everything through our own worldview, our own culture, our own
life-setting. Then, when we discover that our perspective is not that of the
Bible’s, we resist the truth. This even happens over simple interpretive
issues—such as Jesus’ analogy of fishing. Even though passages like Matthew
4:18-22 are plain enough, we still often have blinders on our eyes. Many a
preacher has elaborated on the analogy along the lines of a fishing pole, reel,
line, and hook.”
The
church has forgotten how to fish with a net. We keep teaching evangelism in a
way that looks like fishing with a rod and reel so you only catch one at a
time. Dr. Daniel B. Wallace makes several points about net fishing and
evangelism:
• They
are both labor intensive
•
Greater focus on the work than the skill
• The
need for persistence and dedication to the task (often in spite of minimal
results)
• The
infinite value of the new “catch” (people)
A.
God
is patient.
”The
Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead
he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to
repentance.“
2
Peter 3:9 NIV
B.
God
is looking for fishers of men.
”As
Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called
Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they
were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish
for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.“
Matthew 4:18-20 NIV
C.
God
is calling us to work hard at our craft.
Rick
Palmer writes:
While
fishing in the dark in a very deep canyon can present very obvious problems it
can produce some unexpected experiences as well.
It
was a warm summer night about 2:00 AM, dark would be an understatement as the
moon was nonexistent at least in the bottom of our canyon. Trout was the target
in this midsize river. We were fishing in a pool below Rapids, at a bend in the
River. Our bait of choice, grasshoppers With a small split shot weight about 10
inches up the line. A short cast upstream With a natural drift was producing
very well. I decided to change it up a bit, Casting high and hard trying to
reach the rapids around the bend, however my line kept peeling from my spinning
reel. I closed the bail on the reel and my line pulled tight with my rod tip
pointing up toward the night sky. It seems a bat swooped down and caught the
grass hopper and was carrying it off.
You
never know what you might catch when you go fishing.
III.
GOD WANTS US TO BE THE NET
“Come
follow me.”
A.
We
are the net.
Mother
Theresa - “Joy is a net of love in which you can catch souls.”
B.
We
are to get our hands dirty.
C.
We
are the bait.
Illustration:
There once was a young salesman who was disappointed about losing a big sale,
and as he talked with his sales manager he lamented, "I guess it just
proves you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink." The
manager replied, "Son, take my advice: Your job is not to make him drink.
Your job is to make him thirsty." So it is with sharing our faith. Our
lives should be so filled with Christ that they create a thirst for the Gospel.
CONCLUSION
God
is a good fisherman. God
wants us to fish like someone’s life depends on it.
God
wants us to the be the net.
INVITATION
It
is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the
Word. You may want to
follow Jesus. You
may want to proclaim your faith.
You
may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things).
Perhaps
you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins and receive the gift
of the Holy Spirit. Possibly,
if you have already responded to God’s call in these ways, you would like to
become a member of Kenwood Church.
If
you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, you can
come forward now. If you
would like, I would be honored to speak with you following the service about
what God is doing in your life.
Wednesday, March 20, 2024
Sunday, March 17, 2024
Saturday, March 16, 2024
Kingdom Treasure: God Grows Things 3-17-24
Kingdom Treasure: God Grows Things 3-17-24
INTRODUCTION
The
Kingdom of God is like buried treasure.
The
Kingdom of God is like tiny yeast.
POTTED
PLANT
Illustration: On
stage with me today I have this plant. It is a pretty impressive plant,
actually. Vibrant green leaves. It is hard to believe that this plant began as
a small seed placed in the ground. Before it had roots, a stem, branches,
leaves, and fruit, it was nothing more than a tiny seed. It takes a lot of time
and patience to see this kind of growth take place. It takes the right kind of
soil and conditions to become a mature plant.
The
scripture we visit today has a lot to do with this plant that you see with me
on stage. Our next Kingdom treasure is found in a parable, or story, that Jesus
tells a group of people.
”He
told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which
a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds,
yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so
that the birds come and perch in its branches.”“
Matthew 13:31-32 NIV
A.
Mustard
seed
1.
1-2
millimeters
2.
Could
become a plant over 6 feet tall.
