Parables of the Kingdom

Over the summer months, we are looking at 9 of the parables of the Kingdom found in Matthew’s gospel. Actually it is 11, but 4 of them are so short and paired together in the Scriptures, we are looking at them together.

We are only looking at the parables that Jesus starts off by saying: “The Kingdom of God is like…”. There are other parables that teach or speak about the Kingdom of Heaven / God, but we had to restrict the number we looked at somehow. This blog series is following what we are doing on Sundays in our church. I or guest blogger Andrew Hook, will be posting the parable the week before we look at it on Sunday.

I hope that this will enable each of us to take some time to reflect on the parable during the week. So for those who will be there on the Sunday, we will have grappled personally with the text before we hear someone else’s thoughts and reflections. It would be good to leave some comments here too, so that our insights are shared with others … so go on, if you lurk here be brave! Anyone, whether part of our church or not, is welcome to participate. The MP3’s are posted here the week after the talk on the Sunday.

Here are the parables we will be looking at:

• Sun 7th July - Parable of the Hidden Treasure and Pearl (Mt 13:44-46)
• Sun 14th July - Parable of the Virgins (Mt 25:1-13)
• Sun 21st July - Parable of the Net (Mt 13: 47-52)
• Sun 28th July - Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard (Mt 20: 1-16)
• Sun 5th Aug - Parable of the wheat and the weeds (Mt 13: 24-30, 36-43)
• Sun 12th Aug - Parable of the wedding banquet (Mt 22: 1-14)
• Sun 19th Aug - Parable of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast (Mt 13: 31-34)
• Sun 26th Aug - Parable of the unmerciful servant (Mt 18: 21-35)
• Sun 9th Sept - Parable of the Talents (Mt 25: 14-30)

If you are wondering why we aren’t following the order in Matthew, it is solely that lots of different people are speaking this summer who are not available on the relevant Sundays if we were to do it in order.

With various coming and goings this Summer, if I or someone else isn’t that quick in responding to comments, it is probably because we are away and don’t have internet access! But I will eventually read all comments, as will many others, so please do leave your thoughts!

Tags: Parables