Jesus told many parables about what "the Kingdom of heaven is like," but none more important than those in Matthew 13, the first of which, Jesus said is the key to understanding all his parables. In Matthew 13, Jesus shares seven parables that reveal the Kingdom of heaven on earth from now to the end of time. Nothing is more important than becoming a member of this Kingdom and being ready for the return of the King. In this sermon, we will survey all seven parables, so it is especially important to prepare by reading Matthew 13 before we gather together.

FBC Eugene

The Kingdom of Heaven is Like...

The warm, familiar, idyllic images of Jesus’ parables are a favorite part of the Bible for many, and for good reason. They reveal profound insights about God's kingdom on earth with the coming of Jesus. But these very same parables are much like that cuddly looking kitten you tried picking up and it bit you; Jesus’ parables come with a bite. For those who refuse him as their King, that bite can be deadly deep. In this sermon, we begin a new series on selected parables from the Gospel accounts of Matthew and Luke. It’s going to be quite a ride.

A Kingdom of a Different Kind

The Words at the Front of the Line

We need the Holy Spirit to reveal to our hearts the absolute supremacy of Christ over every power and authority in the universe and how our heavenly Father has graciously made us alive, raised us up and seated us in Christ with him in glory!

The Supremacy of Christ

What are the first words that go through your mind when you rise every morning? A lot of people give themselves daily affirmations to start the day. The fictional comedy character Stuart Smalley would recite, in his mirror, “I’m good enough, I'm smart enough, and, doggone it, people like me!” In this message, “First Words,” new Communications Pastor Michael DiMarco will follow up Pastor Ben’s closing last words of Joshua last week with wisdom from the Book of Proverbs, both for those about to take their first steps with Jesus and those that have been walking with Him for decades.

First Words

Richard Baxter, a renowned Reformed pastor from the 1600’s, captured, in his own experience, Joshua’s urgency at the end of his life. He said, “I preached as never sure to preach again, and as a dying man to dying men.” In chapter 24, Joshua challenges Israel, after all Yahweh their Elohim had done for them, to repent of their half-hearted loyalty and choose to be fully devoted to him. What Joshua confronted in Israel that day is a common delinquency found in God’s people in both the Old and New Testaments, including our own times, maybe even in our own lives. Read Joshua 24 to prepare.

Last Words: The Sequel

A person’s last words are typically their most significant and the most important to remember. Maybe the last words of a loved one are a treasure you hold dear in your heart. Last words matter. In the final two chapters of Joshua, he shares his own, first to his fellow leaders (chapter 23) and then to the nation as a whole (chapter 24). Joshua’s last words are a treasure we can hold dear in our hearts. They reveal the secret to overcoming spiritual strongholds in and around us, which will lead us into a time of Communion, where we remember Jesus and all he has done for us. Please read Joshua 23 to prepare.

Last Words

The topic of this Sunday’s message is the danger of assumptions—how civil war nearly broke out in Israel because of wrong assumptions. Mexican author, Miguel Ruiz, wrote: We make all sorts of assumptions, because we don’t have the courage to ask questions. Without asking a question, I’m going to go out on a limb. I think it’s safe to assume that everyone reading this has experienced conflict with someone—a spouse, friend, relative, classmate, neighbor, or work colleague—over an issue you later discovered was completely unnecessary, because it was based on a wrong assumption. Israel’s story in Joshua 22 reveals important insights for the division and strife in our own times and how to deal with the danger of assumptions.

The Danger of Assumptions

Romans 15:4 reminds us how important the Old Testament is to New Testament believers: For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. Israel’s story in Joshua helps us better understand our own story in Christ. This Sunday, we will explore four important insights from Israel’s inheritance of the Promised Land that encourage us to endure with hope in taking possession of our own inheritance in Christ. Read Joshua chapters 13, 14, 20 and 21 to prepare. You get extra credit, if you read chapters 15-19 about tribal allotments.

Receiving The Inheritance

We are living in the last days. The King has come! However, he only inaugurated his kingdom. Satan is defeated, but not yet dumb and destroyed. He still has his voice. He's still looking for victims. The consummation of God’s kingdom is yet to happen. Our promised inheritance in Christ is ALREADY ours in heaven, BUT NOT YET in its fullness on earth. We are living between two ages. That’s why, though redeemed in Christ, we still struggle with sin. That’s why people still rebel against the King, persecute his people, and commit all kinds of evil and appear to be getting away with it. Israel’s story, in Joshua 10:16-13:7, illustrates the times in which we live.

Already, But Not Yet

Joshua 10 ranks as one of the most frequently invoked passages for discrediting the Bible in the world of rationalism and science. A literal interpretation raises issues concerning the veracity of Scripture and God’s ability to do whatever he chooses. What actually happened at Gibeon on this day that the Bible claims to be unique in all of history? Did God actually stop the rotation of the earth and the revolution of the moon, so the sun and moon stood still in the sky for an entire day? Come, let’s reason together.

A Day Like No Other

The Bible says the devil’s schemes come in two basic forms: 1) like a roaring lion to frighten and intimidate us and 2) like a mesmerizing angel of light to deceive and swindle us. With both, he uses human instruments in an attempt to defeat and devour us. In Joshua 9, we see both schemes at work at the same time! It’s a graphic picture of the Christian life dressed in the ancient garb of Israel’s experience. The good news is, even when we foolishly succumb to the devil’s devices, as Israel did, God leverages our short-term losses into long-term wins. God plays the long game, turning stupid into splendid. Read Joshua 9 to prepare for this message.

God’s Long Game

If you’ve ever attended a football game at Autzen Stadium, you may have witnessed the cheerleaders leading 50,000 enthusiastic Duck fans in an antiphonal call-and-response. The fans on one side of the stadium scream, “Go!” The fans on the other side answer by screaming back, “Ducks!” This volley goes on for several minutes. It’s pretty cool. Now, imagine 2,000,000 enthusiastic God fans in an antiphonal call-and-response, a million at a time screaming “Amen!” back and forth to each other, after each verse Joshua reads from the Scripture. That’s beyond cool! That’s the scene in Joshua 8, after Israel’s victory at Ai. More than an epic moment in Israel’s history, it teaches us a profound lesson about our relationship with God today. Read the entire chapter to prepare.

Review to Renew

This Sermon we return to Joshua 7 to finish the tragic story of Achan’s family and the trouble they brought on an entire nation. The violation was so serious, God threatened to leave Israel, which begs the question: Why would an entire nation suffer the consequences of one family’s sin? The answer is a profound biblical truth, one that runs counter to the individualism that dominates our culture today. Read Joshua 7 to prepare.

Be Sure Your Sin Will Find You Out

You know that feeling you get after doing something really well and walk away feeling so confident, but suddenly trip on your own feet? Overconfidence can sometimes be painful. Do you know that feeling when you see an advertisement, and suddenly you want something you didn’t even know you’d wanted before? It’s sometimes hard to say no. This Sermon we’re back in the book of Joshua as Israel moves from crossing the Jordan river and conquering Jericho to the small little town called Ai. Israel’s confidence and covenant to God quickly changed into overconfidence and disobedience with disastrous results. But just as Israel learned from failure and God’s grace, we can learn too. You can read the story in Joshua 7:1-13.

The High Cost Of Overconfidence

Sermons from First Baptist Church of Eugene

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FBC Eugene

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