Archive for the ‘Parable’ Tag
The Wicked Tenants!
Filed under: Bible, By David Stonesifer, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Faith, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, God's love, good news, Gospel, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, Humor, identity in Christ, Inclusion, Jesus Christ, Love, Ministry, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, On Mission with Christ, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Perichoresis, Prayer, relationship with God, Relationships, Sermons, Song, The Church, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, The Gospel Project, The Holy Spirit, The Plan of Adoption, Timothy Brassell, Trinity, Uncategorized, union, Union In Christ, Union with Christ, Witness, Witnessing to God, Witnessing to Jesus, Worship, Worshiping God, Worshipping Jesus | Tags: commands, God's Calling, God's Faithfulness, God's goodness, God's Grace, God's Guidance, God's Holiness, God's love, God's Mercy, God's Power, God's Unconditional Love, Goodness, Grace, Grace Communion Baltimore, Holiness, Humble, Humility, Judgement, Love, Matthew 21, Matthew 21:33-46, Mission, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life in Christ, Parable, Parable of Jesus, Parables, Rebellion, Religion, Religiosity, Religious Observance, repentance, responsibility, Salvation, Seeking The Lost, Self-righteousness, Sin, Sinners, Stewards, Stewardship, the parable of the wicked tenants, Timothy Brassell, Timothy Brassell of New Life Fellowship, Trust, Unconditional Love, warnings
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Part 1a: 19min
Part 1b: 21min
Full Message:
Main Passage: Matthew 21:33-46
“One of Jesus’ most famous parables about judgment was the parable of the wicked tenants. In this story we see the privilege and responsibility that comes with God’s calling on our lives. We also see the grace of God in His warnings to sinners and the judgment of God in His retribution toward those who reject His Son. This parable’s stark imagery reminds us that we are called to bear the fruit of repentance and mission and thus fulfill our purpose as God’s people.” -The Gospel Project
Theological Theme:
Judgment comes on those who reject the commands, warnings, and Christ, The Son of God- [Father, Son, and Holy Spirit].
Christ Connection:
Jesus’ parable of the wicked tenants is one of the clearest denunciations of the religious leaders in His day. The story implies that God is the vineyard owner, Jesus is the owner’s son, and the religious leaders are the ones who have rejected God’s Word. Applying Psalm 118 to Himself, Jesus saw Himself as the cornerstone—the person in whom God’s judgment and salvation come together.
Missional Application:
God, through His Holy Spirit, calls us to bear the fruit of repentance and mission, fulfilling our purpose as His people.
“Jesus teaches that seemingly endless patience of God is extended toward those who oppose him. But when this patience ends at the rejection of his Son, God’s swift retribution is sure to follow.” –Simon J. Kistemaker
“The portrait of a mild Jesus who spoke only of grace and never of judgment is a figment of the imagination. We serve a Savior whose scandalous grace was matched with the ferocious roar of judgment. In this parable, we see a glimpse of God’s patience but also His swift retribution. Let this story from Jesus shock your senses and lead you to see yourself as a steward of His blessings” -The Gospel Project
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The Father Of Two Lost Sons!
Filed under: by Tony Marra, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Evangelism, Faith, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, God's love, good news, Gospel, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, identity in Christ, Jesus Christ, Love, Ministry, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, On Mission with Christ, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Perichoresis, Prayer, relationship with God, Relationships, Scripture Paraphrases, Sermons, Song, The Church, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, The Gospel Project, The Holy Spirit, The Plan of Adoption, Timothy Brassell, Trinity, Uncategorized, union, Union In Christ, Union with Christ, Witness, Witnessing to God, Witnessing to Jesus, Worship, Worshiping God, Worshipping Jesus | Tags: Celebration, Faith, Faithfulness, Fatherly Love, God's Faithfulness, God's goodness, God's Grace, God's Guidance, God's Holiness, God's love, God's Mercy, God's Power, God's Unconditional Love, Goodness, Grace, Grace Communion Baltimore, Holiness, Humble, Humility, Love, Luke, Luke 15: 11-32, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life in Christ, Parable, Parable of Jesus, Parables, Rebellion, Religion, Religiosity, Religious Observance, repentance, Seeking The Lost, Self-righteousness, Sin, Sinners, Timothy Brassell, Timothy Brassell of New Life Fellowship, Unconditional Love
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Part 1a: 23 min
Part 1b: 18 min
Full Message:
Main Passage: Luke 15:11-32
“Jesus told a famous parable of a loving father with two lost sons. In the characters’ attitudes and actions, we see a picture of human sinfulness, the grace-filled posture of God, and the deadliness of self-righteousness. Like the original listeners of this parable, we are called not to resent God’s grace but to celebrate God’s goodness in embracing any sinner who repents. ” – The Gospel Project
Theological Theme:
God- Father, Son, and Spirit, rejoices whenever a sinner returns to Him in repentance.
