Matthew 13

"Dear Precious Disciple, Satan uses a very effective form of temptation on many of you who are My followers. He gets you to avoid looking at your own...."

Are you ready to do what Jesus asks you to do with his money? Financial peace and faithfulness is tied to being willing to follow Jesus and also honor the Kingdom in our disciplined and spontaneous giving.

"Later that same day Jesus left the house and sat beside the lake. A large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat there and..."

"Here is another story Jesus told: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. But that night as the workers slept, his..."

"[Jesus'] disciples came and asked him, "Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?" He replied, "You are permitted to understand the..."

"Then, leaving the crowds outside, Jesus went into the house. His disciples said, "Please explain to us the story of the weeds in the field." Jesus..."

"When Jesus had finished telling these stories and illustrations [about the Kingdom], he left [Capernaum]. He returned to Nazareth, his hometown. When...."

"[Jesus continued his explanation of the parable of the weeds:] "Just as the weeds are sorted out and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of....."

"[Jesus continued teaching about the Kingdom:] "Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a fishing net that was thrown into the water and caught fish of..."

"[Jesus continued:] "Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds: ... The seed on the rocky soil represents those who...."

"And [the people in Nazareth] were deeply offended and refused to believe in [Jesus]. Then Jesus told them, "A prophet is honored everywhere except..."

"Dear Faithful Follower, Hide and seek is a great children's game. However, it is a dangerous and deadly spiritual game. If you are My follower, don't..."

"[Jesus continued talking to his disciples:] "But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. I tell you the truth, many..."

"[Jesus continued:] "Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds: ... The seed that fell among the thorns represents....."

"Here is another illustration Jesus used: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it..."

"And so they rejected him. Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is respected everywhere except in his hometown and by his own family.’ Because they did not...."

"[Concerning his explanations of the parables about the Kingdom, Jesus asked his disciples:] "Do you understand all these things?" "Yes," they..."

"Jesus always used stories and illustrations like these when speaking to the crowds. In fact, he never spoke to them without using such parables. This...."

"[Jesus continued teaching about the Kingdom:] "Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. When he discovered a...."

"[Jesus continued:] "Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds: The seed that fell on the footpath represents those...."

Inspirational illustration of Matthew 13:31-32 -- He told them another parable: The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden

"Dear Seeker, Folks have talked for centuries about My methods as a teacher. Many have been intrigued by My stories that are often called parables..."

"Dear Beloved of the Father, You are a child of God; so I want to open your heart to hear two incredible truths found below in two simple stories that..."

What I learned about Jesus from a pencil... We can learn many spiritual lessons from everyday things and events.

"[Jesus concluded his explanation of the parable of the soils:] "The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God's....."

"Jesus also used this illustration: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in....."

"[Jesus continued teaching about the Kingdom:] "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he..."

"[Jesus continued explaining his parable of the soils, saying,] "The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the...."

"Dear Child of the King of Glory, The kingdom of heaven is powerful. You are a part of that kingdom. You are a child of the King. Great power is at..."

Inspirational illustration of Matthew 13:52 nLT -- “Every teacher of religious law who becomes a disciple in the Kingdom of Heaven is like a homeowner who brings from his storeroom new gems of truth as well as old.”

Inspirational illustration of Matthew 13:22 -- The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.

You know you don't fit, so why climb into someone else's pigeon hole for you? Rubel Shelly reminds us that we can refuse to climb into the pigeonholes that other people have made for us because we know who our real Father is.

Yes, the seed is still enough of a mystery to keep me interested while I wait for the full blessing of its secrets to reach full bloom. Phil Ware begins a four week series on seed, towel, promise, and torchlight as he looks at Jesus' last hours on earth and what they mean for us.

Do you know where your buried treasure is hidden? Sometimes our greatest treasures are right under our noses at home.

When was the last time you seriously entertained a new thought or considered a new idea? Rubel Shelly challenges us to entertain new thoughts and consider fresh ideas and be willing to make new changes.

Finding more than we are looking for! Russ Lawson talks about the origin of the word serendipity and asks how we will use these blessings in our lives?

Yes, the seed is still enough of a mystery to keep me interested while I wait for the full blessing of its secrets to reach full bloom. Phil Ware begins a four-week series on seed, towel, promise, and torchlight as he looks at Jesus' last hours on earth and what they mean for us.

What are you searching for? Patrick Odum writes about Alaska, Skagway, gold, searching, treasure, and the Kingdom of God.

Have you been trusting in the wrong things? It is so easy to be deceived by the evil one, but the Scriptures can help us like they helped Jesus overcome temptation.

How much joy do you get out of sacrifice? Sacrifices that allow us to share in the life of God should bring us joy.

We all need to discover that Jesus is not just alive and interceding for us at the right hand of God, but he is also present with us now as our resurrected Lord, Savior, and friend. Phil Ware shares how we can experience Jesus in our lives based on Jesus' promises and Matthew's story of Jesus in his Gospel.

This trek of discovery was our great joy in a year of deep sorrow. In the process, each of us discovered treasures old and new. Phil Ware continues his series on how the Bible and how God values women and their role in ministry.

Does God really have a bigger dream for you than He gave Joseph and Mary? Rick Brown shares an insight from the Westjet Santa Claus video and says we need to ask God for more and greater vision.

Our prayers often treat God as if he is the free Amazon delivery service for our every whim and want. Phil Ware with Andy Johnson remind us that our prayer is for the bread we need today, not the extravagance we want for ourselves.

It's new! Improved! It's easy to want what everyone else is getting. But it's also very, very dangerous. God can help you learn to be happy with what you have.

Are we really willing to make Jesus the center of our life. Phil Ware reminds us that Jesus is the center of everything, our salvation, our time, our hope, but will we make Jesus the center of our lives?

What can this old story powerfully say to our geopolitical messes of today? Phil Ware shares his series for December 2015 on welcoming Jesus and focuses on the Magi from the gospel of Matthew and lets that story remind us our need to reach out to the lost and foreigner and alien and refugee among us.