Welcome to the Reformed University Fellowship at UNCW Podcast! Each week, we will post the messages from our RUF Large Group meetings at UNCW. This spring, we’re looking at the parables of Jesus from the New Testament book of Luke.

This week, we're beginning a mini-series on the "Kingdom parables" in Luke. The Kingdom of God is a central theme of Luke's gospel, and tonight Jesus shows us why the Kingdom of God is nothing less than the transforming rule of God that is breaking into the world, and why we should do whatever we can to believe in this coming Kingdom and receive it.

Quote:

"The number-one thing Jesus talked about is the kingdom of God. It’s everywhere in the Gospels and impossible to miss. But if the theme of the kingdom is so significant, then we need to make sure we know what it means. A good starting place is to have a solid working definition. Here’s one: The kingdom is God’s reign through God’s people over God’s place." -- Jeremy Treat (read his article here!)

“What these two parables ask of their hearers, then, is confidence in the little gospel. The gospel goes out as seed, little but alive, and it comes back with big things like food, shade, and shelter for the nations. We will be tempted to distrust the little gospel we bear when we compare it with contemporary "powers." ….  But where are all the ancient faiths, philosophies, and forces that once vexed the church? … The church is an anvil that has worn out many hammers.” - F. Dale Bruner

"Though I do not believe that a plant will spring up where no seed has been, I have great faith in a seed... Convince me that you have a seed there, and I am prepared to expect wonders.”- Henry David Thoreau