The Parables of Jesus
The Parables of Jesus reveal the importance of entering God's Kingdom, paying the price for spiritual growth, loving God and man, and being faithful with God's gifts.
Zac Poonen preaches on various aspects of entering God's Kingdom, emphasizing the importance of good soil for spiritual growth, the need to be properly clothed with Christ's righteousness, and the significance of building our lives on a solid foundation of obedience. He also delves into the concept of paying the price in following Christ, highlighting the effortless growth that comes from following the Spirit's laws and the necessity of valuing Jesus above all else. Poonen addresses the themes of loving God and man, the danger of legalism, the different types of backsliders, spiritual pride, watching and praying, and being faithful with God's gifts.
Text
1. Entering God's Kingdom
1. Sower and seed (Mk.4:3-8;Lk.8:15) - 3 types of bad soil and 3 types of good soil (30,60 & 100)
2. Invitees to wedding feast (Mt.22:2-14) - Man refused to wear the freely-offered wedding-garment
3. Houses on rock and sand (Mt.7:24-27) - The importance of a good foundation - of obedience
2. Paying the Price
4. Seedtime to harvest (Mk.4:26-29) - Growth comes effortlessly, if we follow the laws of the Spirit
5. The mustard tree (Mt.13:31,32) - Artificial growth invites Satan's agents to settle in our midst
6. Building a tower (Lk.14:28-30) - "Disciple-making" (v.26,27,33) alone will complete the tower
7. Fighting the enemy (Lk.14:31,32) - The Lord can fight Satan with a few - if they're wholehearted
8. Hidden treasure (Mt.13:44) - We have to pay a price for some things in the Christian life
9. Pearl of great price (Mt.13:45,46) - We must value Jesus Himself over everything else
3. Loving God and Man
10. Two debtors (Lk.7:41-43) - Love for God comes from knowing how much we've been forgiven
11. Unforgiving servant (Mt.18:23-35) - We must forgive all others, because we've been forgiven much
12. Good Samaritan (Lk.10:30-37) - We must be alert to human need around us - in our home first of all
13. Sheep and goats (Mt.25:31-36) - The "righteous" helped their needy brothers and sisters
4. The Danger of Legalism
14. Two sons (Mt.21:28-31) - We must mean what we say to God - unlike the Pharisees
15. Blind leading the blind (Lk.6:39,40) - If we don't practice what we preach, we're spiritually blind
16. Wheat and tares (Mt.13:24-30) - The hypocrites look just like other believers - on the outside
17. Fig tree without figs (Lk.13:6-9) - Fig-leaves symbolize human righteousness - cursed by God
18. New cloth on old garment (Mt.9:16) - You can't put a patch of Jesus' life on to your Adamic life
19. New wine in old wineskins (Mt.9:17) - Grace (new wine) won't fit into the old religious system
20. Wise and foolish virgins (Mt.25:1-13) - Love for Jesus (oil) alone will make our light shine forever
5. Four Types of Backsliders
21. Lost sheep (Lk.15:3-7) - Some go astray through carelessness and lack of fellowship
22. Lost coin (Lk.15:8-10) - Some go astray through the failure and neglect of the church
23. Prodigal son & Elder son (Lk.15:11-32) - Some go astray through rebellion or spiritual arrogance
24. Yeast in meal (Mat.13:33) - Corruption spreads easily in any church - so we must be watchful
6. Spiritual Pride
25. Seating at wedding feast (Lk.14:7-11) - Always seek for the lowly place - as Jesus did
26. Laborers in vineyard (Mt.20:1-16) - There is hope for those who come to the Lord late in life
27. Master and slave (Lk.17:7-10) - When we have obeyed everything, we're still unworthy
28. Pharisee and tax-collector (Lk.18:9-14) - God opposes the proud and those who despise others
29. Children in market (Lk.7:31-35) - Religious people will criticize us no matter what we do
7. Watching and Praying
30. Persistent widow (Lk.18:1-8) - A weak believer can prevail in prayer with his heavenly Father
31. Persistent neighbor (Lk.11:5-8) - We must seek for the gifts of the Spirit - to help others
32. Father and children (Lk.11:11-13) - God is better than the best of earthly fathers
33. Watching servants (Mt.24:45-51; Mk.13:34) - We must be alert - especially the doorkeepers
34. Fig tree and other trees (Lk.21:29-32) - Israel's return to the land is a sign of Christ's return
8. Being Faithful With God's Gifts
35. Wicked tenants (Mt.21:33-41) - All we have is a loan from God - for which we are accountable
36. Rich fool (Lk.12:16-21) - He who is not "rich toward God" with his earthly life and things is a fool
37. Talents - 5,2 and 1 (Matt.25:14-30) - We must be faithful with the smallest gifts God gives us
38. Minas - 1 each (Lk.19:12-27) - Time is a gift that God has given in the same measure to all
39. Dishonest steward (Lk.16:1-8) - We must use money & material things to win people for heaven
40. Good and bad fish (Mt. 13:47,48) - God will finally separate His people from others for all eternity
Sermon Outline
- I. Entering God's Kingdom
- A. Sower and seed (Mk.4:3-8;Lk.8:15)
- B. Invitees to wedding feast (Mt.22:2-14)
- C. Houses on rock and sand (Mt.7:24-27)
- II. Paying the Price
- A. Seedtime to harvest (Mk.4:26-29)
- B. The mustard tree (Mt.13:31,32)
- C. Building a tower (Lk.14:28-30)
- III. Loving God and Man
- A. Two debtors (Lk.7:41-43)
- B. Unforgiving servant (Mt.18:23-35)
- C. Good Samaritan (Lk.10:30-37)
- IV. The Danger of Legalism
- A. Two sons (Mt.21:28-31)
- B. Blind leading the blind (Lk.6:39,40)
- C. Wheat and tares (Mt.13:24-30)
Key Quotes
“If we don't practice what we preach, we're spiritually blind (Lk.6:39,40).” — Zac Poonen
“You can't put a patch of Jesus' life on to your Adamic life (Mt.9:16).” — Zac Poonen
“Love for Jesus (oil) alone will make our light shine forever (Mt.25:1-13).” — Zac Poonen
Application Points
- We must mean what we say to God and practice what we preach.
- Spiritual growth comes effortlessly if we follow the laws of the Spirit.
- We must forgive all others because we've been forgiven much.