1. Parables of God’s Just Kingdom
Copyright © 2017
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part of the David C Cook
family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
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Parables of God’s Just Kingdom
Lesson 2

2. Horizontal Visual
Start a discussion by pointing to this visual as you ask, “Who can explain how a Venn diagram works?”

3. Copyright © 2017
Standard Publishing,
part of the David C Cook
family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
All rights reserved.
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Lesson Outline
Introduction A. A Different Kind of Riddle B. Lesson Background

4. Copyright © 2017
Standard Publishing,
part of the David C Cook
family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
All rights reserved.
Photo: © joebelanger | iStock
Are You Sure About That?
Some of the assumptions we make in life are not necessarily true. Would you say the following are true or false?
Putting salt in water makes it boil more quickly.
FALSE: Salt water requires more exposure to the heat in order to boil than water alone, so the boiling point is elevated and the time it takes to get the water to boil increases.
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Photo: © Slphotography / iStock / Thinkstock® 4

5. Are You Sure About That? Are the following true or false?
Copyright © 2017
Standard Publishing,
part of the David C Cook
family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
All rights reserved.
Photo: © joebelanger | iStock
Are You Sure About That?
Are the following true or false?
Frankenstein was the name of the monster in Mary Shelley’s book Frankenstein.
FALSE: Frankenstein was the name of the monster’s creator.
Both dolphins and porpoises are mammals.
TRUE.
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Photo: © Slphotography / iStock / Thinkstock® 5

6. Are You Sure About That? Are the following true or false?
Copyright © 2017
Standard Publishing,
part of the David C Cook
family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
All rights reserved.
Photo: © joebelanger | iStock
Are You Sure About That?
Are the following true or false?
The word sushi means “sour-tasting,” not “raw fish.”
TRUE.
The forbidden fruit mentioned in Genesis was an apple.
FALSE: The Bible doesn’t specify the type of fruit.
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7. Are You Sure About That? Are the following true or false?
Copyright © 2017
Standard Publishing,
part of the David C Cook
family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
All rights reserved.
Photo: © joebelanger | iStock
Are You Sure About That?
Are the following true or false?
Handling a baby bird will make its mother reject it.
FALSE: Most birds have a very poor sense of smell, so in most cases the mother is unable to even notice human scent on a baby bird.
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8. Are You Sure About That? Are the following true or false?
Copyright © 2017
Standard Publishing,
part of the David C Cook
family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
All rights reserved.
Photo: © joebelanger | iStock
Are You Sure About That?
Are the following true or false?
The Great Wall of China cannot be seen from space.
TRUE: The Apollo astronauts confirmed that you can’t see the Great Wall of China from the moon, but just the white and blue marble of Earth.
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9. Are You Sure About That? Are the following true or false?
Copyright © 2017
Standard Publishing,
part of the David C Cook
family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
All rights reserved.
Photo: © joebelanger | iStock
Are You Sure About That?
Are the following true or false?
Your fingernails continue to grow after you die.
FALSE: The dehydration of the body after death can cause retraction of the skin around hair and nails, giving the illusion that they have grown.
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10. Are You Sure About That? Are the following true or false?
Copyright © 2017
Standard Publishing,
part of the David C Cook
family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
All rights reserved.
Photo: © joebelanger | iStock
Are You Sure About That?
Are the following true or false?
Bulls are enraged by the color red.
FALSE: It is a proven fact that bulls only see blues and yellow. They only react to the red cape because of its movements.
The tomato is a fruit.
TRUE.
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11. Copyright © 2017
Standard Publishing,
part of the David C Cook
family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
All rights reserved.
Photo: © joebelanger | iStock
Are You Sure About That?
We have misperceptions every day. Most times they don’t matter.
But mistaken thoughts about God’s kingdom can have grave consequences.
Let’s explore today’s Bible lesson to get clarity about how justice is achieved in God’s kingdom.
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12. Copyright © 2017
Standard Publishing,
part of the David C Cook
family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
All rights reserved.
Photo: © joebelanger | iStock
What Do You Think?
How do we avoid errors regarding allegiances to God’s kingdom and to earthly nations?
Talking Points for Your Discussion
Regarding errors that see such allegiances as completely compatible
Regarding errors that see such allegiances as completely incompatible 12

