Outsiders and insiders: Ever feel like an outsider? Not a nice feeling to be pushed out or kept out of somewhere you want to be. If you can relate to that, then you are well set to understand one of Jesus’ parables of judgment on those who make people outsiders. This is not only personally relevant but has big implications for the church in our day. The biggest question facing the church in the post modern world is the question of inclusion and exclusion—who is in God’s kingdom and who is outside. Today I’m not going to tell you what to believe, but help you figure out how to think biblically on an issue like this.

The parable for today which concludes our series on Outrageous Grace is from Matthew 22:1-14 known as the parable of the Wedding Banquet. My title is “Count Yourself In!” (Mike Nichols)

Linda Del Fabro-Smith speaks to us about the Parable of the Temple Tax.

MATTHEW 17:24-27 24When they arrived at Capernaum, the tax men came to Peter and asked, “Does your teacher pay taxes?”
25Peter said, “Of course.”
But as soon as they were in the house, Jesus confronted him. “Simon, what do you think? When a king levies taxes, who pays—his children or his subjects?”
26-27He answered, “His subjects.”
Jesus said, “Then the children get off free, right? But so we don’t upset them needlessly, go down to the lake, cast a hook, and pull in the first fish that bites. Open its mouth and you’ll find a coin. Take it and give it to the tax men. It will be enough for both of us.”

When we read the Bible it’s best to read a full chapter as a whole – rather than pulling out one verse or section to study. By reading the chapter as a whole we can see repeated concepts and themes which lead us to the main truths of the passage. Matthew 20 is a look at the hierarchy of God’s Kingdom. Matthew 20 contains a parable about workers in a vineyard (and their desire for fair hierarchy), prediction of Jesus’ crucifixion, a mother’s fight for her two sons to get some glory, and the fight of two blind men seeking sight. The repeated refrain of THE FIRST SHALL BE LAST is explicitly stated and highlighted in parable and interaction with the disciples. What does this mean? Why does God think the first shall be last and the last first is a good idea?

(Robbie & Jenn Ohlhauser)

The parable of the tenants is a wonderful example of what happens when Jesus encounters the religious leaders of his day. They have already questioned Jesus’ authority, and in this parable it’s his turn to question their use of authority and power. At the end of the parable, Jesus talks about the Kingdom of God being taken away from these leaders. He wraps it up by talking about the choice between being ‘broken’ or being ‘crushed’. Yet, in the midst of his judgment (and theirs) there is a message of grace.

What does it mean to be a good tenant, and what makes a bad one?

The parable of the Good Samaritan is one of those jewels in the Bible that has all the features of a satisfying B movie. It’s got a victim, some villains, a crime, some more villains, a hero and a happy ending. But who would think that such a simple tale would shake the cultural status quo to its bones when Jesus told it to a young Pharisee? That this story of kindness shown by a stranger would be so controversial – then and now?

Today we’ll examine how the parable expresses something profound and outrageous about the Kingdom of God and how we are invited to participate in loving without limits.

I am shaking with nervous excitement as I write out how this parable has changed my heart and mind. God led me towards an honest examination of how Christ speaks in this parable. It has been deeply helpful for moving forward in my own story.

Honestly, I have been sitting around waiting for God to give me that moment of “inspiration”. When it came, I wanted to wait around and believe that I should pray more about it or decipher the code and disbelieve that it was the Holy Spirit. But, it was simpler than I expected. For me, this story relates to me working towards my Master’s degree. For a long time I have hesitated from moving forward with this Master’s because I don’t honestly want to do the work. I put on a very excited face and charm when people ask me about doing my Master’s but afterwards I feel far from integrity, closer to pride, and scared that I won’t find a ‘home’. Yet, I have looked at this situation very practically; I have an opportunity to “use” my parent’s money in order to fit into a culture that will see me differently after I have my Master’s. I believe that while this step still makes me cringe, I am going risk being shrewd in order to live a radical future in the work of God’s kingdom.

We as people and a community are constantly being pulled into the purposes of God, in spite of our lost-ness.

(The parable for today is Luke 16: 1-9) (Luke Wilson)

This morning we talk of money. It would be better if you left your wallets and purses at home. You might be caught up in a wind of frivolous generosity! Watch out!
Plus! We host a debate between Scott Campbell (advocating for a Christian community where the rich care for the poor) and Dave Strilchuk (advocating for affluence without avarice, generosity with personal responsibility) — at least that is how I summarize it.

Think of these thoughts from the Bible scholar, William Barclay: “Money in itself is neither good nor bad; it is simply dangerous in that the love of it may become bad. With money a man can do much good; and with money he can do much evil. With money a man can selfishly serve his own desires; and with money he can generously answer to the cry of his neighbour’s need. With money a man can buy his way to the forbidden things and facilitate the path of wrongdoing; and with money he can make it easier for someone else to live as God meant him to live. Money brings power, and power is always a double edged thing, for it is powerful to good and powerful to evil.” (Paddy Ducklow)

Theologian Miroslav Volf once wrote, “There is a profound ‘injustice’ about the God of the biblical traditions. It is called grace.” Today we will be encountering a parable that is often considered a parable of judgment—a parable that deals with the execution of justice. But is there room within grace for judgment? And should there be? Why does Jesus tell this parable to his disciples, and what are we to take from it? How does this parable confront us with the mystery of the Kingdom of God? Is grace simply the bait used by God in a cosmic bait-and-switch strategy, or is judgment an integral part of His plans to embrace, bless, and empower? We will explore these and other questions together as we look at the parable of the entrusted treasure, often called the parable of the talents, in Matthew 25:14-30.

This week, Kim continues our series on Outrageous Grace, speaking about the parables of the Lost Sheep and the Prodigal Son.

Having to explain the punchline of a joke is a little like trying to preach on a New Testament parable. Jesus’ words had immediacy and a simplicity that is easily lost on us today. Jesus took everyday things and characters from his world, and told stories about them to confront his listeners with truths about the Kingdom of God. If a preacher explains and dissects too much, the power and provocation inherent in Jesus’ parables gets lost. So, as we begin our summer series on the parables of Jesus, our plan is to tell them as simply as possible, and then wonder about them together as a community, listening to what God might provoke and stir up in us as we listen to His word and to each other.