Team,

We are in the sixth week of the Telling Secrets parable series. I will be leading as the digital pastor along with John and Sara Claypool as digital hosts. Pastor Rob will be sharing on - The parable of the two sons / Matthew 21:28-32 Our call is not to simply agree with God’s Word but live our lives in response to it.

Check out the service details below:

Worship Songs

Won't Stop Now - Elevation Worship
Holy Spirit - Bryan and Katie Torwalt
There is a Name - Hillsong
O Come to the Altar - Elevation Worship

FIA (Faith in Action) - Turkey Drive for RFM

Background:

Matthew 21:28-32 touches on crucial themes previously addressed regarding the nature of God's Kingdom—the centrality of God’s grace and the dangers of spiritual pride. But added to these here is the importance of repentance. In Jesus, a new way of living has been opened that requires us to change our minds about who God is and who we are in relationship to Him.

Here Jesus makes one of his most provocative statements in all the parables (Matthew 21:31). He tells these religious leaders that those previously seen as outsiders are now taking their spots in God’s kingdom. He points out they hold a perverted understanding of God’s Righteousness that leads them to believe they're different from other people (Luke 18:9-14). The difference between heaven and hell is not one’s record, but the mercy and grace of God.

Further, this refusal to see God at work in the ministry of John the Baptist was now keeping them from a work of the gospel in their own lives. As Christians, we too can become blind to what God is doing or wants to do in our lives and church. Our faith becomes focused on maintaining the status quo when God is calling us into the world where his power and love are at work.

This parable is a challenge for us to change our minds about God. Jesus’ opening question should be one we ask ourselves every time open the bible and read it: What do you think? We must allow God’s Word to get past our prejudices and fears to penetrate our hearts. And then when His Word challenges our hearts—and our settled points of view in how he works in the world—we must change our minds. The central decision of our faith is to change our mind, to repent. When we refuse to do this, we condemn ourselves (Matthew 21:32)

Peter Englert
Adult Ministries Director at Browncroft Community Church

Browncroft Community Church Sunday 10:30 EDT

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