Welcome back to Focused on Christ, where we are passionate about exalting Jesus and equipping the church for everyday faithfulness.In this episode, host Mike Crump is joined by Pastor Nathan Smith to explore several of Jesus’ parables from Matthew 13 that reveal the nature of the Kingdom of Heaven—its growth, value, and the sobering reality of judgment. Listener Question from SydneyWe begin by revisiting Episode 121 and responding to a thoughtful listener question about the Parable of the Sower, wrestling with what it means to be “good soil” and whether all believers should be producing a 30/60/100-fold harvest.
The Parable of the Weeds: Who are the “sons of the kingdom” and the “sons of the evil one”?
What does this parable teach us about the presence of evil in the world—and even in the church?
Is Jesus scaring people with his words?
Teaching on Noah: https://youtu.be/or0AEffRGKs
Discussion Questions:
- What does the parable of the weeds teach us about the reality of true and false believers in the church?
- Why does Jesus use seemingly weak things (mustard seed, yeast) to illustrate the Kingdom of Heaven?
- How does the growth process described in these parables relate to spiritual growth in our own lives?
- What does it mean practically to ‘sell everything’ for the Kingdom of Heaven?
- How can we distinguish between true and false believers according to these parables?
- Why is it important to let spiritual fruit develop over time before elevating someone to leadership?
- In what ways have you experienced the Kingdom of Heaven growing ‘small to large’ in your life?
- How do these parables challenge our modern view of success and power?