This morning, we’re continuing our message series entitled, “God Encounters.” As we look forward to what this Christmas season holds, we also look ahead to what God has planned for us in the midst of it.

So far, we were challenged to seek after God encounters in the midst of our daily routines as to avoid missing them as Jacob almost did and proclaiming, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” We were reminded that God has a reason for the seasons of waiting in our lives and He has given us hope as a placeholder until we’ve received what He has promised.

We learned how God’s word is failproof. It may not come to pass when or how we think it ought to, but God’s word never fails! Last week, we learned how humility was a key aspect in the entire Christmas story and how it can bring us into powerful God encounters. We were challenged to be considerate of those around us and to look for ways to serve them just as Jesus did.

This week, just a few days before Christmas, we look to the greatest God encounter of all time; Emmanuel, God with us.

Speaking of it now being just a few days before Christmas… Guys, if you you’re looking for a last-minute gift idea for your wife, here’s an idea.

* Pandora Commercial Skit *

Just like the jelly of the month club, it’s the gift that keeps on giving the whole year round!

In all seriousness, though, we gather together this morning to remember the greatest gift ever given that keeps on giving for all eternity! From the very time that Adam and Eve chose their own way over God’s, His plan of salvation was gradually revealed and implemented. His own Son planned to step down from Heaven and wrap Himself in flesh completely humbling Himself.

This gift was prophesied about long before Jesus was born in the flesh:

Isaiah 9:6-7

6 For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 Of the greatness of his government and peace

there will be no end.

He will reign on David’s throne

and over his kingdom,

establishing and upholding it

with justice and righteousness

from that time on and forever.

The zeal of the Lord Almighty

will accomplish this.

About 750 year later, this prophecy came to pass. The greatest gift ever given was knitted together within the womb of a young teenage virgin girl, Mary, engaged to be married to Joseph. 9 months later, the time for this gift’s unwrapping arrived. Now, we can read through the Christmas story from Luke chapter 2, but we’re going to get a fresh perspective on this account given a few years ago by the Southland Christian Church.

* Christmas According to Kids *

Luke 2:1-20

Good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger lies the greatest gift ever; Jesus Christ!

In our ever-darkening world, everyone can use some good news to brighten up our days! Jesus, the light of the world, guiding us home through this rough country full of trials and tribulations. Jesus, our anchor of hope who keeps us confidently seated in the heavenly realms while we also continue to walk through this adventurous life full of unknowns.

The birth of Jesus was described in this way:

Isaiah 9:2; Matthew 4:16; John 1

the people living in darkness

have seen a great light;

on those living in the land of the shadow of death

a light has dawned.”

Jesus, the light of the world. He came in a most unexpected way; in complete humility. Mary, a young teenage girl engaged to be married to Joseph had the course of her life radically redirected as she said those simple words to the angel, “may God’s word to me be fulfilled.” She alone in all of mankind’s history and future carried God in the flesh within her own womb. Talk about God encounters!

Jesus still today is radically transforming lives from the inside out. He is still able and willing to set the course of our lives. Paul said it this way:

This morning, we’re continuing our message series entitled, “God Encounters.”  As we look forward to what this Christmas season holds, we also look ahead to what God has planned for us in the midst of it.  We’re going to learn about God encounters as we work toward the ultimate God-encounter ever experienced; the pregnancy and birth of Jesus!  Immanuel, literally God with us!

So far, we were

challenged to seek after God encounters in the midst of our daily routines as

to avoid missing them as Jacob almost did and proclaiming, “Surely the

Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.”  We were reminded that God has a reason for

the seasons of waiting in our lives and He has given us hope as a placeholder

until we’ve received what He has promised.

Last week, we

learned how God’s word is failproof.  It

may not come to pass when or how we think it ought to, but God’s word never

fails!

This week, we’re

looking at another key aspect surrounding God encounters; humility.  Humility defines the attitude and

circumstances of nearly every part of the birth, life, and death of Jesus.

Humility carries the

idea and concept of lowliness or submissiveness.  Humility is not haughty nor arrogant nor

assertive.  Humility is not thinking less

of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less. 

Jesus is the prime example of what true humility looks and acts

like.  He knew full well that He was the

Creator of the universe, the King of kings and the Lord of lords, the beginning

and the end, and all of these other titles. 

