WHAT SACRIFICE?

Read Matthew 13.44-45

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.” (Matthew 13.44)

WHAT SACRIFICE?

I know three men who recently left very successful careers to enter full-time ministry. When their peers found out that they were forfeiting their pay, status, and a very comfortable retirement in order to obey God’s call on their lives, well, let’s just say they were a little less than encouraging. But if you were to ask these men and their wives about the sacrifice, you might be a little surprised at their response. They would say, “What sacrifice? We have gained the Kingdom of God!” And by the way, I know of three other men who have answered a call to stay in their careers for the sake of the Kingdom. It’s not about position, possessions, or people. It’s all about the Kingdom of God. (Matthew 6.33)

What is the Kingdom of God worth to you? Do you joyfully give up the things of this world in order to gain the Kingdom?

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THE KINGDOM IS LIKE SPRAY INSULATING FOAM

Read Matthew 13.31-35

He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed.” (Matthew 13.31)

THE KINGDOM IS LIKE SPRAY INSULATING FOAM

I needed to fill in some small cracks in order to finish insulating the house. I used a can of spray foam insulation. Now if you’ve never used this stuff before you're in for a surprise. When I gave it what I thought was a little squirt, it not only filled the crack but started growing so fast it went half way down the wall and expanded to about a 100 times its size. Wow! So when it says, “Apply in small amounts,” it means small amounts. The Kingdom of God grows the same way. It only takes a few fired up “Jesus Followers” sharing the good news and living an authentic Christian life to change whole communities. Jesus guarantees that the Kingdom will grow. We just need to roll up our sleeves, apply a little faith and start sharing the gospel in word and deed.

How do you see the Kingdom growing in your own heart? How do you see it growing in your community?

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DON’T FAIL THIS TEST

Read Matthew 13.24-30, 36-43

"But when the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the tares became evident also.” (Matthew 13.26)

DON’T FAIL THIS TEST

I knew the information for the exam like the back of my hand and I was filling in the little circles as fast as I could on the bubble test. Only one problem: I had skipped one question in the beginning. Now all my answers were just one question off. What a shock when I got my exam back with a big fat “F” and I realized what I had done. Failing an exam in school is one thing but being mistaken on your eternal security is another. There is only one question on the eternal test: “Will you follow Jesus?” How do you know you’ve answered the question right? The same way you can tell the difference between wheat and tares: you'll see the fruit (2 Corinthians 13.5, John 15.8).

What does the fruit look like and how is it produced? (John 15.1-8) Is Jesus the only way to produce such fruit? (John 14.6, 2 Corinthians 5.21)

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YOU ARE HERE

Read Matthew 13.18-23

"And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit..."(Matthew 13.23)

YOU ARE HERE

You know the maps in the mall that help you find your location? You look for the little arrow that says, “You are here.” Well, Jesus talks about a spiritual map in a similar way. It pinpoints the location of where we are in relationship to God. The first potential location is “clueless”. They don’t even know where to begin and probably don’t care (and they would probably have stopped reading by now). The second is one who has had an emotional experience with God but is “rootless” and simply fades away. The third location is one who is distracted by so many things it’s being choked out and bears no “fruit.” However, the desired destination is the one called “good ground”. That's where we find a fruitful relationship with God.

Re-read Matthew 13.18-23. What's your location?

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PROFOUND MYSTERIOUS SIMPLICITY

Read Matthew 13.1-17

And the disciples came and said to Him, "Why do You speak to them in parables?” (Matthew 13.10)

PROFOUND MYSTERIOUS SIMPLICITY

Remember in the third grade when you put a seed on a moist paper towel in a jar? After sealing it, you and your classmates put the jar on the windowsill. A few days later you began to understand the miracle of how plants grow. Jesus reminds us of that early lesson from grade school. For the casual listener, it may be so simplistic it’s paid no attention. But for those who know the Teacher, it is the beginning of a deeper understanding of life, spirituality, and communing with the Creator of all things. The hungry are left with a nagging curiosity that will only be quenched with the Master’s explanation. And He bids you, “Come, ask your questions and I will reveal to you the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven.”

How are you mastering the art of asking questions of both God and man?

