Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction:

a) reveal the mysteries of the kingdom & Fulfill prophecy from Isaiah

It is easy to become distracted and forget what you were supposed to be doing.

It happens at work, someone comes in and the next thing you know you’re working on something else.

You have a plan for your life and it gets sidetracked.

2) Painting word pictures.

How do you describe something to someone…?

"stay the course" allegedly originated as a nautical metaphor on maintaining a constant, unaltering course while navigating.

For instance, in a 2003 column, William Safire asked his readers what they knew of its origins, saying it "appears to be rooted in a nautical metaphor."

In this context 'stay' refers to the ropes or guys and sheets that hold the 'course' (mainsail) in a fixed position appropriate to the heading.[2] Citations from the late 19th century, however, show the phrase describing horses having the stamina to remain on the course of a racetrack.[3][4]

Safire found the same, writing that the earliest such use found was for an 1873 rowing competition.

a) comparisons and use a lot of “like” statements.

Describe a scene

b) Jesus is describing the Kingdom.

Each para is part of the painting

Read the passage: 13:24-30, This passage explains the elements 36-43

Matthew 13:24-30

Outline:

Recent events – Stay the course in spite of opposition

Jesus sows His good seed into the world.

Christ is the sower – proclaiming the kingdom, 38- good seed are the sons of the kingdom.

The seeds of the church are being sown and they are meant to grow.

The mission is to make disciples

mission ; go and make disciples; that is how it grows.

Same mission as always, to be obedient image bearers.

d) Seeds expect a harvest that is sure to come.

J harvest=end of the age, when the church will be called out.

Until that day we are to be about the business of the church, the business of Jesus.

e) problem in the wheat field.

Not evident at first, but now you can see it.

Satan sows Weeds in Jesus’ field.

While the servants slept the evil one sowed his seeds and left.

Not uncommon, Roman law

Satan doesn’t sleep.

Always working to ruin God’s plan.

He sows seeds of evil and discontent and then leaves.

Doesn’t have to stay, damage is done.

Once first seeds are dropped, evil will multiply

Not evident at first.

Weeds were there; they just weren’t obvious at first.

i) how Satan works.

Starts small, inch at a time, then all of a sudden…

ii) Illustration - TV and media, from Ricky and Lucy to Sex in the City.

Big Question: How can there be weeds in the master’s field?

How can there be weeds in the master’s field?

“Didn’t you plant good seeds?”

“Didn’t you plant good seeds?”

Question implies something is wrong

with the sower or the seed.

“How can there be evil if Jesus is only sowing good?”

Theodicy

Simple answer is: The Enemy sowed it

v28.

Straight forward

i) Jesus makes it clear that Satan caused this to happen.

He is responsible for the evil.

tells us,

“Every good and perfect gift is from above.”

“Every good and perfect gift is from above.”

Everything God made was good.

God is not the author of evil, Satan is.

Everything God made was good.

God is not the author of evil, Satan is.

(1) Application - I’m doing the right things.

Everything I’m supposed to do.

I’m sowing good seeds.

How come bad things happen?

Evil one is trying to distract us, derail God’s plan; to keep us from the work of the kingdom.

Garden We have to stay focused.

It is not our job to remove the weeds.

V28 do you want us to gather them up?

No!

You would think YES, but here is the twist, not in the kingdom.

i) -rejected by the Samaritans, J&J “Do you want us to command fire…” “Did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.”

May damage the good.

(1) We are not capable of judging who is wheat and who is not.

God’s job.

We think we are.

(a) Over the centuries, how many people have been killed by the weeding out of heretics or others considered to be weeds?

Polycarp, Boniface, Jan Hus, Savonarola, William Tyndale, hundreds.

Westboro?

Looks different?

(2) Individually – not to judge or condemn, but to spread the light of Christ.(Sow

seed) judge not.

We become Pharisees if not careful

iii) If we can’t attack the enemy.

What do we do with the weeds?

Faithful servants keep to the master’s business.

The master will take care of the weeds.

(2) Satan’s ploy is to distract us and keep us from fulfilling our mission.

We have to stay the course.

Especially true for this group!

Jesus gave his explanation to his closest followers.

He knew they were going to face opposition.

You can be guaranteed wherever you sow good, he will…

iv) Our job is to grow, because

because at maturity we should be distinguishable from the weeds.

At maturity, we should be distinguishable from the weeds.

(1) We are meant to be different, from the beginning.

Obedient image bearers, carrying the light of Christ into the world.