Preparedness for the Kingdom

10 sermons

Preparedness for the Kingdom is a central theme in the Bible, emphasizing the importance of spiritual readiness for the coming of God's kingdom. According to Jesus' teachings, believers must be prepared to meet their Lord, as expressed in Matthew 25:13, which warns to "be prepared" for the Lord's return. The apostle Paul also stresses the need for preparedness, stating in 2 Corinthians 5:8 that he would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord, highlighting the believer's ultimate goal of dwelling with God. Additionally, 1 Thessalonians 5:23 encourages believers to be sanctified completely, spirit, soul, and body, as they await the coming of the Lord, underscoring the comprehensive nature of preparedness for the Kingdom.

The Parable of the Marriage Feast of the King's Son Matthew 22:1-14

R.A. Torrey

R.A. Torrey expounds on the Parable of the Marriage Feast, illustrating how God's invitation to His kingdom is often disregarded and despised by many. He emphasizes the importance of accepting God's invitation and being prepared for the feast, highlighting the consequences of neglecting this call. T

Ruth - Part 4 41:41

John McGregor

John McGregor emphasizes the transformative journey of Ruth in the Book of Ruth, highlighting her invitation from Boaz, which symbolizes God's invitation to all. He discusses the comfort, grace, fellowship, and mentorship that Ruth receives, illustrating how these elements reflect God's love and pro

Audio

John Wesley's Explanatory Notes - Matthew 22

John Wesley

John Wesley expounds on Matthew 22, illustrating the parable of the wedding feast as a representation of God's invitation to salvation, initially extended to the Jews but ultimately offered to all. He emphasizes the importance of being prepared with the 'wedding garment' of Christ's righteousness, h

The Great Invitation

T. Austin-Sparks

T. Austin-Sparks delivers a profound message on 'The Great Invitation' found in Luke 14, emphasizing the transition from Israel to the Church and the nature of those who will inherit the Kingdom of God. He highlights the significance of God's invitation, the human tendency to make excuses, and the i

Man's Excuses Luke 14:15-24

R.A. Torrey

R.A. Torrey emphasizes the gravity of rejecting God's gracious invitation as illustrated in the parable of the great supper in Luke 14:15-24. He discusses how the invited guests made absurd excuses to decline the invitation, reflecting a common human tendency to prioritize earthly concerns over spir

Luke 14:15

Chuck Smith

Chuck Smith emphasizes the urgency of God's invitation to His banquet, illustrating how many initially invited rejected the call, leading to a broader invitation extended to the marginalized. He highlights that God allows individuals to decline His invitation, but doing so is an insult to the costly

A Feast for Everyone Luke 14:15-24

david-servant

David Servant preaches on Jesus' parable about the invited guests who made excuses not to attend the feast, highlighting how people determine their destiny by accepting or rejecting God's invitation to salvation. The story emphasizes the foolishness of declining God's offer of eternal life for trivi

Day 22, Matthew 22

david-servant

David Servant preaches on the parable of the wedding feast, emphasizing that it is people's response to God's invitation that determines their place in heaven, not predestination. The parable illustrates God's invitation extended to all, including Gentiles, and the importance of responding to His ca

Jesus' Controversy With the Jewish Rulers

john-f-walvoord

John F. Walvoord delves into the Parable of the Marriage Feast in Matthew 22:1-14, where Jesus uses a wedding feast to illustrate the rejection of the Jewish nation and the extension of the gospel to all. The parable highlights the gracious invitation of God, the severe consequences of rejection, an

The Book of Ruth #1 57:35

T. Austin-Sparks

In this sermon, the speaker discusses the book of Ruth as a contrast to the dark and tragic conditions described in the book of Judges. The speaker emphasizes that even in the midst of terrible situations, God acts with a long-term perspective. The sermon highlights the theme of faith and the conseq

Audio

Matthew 20:1

“"For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 'You also go into my vineyard,' he said, 'and I will pay you whatever is right.' So they went. He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did the same thing. About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around. 'Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?' he asked. 'Because no one has hired us,' they answered. So he told them, 'You also go into my vineyard.' When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Call the workers and pay them their wages, starting with the last ones hired and moving on to the first.' The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius. So when the original workers came, they assumed they would receive more. But each of them also received a denarius. On receiving their pay, they began to grumble against the landowner. 'These men who were hired last worked only one hour,' they said, 'and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.' But he answered one of them, 'Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Did you not agree with me on one denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give this last man the same as I gave you. Do I not have the right to do as I please with what is mine? Or are you envious because I am generous?' So the last will be first, and the first will be last."”

Matthew 12:43

“When an unclean spirit comes out of a man, it passes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' On its return, it finds the house vacant, swept clean, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and dwell there; and the final plight of that man is worse than the first. So will it be with this wicked generation."”

Luke 14:16

“But Jesus replied, "A certain man prepared a great banquet and invited many guests.”

Matthew 9:15

“Jesus replied, "How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while He is with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast. No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. For the patch will pull away from the garment, and a worse tear will result. Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will spill, and the wineskins will be ruined. Instead, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved."”

Matthew 13:3

“And He told them many things in parables, saying, "A farmer went out to sow his seed. And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. Some fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly because the soil was shallow. But when the sun rose, the seedlings were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the seedlings. Still other seed fell on good soil and produced a crop--a hundredfold, sixtyfold, or thirtyfold. He who has ears, let him hear." Then the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Why do You speak to the people in parables?" He replied, "The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.”