This is the third parable in a series that depicts people who refuse to respond properly to being invited into the Kingdom of God.

The Kingdom of God is about the joy of receiving an invitation to the grandest wedding of all time. Revelation calls it the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. WOW

This is the third parable in succession that deals with rejecting the Kingdom of heaven. And it forces every listener to answer one question: What is my response to the Kingdom of God?

Matthew 22:1-14

Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: (2) “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. (3) He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.

(4) “Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’

(5) “But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business. (6) The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them.

(7) The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.

(8) “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. (9) So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’ (10) So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.

(11) “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. (12) He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend ?’ The man was speechless.

(13) “Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

(14) “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”

We mentioned this is the third, in a series of parables about responding to the Kingdom invitation. Matthew 21-22 - bam bam bam (podcast)

Imagine renting a house where everything has been provided for you. The owner built it, maintains it, and trusts the tenants to live there responsibly and take care of things. But over time, something shifts. The tenants stop answering the owner’s calls. They decide what they owe the owner is optional. When a representative shows up, they send him away beat up & bleeding. Eventually, when the owner’s son arrives, they kill him so they can keep the place for themselves and manage it as they like.

That sounds extreme, but at the core of our sin is not confusion about God—it is resistance to His authority. We want to run our lives our way. We want independence. And when that independence is threatened, we resist the Owner, which is God. We start out as good “tenants” and end up God’s adversary.

This is why the Big Idea matters: God owns the vineyard, and the question is not how busy we are in it, but whether we are submitted to the Son and producing fruit that belongs to Him.

In the Bible, There are passages in Scripture that comfort us—and there are passages that confront us. This parable does both.

(23) Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?”

(24) Jesus replied, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. (25) John’s baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or of human origin?”

They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’

(26) But if we say, ‘Of human origin’—we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.” (27) So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”

Then he said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

(28) What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’

(29) “‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.

(30) “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.

(31)“Which of the two did what his father wanted?”

“The first,” they answered.

Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.

(32) For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.

The Parable of the Two Sons is not soft. It’s one of Jesus’ hardline messages—spoken not to outsiders, but to the religious insiders, even to us Christians, if you will. And Jesus is very clear: there is not more than one way into the Kingdom of God. There is one way, and that way is narrow.

Jesus Himself said it plainly: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)

No exception to this rule. No religious loopholes of doing good versus bad. No alternate entrances of secret knowledge. It is Christ alone and that is good news. It's not based on works, it’s based on Jesus.

This parable forces us to ask a piercing question:
Is my faith merely something I say—or something I actually live? Is obedience something I pick and choose or is it my lifestyle?

Today we will examine this parable in three ways:

1. What is leading up to this parable?
2. What is Jesus’ point with this parable?
3. What do we learn from it for today?

We are back in the parables of Jesus and when we finish the parables we will then teach on the major teachings of Jesus, which this begins with...

Jesus has just told His disciples how difficult it is for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God. So they asked who then can be saved?

(26) Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

(27) Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?”

(28) Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

Intro…Our desire for you is that you desire to make 2026 a great year because it’s rooted in God’s purpose and presence. Growth doesn't happen by accident—it happens through intentional faith, daily practice, and fixing our eyes on Jesus.

Together, these will equip us to live boldly, purposefully, and victoriously in the year ahead.

Defense YEAR - hard year - it was fine but wasn’t fulfilling.

1. Intentional Faith: Choosing Life with Purpose Over Passivity

The intentional life is living a wise life. Those who are wise take advantage of every opportunity including trials to grow in their faith. But someone who lacks wisdom is like being a ship adrift at sea, tossed by every wave and wind without any direction at all.

That’s life without intentionalility—a mere reaction to circumstances rather than a deliberate pursuit of God’s will. It’s simply reacting to life. Playing defense. Hebrews defines Faith as confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see, and James implores us to ask for wisdom to live our life to ask that God will give you wisdom to endure trials, but goes on to instruct us…

James 1: 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

The Ultimate Love

Today is Week 4 of Advent, and this week we focus on love.

As a quick reminder, Advent culminates this Wednesday with our Christmas Eve candlelight service at the Stone House. Advent is about preparing our hearts—not just to celebrate Christmas but to remember his sacrifice of love to come rescue us, but to receive the gift of Christ and be excited for his return.

And when we talk about love, there is no better place to begin than the most well-known verse in all of Scripture. John 3:16

Let’s say it together—in whatever version you learned it in.

John 3:16–17 (NIV)
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

This is the best example of love the world has ever known.

God Has Come to Earth

Luke 2:8-14, Matthew 2: 1-18

Pop quiz: What does Advent (adventus) mean “coming” or “arrival”

For extra credit what week are we on? JOY

First, that Jesus came as the Messiah, the Christ, to die for our sins,

And He is coming again to get us... in all His fullness, power and glory.

Light candles

Hope - A wholehearted, evidence-based conviction that God will make the future better than the past or present. BETHLEHAM candle b/c hope started

What future is that pointing to- heaven.

Peace - a state of wholeness, completeness, well-being, and renewal between us, God, and others. Shalom PROPHET Isaiah 9:6 - "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace," foretelling Jesus Christ as a divine, powerful ruler bringing everlasting peace and wisdom

This wholeness is felt deep in our soul. Our soul longs for wholeness that can only be consoled by the presence of God in our lives.

That’s HOPE and PEACE.

This week we demonstrate a shift by lighting the pink candle—the Joy Candle, also known as the Shepherds candle, because the proclamation by the angels was delivered to the shepherds that brought them and the world great joy.

The color of this 3rd week is to match the shift in the tone from one of waiting to heartfelt rejoicing at the arrival of God having come to earth by the announcement of His birth. We no longer wait in anticipation for joy. Joy has come! And our faith increased for the Joy we’ll have for eternity when he returns.

ADVENT WEEK 2 - Luke 2:8-15

Advent means what? Coming or arrival.

• It is the season of the “already and not yet.”

THE MEANING OF ADVENT (ADVENTUS)

• Adventus in the Roman world referred to the arrival of a king or emperor.
  Early Christians used the word intentionally:
  Advent is royal. The King has arrived.
  
  
  
• The wreath is a circle: God’s eternal nature; His unending love.
  
  
  
• The four candles represent: Hope, Peace, Joy, Love.
  The Christ Candle is in the center. We light Christmas Eve
  
  
  
• Advent connects Christmas with the entire story of redemption.
  (Philippians 2:6–8 – Christ humbled Himself.)
  (John 3:16–17 – His love for us.)
  (Colossians 1:19–20 – He made peace through His blood.)

LIGHT CANDLE Last week we talked about HOPE,

• Hope- what we talked about last week: is the evidence-based expectation that God will make the future better than the past.

We were in Matthew 1:18-25 last week explained Jesus' name.

• Jesus — “Yahweh saves.” God saves.
• Immanuel — “God with us.”

Christ - Anointed one - the messiah (not his last name)