Gospel

Kingdom Business – Luke 19:11-17

/ Bob
This is the final lesson containing one of Jesus’ parables as recorded in Luke. We have previously established that the parables Jesus shared offered insight into the Kingdom of God and how it compares with the Earthly Kingdom. In this parable – The Parable of the 10 Minas – Jesus gives us a story about an earthly kingdom with an earthly king and earthly kingdom subjects to instruct us as to how things work and will work in the Heavenly Kingdom.

The parable seems to follow the historical account of Archelaus, son of Herod the Great, and his seeking the kingship of the area we now know as the Holy Land. This happened between 4 B.C. and 6 A.D. It was a piece of history that would have been well known by the people listening to the parable. So Jesus uses this story of this earthly “king” to speak of His Kingship and His Kingdom and to exhort His Kingdom Subjects.

Just as Archelaus left his territory to secure his kingship in Rome, so Jesus left His earthly territory and returned the Father where He was enthroned as King. He will return in glory and in victory and at that time there will be a day of reckoning in which everyone will have to give an account of what they have done to advance the Kingdom. Those who rejected Christ on earth will face the same fate as those who opposed Archelaus – death. Those who have accepted his Kingship will be judged and rewarded according to how they engaged in Kingdom Business while here on earth. As we read in 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, those who accept Jesus as Lord and Savior will be saved, but their Kingdom transactions will be tested by fire. Salvation is not in question, but there will be great joy for those whose work is proven to be true as there will be regret for those whose work is found wanting.

Therefore, our response to Jesus in light of this parable is be engaged in Kingdom Business until He comes again. This engagement in Kingdom business is what we were made for according to Ephesians 2:10. Furthermore, our engagement in Kingdom Business is the gauge of our love for Jesus. Jesus said in John 14:15 that if we love Him, we will keep His commandments? Do you love Him? Are you keeping His commandments? Are you engaged in Kingdom Business? As a subject of the King, take an inventory of what He has given you and see what you’re doing with His resources to advance His Kingdom.


This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, April 14, 2024. It is part of a series in a Bible study curriculum called Connect 360, published by the GC2 Press of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The overall title of the current set of lessons is Jesus Storyteller: Timeless Truths from His Parables. You can find printed and digital versions of this series online at: https://gc2press.org/jesus-storyteller-luke-study-guide/ .Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com . Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .

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Calling for Unity in the Church

/ Bob

In his first letter to the Corinthian church he begins with his usual pleasant greetings and fond remembrances, but he then he gets straight to the point that is of foremost importance – division within the church. Satan loves to drive wedges between believers and he will stop at nothing to get a group of Christians to look away from God by focusing on their own opinions and attitudes. And if that misdirection involves the things of the church it is even better.

Paul addresses the issue by reminding the church of what is really at stake. Unity. Jesus in His high priestly prayer asked the Father for His people to be one – even as He and the Father were one. Jesus knew that a church divided against itself could not stand. (Mark 3:25) He also knew that His church would have to be known by the love they shared. (John 13:35) Paul knew this also and he understood fully that the gospel message of Jesus Christ had to spread without hindrances like squabbles over something as insignificant as a personality contest.

The fact is that we must be unified, as Paul instructed the Corinthians, and in order to be unified we must have the same heart and mind as Jesus. If we will but look up and focus on Him, we won’t become preoccupied with the junk around us. Furthermore, we won’t be annoyed by people around us because we are focused not on their idiosyncrasies, but on Jesus. And as the final illustration in this lesson shows, the closer we get to Jesus, the closer we get to our brothers and sisters in Christ and the more we become of one mind and one heart.

The gospel message must be proclaimed but it will only be successfully proclaimed by a united body of Christ.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, August 14, 2022. It is part of a series of Bible study sessions from The Gospel Project – a Bible study curriculum developed by Lifeway Christian Resources. Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com

Website – FromTheBackPorch.org

Twitter – From the Back Porch @ nationalfast

Facebook – From the Back Porch in Texas

Email – fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com

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