“Greatest Stories Ever Told” – Part 3 “The Calculated Risk” Matthew 13:31-35; 44-46

Parables: These four stories (parables) help us understand that the kingdom of God is really active and growing – even when we can’t see it and it is worth much more than we could ever accumulate in personal net worth.

The Parable of the Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31-32) He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field.

The Parable of the Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31-32) Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches."

The Parable of the Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31-32) The point Jesus is trying to make: the kingdom of God grows from seemingly insignificant beginnings to attain a greater size”.

The Parable of the Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31-32) In this parable, Jesus teaches us that believing in something you can not see in the physical world is a calculated risk worth taking.

The Parable of the Yeast (Matthew 13:33) He told them still another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough."

The Parable of the Yeast (Matthew 13:33) The Greek word enekrypsen = “hid”. In this parable Jesus is teaching us that believing great transformations can come from small influences is a calculated risk worth taking.

The Parable of the Hidden Treasure (Matthew 13:44) "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

The Parable of the Hidden Treasure (Matthew 13:44) In this parable Jesus is teaching us that when someone who is not searching for anything of value finds the kingdom of heaven, doing whatever it takes to possess the kingdom of heaven is a calculates risk worth taking.

The Parable of the Pearl (Matthew 13:45-46) "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.”

The Parable of the Pearl (Matthew 13:45-46) In this parable Jesus is teaching us that the Kingdom of God is worth far more than every other competing kingdom and giving up everything for the sake of the Kingdom of God is a calculated risk worth taking.

The Parables These parables answer two closely related questions… First, why should we give our lives for a kingdom we cannot see? Second, can the kingdom truly be the answer to our search for ultimate fulfillment.

Bottom Line: Surrendering yourself to God is a calculated risk worth taking.

Bottom Line: These parables of Jesus challenge the human expectations that the work of God has to be instantaneous and overwhelmingly decisive.

Romans 5:1-2 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.

Romans 5:1-2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

Bottom Line: “The Christian experience is always personal but it is never private”. Here is the great equation of motivation: Reward = or > than sacrifice.