Watching and Waiting: Parables About Discipleship

The “Olivet Discourse” is a conversation recorded in the Gospel of Matthew between Jesus and his disciples on the Mount of Olives just before his final days. They ask him, “[W]hat will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age.” [Matthew 24:3] Three parables in this section all are linked together, and each deals with what is expected of Christians while Jesus is away from the world.

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The Parable of the Sower

The Parable of the Sower is the first parable in the synoptic Gospels, making it one of the few that Jesus actually explains. As we examine it, we learn that God the Father is a gracious sower of his seed, willing to share his word generously and without regard for cost. Jesus is the the seed, or the word, and in him is life. The four soils are the various conditions of our heart. Jesus gives us insight into the kingdom of heaven by reflecting upon the Sower, the Seed, and the Soil.

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Jesus and the Parables

Jesus said, “I will open my mouth to speak in parables; I will proclaim what has been hidden from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 13:34-35).  What is a parable and why did Jesus speak using them?  In this lesson, we kick off a series on parables by looking at The Parable of the Weeds.

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The Meaning of Pentecost

Pentecost is an overlooked but important day in the church calendar.  It signifies the day when the Holy Spirit began to live within us, guiding us in Truth, and teaching and reminding us of all that Jesus had to say.  Why did God send the Holy Spirit on this particular day and what does it mean for us?

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Redeeming Ruth Part 2

The book of Ruth offers an intriguing view into the historical and spiritual meaning of redemption.  This is the second of two lessons on the book of Ruth.

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Redeeming Ruth Part 1

The book of Ruth offers a tremendous example of loving another at the cost of everything else.  Taken as a parable, the story highlights the grace, faithfulness, and redeeming love of God our Father in heaven.  This is the first of two lessons on the book of Ruth.

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Psalm 22

In his final moments of life, Jesus cried out from the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”  These seemingly strange words actually come from Psalm 22, which begins with a lament and ends with praise for God.  The Psalm encapsulates the essence of our faith.

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