Jesus did not deny

this reality.  When arrested, He said

that he could call on twelve legions of angels to put a stop to it.  He knew who He was and the authority that He

held.  However, He chose to serve others

instead of serving Himself.  Humility

knows full well your value and identity, but chooses to use those things in

service to others, not so that you might be served.

Philippians 2:3-8

3 Do nothing out of

selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above

yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the

interests of the others.

5 In your

relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in very

nature God,

    did not consider equality with God

something to be used to his own advantage;

7 rather, he made

himself nothing

    by taking the very nature of a servant,

    being made in human likeness.

8 And being found in

appearance as a man,

    he humbled himself

    by becoming obedient to death—

        even death on a cross!

Humility is the very

beginning of our faith.  In fact, the

word for worship literally means to bow down. 

We cannot claim to be a worshipper of God, a follower of Jesus, without humility.  Faith in Jesus begins with bowing down our

lives to Him and allowing Him to raise them up however He sees fit.  Worship is not just a matter of song and

words, true and proper worship to God is bowing down our entire life to

Him.  Like a teeter-totter, we simply

cannot exalt and glorify God without also lowering self.

Humility in action

is considerate of those around us.  The

act of being considerate is becoming a rare and priceless attribute these

days!  The Christmas season used to be

one when others would think of others and serve their needs.  It is transitioning into quite the opposite

when we think only of ourselves and our wants and needs.  Think of Black Friday, for example.  It’s a pretty good snapshot of the launch of

the Christmas season.  Consider the

reaction of some children on Christmas morning if they don’t get exactly what

they asked for!

Humility, being

considerate, means to ask the questions such as:

How do my decisions

affect others?

What are the needs

of those around me?

What can I do to

help?

Some rude and

inconsiderate acts that go against the very nature of humility range from:

Taking up multiple

parking spots

Cutting others off

in traffic

This morning, we’re continuing our message series entitled, “God Encounters.” As we look forward to what this Christmas season holds, we also look ahead to what God has planned for us in the midst of it. We’re going to learn about God encounters as we work toward the ultimate God-encounter ever experienced; the pregnancy and birth of Jesus! Immanuel, literally God with us!

So far, we were challenged to seek after God encounters in the midst of our daily routines as to avoid missing them as Jacob almost did and proclaiming, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” We were reminded that God has a reason for the seasons of waiting in our lives and He has given us hope as a placeholder until we’ve received what He has promised.

This week, we turn to a God encounter that was perhaps the most significant and least expected in all of mankind’s history.

Luke 1:26-38

26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”

38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

“No word from God will ever fail.” Failproof; that is the nature and essence of God’s word because this is the nature and essence of God, Himself! In this ever-changing world full of unreliable things where the only thing that seems to be certain is uncertainty itself, we desperately need something certain and failproof that will never let us down. God’s word is exactly that!

Listen to what God says about His word:

Isaiah 55:1-3a;6;8;10-12

1 “Come, all you who are thirsty,

come to the waters;

and you who have no money,

come, buy and eat!

Come, buy wine and milk

without money and without cost.

2 Why spend money on what is not bread,

and your labor on what does not satisfy?

Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,

and you will delight in the richest of fare.

Have you ever been really hungry, but nothing seems to satisfy that hunger? You eat some potato chips, a couple Little Debbie snacks, a bowl of ice cream, a handful of cereal, but you’re still hungry. Why is that usually the case? Because you chose to eat a bunch of junk food with loads of calories, but very little nutritional content. Your body is craving the food that it was created for, but you continue to choose to fill it up with lesser things. A sandwich made with a few slices of thick bread would have brought the satisfaction and health that your body longed for.

Our souls are no different. If we continue to fill our mind with hours of empty content browsing through our Facebook timelines or binge watching TV, we’ll still be left empty, frustrated, and confused. If instead, we turned our ears to fill up our minds with what God says about us, we would be left satisfied and healthy. In fact, God says:

3 Give ear and come to me;

listen, that you may live.

6 Seek the Lord while he may be found;

call

This morning, we’re continuing our message series entitled, “God Encounters.” As we look forward to what this Christmas season holds, we also look ahead to what God has planned for us in the midst of it. We’re going to learn about God encounters as we work toward the ultimate God-encounter ever experienced; the pregnancy and birth of Jesus! Immanuel, literally God with us!

