Have you ever been invited to a party or asked to show up at a special event, but had to decline at the last minute? Maybe you were too busy. Maybe you got sick. Maybe you had something better to do that came up.
Those are the essentials of the parable of Jesus that I will be teaching from this coming Sunday morning.
We are in a summer series of messages we are calling Kingdom Surprises. This Sunday, July 19, I will be teaching out of the Parable of the Great Feast, found in Luke 14. In preparation for this message, I am asking you to do these things:
- Read the story: Luke 14:15-24
- Read the surrounding context: Luke 14
Summary: Jesus heals on an “illegal” day, the Sabbath (14:1-6); he teaches about humility (14:7-14); he tells the parable of the Great Feast (14:15-24); he deals out some tough words about the cost of being a disciple (14:25-35). - Think about the frame-work questions for this series:
- What’s the familiar and exaggerated truth in this story?
- What’s the transfer from the human story to the eternal truth?
- What’s the surprising conviction?
- What am I going to do about it?
- Find someone in our church family and talk through this parable together! This is not meant to be studied alone. Join a group for discussion—or, at minimum, meet with someone via Zoom or by phone. You’ll find the link to a printable discussion guide below.
You will be surprised what God is teaching you.
This parable, like so many others, is very pointed and even harsh. But let’s study together and grow together in God’s Word each Sunday. Either join us online on Sunday mornings at 10 a.m. or, if you cannot, watch the teaching during the week as it is posted on our website. Let’s not waste this summer. Take advantage of a growing season in your life. Let’s think deeply about God’s Word.
More to come!