Christ Connection:
The Pharisees and scribes criticized Jesus for His practice of welcoming and dining with sinners. The stories He told in response to their criticism focused on God’s joy over sinners coming to repentance. The God who seeks and saves the lost is Jesus, the Savior whose search-and-rescue mission is accomplished at great personal cost to Himself.
Missional Application:
God, through His Holy Spirit, calls us not to resent His grace toward others but to celebrate the Father’s goodness in welcoming any repentant sinner home.
“A banquet of great joy is provided by this waiting [Father], who is none other than the waiting, running, embracing, partying, and kissing God. The parable describes God’s goodness, grace, boundless mercy and abundant love.” –Paul John Isaak
“Whoever departs from the Word of God hungers… Whoever leaves treasure lacks. Whoever departs from wisdom is stupefied. Whoever departs from virtue is destroyed. It was fitting that he begin to be in need, because he abandoned the treasures of wisdom and the knowledge of God.” –Ambrose (circa 339-397)
Photo Compliments: Yesterday’s Prophecy, Today’s News
The Sower And The Soils!
Filed under: Bible, By Richard Andrews, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Evangelism, Faith, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, God's love, good news, Gospel, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, identity in Christ, Inclusion, Jesus Christ, Love, Ministry, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Perichoresis, Prayer, relationship with God, Relationships, Sermons, The Church, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, The Gospel Project, The Holy Spirit, The Plan of Adoption, Timothy Brassell, Uncategorized, union, Union In Christ, Union with Christ, Witnessing to God, Witnessing to Jesus, Worship, Worshiping God, Worshipping Jesus | Tags: Faith, Faithfulness, Fruit of the Spirit, Fruitfulness, God's Faithfulness, God's goodness, God's Grace, God's Guidance, God's Holiness, God's Power, Good Works, Goodness, Grace, Grace Communion Baltimore, Holiness, Jesus' Parable, Jesus' Parables, Mark 4, Mark 4: 1-9, Mark 4: 14-20, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life in Christ, Parable, Sower and the Soils, Timothy Brassell, Timothy Brassell of New Life Fellowship
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Full Message:
Main Passages: Mark 4:1-9, 14-20
“Jesus taught His disciples about how God’s kingdom actually comes. Jesus’ message is spread liberally, like the casting of seed by a sower, but people’s responses are not determined by the content of the message but by the condition of their hearts. Jesus’ parable of the sower and the soils helps us understand why, as we share the gospel, some people respond in faith and others do not.” – The Gospel Project
Theological Theme:
People respond in different ways to the message of the gospel of God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
Christ Connection:
Jesus is the Sower who scattered the seed (God’s Word) through His ministry on earth. Today, He continues to proclaim the gospel through His disciples, and the gospel continues to bear fruit among those who receive the message.
Missional Application:
God, through His Holy Spirit, calls us to sow the seed of His Word with reckless abandon, trusting that the Lord of the harvest will bring fruit from the gospel.
“I would put it to you, my dear hearer, have you been fruitful? Have you been fruitful with your wealth? Have you been fruitful with your talent? Have you been fruitful with your time? What are you doing for Jesus now? Salvation is not by doings, you are saved by grace, but if you are so saved, prove it by your devoted life. Consecrate yourself anew this day wholly to your Master’s service. You are not your own, but bought with a price, and if you would not be like these thorn-choked seeds, live while you live, with all-consuming zeal.” –Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892)
“The seed of God’s Word does not bounce off the surface of this heart. It does not momentarily flourish only to shrivel under adversity. It is not divided by its competing desires and strangled. It is a heart that allows God’s Word to take deep root in it. It produces first a harvest of character: ‘But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law’ (Gal. 5:22-23). Then it produces a harvest of good works (Eph. 2:10).” –R. Kent Hughes
Photo Compliments: 1BCC
Trinity and Humanity 