Last week, we were challenged to seek after God encounters in the midst of our daily routines as to avoid missing them as Jacob almost did and proclaiming, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.”

That God encounter gave Jacob peace in the midst of chaos, certainty in the midst of confusion, and guidance for his life’s journey. In fact, this morning, we look to the beginning of that promise of God unfolding. God was about to bless all nations through Jacob’s offspring and to increase his descendants, as numerous as the dust, spreading across the earth to the north, east, south, and west.

Before we read about this encounter with God, we’re first going to learn a little bit about one of the most common characters used to celebrate this time of year; angels. In fact, angels often play a large part in God encounters and they certainly do in today’s encounter. In fact, they were also a part of Jacob’s encounter with God as he saw them ascending and descending from heaven to earth.

We don’t know all of the details about angels, but there is quite a bit that the Bible teaches us about them. For time’s sake this morning, I won’t quote all of the references for these facts, but they are available upon request. We know that they were created by God before the creation of man. Although it is a commonly held belief, the Bible is very clear that angels are distinct creatures from humans. Angels are not chubby babies with wings. No, when we pass away, we do not become angels. Sure, we do receive new, heavenly bodies free from the corruption of sin, but we do not become angels.

As we learned from Elisha’s encounter with God last week, angels are usually not visible to us. When they do appear to us, they usually appear to us in human form. In fact, the Bible teaches that sometimes when we show hospitality to strangers, we are actually entertaining angels without realizing it. Although this is true, there are also many occasions when an angelic encounter caused people to be terrified. There are also descriptions of angels appearing like a human, but shining bright like lightning.

Angels are spirits sent to minister to Christians, they also serve as messengers of God and are warriors in His army. They essentially help to carry out the plans of God including the judgment of Jesus throughout the end time events and to separate the saved and unsaved at the final judgment. They also act to protect us and to bring us God’s revelation. Angels worship God and totally refuse to be worshipped themselves.

Although the Bible says that the amount of angels in existence are countless, we know that a third of them were cast out of Heaven and we now call those angels demons. Although they were created to carry out God’s plans, they now choose to rebel against God and to resist His plans. Satan, himself, was created as the most beautiful angel of them all and was responsible for waging that war in heaven believing that he could be equal to God.

Being warriors, there is a hierarchy among them and there are also different types. Two of the angels named in the Bible are Gabriel and Michael, who is also labelled as an archangel. The Bible also refers to specific types of angels such as cherubim and seraphim. Although, it really doesn’t explain what the differences are between them. There are also a few verses that seem to indicate that there are angels assigned to us as personally as guardian angels. However, these verses aren’t clear enough to say this for certain leaving this aspect an arguable matter.

Hopefully that helps to bring a little bit

With Thanksgiving behind us, we now enter into the Christmas season. We rush about planning our get-togethers and shopping for just the right gift for everyone on our list as the days fly by. In the midst of this busy time of the year, however, we don’t want to miss out on the precious time that we have together and the memories that we share.

This morning, we’re starting a new message series about such memories. As we look forward to what this Christmas season holds, we also look ahead to what God has planned for us in the midst of it. We’re going to learn about God encounters as we work toward the ultimate God-encounter ever experienced; the pregnancy and birth of Jesus! Immanuel, literally God with us!

In Psalm 139, David shares his revelation that no matter where we go, there the Presence of God is. He was left in awe of the thought of an inescapable God who loves us with an unstoppable love. David shared how God knows everything little thing about us, even our very thoughts. God, knowing all about us, and yet still choosing to love us.

In reality, this Psalm is a detailed revelation of God’s promise that He will never leave us nor forsake us. We have this assurance that we’re never truly alone and that God is always just a prayer away. However, we are also aware of another truth.

There are several times that we learn of in the scriptures that show us unique encounters that people had with God. Sure, God is always present, but there are unique encounters that we can have with God that make such a tremendous impact on us that we never forget them. In the Old Testament, people would actually construct altars and setup memorials after encounters with God like this so that they would never be forgotten and shared with all who visited those places.

All of us have places like this in our lives. We all have places that take us back to experiences and encounters that we had long ago, but feel like they just happened moments ago when we are there.

Perhaps it’s a table in that restaurant where you went on your first date with your spouse or a remote place out by that lake where you first clearly heard the voice of God and felt His Presence in an undeniable way. Perhaps it is walking through the halls of your old high school where many so many of your life experiences come freshly rushing back. Maybe it’s that field or court where you made that impossible play to win the game.

