The Sermon From The Boat!

'The Sermon From The Boat.'
Matthew 13:1-52.
a) 13:1-2. To enable Himself to Teach the large crowd, Jesus got into a small boat just off the shore to teach.
b) 13:3-8. The story with a meaning of the sower and the seed.
c) 13:9. Jesus wanted the crowd to understand this story with a meaning.
d) 13:10-13. Jesus explained to His Disciples why He was telling stories with a meaning.
e) 13:14-15. This kind of Teaching was a Prophecy of Isaiah being fulfilled.
f) 13:16-17. The Blessing on the Disciples.
g) 13:18-23. Jesus gave a practical exposition of the story with a meaning.
h) 13:24-30. Another story with a meaning.
i) 13:31-32. A further story with a meaning.
j) 13:33. A final story with a meaning.
k) 13:34-35. Jesus further explained that these stories He was telling were a fulfillment of prophecy, not merely trying to make people understand.
l) 13:36-52. Jesus moved from the boat into the house to give private teaching to His Disciples.
(Through this QT, The Sermon In The Boat, I learn there are two major sectors of Biblical Teaching: Firstly to those people who have yet received Christ - He did not give them a concert - He Taught Them. Secondly, to Disciples, He also Taught them an clearly explained to them the Word of God)
-----------------------------------------
'Give The Land A Rest.'
Leviticus 25:3-5.
a) 25:3. For six years sowing seeds and producing harvests.
b) 25:4. The seventh year give complete rest to the land.
c) 25:5. The seventh year give complete rest and do not even go to the land and do any work on it.
d) Matthew 12:1-12; Luke 6:5. Jesus Christ is Lord of the Sabbath.
e) Mark 6:2. The Sabbath was a time for:-
1-Worship.
2-Acts 13:42-44. Teaching - even to the Gentiles.
3-Learning.
4-Acts 16:13. Friendship and personal evangelism.
(Through this Second one I get a further understanding of Missions. Especially after considering the stories with a meaning that Jesus told. Often Churches encourage Missionaries to take a Sabbatical every seven years. This is good counsel. However it seems very beneficial for churches to take a Sabbatical from Missions every seven years too. It does not mean that the churches should stop supporting Missions, of course that should continue, it means the churches should stop planning Missions for a year. Not ignore missions, rather spend much time in purifying, searching and contemplative prayer, preparing for Mission in the following six years that is to truly glorify God)
--------------------------------------------
Chris.
Jesus Christ is Lord of the Sabbath. This gives me very much pleasure and joy to read and think about. A Sabbath is not meant to be a time of lazing around doing nothing. A Sabbath is not meant to be a time to neglect the Worship of God. A Sabbath is not a legalistic religious ritual that is imposed on adherents of Christianity. A Sabbath is not meant to be a time of working hard on something different. A Sabbath is for Jesus Christ the Lord, time to be with Him, to learn from Him, to love Him, to prepare ourselves for the next steps that He may be Commissioning us with. A time for worship. A time of healing of relationships - especially family ones. Jesus Christ is Lord of the Sabbath.