August 25, 2019 | Kyle Brenon | Matthew 13:44-46

Has there ever been anything that you have wanted so badly, something so valuable that you would give up everything in order to get it? It could be something material, like that car you have always wanted (1969 Dodge Charger) or your dream home by the lake. Perhaps it is something a little less tangible. Something you have always wanted to achieve, or a goal that you have been chasing for as long as you can remember? We can certainly get carried away in our pursuit of what we would consider “treasures” even though every treasure this world has to offer, always leaves us wanting.  There is something however worth far more than we could imagine. In Matthew 13 Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to a great treasure hidden in a field. A treasure so valuable that upon finding it, the man GLADLY sells everything he has in order to buy the field. What could possibly be that valuable? What could be of such worth that we would GLADLY give up everything we have in order to get it?                                                                         

Matthew 13:44-46

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.”

August 18, 2019 | Kyle Brenon | Luke 15:11-24

“There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.

“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate."

August 11, 2019 | Kyle Brenon | Matthew 13:24-43

24 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, 25 but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away.26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also.27 And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”’ ”31 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. 32 It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” 33 He told them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.” 34 All these things Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed, he said nothing to them without a parable. 35 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet: “I will open my mouth in parables;     I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world.” 36 Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” 37 He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one,39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40 Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, 42 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.

August 4, 2019 | Kyle Brenon | Matthew 13:1-9

This week we begin a new sermon series called “The Great Storyteller.” In Matthew 13:1-3 we find a large crowd has gathered around Jesus. As the crowd grows Jesus steps into a boat and sets out a little way from shore. From there as the crowd stands on the beach, Jesus begins "teaching them many things through parables.” This is not the only place in the gospels where we find Jesus teaching through parables. These are simple stories used to teach us NOT so simple truths. As we take a close look at the teachings of Jesus, we quickly see that he is not only a master teacher, but a master storyteller as well. Throughout this series we will be looking at the parables of Jesus and the “many things” he has to teach us through them. Matthew 13:9 “He who has ears, let him hear.”