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ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY

Read Matthew 12.46-50

"For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother." (Matthew 12.50)

ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY

For the last eight years, we’ve had young soldiers and officers living in our home. Some may ask, “How can you do that? How do you have guests living in your home for days on end?” Well, we don’t consider these guys guests - they’re family. So now that they're family, it sheds a different light on how we interact and how we prioritize our relationships. For Jesus, there was no tension between biological family and His spiritual family. He saw them all as family. He simply met the needs of each family member as He could, when it was appropriate. He also got help from the brothers and sisters to meet the needs where He couldn’t. Isn’t that how big families work?

How would a family of 12 function differently than a family of four? How does this relate to the spiritual family?

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SHOW ME YOUR BADGE

Read Matthew 12.38-45

But He answered and said to them, "An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet…(Matthew 12.39)

SHOW ME YOUR BADGE

The off-duty policeman politely instructed the youth that there were signs posted and that they we loitering. One of the young men stepped forward and said, “What, are you a cop or something? Let me see your badge!” This is exactly the situation Jesus found Himself in when the Pharisees confronted Him. They demanded a sign of His authority and yet there were signs all around them. He had just healed two men. It wasn’t about miracles. Jesus had caught them using the Law to promote themselves and to manipulate the people. Their pride and envy had clouded the fact that they were wrong - whether Jesus had a “badge” or not. We ought to gladly obey the ways of the Kingdom, whether the King is present or not. By the way, the King is always present!

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WATCH YOUR MOUTH

Read Matthew 12.33-37

" For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart ." (Matthew 12.34)

WATCH YOUR MOUTH

Has your mama ever told you to "watch your mouth"? Or even worse, "I'm going to wash your mouth out with soap." You know, I’ve had that done to me a couple of times and it never helped. My mouth was just as dirty after the washing as it was before the soap. Jesus says if you want to clean up the mouth, you have to clean up the heart. How can I do that? I'm glad you asked! The first step is to acknowledge that your heart needs cleaning by confessing your sin to Him. (1 Jo 1.9) Next, you need to enlist His help by praying that He will change your heart. (1 Jo 5.14-15) Then put it into practice by intercepting the bad thoughts and replacing them with the thoughts of Christ. (Rom 12.1-2, Phil 4.8) Ask friends who are committed to the same objective to help in the heart-cleansing process. (Pro 27.17) Lastly, never quit. (1 Tim 6.12) It's going to be a fight! But remember, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Rom 8.31)

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CHOOSE YOUR SIDE

Read Matthew 12.22-32

"He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters." (Matthew 12.30)

CHOOSE YOUR SIDE

Remember playing sandlot kickball, soccer, or baseball when you were a kid? Usually two captains are chosen (the cool guys) and then they pick their teammates, alternating between one captain and the other. After about five or six picks, you could tell which team was going to win and you would secretly pray that the winning captain would pick you. Spiritually, there are two captains: Jesus and Satan (one of them not so cool). And they're picking their teammates. But here's where things are different. First, the Bible tells us which team is going to win. And second, you have a choice on which team you're going to be on. Now some may say, "I don't want either team” or "I don 't want to play. By default, that person is automatically put on the losing team. I don't make the rules, I just publish them.

How are you helping others pick the winning Captain?

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DISCRETION IS THE BETTER PART OF VALOR

Read Matthew 12.8-21

But the Pharisees went out and conspired against Him, as to how they might destroy Him. But Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. (Matthew 12.14-15)

DISCRETION IS THE BETTER PART OF VALOR

You can be right and you can be dead right. And when I say dead right, I mean just plain dead. There are some battles that just aren't worth fighting. Jesus recognized the spiritual ambush that had been laid by the Pharisees. He spoke the truth but then very wisely disengaged from the conflict. Ultimately, He would die for the truth. But now wasn't the right time. Sometimes we sacrifice relationships, our jobs, or even our lives when it isn't necessary or prudent. Often, it’s because we had our feelings hurt or were too proud to let it go. A bruised ego is never a good reason to fall on your sword. Jesus was very right about the Sabbath: He's Lord of the Sabbath. But He doesn't let being right get in the way of His mission. He chooses His battles wisely.

