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                      "THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM"

                 The Mysteries Of The Kingdom Revealed

INTRODUCTION

1. In this study of "The Gospel Of The Kingdom", we have examined...
   a. The proclamation of the kingdom
   b. The nature of the kingdom
   c. The establishment of the kingdom
   d. The blessings of the kingdom
   e. The entrance into the kingdom
   f. The righteousness of the kingdom

2. Concluding this series, it may be helpful to survey what Jesus taught
   about the kingdom by way of His many parables...
   a. Jesus used parables because of the hardness of peoples' hearts 
      - Mt 13:10-15
   b. When properly understood, the parables reveal the "mystery of the
      kingdom of God" - cf. Mt 13:34-35; Mk 4:11,33-34

["The Mysteries Of The Kingdom Revealed" by the parables can be divided
into three general categories, the first concerning...]

I. THE KINGDOM ITSELF

   A. THE GROWTH OF THE KINGDOM...
      1. Starts small, but spreads throughout the earth - Mt 13:31-32
         (The Mustard Seed)
      2. Influence may not be apparent, but grows throughout the earth 
         - Mt 13:33 (The Leaven)
      3. Beyond our ability to comprehend, but directly related to the
         Word - Mk 4:26-29 (The Growing Seed)
      4. Will spread despite Satan's efforts - Mt 13:24-30,36-43 (The
         Wheat And The Tares)

   B. THE VALUE OF THE KINGDOM...
      1. Worth everything to those who stumble across it - Mt 13:44 (The
         Hidden Treasure)
      2. Priceless to those searching for it - Mt 13:45-46 (The Pearl Of
         Great Price)

   C. THE BENEFICIARIES OF THE KINGDOM...
      1. Will draw in many, but the wicked will be separated from the
         just
         a. Mt 13:24-30,36-43 (The Wheat And The Tares)
         b. Mt 13:47-50 (The Dragnet)
      2. Taken from those who should have received it, given to those
         who will appreciate it
         a. Mt 21:33-46 (The Wicked Vine Dressers)
         b. Mt 22:1-14 (The Wedding Feast)
         c. Lk 13:6-9 (The Barren Fig Tree)
         d. Lk 14:15-24 (The Great Supper)

[More is revealed about the beneficiaries of the kingdom, in parables
that relate directly to...]

II. THE DISCIPLES OF THE KINGDOM

   A. THE BEHAVIOR OF THE DISCIPLES...
      1. Those with ears to hear, having good and noble hearts, bear
         fruit intended by the word of the kingdom - Mt 13:3-9,18-23
         (The Sower)
      2. They do the will of the Father - Mt 21:28-32 (The Two Sons)
      3. They prepare themselves for the Lord's return - Mt 25:1-13 (The
         Wise And Foolish Virgins)
      4. They are productive while they await their Lord's return
         a. Mt 25:14-30 (The Talents)
         b. Lk 19:11-27 (The Minas)
      5. They love their neighbor, helping those in need - Lk 10:25-37
         (The Good Samaritan)
      6. They are persistent in their prayers
         a. Lk 11:1-13 (The Friend At Midnight)
         b. Lk 18:1-8 (The Persistent Widow)
      7. They make proper use of material things - Lk 16:1-15 (The
         Unjust Steward)
   
   B. THE ATTITUDES OF THE DISCIPLES...
      1. They are merciful, as God is merciful - Mt 18:21-35 (The
         Unforgiving Servant)
      2. They are free from a mercenary spirit in their service - Mt 20:
         1-16 (The Laborers In The Vineyard)
      3. Their gratitude for salvation is related to the understanding
         of being forgiven - Lk 7:41-43 (The Two Debtors)
      4. They are aware that life does not consist in the abundance of
         possessions - Lk 12:13-21 (The Rich Fool)
      5. They know now is the time to make things right with God - Lk
         16:19-31 (The Rich Man And Lazarus)
      6. They possess the spirit of humility
         a. In their relations with others - Lk 14:7-11 (Taking The
            Lowest Place)
         b. In their prayers to God - Lk 18:9-14 (The Pharisee and The
            Tax Collector)
      8. They know they are not worthy of the grace received, they have
         simply done that which was their duty to do - Lk 17:7-10 (The
         Unprofitable Servants)

[The parables also tell us about...]

III. THE KING OF THE KINGDOM

   A. HIS GREAT LOVE...
      1. His love for the lost, and how heaven rejoices when they are
         saved 
         a. Lk 15:1-7 (The Lost Sheep)
         b. Lk 15:8-10 (The Lost Coin)
      2. The quickness of His heavenly Father to receive those who
         return with a penitent heart - Lk 15:11-32 (The Prodigal Son)

   B. HIS COMING JUDGMENT...
      1. To gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those
         who practice lawlessness - Mt 13:24-30,36-43 (The Wheat And The
         Tares)
      2. To separate the wicked from the just - Mt 13:47-50 (The
         Dragnet)
      3. To take an accounting of His servants
         a. Mt 25:14-30 (The Talents)
         b. Lk 19:11-27 (The Minas)

CONCLUSION

1. The parables of Jesus tell us much about the kingdom of God...
   a. What many prophets and righteous men desired to hear, but did not
      hear - Mt 13:16-17
   b. Those instructed in the ways of the kingdom have treasure both old
      and new - Mt 13:51-52

2. We are truly privileged to know "the mysteries of the kingdom of
   heaven"...
   a. For the gospel of the kingdom has been proclaimed to us
   b. We can understand the nature of the kingdom, its establishment,
      and its blessings

3. What shall we do with what we have learned...?
   a. Hopefully, we shall desire to enter the kingdom, both now and in
      the future
   b. As citizens of the kingdom now, we shall seek to manifest its
      righteousness in our lives

I pray that these lessons will encourage us to do so, that in the words
of Peter...

      "...an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the
      everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."
                                                       (2 Pe 1:11)
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