Venture Expeditions Northern Tour Team @ NMBC

Pictured here are the eighteen cyclists from across the country beginning their final day of travel to New York City having departed from Seattle on June 8th. This is the third summer NMBC has hosted Venture's Northern Tour team. These cyclists make this cross country trek to increase awareness and raise funds for mission work in Southeast Asia. You can go here for more information about Venture Expeditions and the mission work that is supported.

Parables: The Workers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16) Questions for Reflection

Dig Deeper

At one time or another we’ve all attempted to negotiate with God, “God if You ______, I promise I will _______!” I imagine most of us have also sought to appeal to God on the basis of our “spiritual résumé”, “God, consider how I’ve faithfully _________, especially compared to __________. Surely You will __________.” In His parable, The Workers in the Vineyard, Jesus uses the relationship between a generous landowner and day laborers to illustrate how we ought to approach God.

Read the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard in Matthew 20:1-16. What do you observe about the following parables in this parable?

Landowner--

Workers recruited in the early morning--

Workers recruited at 9:00 AM (third hour), Noon (sixth hour), &  3:00 PM (Ninth hour)--

Workers recruited at 5:00 PM (eleventh hour)--

Read Acts 8:18-25. A man known as “Simon the Sorcerer” sought to negotiate with the apostles for the power to perform spiritual works. How did the apostle Peter respond to him? What does this reveal about the folly of attempting to negotiate with God?

Read Philippians 3:4-9. In Philippians 3:4-6 the apostle Paul lists his “spiritual résumé” prior to his conversion to Christ. What did he ultimately conclude about appealing to God on the basis of one’s own merit?

Read Jesus’ Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector in Luke 18:9-14. How is the approach of the tax collector and appeal based on God’s goodness?

Application

The third verse of the hymn Rock of Ages reads, “Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to the cross I cling… Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee.” The phrase “cleft of the rock” comes from Exodus 33:22, “So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by.” (NKVJ) How ought understanding Christ as your Rock affect your approach to God?

Memorize This

Matthew 19:26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” NIV

Living Under Authority-- following the example of Joshua and Caleb

The last verse of the Old Testament book of Judges reads ominously, “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” Judges 21:25, ESV. In other words each person decided for themselves what was “right” and in the end did whatever they wanted to do. The result was calamity for the people of Israel-- rampant idolatry, famine, immorality, frequent invasion by hostile neighbors, and ultimately the loss of the nation’s most prized possession, the Ark of the Covenant.  

The worst part is these calamities were entirely avoidable.  When Joshua was called by God to lead His people into the Promised Land he received this command and promise from God.

Above all, be strong and very courageous to carefully observe the whole instruction

My servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or the left, so that

you will have success wherever you go. This book of instruction must not depart from

your mouth; you are to recite it day and night so that you may carefully observe

everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do.

Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged,

 for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”  Joshua 1:7-9

Imagine the thoughts that must have flooded Joshua’s mind when he learned that the time had come to fill the leadership shoes of Moses? As the book of Joshua unfolds we see Joshua himself possessed great leadership ability and military acumen but what set him apart occurred years earlier when he was a young man. Joshua was commissioned to succeed Moses in Numbers 27, “The Lord replied to Moses, ‘Take Joshua son of Nun, a man who has the Spirit in him, and lay your hands on him” (Numbers 27:18). From this time until Moses’ death Joshua served as second in command.

We first meet Joshua in Numbers 13 as one of the twelve scouts selected by Moses to explore the land of Canaan which God had promised to Israel. Following this mission only two scouts, Joshua and Caleb were willing to take God at His Word and enter the land of Canaan. Read the following selected Scriptures from Numbers 13 and 14. How does Joshua and Caleb’s recognition of the authority of God’s Word and Moses differ from the rest?

Numbers 13:1-2, 17-20, 25 (Instructions)

The Lord spoke to Moses: “Send men to scout out the land of Canaan I am giving to the Israelites. Send one man who is a leader among them from each of their ancestral tribes.

When Moses sent them to scout out the land of Canaan, he told them, “Go up this way to the Negev, then go up into the hill country. See what the land is like, and whether the people who live there are strong or weak, few or many. Is the land they live in good or bad? Are the cities they live in encampments or fortifications? Is the land fertile or unproductive? Are there trees in it or not? Be courageous. Bring back some fruit from the land.” It was the season for the first ripe grapes.

At the end of 40 days they returned from scouting out the land.

Numbers 13:27-29, 31-33 (Majority Report)

They reported to Moses: “We went into the land where you sent us. Indeed it is flowing with milk and honey, and here is some of its fruit. However, the people living in the land are strong, and the cities are large and fortified. We also saw the descendants of Anak there. The Amalekites are living in the land of the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live by the sea and along the Jordan.”