Where could you win the battle and lose the war?

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GOING THE EXTRA MILE IN THE WRONG WAY

Read Matthew 12.1-8

"But if you had known what this means, 'I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT A SACRIFICE,' you would not have condemned the innocent." (Matthew 12.7)

GOING THE EXTRA MILE IN THE WRONG WAY

He told us it was against his religion to go bowling and he couldn't play football either. Wow, what a stretch! How do you go from following Jesus to no sports? It sounds like the making of a Pharisee doesn't it? This is an age-old mistake of going the extra mile in the wrong way. Legalism is the art of taking God's commands and adding additional requirements for the sake of personal piety and then inflicting these "addendums" on others. This is usually the result of a gross misunderstanding of God's intent of a particular command. We need to obey His commands but also be very careful not to burden ourselves or others beyond God's original intent.

Are there spiritual traditions you practice that you have unwittingly turned in to a "command of God?"

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THE RIGHT CO-WORKER

Read Matthew 11.28-30

"Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11.29)

THE RIGHT CO-WORKER

I’ve worked with a lot of people over the years. It’s interesting how a co-worker can affect your attitude and productivity. Inevitably, you’ll find folks that make work both invigorating and fruitful. That’s a great combination! Jesus promises such a combination. He asks us to come to Him for rest by taking on His yoke. A yoke is an instrument where two animals are put together for the purpose of labor. It’s hard to combine rest and work unless you understand Who you are being yoked with. It’s Jesus! We become co-laborers with God! Imagine the power and joy we have if we're properly teamed with Him! Even the hardest tasks are made simple. Rest isn't found in inactivity. Rest is found in working with the right person in the right way.

Are you co-laboring with Jesus?

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IF YOU FORCE IT, YOU BREAK IT

Read Matthew 11.20-27

Then He began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent. (Matthew 11.20)

If you force it, you break it

I ran my own chop shop for bicycles when I was a kid (another confession). That’s where I learned all my mechanical skills. Taking apart bikes and mixing and matching the parts to form “new” bikes. And one of the no no’s in mechanics is forcing things to fit. You’ll strip threads, snap off bolts, and ruin parts. Jesus didn’t force anyone to believe and repent. They saw His miracles, heard His messages but in the end many still didn’t believe. But for some, the message just fit. They received His message like a greased bracket spindle. So as you are sharing the gospel, don’t try to force it. You may have to work a bit but if you start using a hammer, it’s probably not going to fit. By the way, when I started following Jesus, I quit stealing bikes.

Where can you find people eager to hear the gospel?

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TRUSTWORTHY MESSENGER

Read Matthew 11.7-19

“Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist!” (Matthew 11.11)

TRUSTWORTHY MESSENGER

They told me I had just won a million dollars, but the only emotion I was feeling was anger! Why? Because the message came in the subject line of an e-mail and I hate spam. If a guy with balloons, flowers, and an oversized check showed up at my front door, then I would get a little excited. Believing the message really depends on who is delivering the message and how it’s delivered, isn’t it? Jesus affirms John the Baptist in both his message and as a messenger. Jesus said, up to that point, there was no one greater! John was a reliable source of information from God. We have been sent into the world with the same message. (John 17.18) Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand. Follow the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world! (Matthew 3.1-2, John 1.29,35-37)

Are you a trustworthy messenger in word and deed?

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THE REAL DEAL

Read Matthew 11.1-6

"Go and report to John what you hear and see" (Matthew 11.4)

THE REAL DEAL

The roundhouse kick came within six inches of my nose. He was teaching and then, in the blink of an eye, demonstrated that he knew exactly what he was talking about. We had all heard the rumors that our friend and coworker was a master in the art of Kung Fu. But he was a quiet guy who never bragged or drew attention to himself. When he was asked to teach us the martial arts, he delivered. All the rumors were obviously true. He was the real deal. Jesus said, "You will know a tree by its fruit." When asked by John's disciples if He was the "Expected One", He applied the same standard to Himself. Once again we can follow Christ's example: an example of authenticity. Jesus is the real deal.

How well are your deeds matching your words? Do people know you are a follower of Christ by your actions?

