 |
 |
|
|---|
| Home | Recent Sermon | Multimedia Sermons | News & Events | Our Vision |  |
|---|
“The Terrible Tenants, and a Surprise Ending”
INHERITING WHAT WASN’T THEIRS – BY GRACE
• new Haitian homeowners showed gratitude for
unexpected house
SETTING: POWER-PLOTS AND EASTERN DESPOTS
• pressures mounting between jealous indignant
leaders and popular elusive Jesus
• eastern rulers used to brutal approach: Ahab &
Jezebel; governor Varus
SURPRISINGLY PATIENT OWNER – BRUTAL REBELLIOUS TENANTS
• major investment: planting vineyard, erecting
wall and watchtower, digging winepress
• How has God invested in my life? With what gifts
and abilities has He entrusted me?
• tenants’ murderous abuse of rent-collectors
• Is there evidence that would indicate I ignore God
and try to run life MY way, making others casualties? Who might I have
inadvertently ‘beaten up’ in my push to get ahead?
• landowner sent 2nd set of servants: very patient,
as God is patient (2Pet 3:9)
• landowner takes crazy risk of sending son/heir;
tenants kill in puzzling attempt to grab inheritance
• What welcome do I give the Son? To what degree am I
receptive to Jesus’ interference in my affairs? Do I receive Him or
reject Him and His rightful claim to my followership?
REJECTION, RECKONING, RECOGNIZING
• crowd selects ending of wretched fate for
wretched tenants
• God will take Kingdom away from them, give to
people producing fruit
• living stone a ‘rock of reference’ - can shatter or
crush (Dan 2:34f; 1Pet 2:4)
• What will I do with Jesus? What do you make of Him?
What do YOU suppose was going on at the cross, if not the salvation of
many sinners?
FRUITFUL FAITHFUL TENANTS IN A WORLD OF INEQUALITY
• international inequality: top 1% have as much as
bottom 57%; assets of 3 richest people exceed 47 poorest countries
• member of top 10% if have $61,000; own 85% of
global household wealth
• those who are kind to the poor lend to / honour God
(Prov 14:31; 19:17; Mt 25:40,45)
• love will “hold us together”, makes me my brother’s
keeper