But the men who had gone up with him responded, “We can’t go up against the people because they are stronger than we are!” So they gave a negative report to the Israelites about the land they had scouted: “The land we passed through to explore is one that devours its inhabitants, and all the people we saw in it are men of great size. We even saw the Nephilim there—the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim! To ourselves we seemed like grasshoppers, and we must have seemed the same to them.”

Numbers 13:30; 14:6-9 (Caleb & Joshua’s Report)

Then Caleb quieted the people in the presence of Moses and said, “We must go up and take possession of the land because we can certainly conquer it!”

Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who scouted out the land, tore their clothes and said to the entire Israelite community: “The land we passed through and explored is an extremely good land. If the Lord is pleased with us, He will bring us into this land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and give it to us. Only don’t rebel against the Lord, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land, for we will devour them. Their protection has been removed from them, and the Lord is with us. Don’t be afraid of them!”

The people didn’t listen to Joshua and Caleb and unless God had intervened would have appointed another leader and gone back to Egypt (Numbers 14:4). The consequence of their rejection of God’s authority was that they would wonder in the wilderness for forty years. Only their children and Joshua and Caleb would live long enough to see the Promised Land! (Numbers 14:22-24)

Everyone is called to live under authority and the Christian understands ultimate authority is to rest with God and His Word. In our day we’ve not been promised a land, but just like Joshua we have been given a mission. To successfully fulfill that mission we must recognize the authority of the Scriptures over our lives.

All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for

 correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete,

equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

How is the Holy Spirit leading you to recognize and submit to the leadership of God’s Word in your life?

Parables: Old & New Wineskins Luke 5:36-39 Questions for Reflection and Discussion

Dig Deeper

Jesus’ parable new wine in old wineskins is found in Matthew 9:16-17; Mark 2:21-22; and Luke 5:36-39. He tells this parable in response to a question about fasting, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” (Mark 2:18).

Jesus was not opposed to the spiritual discipline of fasting where one instead of eating spends mealtime in prayer and fellowship with God. Fasting can be for one meal, a day or for many days. Jesus Himself fasted for forty days (Matthew 4:2) and when asked by his disciples as to why they were unable to help a boy with an unclean spirit replied, “"This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting” (Mark 9:29 HCSB). Jesus is simply stating that the time for His disciples to fast would be after He “is taken away” (Luke 5:35).

Jesus told the parable of new wine in old wineskins to contrast the old and new covenants. What do the following Scriptures reveal about these covenants?

Old Covenant

Deuteronomy 28:1-68--

Joshua 1:2-9--

New Covenant

Jeremiah 31:31-34--

Hebrews 8:8-13; 9:15--

Mark 14:24; Luke 22:20; 1 Corinthians 11:25--

Application

Consider setting aside time this week to fast and pray (whether for a meal or day), simply to worship God and enjoy your relationship with Christ. Use this time to meditate on a favorite Psalm or other Scripture asking the Holy Spirit to deepen your walk with Christ.   

Memorize This

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. NIV

Hidden Treasure-- by Modern Parables

Hidden Treasure - Modern Parables from Compass Cinema on Vimeo.

This Sunday we continue our teaching series, Parable taking a closer look at the Parable of the Hidden Treasure in Matthew 13:44. Check out this video by Modern Parables for a remake of this "classic." Parents, use this video for family devotions. Download a lesson for this video here.

Agency D3 VBS at NMBC Highlight Video

More Than Just A Good Man-- VBS Day 1

Parables: The Great Banquet (Luke 14:15-24) Questions for Reflection and Discussion

Dig Deeper

In Jesus’ Parable of the Great Banquet He warns the ancient Israel of the consequence of their rejecting His invitation to the kingdom and the subsequent invitation that was then to be extended to the Gentiles. The same spiritual roadblocks that prevented Jesus’ hearers from embracing the kingdom of God are often obstacles to the gospel in our day.

Read the Parable of the Great Banquet in Luke 14:15-24. John 1:11 states, “He (Jesus) came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him” (HCSB). How is Jesus’ parable a commentary on this verse?

Jesus frequently uses a celebratory banquet to illustrate the gospel call. What insights about the invitation of Jesus do the following Scripture provide?

Matthew 8:11--

Matthew 22:8-10--

Matthew 25:10--

Luke 13:29--

Luke 14:12-14; 15, 21-24--

Luke 15:22-24--

Revelation 19:9--

What prompted Jesus to tell this parable? (Luke 14:15, 12-14)

Who does the “certain man” in the parable represent?  (Luke 14:16)

Application

In Luke 14:23 the master instructs his servant to “Go out” and “compel them to come in.” How does this command reflect Jesus’ commission to His followers? (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; and 2 Corinthians 5:20) How is the Holy Spirit leading you to apply this to your life?

Memorize This

2 Corinthians 5:20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. NIV