THEMATIC BACKGROUND from: Seed, Yeast, and Treasures Old and New


KEY VERSES: Matthew 13:52
   (CEV)  "Every student of the scriptures who becomes a disciple in 
   the kingdom of heaven is like someone who brings out new and old 
   treasures from the storeroom." 
    
     
PROMISE: The one who becomes a disciple, is one who has a store 
of treasure – enough to share with others.

 
OUR RESPONSE:  The challenge for me is to: 
Hold on to the seeds cast my way – to let them germinate and to nurture them;
To take the yeast out of its container and risk losing it all by putting all
  of it into the dough of my life;
To sell everything and buy the whole field - get the pearl - and develop a
   storehouse of kingdom treasures.
 
									
CREATIVE CLOSING
Today’s scripture is full of promises: that I can find what is really 
valuable in life – the pearl of great price; that I can have great 
influence on this world – by being yeast in this world, and that I can store
up treasures of Biblical wisdom and have an abundance to share with others.
            
Today’s scriptures also have challenges for me to respond to.  

Will I see the pearl of great price?  Will I know how valuable it is?  
Will I invest everything to have it?  Will I take the risk of mixing in 
with the world – as yeast?   Will I study and meditate on scripture so as 
to gain a storehouse of wisdom that I can share with others?

So how do you respond to these beautiful promises, these vivid
parables, and the very specific personal challenge they make to us?

Which parable speaks to you today? I want you to pick the promise and
the challenge that seems most interesting and exciting to you.  Make 
this your focus for the moment.

I want you to write down your response to this parable by Jesus.  How do 
you respond to this challenge in your life?  What do you want in your
life?  In the silent period write down your response to the challenge to 
you of one of these parables.

I will pray and then we will have a time of silence for you to write. 
“Father grant us joy in our response to your challenge this morning. Amen”


copyright - George Hartwell, 2002, 2005
            page - Rev. Richard J. Fairchild 2002 - 2005
            please acknowledge the appropriate author if citing these sermons.