The Parable of the Weeds
(Matthew 13:24-30; 36-43)

I. Jesus Tells (Matthew 13:24-30)
A. A man and his enemy sow wheat and weeds together in a field. (Matthew 13:24-26)
B. Pulling up the weeds would harm the wheat. (Matthew 13:27-29)
C. Let both grow together until the harvest. (Matthew 13:30)

II. Jesus Explains (Matthew 13:36-43)
A. Identifying the elements in the parable. (Matthew 13:37-39)

1. The field is the world. (Matthew 28:19-20)
2. The two sowers are Jesus and the devil. (Genesis 3:1-7)
3. The good seed and bad seed are believers and unbelievers. (John 8:44; 1 John 5:19)4. The harvest and harvesters are the end of the age and angels. (Jeremiah 51:33; Hosea 6:11)
   B. The fate of believers and unbelievers. (Matthew 13:40-43)
4. God will weed out of his kingdom all evil and sin. (Revelation 21:23-27)
5. Unbelievers will be punished for their sin. (Revelation 20:11-15)
6. The righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. (Daniel 12:2-3; Revelation 22:3-5)

CONCLUSION:
1) Hear and understand the parable. (Matthew 13:43)
2) Repent of your sin and believe the gospel. (Mark 1:15)
3) Wait for God’s appointed time for judgment. (2 Peter 3:9)

The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast
(Matthew 13:31-35)

I. The Parable of the Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31-32)
A. God’s kingdom starts small. (Matthew 13:31; Luke 12:32; 1 Corinthians 1:26-29)
B. God’s kingdom will grow surprisingly large. (Matthew 13:32; Ezekiel 17:23; 31:6; Daniel 4:12)

II. The Parable of the Yeast (Matthew 13:33)
A. God’s kingdom remains hidden at first. (Matthew 13:33a)
B. God’s kingdom will spread through the whole earth. (Matthew 13:33b; 5:13; 6:10)

III. Teaching the Crowds with Parables (Matthew 13:34-35)
A. Jesus used simple stories to teach about the kingdom. (Matthew 13:34)
B. In doing so He fulfilled Old Testament prophecy. (Matthew 13:35; Psalm 78:2)

The Parable of the Sower
(Mathew 13:1-23)

I. Jesus Tells (Matthew 13:1-9)
A. Jesus teaches in parables. (Matthew 13:1-3)
B. Jesus describes four places where the seed fell.

1. “along the path” (Matthew 13:3-4)
2. “on rocky places” (Matthew 13:5-6)
3. “among thorns” (Matthew 13:7)
4. “on good soil” (Matthew 13:8)
   C. Jesus exhorts the crowd to hear. (Matthew 13:9)

II. The Disciples Ask (Matthew 13:10-17; Isaiah 6:9-10)

III. Jesus Explains (Matthew 13:18-23)
A. The seed represents the Word of God. (Matthew 13:18-19)
B. The first three soils represent three hindrances to the gospel.

1. Satan (Matthew 13:19; 2 Corinthians 4:4; 1 Peter 5:8)
2. A false profession of faith (Matthew 13:20-21; Romans 10:9; 1 Corinthians 2:14; Colossians 2:6-7)
3. A worldly focus (Matthew 13:22; Proverbs 30:8-9; Matthew 6:21; 1 Timothy 6:9-10)
   C. The good soil represents the growing believer (Matthew 13:23)

CONCLUSION:
1) Be careful how you hear.
2) Sow God’s Word wisely.
3) Be assured of the harvest.

Death Defeated (Hebrews 2:14-15)

1) Fear of the process: Jesus is with you (Psalm 23:4)

2) Fear of non-existence: You will be alive and well (John 11:25-26)

3) Fear of bodily decay: You will receive a new body (Philippians 3:21; 1 Corinthians 15:51-54)

4) Fear of loss: To live is Christ and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21)

5) Fear of punishment: There is no condemnation for those in Christ (Romans 8:1)

6) Fear of leaving loved ones behind: We will be together (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)

7) Fear of the unknown: Heaven will be perfect in every way (1 Corinthians 2:9; Revelation 21:1-4)

CONCLUSION
1) Where did I come from?
2) Where am I going?
3) What happens when I get there?

