Matthew 21:28-32 - Jesus told this story to the chief priests and elders who were questioning him on his authority. He said to them, there was a man who had two sons, each of whom he asked to go and work in the vineyard. The first son said no, but ended up changing his mind and going. The second son said yes, but he didn’t go. Jesus asked the chief priests and enders which son did what the father wanted, to which they answered, the first son. Jesus then reveals the meaning of the parable: that those considered “sinners” were actually entering the kingdom of God ahead of the religious folk, because when they heard Jesus’ message they repented and believed.

Mark 4:26-29 - Jesus taught that the kingdom of God is like a man scattering seeds on the ground, and every night and day, the seed sprouts all on it’s own though the man doesn’t know how. Eventually, the crops are fully grown and it’s time for the harvest.

Luke 10:30-37 — Speaking to an expert in the Law, Jesus told the story of a man who was walking from Jerusalem to Jericho when he was attacked by robbers, who beat him and left him on the side of the road. One after the other, a priest and a Levite happened to walk by, and each passed by on the other side of the road, not stopping to help the man. However, a Samaritan, when he came across the injured man, took pity on him and did everything he could to help him. When Jesus asked the expert in the Law which of the three was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by robbers, the expert answered, “The one who had mercy on him,” to which Jesus replied, “Go and do likewise.”

Matthew 18:21-35 - When Peter asked Jesus if he should forgive someone who wrongs him seven times, Jesus answers that he should not forgive only seven times, but seventy-seven. Jesus then tells a story about a servant who owed the king a large sum of money. When the servant was unable to pay the king back and begged for extra time, the king took pity on him and completely forgave the servant’s debt. However, the servant immediately went and found a fellow servant who owed him a smaller amount of money, and demanded payment. When that servant couldn’t pay and begged for extra time, the first servant did not take pity on him but threw his fellow servant in jail until he could pay back what he owed. When the king heard of this he was indignant. He called the first servant to him, and told him that he had changed his mind and would throw the servant in jail until he could pay back everything he owed.

Matthew 20:1-16 - There was a man who owned a vineyard and he went out in the town to search for workers for the day. Early in the morning he found a group of people who agreed to work for one denarius. Throughout the day he found more workers to join the first group. At the very end of the day, he gathered them together to give them their pay, beginning with the last ones hired and on to the first. He paid each one the same amount — one denarius each. The workers who had been their since early morning felt that this was unfair and they complained. The owner responded that they had been paid the amount agreed upon, and that he was simply choosing to be generous to the others too. In this way, Jesus taught that in the Kingdom of God, the last would be first and the first would be last.

John 17 - Jesus prays and speaks to God about his mission and his followers. First, he asks the Father to glorify him so that he can glorify God and give eternal life to those who believe. Then, he prays for his disciples, asking God to protect them, keep them unified, and set them apart in the truth as they continue his work in the world. Finally, he prays for all future believers, desiring that they would be united in love, just as he and the Father are one, so that the world may know God’s love.

Matthew 2:19-23 - After King Herod died, the angel appeared to Joseph again in a dream to tell him that it was safe to return to Israel with Mary and Jesus. However, Herod's son had become the king of Judea in his place and they were afraid to return there. Instead, Joseph, Mary, and Jesus went to Nazareth in Galilee. This fulfilled the prophesy that the Messiah would be called a Nazarene. 

Matthew 2:13-15 - When the wise men had gone home after visiting Jesus, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream, warning him that King Herod was going to try to kill Jesus, and that they should escape to Egypt. So Joseph, Mary, and Jesus stayed in Egypt until King Herod died. This happened in fulfillment of the prophesy from Hosea, “Out of Egypt I called my Son.”

Passage: Matthew 2:1-12 - After Jesus was born, the wise men, also known as Magi, came searching for “the one who has been born king of the Jews.” They had seen a star in the sky which alerted them to his birth, and wanting to find him to worship him. But when King Herod of Judea heard about it, he was disturbed by the news. He found out from the chief priests and religious teachers that the Messiah (anointed one) was to be born in Bethlehem. So Herod sent the Magi to Bethlehem to search for the child, and asked them to bring him news as well. When the Magi found Jesus, they were overjoyed, bowed down and worshipped him, and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. However, they were warned in a dream not to return to Herod, but to go by a different route.

Big Idea: A sign in the stars

Matthew 1:18-25 - In this passage, Matthew recounts the story of how Jesus’ birth came about. A woman named Mary was pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, but before they got married, she was found to be pregnant. Joseph didn’t want Mary to be publicly shamed, so he decided to divorce her quietly. However, an angel appeared to him in a dream telling him not to be afraid and that Mary was pregnant through the Holy Spirit. The angel announced that the child would be named Jesus and that he would be the savior of all people. Jesus would also be called Emmanuel, which means “God with us.”

John 9:1-12 - Jesus saw a man who had been blind from birth. His disciples asked if the man or his parents had sinned to cause this, but Jesus explained that his blindness was not because of sin. Rather, it was so God’s power and goodness could be shown. Jesus healed the man by making mud, putting it on his eyes, and telling him to wash it off in a pool. When the man’s neighbors saw that he could see, they were amazed, and he told them that Jesus had healed him.

Matthew 8:5-13 - In this story, a Roman commander came to Jesus, asking him to heal his paralyzed servant. Jesus offered to go to the commander’s home, but the man explained that he trusted Jesus’ word alone would heal his servant. Jesus was amazed by his faith, saying he hadn’t seen such faith in all Israel. He then told the commander to go home, and his servant was healed immediately.

Mark 6:45-52 - After miraculously feeding a crowd of 5000, Jesus told his disciples to get on the boat and go ahead of him to another town. After they left, he dismissed the crowd and went up to a mountainside to pray, before walking on the water to catch up to his disciples. When they saw Jesus, they thought he was a ghost and were terrified. Jesus announced that it was him, and the disciples were amazed, but they still didn’t understand who Jesus was.

Luke 9:10-17 - In this story, Jesus was teaching a large crowd of about 5,000 men, plus women and children. After a long day, his disciples suggested sending everyone away to get food. But Jesus said they should feed the people themselves. They only had five loaves of bread and two fish, yet when they shared them, there was more than enough to satisfy everyone.

Matthew 8:23-27 - In the passage, Jesus and his disciples are in a boat when a sudden, violent storm hits. The disciples are scared, but Jesus is asleep. They wake him, asking for help, and Jesus commands the storm to stop. Immediately, the wind and waves calm down. The disciples are amazed and ask, “Who is this man? Even the wind and waves obey him!”

A series about the miracles Jesus performed found in the Gospels.

John 2:1-11 - At a wedding in Cana, Jesus performed his first recorded miracle by turning water into wine. Though initially hesitant to reveal his power, he responded to his mother’s request and quietly carried out the miracle so that only a few were aware of it. This sign revealed Jesus’ authority over creation and gave his disciples a reason to believe in him. It points to his divine identity and the abundant life he brings.