Arvada Covenant Church

Parables of the Kingdom

The Parable of the Tenants
March 16, 2008 • Pastor John Martz

This parable contains some hard words for Israel and for those who stumble on the stone that the builders rejected, but not only does it predict the death of the Son of the landowner, it also tells of how this led to the word of hope for all nations, and for all who produce fruit. It is sort of a backdoor entryway to Palm Sunday and Holy Week.

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21:07 | MP3 | 56kbps | 8.5MB
 

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The Least of These
March 9, 2008 • Rev. Wayne Tesch

Wayne Tesch of Royal Family Kid's Camp will sontinue our study of Matthew's Gospel by focusing on the teaching of Jesus that affirms our actions towards and care of "the least of these." Few people qualify as the least of these in our society than children in the foster care system, often in that system because they have been neglected or forgotten by their own family.

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28:53 | MP3 | 56kbps | 11.6MB
 

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My Two Sons
March 2, 2008 • Pastor John Martz

This parable catches most people short, and presents the hearer with no good options. Jesus saves us from having to make a choice by telling us that the second son did right - that even though he first said no, his ultimate choice to obey was right. Jesus doesn't want lip service; he doesn't care if you support the right political position on an issue, or say the right words - he's more interested in how you live as a reflection of where your heart is.

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23:25 | MP3 | 56kbps | 9.4MB
 

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Treasure Hunt
February 24, 2008 • Stacee Eggers

There is nothing more valuable than the citizenship in the Kingdom of God, and Jesus reminds us in this parable that it should have first place in our life. While we are usually not called to go and sell everything to obtain the "pearl", we must now live recognizing that everything we have and everything we are belongs to God.

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24:53 | MP3 | 56kbps | 10MB
 

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God's Weed Whacker
February 17, 2008 • Pastor John Martz

In this parable Jesus reminds us that both weeds and wheat will grow side by side until the end of history. We are instructed to leave the weeds alone and not try to eradicate them - that God will do that at the end of the history. The field is the world, and we need to be ready to accept the presence of and rub shoudlers with "weeds" until Christ returns.

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23:09 | MP3 | 56kbps | 9.3MB
 

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What Kind of Dirt Are You?
February 10, 2008 • Pastor John Martz

The focus of this parable is not on the sower or the seed, but on the four different types of soil and their receptivity to the Gospel. Only the fourth soil is ready to receive the Word and bear fruit; the other three will need to undergo the painful process of tilling before they can be receptive soil for God's Word.

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24:26 | MP3 | 56kbps | 9.8MB