During his earthly ministry, Jesus famously taught the lessons of his kingdom through the use of parables. In fact, Mark 4:34 states that “in his public ministry he never taught without using parables” (NLT). The Synoptic Gospels record at least 35 of them, which have been cherished by the church and used for millennia to help her understand the things of God.
While this might be a well known fact about the teaching ministry of Jesus, how much Jesus drew from the truths of the Old Testament in his parables is often overlooked. In this light, his teaching is less a matter of new revelation and more a matter of restating existing revelation with the clarity and application that his person and work represent. All truth is God’s truth, and the lines of revelation can be traced throughout the Bible from cover to cover.
“Roots” is a sermon series on the parables of Jesus with an eye toward their connection to the truth of God revealed in the Old Testament. The goal is that we would have a more holistic understanding of what Jesus taught, and how key teachings of the Old and New Testament come together in him.
Series Playlist
One the common things you might hear someone say in Christian circles is, “I want to know what the will of God is.” This is a fine thing to want. Indeed, God himself does will certain things for his creation, and he wants us to know what those things are. He is not a distant, aloof deity unconcerned with the affairs of the world. He is near, and he is committed to seeing his purposes and designs for his creation fulfilled.
“He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.” – John 14:17, NLT
“Upside Down Kingdom” is a Lenten sermon series that focuses on the key events of Passion Week from the perspective of the Gospel of Matthew. Together we will unpack the significance of these events in light of Matthew’s emphasis on the Kingdom of God’s arrival in Christ. It is a kingdom unlike anything in this world, in both its character and in its establishment, and at its center is Israel’s rejected Messiah to whom has been granted “all authority in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18).
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