parables — Mosaic

Mar 6

Mar 6 Matthew 25:1-13: The Parable of the Ten Young Women

But as we wait for Christ’s return, we are to “dress ready for service” and have our “lamps burning,” sharing the gospel of salvation by grace with the lost; instilling hope to the desperate; comforting the broken in spirit; advocating for those who cannot defend themselves; standing by the side of the vulnerable; denying ourselves and taking up our cross every day; imparting grace on our brothers and sisters; worshipping God with joy, gratitude and a humble and fervent heart; clothed in the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:11-16). This is the meaning of being ready.

Feb 4

Feb 4 It is a Matter of the Heart, Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23

Pablo Sanabria

Discipleship

Jesus not only explains in the parables of the kingdom the causes of this rejection, but also instills in his disciples hope and optimism. Not all the effort of preaching will be in vain! In the end, there will be a bountiful harvest, the weeds will be burned, the mustard seed will become a huge tree, and the yeast will make the flour grow.

Jan 21

Jan 21 The Parable of the Rich Fool, Luke 12:13-21

Pablo Sanabria

Discipleship

Living for the kingdom of God is the antithesis of living selfishly. It means being rich “toward God,” that is, investing in the kingdom of God, “enjoying this world, as though we had no enjoyment, for the form of this world is passing away’.

Jan 7

Jan 7 The McDonalds Gospel

Casey Lankford

Discipleship

We never really grow the Kingdom of God. God does that. However, burying the Kingdom not only hides it from others, but from ourselves. Consequently, we stunt our own spiritual formation out of fear of not growing the Kingdom, but when we boldly go into our world with the good news of a Kingdom built on love and grace with Jesus Christ as the cornerstone, growth will take place.

Dec 19

Dec 19 The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares, Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

Pablo Sanabria

Discipleship

Jesus’ teaching here is that the children of the kingdom will have to wait until harvest time to see evil completely destroyed. This waiting, however, does not imply conforming to the world or indifference to its injustices.

Jul 23

Jul 23 The Power of God’s Story and the Power of Community

Jennifer Schroeder

Discipleship

It became clear our theme needed to embody the different ways that Jesus would challenge people through his use of parables — Woven Together: The Power of Biblical Narratives.

Nov 8

Nov 8 The Parable of the Lost Sons

Phil McKinney II

Discipleship

Like the older son, we can all remain with the father. Comfortable in our church building, performing our occasional goods works, while expecting the father to return our efforts with great reward.

Apr 15

Apr 15 Reflection Roundup: “The Gift of Unhurried Time”

Beth Ann Fisher

Reflection Roundup

Ask, seek, knock. Pray those bold prayers and there will come a day when God’s responsiveness comes tumbling after you. Expectantly wear sturdy shoes every day of your life lest you be bowled over by the love of God.

Nov 20

Nov 20 Follow That Van: A Lesson in Following Jesus

Rachel Slimp

Discipleship

Concluding that our children had jumped the gun, deserted the plan, and were now heading away from us, we set out in hot pursuit.

Nov 22

Nov 22 The Power of Persistence

Tara Petty

Culture

When the Son of Man comes, will he find the kind of faith that nags at an unjust system even when it feels like the cards are stacked against what is right?

Oct 14

Oct 14 Opportunity at the Gate

Justin Simmons

Discipleship

Jesus’s parables catch me off guard, causing me to question whether my assumptions about myself, God, and the kingdom are grounded in truth.

Jun 21

Jun 21 The Importance of Story

Daniel McGraw

Discipleship

Stories are what it means to be human. Our brains are bent to creating a narrative to explain and quantify what we encounter.