Parables: The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree (Luke 13) Questions for Reflection

Jesus tells The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree in response to a question from the crowd regarding the cruel execution of Galilean pilgrims at the hands of the Roman governor, Pilate. Luke 11:54 and numerous other scriptures expose the motives behind such questions by the scribes and Pharisees as intended “to catch him in something he might say.” Jesus avoiding the political trap of this question instead focuses the crowd on the universal need for repentance (Luke 13:3, 5). 

The parable itself served as both a warning and an opportunity for ancient Israel. It was a warning to Israel as God’s people to repent or face certain judgment. It was an opportunity in that God is patient and willing to restore them should they repent. While there are theological differences between Israel as God’s people and the church, there are essential lessons in this parable for Christians today.

What do the following scriptures reveal about the necessity of repentance in both salvation and everyday Christian life?

Luke 5:32--

Acts 3:19; 5:31; and 11:18--

Ezekiel 18:23; and 2 Peter 3:9--

James 5:19-20--

Hebrews 3:12-15--

In a related teaching recorded in John 15:1 Jesus declared, “I am the true vine and my Father is the Vinedresser.” Read John 15:1-11. What does it mean to abide in Christ? How does the Christian experience “pruning”? What is the “fruit” spoken of by Jesus in this passage?

Application

In between His calls for repentance Jesus references a calamity that occurred when the “tower in Siloam fell and killed” eighteen people. (Luke 13:4). The correct response to calamity is compassion. How does living a repentant life lead you to a greater capacity for compassion?

Memorize This

John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 

Family Ministry A-Team

Enjoyed a great meeting the week with NMBC's Children's Ministry A-Team! For more information about making a difference in the lives of children and youth through our Family Ministry make sure to sign up for the Family Ministry Summit September 14th. Lear more about the Family Ministry Summit here.

BGR Assisting Iraq Refugees

Here's the report of assistance being provided by BGR to Iraq refugees--

IRAQ –– While the world’s attention is been riveted on the plight of Iraq’s suffering Yazidi community, BGR humanitarian partners have been working in other parts of the country among some 250,000 other displaced Iraqis.Those efforts focused on providing survival supplies to newly arrived refugees and helping displaced families launch businesses that can provide for their long-term needs.

News outlets reported Aug. 11 that Kurdish fighters were able to rescue some 20,000 Yazidi Iraqis after airstrikes broke a siege conducted by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) militia. The United States and United Kingdom both had airdropped supplies to that group of Yazidis, which has since made the hard trek to the Syrian border.

As ISIS fighters overran the cities of Mosul, Tikrit and Tel Afar, an estimated 200,000 people fled, many with nothing more than the belongings they could carry, one of those BGR partners reported. When about 20,000 of those displaced families arrived where the partners were working, the team was able to help meet emergency needs for several hundred families by providing locally purchased tents, drinking water, infant formula and basic food staples. Read more at Baptist Global Response here.

Photo: United Nations

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Parables: The Rich Fool (Luke 12:13-21) Questions for Reflection

Jesus tells The Parable of the Rich Fool after being asked by a man in the crowd to arbitrate an inheritance dispute with the man’s brother. In response to this man’s inquiry Jesus warns the crowd against covetousness, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:15b). Rather than coveting the rich man’s abundance and lifestyle of “relax, eat, drink, be merry” followers of Christ ought to purse living “rich toward God” (Luke 12:19 & 21).

Coveting is defined as striving to possess something for yourself at the expense of its rightful owner. To what Ephesians 5:5 and Colossians 3:5 link covetousness?

What does Jesus reveal about the rich fool’s self-deception in Luke 12:17-19? How were the following people deceived by covetousness?

Achan (Joshua 7:21)--

Eli’s sons (1 Samuel 2:12-15)--

King Saul (1 Samuel 15:9-10)--

Simon the Sorcerer (Acts 8:13-23)--

What do the following scriptures reveal about the consequences of covetousness?

Matthew 6:22-24; Mark 7:21-23--

Micah 2:2-3--

Psalm 10:3--

Application

Meditate on Psalm 119:35-40. The Holman Study Bible defines being “rich toward God” as “living to glorify God and investing our earthly assets to make an eternal difference.” In what specific ways is the Holy Spirit leading you and your family to live rich toward God?

Memorize This

Matthew 6:20-21 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart is also. NIV

Summer Family Devotion Encouragment

Parents,

Last year I signed up for weekly family devotions from Splink. Check out this week's devotions here. I'm a fellow learner and not an expert, but here are a few pointers:

1. Keep it fun. This summer Sherrill and I bought the age appropriate Sword Study on Jonah. Since Jonah is our topic we've taken trips to the Sandy Hook lighthouse and gone seining for sea creatures.

2. Keep it short. Of course attention span varies with age, but the last thing I want is for Bible study to be viewed as boring.

3. Challenge your children to seek answers for themselves from the Scriptures. Certainly we want to provide answers, but avoid doing so too quickly. Take note at how often Jesus' answer to a question was first with a question of His own.

4. Be excited for insights made by your child. Say things like, "Wow, I've never thought of it that way..." as often as you can.

5. Share your own insights! What is God teaching you through His word.

6. Memorize verses together.

Parable of the Sower and Four Soils-- Questions for Reflection

Dig Deeper

The Parable of the Sower and four soils is recorded in Matthew 13:3-23; Mark 4:3-25; and Luke 8:4-15. This parable is unique in that all three of these gospel writers include Jesus’ explanation of the parable, “This is the meaning of the parable…” (Luke 8:11). What do the following Scriptures reveal about the identity of the elements in this parable?

Seed

Matthew 13:19a; Luke 8:11--

The Sower

Matthew 13:37--

Seed sown on the path

Matthew 13:19b; Mark 4:15; Luke 8:12--

Seed sown on rocky soil

Mark 4:16-17; Luke 8:13--

Seed sown among thorns

Matthew 13:22; Luke 8:14--

Seed falling on good soil

Matthew 13:23; Luke 8:15--

Application

What kind of soil best represents your life? Jesus described the good soil as producing a crop “yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown” (Matthew 13:23). What type of “crop” do you observe in your life? Character (Galatians 5:22,23), Witness (John 15:8; Romans 1:13), Worship (Hebrews 13:15), and Generosity (Philippians 4:17)

Memorize This

John 15:8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. ESV