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NO SUBSTITUTE FOR PRACTICE

Read Matthew 10.2-42

“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the slave like his master” (Matthew 10.24-25)

NO SUBSTITUTE FOR PRACTICE

“Here’s the diapers and the wipes. I usually take them to Mc Donald's at 3 o’clock, then to bed by 8…” Deb was rattling off instructions like a proficient battlefield commander. She was the supermom who was about to entrust her cubs to the rookie. Fortunately, I’d watched her do those things a million times. I got this! Or so I thought. After the two-day “Mom’s get away” the boys were still alive. But the house was a wreck and Mr. Mom was nearly incapacitated. The next time I sent her away for a Mom Vacation, I was better prepared and things went a little smoother. I had received instructions and seen it modeled, but there's no substitute for practice. Jesus has sent us on a mission and given us our marching orders. He has shown us how it’s done. Now it’s time to get after it. We learn ministry by doing ministry.

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ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES AND MODEL

Read Matthew 9.35-10.1

“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.” (Matthew 9.37)

ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES AND MODEL

I was staring at the pile of 1,200 bricks it would take to pave my patio. I knew the job was too big for one person, but started anyway. After a while I asked my sons for help. I showed them how to lay the bricks in place and they got to work. While we were making progress, some guys in our ministry dropped by the house. I enlisted their help and showed them how to lay the bricks. At first the task looked overwhelming, but between the five of us, the patio was finished in a couple of days instead of a couple of weeks. This is how Jesus multiplied His ministry. He asked the Father for a few men to help Him and modeled how to help people. Once He showed them how to minister to others, He put them to work.

How many workers do we need to reach the world for Jesus? Are you praying and working? Are you modeling?

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THE JESUS PRESCRIPTION

Read Matthew 9.18-34

“Daughter, take courage; your faith has made you well.” (Matthew 9.22)

THE JESUS PRESCRIPTION

My oldest son, Chuck, deployed to Afghanistan as a Infantry platoon leader. I could be wringing my hands and fretting every minute. But I have decided to take a dose of faith in Christ daily. I know that Jesus loves my son more than I ever could and that He has his best interest at heart. And through that faith, I have been healed of a plague that can be one the major contributing factors in heart disease and mental illness. It’s called anxiety. It’s more common than the common cold and is killing people every day. And when you think about it, it only makes sense to turn it over to Jesus and trust Him. I can’t be with my son - but He can. I can’t help my son - but He can. I have been healed of the disease called anxiety. (Philippians 4.6-7)

What is the scourge in your life? Have you brought it to Jesus in faith and asked Him to heal you?

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COUNTER PRODUCTIVE

Read Matthew 9.14-17

“…but they put new wine into fresh wineskins…” (Matthew 9.17)

COUNTER PRODUCTIVE

You can’t teach an old dog new tricks. Don’t spit into the wind. You can’t push a rope. And the list goes on. Jesus sums up these sayings with two of His own; “you can’t put a new patch on an old garment and you don’t put new wine in old wineskins.” All of these sayings are warning to the hearer that if you do these things they are potentially counter productive. It’s not saying it’s impossible but generally speaking, you’re wasting your time. I have another saying when it comes to discipleship; “Feed based on appetite.” It’s very difficult to teach someone how to follow Jesus when they don’t want to. Pray and look for spiritually hungry people to feed.

Are you hungry for spiritual food? Are you investing in the hungry or are you force-feeding?

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HANGIN' WITH SINNERS

Read Matthew 9.1-13

“…I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matthew 9.13)

HANGIN' WITH SINNERS

After Bible study, we spilled into a nearby restaurant. As this committed group of disciples talked about Jesus, out of the corner of my eye I saw a guy eavesdropping. He was sitting on the edge of his seat and leaning into the conversation. I asked him to join us and he enthusiastically accepted. This simple invitation led to the next, which led to the next. He was practically hanging out with us every day. Our little community of Jesus followers thoroughly embraced him. Three weeks later, he had become a fellow disciple of Jesus. There was no pitch and no canned prayer. We just talked about Jesus and loved him into the Kingdom.

Are sinners hanging out with your band of believers? Does your band of believers hang out with sinners?

