A Different Kind of Kingdom
Sermon Notes
1 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.
2 He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.
3 “About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing.
4 He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’
5 So they went.
“He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing.
6 About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’
7 “‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.
“He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’
8 “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’
9 “The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius.
10 So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius.
11 When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner.
12 ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’
13 “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius?
14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you.
15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’
16 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
- Matthew 20:1-16
We as Christ followers typically find ourselves in three camps in this parable:
Resentful Camp
Entitled Camp
Gracious Camp
Those in the Gracious Camp have learned from this parable and have embraced:
1. God’s Kingdom is different from the kingdom of this world.
2. God calls us to Himself, not because of who we are, but because of who He is.
3. God rewards us, not because of what we have done, but because of what Jesus has done for us.
Table Group Resources
Mixer
What is that one awesome online purchase that everyone needs to know about?
‘Neighborly’ - Daily Devotional
To get the Daily Devotionals delivered to you every morning, text ‘dailydevotional’ to 97000.
In Middle School Director, Cristina Schmitter’s, 3/25/21 entry, An Opportunity to Forgive, she reminds us that forgiveness is not easy. She says that in our “real, on-your-knees, ugly-crying moments of pain... our emotions aren’t the guide.” The Holy Spirit is the better leader in forgiveness! What can He heal in you this week that opens up an opportunity to pour out His forgiveness to the person on the other side of that hurt?
In Pastor Harry’s 3/26/21 entry, Connected, he says this: “Israel discovered... if you lose your connection, you lose everything!” Jesus rides into Holy Week to connect with your heart. He wants you to have everything and that is the message of Resurrection. Pastor Harry encourages us this week to: “... see Jesus on that cross for you... see Jesus die for you... see Jesus rise from the dead for you... and invite Him to live with you.” What does that vision change for you right now?
Sermon Questions
Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16
In the parable, how does the landowner, who decides to pay everyone the same, represent God and His Kingdom? How does Jesus challenge your faith by showing that He holds everyone as equals? Are you okay with the 5pm workers getting paid the same as the 6am workers?
In a world that places importance on achievements and accolades, are you able to love and celebrate people that outperform you?
How does living in the Gracious Camp help you with Question #2? What parts of the other two camps (Resentful, Entitlement) do you need to resolve?
How does Jesus’ response to Peter about the last being first, and the first being last in God’s Kingdom change how you would love God and love others out of the Gracious Camp? Is there someone who is last on your list? What will you do?
Go Deeper - with Goodbook
Dr. Mark Strauss and Pastor Ken Ingold
Week 11 || Chapter 2: The Life of Jesus: Matthew, Mark & Luke (Synoptic Gospels)
Why did God give us four Gospels instead of one? What are the benefits of four?
Do you remember some ways the three Synoptic Gospel (Matthew, Mark, Luke) are different from John?
What is the main theme of Matthew’s Gospel? How might this Gospel strengthen your faith?
What is the main theme of Mark’s Gospel? How might this Gospel strengthen your faith?
What is the main theme of Luke’s Gospel? How might this Gospel strengthen your faith?
*Are you joining the Goodbook Q&A Zoom on Tuesday evenings? Email ken@thechurchrb.org
Serve
Mark your calendars! Our next Good Neighbor Day is Saturday, May 20! In the meantime there are other options for serving on our website at thechurchrb.org/serve or in the Church Center App!
Pray
It’s a big week this week - Holy Week! This is the week that we are reminded of how great the weight on Christ’s journey to the cross was. But also of how great the overshadowing victory is in what He was able to accomplish for us in His Resurrection! Lift up your family, your friends, your church, the lost, that Christ would be the King of their hearts!
