Ep. 124: Parables about the Kingdom of Heaven

Welcome back to Focused on Christ, where we are passionate about exalting Jesus and equipping the church for everyday faithfulness.In this episode, host Mike Crump is joined by Pastor Nathan Smith to explore several of Jesus’ parables from Matthew 13 that reveal the nature of the Kingdom of Heaven—its growth, value, and the sobering reality of judgment.💬 Listener Question from SydneyWe begin by revisiting Episode 121 and responding to a thoughtful listener question about the Parable of the Sower, wrestling with what it means to be "good soil" and whether all believers should be producing a 30/60/100-fold harvest.🌾 The Parable of the WeedsWho are the "sons of the kingdom" and the "sons of the evil one"?What does this parable teach us about the presence of evil in the world—and even in the church?Is Jesus scaring people with his words? Teaching on Noah: https://youtu.be/or0AEffRGKs🌱 The Mustard Seed & LeavenWhat do these parables teach us about the growth and influence of God’s kingdom?Is leaven always a negative symbol?How should these truths shape our outlook on ministry and the church today?💎 The Treasure & the PearlWhy would someone sell everything for the Kingdom?What does it mean to value Christ above all else?🙏 As always, thank you for listening to Focused on Christ, a ministry of Heritage Baptist Church. If this episode encouraged you, please give us a 5-star rating, leave a review, and share it with a friend!🔗 For more content and show notes: focusedonchrist.com