13. Copyright © 2017
Standard Publishing,
part of the David C Cook
family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
All rights reserved.
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Lesson Outline
I. Parable of the Weeds (Matthew 13:24-30) A. Secret Sabotage (vv. 24, 25) B. Damage Discovered (vv ) C. Temporary Coexistence (vv. 29, 30a) D. Eternal Separation (v. 30b)

14. Jesus Corrects Wrong Ideas
Copyright © 2017
Standard Publishing,
part of the David C Cook
family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
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Jesus Corrects Wrong Ideas
The Jewish perceptions about what God’s kingdom would be like were varied.
Some thought it would be ushered in by a Messiah who would be a military conqueror or a ruling king.
Everyone in Jesus’ day hoped the Messiah would come quickly and relieve Israel of Roman oppression.
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Graphic: © BibleArtLibrary / iStock / Thinkstock® 14

15. Jesus Corrects Wrong Ideas
Copyright © 2017
Standard Publishing,
part of the David C Cook
family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
All rights reserved.
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Jesus Corrects Wrong Ideas
Jesus used three parables to correct the false impressions of the Jewish people about God’s kingdom.
Read the false assumptions, and explain how the parables helped correct them.
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16. Jesus Corrects Wrong Ideas
Copyright © 2017
Standard Publishing,
part of the David C Cook
family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
All rights reserved.
Photo: © joebelanger | iStock
Jesus Corrects Wrong Ideas
Expectation #1: The Jewish people of Jesus’ day expected that when God’s kingdom burst onto the scene, God’s king would defeat Israel’s enemies immediately and purge the land of evil.
Summarize the parable of the weeds (Matthew 13:24-30), and explain why it overturned this expectation.
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17. Jesus Corrects Wrong Ideas
Copyright © 2017
Standard Publishing,
part of the David C Cook
family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
All rights reserved.
Photo: © joebelanger | iStock
Jesus Corrects Wrong Ideas
Expectation #1: Immediate defeat of Israel’s enemies.
Just as the weeds remained until harvest, God’s people can expect to be surrounded by evil and opposition.
We are to endure patiently and wait expectantly for the triumphant future harvest.
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18. Copyright © 2017
Standard Publishing,
part of the David C Cook
family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
All rights reserved.
Photo: © joebelanger | iStock
What Do You Think?
How does our proximity to worldly weeds of sin affect the safeguards we adopt against them?
Talking Points for Your Discussion
Individual vs. communal safeguards against unholy lifestyles
Individual vs. communal safeguards against ungodly definitions of success
Other
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19. Copyright © 2017
Standard Publishing,
part of the David C Cook
family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
All rights reserved.
Photo: © joebelanger | iStock
What Do You Think?
How do you avoid taking “weeding justice” into your own hands?
Talking Points for Your Discussion
When loved ones are hurt
When God’s name is maligned
When your rights are violated
Other 19

20. Copyright © 2017
Standard Publishing,
part of the David C Cook
family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
All rights reserved.
Photo: © joebelanger | iStock
Lesson Outline
II. Parable of the Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31, 32) A. From Tiny Seed (vv. 31, 32a) B. To Large Tree (v. 32b, c)

21. Jesus Corrects Wrong Ideas
Copyright © 2017
Standard Publishing,
part of the David C Cook
family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
All rights reserved.
Photo: © joebelanger | iStock
Jesus Corrects Wrong Ideas
Expectation #2: The Jewish people expected that when God’s king came, he would enter the world dramatically and sweep swiftly into power.
Summarize the parable of the mustard seed (Matthew 13:31, 32), and tell why it contradicted this expectation.
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22. Jesus Corrects Wrong Ideas
Copyright © 2017
Standard Publishing,
part of the David C Cook
family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
All rights reserved.
Photo: © joebelanger | iStock
Jesus Corrects Wrong Ideas
Expectation #2: God’s king would enter the world dramatically and sweep swiftly into power.
Just like the mustard seed, God’s kingdom starts small and unnoticed, but grows to a greatness that cannot be missed.
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23. Copyright © 2017
Standard Publishing,
part of the David C Cook
family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
All rights reserved.
Photo: © joebelanger | iStock
What Do You Think?
How has experiencing the fact that God’s work often has humble beginnings affected you? How should it?
Talking Points for Your Discussion
In positive situations of church growth, answered prayer, etc.
In negative situations of church growth, answered prayer, etc.
In negative situations of church conflict, unanswered prayer, etc. 23