These places do far more than just bring back memories of those experiences. You also feel the feelings that you had, recall the sounds and scents surrounding you; every detail comes back as if though you were there again. You are completely taken right back in that moment where you experienced that encounter.

If these experiences leave such a strong impression on us, then how much more impactful and life-changing should our encounters with God’s Presence be?

I firmly believe that God still wants to meet with us in these ways and bring us into those encounters with Him that leave an everlasting impression on us. He desires to spend time with us and bring us into experiences that change and transform us at our core. It’s more than just His general presence around us, but an intimate and personal revelation of who He is.

We turn this morning to such an encounter.

Jacob had just met with his father who was going to pass away at any moment. He not only bought his brother’s birthright for a bowl of soup previously, but had also just now stolen his older brother’s blessing by deceiving his father and selfishly taking advantage of his failing health. His brother had planned to murder him as soon as his father passed away. His mother refused to allow him to marry any of the foreign women that they were living with and wanted him to marry from her own people far away.

We can only begin to imagine the incredible pressure that Jacob had to be feeling in these moments. Just take a moment to think about where he was at in life then and there. His

This week, we’re continuing our message series as we go through the parables of Jesus and learn from Him how to truly live life to its fullest.

A parable is a simple story that illustrates a moral or spiritual lesson. Jesus said that He taught using parables so that the secrets of His Kingdom would only be understood by those seeking after this revelation.

This week, we’re learning from a parable that Jesus used to teach us about wise living. We turn to a scene where His disciples came to Him privately and asked what signs they should be looking for that indicate His return and the end of the age. Jesus gave them several signs to be looking for and ended with a parable saying:

Matthew 24:32-51

32 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33 Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. 34 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.

42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

In my opinion, this is the most important thing that Jesus taught us about the end times. Sure, He gave us signs to watch for, but our focus is not to be on when the end comes. Jesus taught us to live life to its full and to always be ready because He will come when we do not expect Him. This in itself should give us enough wisdom to not get caught up in the assignments of times and dates of the end. When everyone says that it is going to happen, you can pretty much guarantee that it will not happen then.

45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46 It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48 But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ 49 and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. 50 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. 51 He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

How ought we live, then? We ought to live as though Jesus is coming again in five minutes, but plan as if though Jesus isn’t coming for another century. We want to live always ready to meet with Him.

Matthew 25:1-13

1 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

6 “At midnight the cry rang out:

This week, we’re continuing our message series as we go through the parables of Jesus and learn from Him how to truly live life to its fullest.

A parable is a simple story that illustrates a moral or spiritual lesson. Jesus said that He taught using parables so that the secrets of His Kingdom would only be understood by those seeking after this revelation.

The last few weeks, we focused on the value and worth that we place on the Kingdom of Heaven and our relationship with Jesus. This week, we’re being challenged on the issue of forgiveness.

Life is hard. We live in a fallen world and we are a sinful people still wrapped in this weak flesh. There are times when we are going to be hurt, wounded, and offended. We were created with the need for relationships with one another. We were intentionally created very unique from every person around us. We also come from very different backgrounds and life experiences. As a result, relationships are complicated.

Much good can come from relationships and we do desperately need one another. However, there will be times when those relationships come at a cost and with risk involved. One thing that is guaranteed in this fallen world is that we will hurt, wound, and offend one another. There are times when people with evil intentions do it, well, intentionally. There are also times when people do so with no intent nor awareness that it happened.

Whether intentional or unintentional, the hurt is still the same. This hurt, if we don’t handle it correctly, can cause deep roots of bitterness, distrust, and hostility in our lives. We were never designed to carry any of these; neither the initial hurt nor the destruction that this hurt can cause us.

For our own good and benefit, God made a way for us to trade in all of these things for healing. God made a way for us to trade in all of this ugliness for restoration. The path that leads to this transfer is called forgiveness.

Now before we even go into learning about forgiveness, Jesus starts by teaching us how we are supposed to handle it when someone does sin against us. This applies whether intentional or unintentional.

Matthew 18:15-35

15 “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.

This is where 90% of conflict and hurt is resolved, but it is the road not often travelled. It’s far easier to be hurt, talk to other people about that hurt, and allow them to console you and join in your crusade to share how bad that person is and how wrong they were. If we were to instead go and talk to that person one-on-one privately, our lives would contain so much more freedom and so much less baggage.