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THIS IS NO MYSTICAL VACATION

Read Matthew 8.18-34

When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. And behold, there arose a great storm… (Matthew 8.23-24)

THIS IS NO MYSTICAL VACATION

What a deal! It only cost Deb and me twenty bucks to fly from Dover, Delaware, to Izmir, Turkey on a military transport! Only one problem: the military reserves the right to change the flight plan at any time. So we landed in Incirlik. After two days on a hand full of pita bread, a 14-hour bus ride halfway across Turkey, and the wonderful feeling that you may not survive this “great vacation”, we made it to Izmir. But we had been adequately warned that the flight could change at any time. I wonder if we're warning people about the real costs associated with being a disciple. Jesus did. He warned people, "...if you follow Me, you’re going through some tough places and tough times". We know that ultimately following the Master is worth the price. But let’s tell folks the truth: this not a mystical vacation.

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STILL THE GREAT PHYSICIAN

Read Matthew 8.1-17



This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: “HE HIMSELF TOOK OUR INFIRMITIES AND CARRIED AWAY OUR DISEASES.” (Matthew 8.17)



STILL THE GREAT PHYSICIAN 
 


Do miracles still happen? A dear friend of mine was praying that Jesus would deliver me from my neurological disease and yet she was battling an intestinal disorder and serious problems with her pituitary gland. How selfless! What do you think God thinks about that? Well let me tell you! She was completely and miraculously healed of both. The doctors were dumbfounded and admitted that it was nothing short of a miracle. Faith, Hope, and Love are a powerful mixture. We often attribute these as gifts from God - and they are. But when He sees us leveraging them for the sake of others, it moves Him. I believe my healing will come in His time, but it's great to witness that Jesus is still “carrying away our diseases.”


Does your faith still leave room for God to do miracles? Does that same faith continue when there are none?

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COUNTERFEITS

Read Matthew 7.13-29

“Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you…” (Matthew 7.22-23)

COUNTERFEITS

You know what scares me? These gospel tracts disguised as $100 bills. I saw some the other day in the gym and I watched peoples' reaction to them. It wasn’t pretty. How in the world did we come up with the idea of tricking people into following Christ through a counterfeit dollar bill? But Jesus points out something scarier: a person who is a counterfeit. They can preach a good sermon, cast out some demons, and even pull off a few miracles and they’re not even close to the real deal. So if this is Jesus’ response to folks doing this high-speed stuff, what will He say to the person who prayed “the prayer” and yet shows no fruit of love for Him or people? Maybe we should start handing out real $100 bills. Or better yet, start loving people the way Jesus did.

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THE PLATINUM RULE

Read Matthew 7.1-12

“In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7.12)

THE PLATINUM RULE

Ever play games with little kids and they want to change the rules? We're actually amazed at how they have carefully developed a scheme that would give them the upper hand. Wily little rascals aren’t they? As adults, we play these simple little tricks with spiritual principles all the time. It’s called justification. When we twist a passage to our advantage and destroy its original intent, we’re trying to change the rules. We could do that with Matthew 7.12, the “Golden Rule.” So Jesus Himself changes the rules and goes “Platinum.” In John 13.34-35, He gives us a new command to not just love others as we ourselves want to be loved, but to love others the way Christ loved us. Now that’s a whole new ball game.

How has Jesus demonstrated His love for you? How can you pass that same love on to others?

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Sky Miles

Read Matthew 6.24-34

“So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6.34)

Sky Miles

Her eyes were closed and her knuckles were white as she gripped the armrests. We had experienced a little turbulence during landing and she was terrified. I, on the other hand, was calm and thinking about lunch. Why? Because I have enough sky miles to kill a cow and I’ve also experienced turbulence that was enough to give you whiplash. And even if something did go wrong, was I going to go up to the cockpit and help the pilot out? Don’t think so! Over the thousands of miles I’ve flown, I’ve learned that the pilots are well trained and have things under control. That’s exactly how we learn to trust our Heavenly Father. The more we journey with Him, get to know and trust Him, the less we worry.

How are you logging sky miles with God? How have you learned to trust Him in the last 6 months?

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