Central Baptist Church
Parables: Truth Hidden in Plain Sight (The Kingdom)
Service and sermon notes for October 16th services at Central Baptist Church in Bowie, TX.
Locations & Times
Central Baptist Church
710 W Wise St, Bowie, TX 76230, USA
Sunday 10:45 AM
Order of Service
Blessed Be Your Name
Announcements/Welcome
Cornerstone
Oceans
Worshipt With Tithes & Offerings
It Is Well With My Soul
Message - Pastor Rocky
Announcements/Welcome
Cornerstone
Oceans
Worshipt With Tithes & Offerings
It Is Well With My Soul
Message - Pastor Rocky
Introduction:
Jesus was the master storyteller. There was no biblical truth so complex that He couldn’t give it new depth and insight through the telling of a simple story…through the telling of a parable. And that is what Jesus used to teach the people.
Why did Jesus use parables? He used parables to reveal truth and to hide truth (see Matthew 13:10-17). The revealed previously hidden truth to those with ears to hear and eyes to see (open hearts and open minds). But to those who closed themselves off to truth (blind), they hid truth.
Ultimately, parables were truth hidden in plain sight.
Jesus was the master storyteller. There was no biblical truth so complex that He couldn’t give it new depth and insight through the telling of a simple story…through the telling of a parable. And that is what Jesus used to teach the people.
Why did Jesus use parables? He used parables to reveal truth and to hide truth (see Matthew 13:10-17). The revealed previously hidden truth to those with ears to hear and eyes to see (open hearts and open minds). But to those who closed themselves off to truth (blind), they hid truth.
Ultimately, parables were truth hidden in plain sight.
THE KINGDOM OF GOD
What is the kingdom of God?
It is something that Christians are a part of and something that we are waiting for. And it’s something different than the church.
So the kingdom of God is present in this world through believers, but right now it is a spiritual dominion, not something earthly. Jesus described the current state of the kingdom as intangible and invisible: “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you” (Luke 17:20-21).
But,this isn’t the final expression of His kingdom. There is a time when what is invisible will be visible…when we will say “Here it is!” At the second coming of Christ, His kingdom will be fully established.
That's what Jesus is talking about in this parable.
What is the kingdom of God?
It is something that Christians are a part of and something that we are waiting for. And it’s something different than the church.
So the kingdom of God is present in this world through believers, but right now it is a spiritual dominion, not something earthly. Jesus described the current state of the kingdom as intangible and invisible: “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you” (Luke 17:20-21).
But,this isn’t the final expression of His kingdom. There is a time when what is invisible will be visible…when we will say “Here it is!” At the second coming of Christ, His kingdom will be fully established.
That's what Jesus is talking about in this parable.
The smallest mustard seeds are around 1/10th of an inch in diameter. But unlike other herbs, the mustard in Eastern climates does grow into a tree.
Like the mustard seed, small and seemingly insignificant in it’s beginnings, so the kingdom of God was small and seemingly insignificant in its beginnings.
Like the mustard seed, small and seemingly insignificant in it’s beginnings, so the kingdom of God was small and seemingly insignificant in its beginnings.
Like the mustard seed, the Kingdom of God, once planted, was to grow and greatly increase.
Beginning in Jerusalem, the Kingdom of God began to sprout branches as the gospel began to make it’s way around the world. And it continued to grow as its branches reached through history and the gospel changed hearts and lives. It continued on…and continues on…still growing.
Beginning in Jerusalem, the Kingdom of God began to sprout branches as the gospel began to make it’s way around the world. And it continued to grow as its branches reached through history and the gospel changed hearts and lives. It continued on…and continues on…still growing.
As that mustard seed started off small and became the largest of all the herbs…so the Kingdom of God started out as but a small seed but will be established as the greatest Kingdom to have ever been.
What do we see in this parable that we can take away for our lives today?
1. We see RESPONSIBILITY.
a. We are to invest in the kingdom of God.
b. We are to build up the kingdom of God.
2. We see ENCOURAGMENT.
Nothing we do in investing in the kingdom of God is insignificant. Eventually it will produce amazing results for the kingdom.
3. We see HOPE.
As believers in Christ—citizens of God’s Kingdom—we set our eyes on the hope that we have in Jesus and hope that we have in the Kingdom to come.
1. We see RESPONSIBILITY.
a. We are to invest in the kingdom of God.
b. We are to build up the kingdom of God.
2. We see ENCOURAGMENT.
Nothing we do in investing in the kingdom of God is insignificant. Eventually it will produce amazing results for the kingdom.
3. We see HOPE.
As believers in Christ—citizens of God’s Kingdom—we set our eyes on the hope that we have in Jesus and hope that we have in the Kingdom to come.