SERMON OUTLINE FOR AUGUST 16, 2009

 

Pastor Peter Hogeterp

Covenant Christian Reformed Church

Winnipeg, Canada

 

Scripture Reading: Matthew 13:24-30,36-43

Sermon Title: DISCIPLE OR DISCIPLINE? (4th in a Series on Paradoxes)

 

Introduction:

Every church has its own “boundary markers,” standards of behaviour that set us apart from other groups, faiths or churches. Some are shallow and superficial; some are deep and significant. What do we do with those who don’t conform?

 

I The Parable: The Kingdom of Heaven is Like a Sower who sows good seeds

a)     The Sower sowed good wheat seeds

b)    During the night, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat

c)     The fieldhands asked if they should pull out the weeds

d)    The farmer decided tolet the weeds and wheat grow together

e)     The winnowing would take place at the harvest

 

II Jesus explains the Parable

a)     The Sower of the good seed is the Son of Man

b)    The field is the world

c)     The good seed is the children of the Kingdom

d)    The bad seed is the children of the Evil One; the sower of the bad seed is Satan

e)     The harvest time is the End of the Age

f)     The harvesters are the angels; they will pull up the weeds and burn them

 

III The Impact of the Parable on the Disciples

a)     The disciples would have liked the boundary markers defined more clearly

b)    They would have liked the weeds pulled out and destroyed; they would have been happy to do that

c)     But the winnowing wasn’t going to take place till the Judgment Day

d)    And the winnowers were going to be the Angels

 

IV The Implication of the Parable for us

a)     God’s way of dealing with sinful people is not our way

b)    God could show his mighty distaste for evil by destroying evil people

c)     But God prefers to give them every possible opportunity to repent

d)    Christ’s concern is always positive, never negative

e)     Disciple and nurture; not punish and destroy

 

Conclusion:

Early in my ministry I had two pivotal experiences that shaped my thinking about weeds and wheat, discipling and disciplining, punishment and tolerance. I Timothy 2:4, “God our Saviour…wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”