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Kingdom Truths: Parable of the Good Samaritan

Pastor Angela Luk

Luke 10:25-37

What’s in a neighbour?

Loving one’s neighbour is a matter of…

• The Greatest Commandment (Love God first!)

• Our intentions (WHY we choose to approach)

• Our attitude (HOW we choose to approach)

• Stewardship of what we’ve been given (WHAT we put into it)

God’s Justice and Loving our Neighbour are deeply intertwined

Ask yourself: who is your neighbour?

Jesus says to the scribe (and to us): “Go and do likewise.” (10:37)

**Big Idea: **Loving our neighbour shows no preference, no differentiation, no favouritism. When we love our neighbour, we become messengers of Jesus’ love to others.

Kingdom Truths: Parable of the 10 Virgins

Speaker: Rev. Kelly Tam

Scripture: Matthew 25:1-13

“Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids[a] who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps, 4 but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil. 5 When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

6 “At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’

7 “All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. 8 Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’

9 “But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’

10 “But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. 11 Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’

12 “But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’

13 “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.

—Matthew 25:1-13 NLT

How can we be prepared for the Kingdom of Heaven?

Understand that we need a Saviour

The fool says they don’t need anything, but the wise will know they need to be saved.

By planning ahead and doing the hard work.

The fool procrastinates but the wise do the hard work.

Reminding ourselves this is not our final home.

The fool is deceived, but the wise know the truth.

Kingdom Truths: Introduction

Speaker: Rev. Ho-Ming Tsui

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-58

Why does Jesus speak in parables? (v. 10-15)

Understanding Parables:

1. Look for the one central truth in each parable

2. Look for one theme across different parables

3. Remember the cultural context

The First Four Parables:

• The seed and soil (v. 3-9; with explanation v. 18-23)

• The wheat & weeds (v. 24- 30 w/ explanation 36-43)

• The mustard seed (v. 31-32)

• The yeast and the loaf (v. 33)

The Second Four Parables:

• The hidden treasure (v. 44)

• The pearl of great price (v. 45-46)

• The fishnet (v. 47-50)

• The householder (v. 52)

What is the Central Theme? Bearing fruit for the Kingdom is a long and often painful process… but the King is with you and fighting for you!

God’s Justice, Our Neighbouring

Speaker: Pastor Jon Nip

Scripture: Malachi 2:17-3:5

You have wearied the LORD with your words. “How have we wearied him?” you ask…

—Malachi 2:17a

But you have burdened me with your sins and wearied me with your offenses.

—Isaiah 43:24

All who do evil are good in the eyes of the Lord, and he is pleased with them” or “Where is the God of justice?

—Malachi 2:17b

IDENTIFIES & RESISTS FALSEHOODS

I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the LORD Almighty.

—Malachi 3:1

Malachi: “messenger of God.”

REFINED BY HIS TRUTH

God’s justice is compassionate

Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!

—Isaiah 30:18

God’s justice refines and restores

For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. —Malachi 3:2-3

God’s justice is for all

But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? —Malachi 3:2

So I will come to put you on trial. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive the foreigners among you of justice. —Malachi 3:5

Devotion and worship to God is INCOMPATIBLE with injustice

WORKING FOR JUSTICE AND AGAINST INJUSTICE

Long for humility, conviction, and correction

Listen and learn from the margins

Live out a holistic gospel

Laying down ourselves

If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” “Which ones?” he inquired. Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.

—Matthew 19:17-19

Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.

—Matthew 19:21

Sticky Faith

Speaker: Rev. Karen Tam

Question:

Why the youth of today are leaving church?

How can we make their faith stick?

Intergeneraltional (IG) Ministry

“IG is with intentionality in bringing 2 or more different generations together for ministries. Through their interactions, they learn from each other in their spiritual walk with Christ.”

Virtues of IG Ministry

• Humility

• Respect

• Acceptance

• Patience

IG Ministry is Authentic Faith in Real Lives

Into the Wilderness

Speaker: Pastor Angela Luk

Scripture: Luke 5:16

But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.

—Luke 5:16 (NLT)

The Problem: The fast pace of our world makes it difficult to pull away from our constant state of working so that we can slow down and spend essential time with God. Many of us have devalued the importance of spending regular time with God by giving the priority to the next thing on our to-do list (this is a DAILY decision).

Central Idea: Sometimes it takes letting go of our control over certain things in our life to gain greater control and freedom over the more essential things in our life.

What is the example Jesus is setting that so purposefully contradicts the flow of society?

• Jesus retreated to teach others to do the same.

• The reason Jesus was able to constantly pour into the lives of other people was because he himself allowed himself to be poured into on a regular basis.

• Solitude provided the time and space for Jesus to be led and influenced by the will and desires of the Father.

Our Response:

• Make it a habit - set a rhythm

• Find accountability - tell someone about your intentions

• Give God first priority in your daily schedule - lock it in before anything else

If one route is not working…explore and be willing to take a different route into the wilderness!

Esther: For A Time Such As This

Kingdoms of Heaven and Earth

Speaker: Rev. Ho-Ming Tsui

Scripture: Esther 8-10

Two Key Observations:

• no mention of God = “I don’t feel God’s presence”

• no miracles from God = “I don’t see God’s work”

A Theology of Possibility:

• Learning to SPOT the activity of God - knowing God is still at work for us.

• Learning to JOIN the activity of God — knowing God is still at work through us.

Joining the Activity of God:

a. Seek Justice (for a time such as this)

b. Choose Joy (for a time such as this)

Esther: For A Time Such As This

The Hope of Deliverance

Speaker: Rev. Shu-Ling Lee

Scripture: Esther 7-8:14

RECAP Esther 1-6

SUMMARIZING Esther 7-8:14

CLARIFYING Esther 7-8:14

Prescription vs. Description

BIG IDEA: In positions of worldly power, position and/or influence, could God be giving you an opportunity to make a difference for His purposes?

Now write another decree in the king’s name on behalf of the Jews as seems best to you, and seal it with the king’s signet ring—for no document written in the king’s name and sealed with his ring can be revoked.

—Esther 8:8

1. We may have to work within this world’s system and structures, but doesn’t mean we have to perpetuate them.

2. WARNING: You may gain a certain worldly influence to make a difference in this life, but don’t forget, the world can rid of you just as easily.

CONCLUSION

Esther: For A Time Such As This

Present, Yet Unseen

Speaker: Rev. Kelly J. Tam

Scripture: Esther 5:9-6:14

We can be encouraged to trust in God’s plan even in the face of injustice and oppression.

1. Haman’s Pride (5:11)

2. Haman’s Status (5:12)

3. Haman’s Vengeance (5:14)

What can we learn about God’s faithfulness?

1. God has His timing

2. God has his purpose

3. We can trust God’s timing and purpose

Esther: For A Time Such As This

Through Faith and with Courage

”If I die, I die”

Speaker: Pastor Stephen Hsu

Scripture: Esther 4:15-5:8 NIV

Sermon Notes

BIG IDEA: To find God during crisis, we must learn to fast & pray, be willing to risk all, and wait upon the Lord.

HOW TO FIND GOD DURING YOUR BIGGEST PROBLEMS

1. Fast & Feast 4:16a)

“Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done,” —Esther 4:16a NIV

“In every province to which the edict and order of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing…” —Esther 4:3 NIV

Even now,” declares the Lord,“return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.”—Joel 2:12 NIV

2. Don’t Fear Failure (4:16b)

“…I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” —Esther 4:16b NIV

3. Wait For God (4:17-5:8)

Why didn’t God include His own Name in the book of Esther?

“whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” —Colossians 1:16b-17 NIV