However, there is still that 10% chance that they did intend to hurt us and have no regret for doing so at all, then what?

16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’

I encourage you at this point to involve just a few others who can remain neutral in the conflict and preferably someone who cares about the both of you equally to discuss the issue. Sometimes our perspective is blinded by our hurt and anger and we don’t understand things accurately. Having a third party can help two individuals reach a level of mutual understanding of one another.

This step also can bring freedom and deliverance from abusive situations. Too often, people remain victims to another individual simply because they are afraid to reach out for help. Never face your situation alone, but use wisdom and God’s guidance in selecting who to confide in and how to safely proceed throughout the process from fear to freedom.

However, there is still a chance even at this point that the person meant to hurt you and still could care less about it. Well, Jesus teaches us how to handle that as well.

17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to liste

This week, we’re continuing our message series as we go through the parables of Jesus and learn from Him how to truly live life to its fullest.

A parable is a simple story that illustrates a moral or spiritual lesson. Jesus said that He taught using parables so that the secrets of His Kingdom would only be understood by those seeking after this revelation.

Last week, we began to focus on the value that we place on the Kingdom of Heaven. We began learning how we can practically be rich toward God and invest in His Kingdom. Jesus gave us these parables to teach us the value that we ought to place on the kingdom of heaven:

Matthew 13:44-46

44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

Our first point last week was how we place a value on the kingdom of heaven through our generosity. Living life with the reality that everything is God’s in mind helps us to be less stingy and more generous with everything in life, not only our finances.

This week, we’re moving on to some other ways in which we can be rich toward God and assign value to the kingdom of heaven.

2. Service

We can invest in the Kingdom of Heaven by our service to God and to others.

Philippians 2:3-7

3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

7 rather, he made himself nothing

by taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

To be like Jesus is to serve those around us. Sure, we provide opportunities for this in the church by serving in our multitude of ministries. However, we are called to have the same servant-attitude as Jesus had meeting the needs of anyone around us. To be a follower of Jesus is to be a minister, which simply means to be a servant.

Whether in this building or not, we are to be the church wherever we go serving the needs of others just as Jesus did. This means that wherever we are, we ought to be mindful and intentional about ways to serve those around us. This can be anything from pushing someone’s shopping cart back for them, taking them a meal, calling them to see how they are doing, or anything else that the Spirit may lead us to do.

Jesus reminds us in Matthew 25, that to serve someone even in the smallest of ways such as to give them a glass of water or to visit them, is to serve Him. In reality, God needs nothing; He does not need our service. For us to serve God is an honor and a privilege. It gives us an opportunity to assign value and worth to His Kingdom. To care for His creation blesses Him and certainly blesses us as well. To serve others is to be physical representatives of Jesus to them.

Some of us may need this reminder this morning:

Hebrews 6:10-12

10 God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. 11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. 12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

God remembers the times that we serve others and can even lead to the receipt of His promises. Sometimes, we serve and serve and it feels like it does not matter. His word encourages us to keep on loving, keep on diligently serving, and it will be rewarded by God who sees it all.

Of course, when we’re serving, we want to do so with the right attitude a

This week, we’re continuing our message series as we go through the parables of Jesus and learn from Him how to truly live life to its fullest.

A parable is a simple story that illustrates a moral or spiritual lesson. Jesus said that He taught using parables so that the secrets of His Kingdom would only be understood by those seeking after this revelation.

Last week, we learned from a few of Jesus’ parables the importance of the ‘lil things in life that may seem insignificant to us, but that are tremendously valuable to Him. Along the same theme, we’re being challenged this week again on the topic of value. Last week, it was on the value we place on the ‘lil things that we do in this life. This week, the focus is on the value that we place on the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus gave us these parables to teach us:

Matthew 13:44-46

44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

In our culture, much of our lives are consumed by value. Many families spend 80+ hours at workplaces to bring in enough income to raise their families. Prices of fuel, food, healthcare, and just about everything else continue to rise. The stress to pay routine household bills along with the cost of education, preparing for retirement, investment in sports and other extra-curricular activities, and trying to invest in time simply spent together is huge.