24. Lesson Outline III. Parable of the Leaven (Matthew 13:33)
Copyright © 2017
Standard Publishing,
part of the David C Cook
family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
All rights reserved.
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Lesson Outline
III. Parable of the Leaven (Matthew 13:33)

25. Jesus Corrects Wrong Ideas
Copyright © 2017
Standard Publishing,
part of the David C Cook
family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
All rights reserved.
Photo: © joebelanger | iStock
Jesus Corrects Wrong Ideas
Expectation #3: The Jewish people expected that when God’s king came, His kingdom would be located in Israel.
Summarize the parable of the leaven (Matthew 13:33), and explain how it contradicted the Jewish expectation.
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26. Jesus Corrects Wrong Ideas
Copyright © 2017
Standard Publishing,
part of the David C Cook
family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
All rights reserved.
Photo: © joebelanger | iStock
Jesus Corrects Wrong Ideas
Expectation #3: God’s kingdom would be located in Israel.
As leaven spreads through the bread and causes it to grow, God’s kingdom will spread throughout the world and have great influence.
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27. Copyright © 2017
Standard Publishing,
part of the David C Cook
family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
All rights reserved.
Photo: © joebelanger | iStock
What Do You Think?
What are some ways to resist un-Christian temptations of implementing change?
Talking Points for Your Discussion
With regard to changing ethics
With regard to changing morals
With regard to changing definitions (of truth, etc.)
Other 27

28. Copyright © 2017
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part of the David C Cook
family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
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Lesson Outline
Conclusion A. Wait with Patience B. Prayer C. Thought to Remember

29. An Appropriate Response
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part of the David C Cook
family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
All rights reserved.
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An Appropriate Response
People today also can have wrong ideas about how the kingdom of God works.
How might you use one of the three parables from today’s text to correct the misunderstandings of the following people? 29

30. An Appropriate Response
Copyright © 2017
Standard Publishing,
part of the David C Cook
family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
All rights reserved.
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An Appropriate Response
THOMAS: “Our church is small and insignificant. How can we possibly have any impact on our community?”
Which parable would you use?
The parable of the mustard seed
What would you say?
“Just like the mustard seed, which starts out small, our church has the ability to grow through the power of the Holy Spirit and be used by God.” 30

31. An Appropriate Response
Copyright © 2017
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part of the David C Cook
family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
All rights reserved.
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An Appropriate Response
CARLA: “I’m just not interested in world missions. It seems so far removed from my everyday life.”
Which parable would you use?
The parable of the leaven
What would you say?
“Just like leaven, Jesus’ kingdom started small but soon spread throughout the world. We too should be interested in helping to bring the gospel message to other nations.” 31

32. An Appropriate Response
Copyright © 2017
Standard Publishing,
part of the David C Cook
family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
All rights reserved.
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An Appropriate Response
ROSALIE: “I don’t understand why a loving God would allow so much evil to exist in the world. Why doesn’t He just wipe out all the bad people?”
Which parable would you use?
The parable of the weeds
What would you say?
“Jesus explained that God will wait until the final harvest to separate the good from the bad. In the meantime we will live alongside the evildoers and trust the final outcome to God.” 32

33. Thought to Remember Wait patiently and work prayerfully.
Copyright © 2017
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part of the David C Cook
family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
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Thought to Remember
Wait patiently and work prayerfully.

34. Jesus Teaches about justice
Copyright © 2017
Standard Publishing,
part of the David C Cook
family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
All rights reserved.
Photo: © joebelanger | iStock
Next Week’s Lesson
Jesus Teaches about justice