Waterstone Church Sermon Podcast

As Jesus is preparing his disciples for his coming absence, he uses this parable to call them to faithfulness and warns them against unfaithfulness until he returns. To be entrusted with the kingdom is not just a privilege it is also a responsibility and people will be held accountable to that responsibility. References: Newsweek: Did the Government Confirm that Aliens Exist? A Non-Anxious Presenc...

In the parable, the landowner represents God, and the laborers symbolize people who follow Him. The parable illustrates the concept of God's grace and the equality of rewards in his kingdom. It conveys the message that regardless of how long one has been faithful or how much they have done for God's kingdom, all are equal in his eyes and receive his blessings and rewards. The parable challenges th...

A short parable that conveys a powerful message about faith and the growth of the Kingdom of God. In the parable, Jesus tells his disciples that the Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed, although small in size, it grows into a large tree or shrub, providing shelter and shade for birds. The main point of the parable is that the Kingdom of God starts small but eventually expands and grows into s...

Jesus' parable of the unforgiving servant is about a king who forgives a servant's enormous debt. However, the servant, after being forgiven, refuses to show mercy to a fellow servant who owes him a small amount. The king discovers this and punishes the unforgiving servant, teaching the lesson that we should forgive others as we have been forgiven. References: Forgiveness & Reconciliation Forg...

This parable encourages us to seek and prioritize the kingdom of heaven, emphasizing that the reward and fulfillment found in a relationship with God are far greater than any earthly treasures or temporary pursuits. It serves as a reminder that true riches lie in pursuing God's kingdom and it should be our top priority.

Jesus used parables as a powerful teaching tool to convey profound truths, engage his audience, and invite personal reflection. They were a means to make complex spiritual concepts accessible, memorable, and transformative for those open to receiving his message. The Parable of the Weeds teaches the idea that in this world, good and evil exist together, and sometimes it can be difficult to disting...

Jesus used parables to make his message accessible to the crowds, however, they are not light-hearted. Time and time again we'll see that Jesus used parables to provoke their imagination and encouraged them to see the world from a kingdom perspective—the surprising, upside-down, unstoppable kingdom that requires a decision of allegiance or rejection. References: "Lord Jesus Christ, in you are hidd...

Compassion International pairs sponsors with children living in extreme poverty in an effort to change their circumstances and share the good news of Jesus. References: Treasure Principle , by Randy Alcorn

God yearns for the lost to be found so He calls his people to action. Hearts that pray for the lost are hearts that go to the lost. References: "What if the abstract [heart of God] became concrete? What if the heart of God wasn't just something coming down on us from heaven, but something that showed up among us here on earth?" - Dane Ortlund, Gentle & Lowly , p.169 "The world is starving for...

The Bible is filled with brokenhearted people; Jesus is one of them. Those who lament are those who are comforted. Tears are the deepest human connection and when Jesus weeps, he legitimizes human grief and empathizes with us. How often do you let yourself feel? Is it part of your spiritual diet?

If all our sins are forgiven (past, present, future), finished, then what exactly is Jesus doing right now? Jesus is praying for us—interceding on our behalf. His heart is connecting our heart to the Father's heart.

As we enter Holy Week we reflect on Jesus and his insurmountable love for us. Jesus marched into hell so we could have heaven. He took the desert so we could have garden, and He took the eternal thirst so you could have fountain of life. References: "Even as Jesus' disciples fled from him in shame, he could cite Psalm while looking out from the cross at his mother. He could see in her an important...

The story of Acts continues through us as we welcome everyone and proclaim the kingdom of God with boldness and without hindrance. References: Acts 28 Isaiah 6:9-10

In Acts the apostle Paul proclaims and demonstrates how his life has been changed by the gospel and that the risen Christ leads an unstoppable movement. A movement to persuade all people to find their home with him. Paul met the one, true God who could settle his heart and invites us to do the same. Life is found in Jesus. References: Walk-up Music: What the Hell is Going On? by Elvin Bishop They...

When people follow the way of Jesus their stories begin to look like Jesus' story. In the book of Acts we see that the apostle Paul suffered, and we're not all going to face what he faced, but if we are committed to following the way of Jesus, it means that life will not always be easy. We will encounter hard situations and hard places, but as we go, God promises to go with us.

God has called the church to be vibrant, enduring and built on friendship. We see in Acts that the apostle Paul's ministry is boosted by friendship and we understand that Jesus in his darkest moment on the cross became lonely so that we could be together—with him and with one another. May we be a church that pursues the Holy Spirit and invite friendship into our lives. References: Seinfeld "The gl...

In the post-Christian vision for our world and our culture, progress replaces God's presence as the engine of history. The story of post-Christian culture is a story which says that as the world moves away from faith and belief in God that the world will inevitably become a better place. However, according to the theology of the New Testament, we find ourselves firmly in the era about which Jesus...