We are so consumed with the high value of all of the things of this world that we often consider lastly, or outright neglect, the value of our spiritual lives. We neglect Biblical literacy, shaping strong character, making good moral choices, and the critical impact that these things have on every area of life.

Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven is like a hidden treasure or pearl of great price. The one who finds it, sees its value, and is willing to give up every earthly thing for it. Jesus literally taught in the parable that the one who found a hidden treasure, with joy sold ALL that he had to buy that field. Jesus literally taught in the parable that the one who found the find pearl of great value, sold EVERYTHING he had to buy it.

These parables of Jesus were not intended to teach that we should all live in absolute poverty relying on other people for everything. The rest of the word of God clearly teaches us that this is not His will for our lives. The emphasis and focus of these parables was not on what we give up in this life for the kingdom of Heaven, but clearly on what value we place on it. So often, we get this wrong. If we count the cost, we have not seen the worth of the kingdom of heaven.

There is absolutely nothing wrong in having earthly wealth and possessions of great worldly value. However, if we gain those, but lack heavenly treasure, then we have wasted our lives. Our investments will be ripped from our hands and given to others. In the end, we will be left with nothing. Jesus says it this way to the church:

Revelation 3:15-18

15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

Jesus taught yet another parable on this same subject of what we consider to be valuable in this life. In fact, Jesus taught on this issue very often. This should cause each one of us to stop and take inventory of our lives. What a

This week, we’re continuing our message series as we go through the parables of Jesus and learn from Him how to truly live life to its fullest.

A parable is a simple story that illustrates a moral or spiritual lesson. Jesus said that He taught using parables so that the secrets of His Kingdom would only be understood by those seeking after this revelation.

This week, we’re going through a few parables that Jesus taught us about the importance of ‘lil things.

Sometimes in our lives, we get caught up in the sense of insignificance. We read about the incredible miracles of Jesus and the early church. We read about the heroic feats of the giants of the Old Testament who faced incredibly impossible obstacles, yet overcame them all. It’s easy to read through these testimonies as fables or stories, somehow bigger than life.

Then, we find ourselves busily going about our daily routines, overwhelmed with the struggles that we face, and we begin to question and wonder about our own faith. Do the things that we do matter to God? Am I missing out on a greater purpose that I could be living for God?

However, the Bible is careful to also include the details of the real emotions and failures and doubts that these same individuals faced; even Jesus, Himself. It reveals how often, these individuals didn’t necessarily choose greatness, but how God mightily used them. Most of these individuals likely never realized that their life stories would boost them to fame in God’s word.

Mary confessed to be just a humble servant of God, then chose to give birth and mother Jesus. David was just out tending to the sheep and anointed king of Israel. Esther was a poor orphan exalted as queen just because of her beauty and, well, as the Bible phrases it, her figure. Joseph was left for dead, sold into slavery, falsely imprisoned, and then became second in command over all of Egypt.

None of these individuals had the goal of becoming eternally famous for their faith, they were all simply humble people who were committed to serve and honor a great God. As a result, God turned their lives into something great.

Today, we’re going to learn just how incredibly impactful and tremendously great the ‘lil things are to Jesus.

In our culture, we often do not value the little things. Or, maybe more accurately, we mislabel what is valuable and significant. Consider this example. The CEO of a business is considered to be a person of great success and their work incredibly significant. At that same business, the janitor is thought to be a person of little ambition and their work somewhat unimportant. In reality, however, if the CEO didn’t do their work for one month, the business would probably keep on going without anyone really noticing their absence. If the janitor didn’t do their work for a month, every single person that even merely visits business would drastically notice their absence!

This cultural perspective often causes us to miss out on the importance and greatness of what is happening right around us in the midst of our routines. What we consider to be the ‘lil things, God often considers the most significant matters of life.

Things such as the small talk that you make with the postmaster when you pick up your mail, the smile that you give to the mom trying to round up her kids at the store, saying “thank you” to your co-worker, texting “hello” to that person going through a rough time; all of these things are ‘lil, but can radically transform the lives of those around us.

Think of God’s creation itself. We drive through a puddle and cruise right along to the next item on our agendas for the day never thinking a thing of it. However, if we take a look at just a single drop of water from that puddle under a microscope, an entirely new world teaming with life bustling about is revealed. We just radically transformed the life for those little protozoa, algae, arthropods, and rotifers as they were thrown through the air!

Jesus gave us these parables about ‘lil thing