Cover Story (Matthew 28:11-15)

I. Cover Story #1 – The disciples stole the body.

II. Cover Story #2 – The religious leaders moved the body.

III. Cover Story #3 – They went to the wrong tomb.

IV. Cover Story #4 – Jesus didn’t really die.

V. Cover Story #5 – The disciples were hallucinating.

VI. What’s your cover story? (Romans 10:9)

The Rocks Cry Out
(Luke 19:28-40)

I. God is Worthy of Praise (Luke 19:37)
A. God created all things for his glory. (Revelation 4:11)
B. Our greatest joy is found in praising Him. (Psalm 100:1-3)

II. Our Praise Should Focus on Jesus (Luke 19:38)
A. Jesus is the king who comes in the name of the Lord. (Psalm 118:24-26)
B. Jesus’ death brings peace in heaven and earth. (Luke 2:14; Revelation 5:9,12)

III. God Is Praised through Jesus (Luke 19:39-40; Psalm 114:6; Colossians 1:16; Isaiah 55:12)
A. God will not give his glory to another. (Isaiah 42:8)
B. Jesus shares God’s glory; therefore, He is God. (John 17:1-5)
C. Every knee will bow and tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. (Philippians 2:9-11)

Man of Sorrows
(Luke 19:28-40)

I. Jesus Christ’s Incarnation (Isaiah 53:1-2; John 1:10; Romans 5:8; Philippians 2:5-7)

II. Jesus Christ’s Sufferings (Isaiah 53:3-4; Matthew 8:20, 26:68; Hebrews 4:15)

III. Jesus Christ’s Sacrifice for Our Sins (Isaiah 53:5-6; Matthew 27:46; John 3:16; Romans 5:12)

The End of the Journey or Just the Beginning?
(Luke 19:11-27)

I. Introducing the Main Characters
A. The King (Luke 19:12)
B. The Servants (Luke 19:13)
C. The Subjects (Luke 19:14)

II. Identifying the Main Characters
A. The King = Jesus
B. The Servants = Those who profess to be Christians
C. The Subjects = Unbelievers

III. Five Lessons to Learn
A. Jesus will return as King over all. (Luke 19:15a)
B. When Jesus returns there will be an accounting. (Luke 19:15b)
C. The greater your faithfulness to Jesus, the greater your reward. (Luke 19:16-19)
D. A true believer will yield spiritual fruit in their life. (Luke 19:20-26)
E. Those who do not submit to Jesus will be condemned. (Luke 19:27)

Traffic and Tears on the Journey to Jerusalem
(Luke 13:31-35)

I. Walk Strong in the Path of Discipleship
A. Don’t let others set your agenda (Matthew 13:31; Matthew 16:22-23)
B. Don’t be afraid to confront evil. (Luke 13:32; Psalm 2:1-6)
C. Follow God’s calling wherever He leads. (Luke 13:33)

II. Have Compassion for the Lost
A. God longs for lost people to come to Him. (Luke 13:34; Psalm 17:8, 61:4; Matthew 5:44; 2 Peter 3:9)
B. Those who reject Christ will face God’s judgment and wrath for sin. (Luke 13:35a; 19:41-44)
C. One day all will acknowledge Jesus is Lord. (Luke 13:35b; Ezekiel 33:11; Romans 11:25-26; Philippians 2:10-11)

Rest Stop on the Journey to Jerusalem
(Luke 10:38-42)

I. We must take time to listen to Christ. (Luke 10:38-39; Acts 22:3)

II. We must beware of distractions. (Luke 10:40; 1 Peter 5:7)

III. We must choose the one thing that is needed. (Luke 10:41-42; Psalm 73:26)