3.
Birds
could perch on the branches.
I.
THE KINGDOM IS A SEED
There
is actually another passage of scripture where Jesus tells another story about
seeds of the Kingdom.
”Then
he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his
seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds
came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil.
It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up,
the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other
seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed
fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times
what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.”“
Matthew 13:3-9 NIV
A.
Seeds
begin small.
Story: The
first church I served, Northside Christian Church, started with 35 people.
It
grew into a small church and remained small for about 10 years.
I
was blessed to serve there while the church grew some more, about 600 people
worshipped there each Lord’s Day by 1996.
Today
they number well over 1000 on any given Sunday.
They
are what they are today because of that seed of 35 people over 40 years ago.
B.
Seeds
have potential.
C.
Seeds
only reproduce what they are.
D.
Seeds
require the proper soil.
1.
The
hard path is not the proper soil.
2.
The
rocky places are not the proper soil.
3.
The
thorns are not the proper soil.
4.
Good
soil is the proper soil.
a.
100
times yield
b.
60
times yield
c.
30
times yield
II.
THE SEED IS THE GOSPEL SOWN INTO PEOPLE’S HEARTS
”“Listen
then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message
about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches
away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The
seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once
receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time.
When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.
The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the
worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it
unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the
word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a
hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”“
Matthew 13:18-23 NIV
BEAN
A.
The
seed must be sown to grow.
B.
The
soil must accept the seed to grow.
C.
Seeds
grow where they can.
Story: The
back of our yard was once a dog run under a bunch of pine trees.
Grass
would not grow back there. Many
years ago we put about 6 inches of wood chips back there.
Now
we have every type of weed that is looking for good soil growing there.
The
wood decayed and created a rich soil that seeds readily grow in.
III.
IT’S NOT A PROBLEM WITH THE SEED; IT’S A PROBLEM WITH THE
SOIL
A.
The
hard soil of the hard heart.
Story:
Several years back, my dad developed a sore on his foot because he could not
feel his feet. He is
6 foot 8 inches tall and does not fit well into a hospital bed.
Because
of his length, his feet rested on the foot board.
Due
to his neuropathy, he could not feel the sore developing on his foot.
The
lack of sensation kept him from perceiving the reality of his situation.
B.
The
rocky soil of the superficial heart.
Story:
Paula and I have the remnants of a pool deck in our back yard.
The
previous owners planted large shrubs on the back side of the deck.
Pavers
and rocks were put around the shrubs to keep weeds from growing.
When
we cut the shrubs down, we had to get all the pavers and rocks out of the area
so we could put in a new garden.
C.
The
thorny soil of the distracted heart.
Story: We
have wild black raspberries on our property.
I
believe they are a remnant of berries on our land from before it was developed.
We
have pulled them. We
have moved them. We
have given them away. They
are a problem because where they grow you cannot easily grow anything else.
They
will stick you. They
will entangle you. They
will make you spend your time on them instead of what you really want to grow.
D.
The
good soil of the receptive heart.
1.
Healthy
plants
2.
Good
yield
3.
Future
reproduction
Story: The
majority of my grandfather’s time farming was spent making sure the soil was
ready to receive the seed. It was spent making sure the ground was fertile.
Each year he would take the tractor and plow and disc and pull it through the
fields to break up the ground and turn it over to expose the fresh soil before
they would plant.
CONCLUSION
As
we close, I want you to reflect on two questions: First, what is the condition
of the soil in your life? Second, are you ready to turn to Jesus and let Him do
the necessary work in your life to help you position yourself in a place where
the Gospel seed can grow?
The
Kingdom is a seed. The
seed is the gospel sown into people’s lives.
When
seeds do not grow, it is a problem of the soil, not the seed.
INVITATION
It
is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the
Word. You may want to
follow Jesus. You
may want to proclaim your faith.
You
may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things).
Perhaps
you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins and receive the gift
of the Holy Spirit. Possibly,
if you have already responded to God’s call in these ways, you would like to
become a member of Kenwood Church.
If
you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, you can
come forward now. If you
would like, I would be honored to speak with you following the service about
what God is doing in your life.