mySundaySermons

13:31 He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; 13:32 it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”

The MUSTARD SEED, does not look like a likely source for what it can become.

• Surely there are times that you seemed like the least likely person for the job, yet through your willingness to serve, lead or follow,  you became an essential player.

• Think of every ‘team’ illustration that any coach has ever shared to inspire his or her team and it is the mustard seed story: One small part becomes the anchor for greatness.

13:33 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.”

The YEAST is the active agent.. that gives life, strength, and volume to the bread.

Yeast is actually something rotten.  Betty’s batter is better because she used butter that was better, but without yeast, it will not be a cake: Yeast effects the whole mix.

13:44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

Recognizing the OPPORTUNITY that is not seen in the price of the investment.

If you look into the rear view mirror of your life, how clearly can you see time where you missed opportunities for relationship, wealth, education, success and for a hundred good reasons you could not or would not see that obvious opportunity.

Don’t be too hard on ourselves, some folks are not always very observant and others are looking for conditions to be so perfect they never take any risk at all.

Seriously, we do need to be hard at encouraging each other to seize the day, the deal and the life God has for us all.

13:45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; 13:46 on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.

When we have AWARENESS OF SPIRITUAL VALUE, we begin to see the financial worth of investing in our Spiritual Wealth

Fine Pearls: If you have never bought your wife pearls you need leave worship and go find some today. If you have pearls and you don’t wear them because you are saving them for a perfect occasion, everyday is a great occasion.  If you can’t afford pearls, you best become one..

Pearls are such a wonder. It starts as a piece of dirt that becomes an irritation. Layers of protective plaque build over time as a barrier to keep the grain of sand from destroying the strong muscle of the oyster.

Finding someone who will take you with all your dirt and simple irritations and build around you with love and acceptance is a treasure you need not squander with pride, wealth or fear.

13:47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; 13:48 when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad.

Two points to this parable:

Imagine how many species of fish there are in the sea. Not just tuna, sea bass, and grouper, snapper, sword, dolphin, Pollack, whiting, marlin, whahoo, flounder, cod, scrod, salmon, haddock, perch… but all the others. Heaven will not be lily white.

Secondly, there good will come with the bad in the net. Many will come, few will be choosen. The TREASURE come with DROSS. Our task is to continually separate what is Good or Bad. Our investment is not an automated choice that cares for itself, it is culling out the good and bad out of the opportunity.

13:49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous 13:50 and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 13:51 “Have you understood all this?” They answered, “Yes.” 13:52 And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”

Do we actually understand?  Do we know what heaven is all about.

It is a place, but it is more… it is a relationship, in which we are invite to live starting today, actually starting the day Jesus arose from the dead.. and opened the state of, the relation of heaven up to us.

Think back to the collection of these parable teachings.

One small part becomes the anchor for greatness.

Yeast effects the whole mix.

Encourage each other to seize the day and the deal

Finding someone who will take you with all your dirt and simple irritations and build around you with love and acceptance is a treasure you need not squander with pride, wealth or fear.

Heaven will not be lily white.

Many will come, few will be chosen.

Heaven: Knowing the Weeds from the Flowers

Recognizing what is our soul’s treasure is Gardening NOW, to become the color-full, rich, chosen..

Are we continually choosing the Spiritual Flowers while we stand in the weeds. Let’s get working.