Discussion Guide | July 20, 2025

July 21st, 2025

Introduction

"What We Value Most" - Sermon Summary

This week's sermon explores several parables from Matthew 13, focusing on how God's kingdom operates. Pastor Bill examines the parable of the wheat and weeds, the mustard seed, and the yeast, highlighting how God's truth and kingdom often start small but grow to have tremendous impact. The message emphasizes that while the enemy tries to plant deception alongside truth, God's purposes cannot be thwarted, and believers should prioritize God's kingdom above all else.

Intro Prayer

Heavenly Father, as we gather to discuss Your Word, we ask that You would prepare our hearts to be good soil. Plant Your truth deep within us today. Help us to see beyond the surface of these parables and understand the kingdom principles You want to teach us. Open our minds and hearts to receive exactly what You have for each person in this group. In Jesus' name, amen.

Ice Breaker

If your house was on fire and you had just a moment to grab what was most valuable to you before leaving, what would you take and why?

Main Study

Key Verses

Matthew 13:24-30
Matthew 13:31-32
Matthew 13:33-34
Matthew 13:44
Matthew 6:33

Questions

In the parable of the wheat and weeds, why do you think the farmer chose to let both grow together until harvest rather than pulling up the weeds immediately? How might this apply to our lives today?
The sermon mentions that many things of God start small. Can you share an example from your own life where something that began small grew into something significant?
How does the parable of the mustard seed challenge our typical understanding of power, success, and influence in today's world?
Pastor Bill mentioned four ways of listening to Scripture: peshat (surface), remez (hints), drash (inquiry), and sod (revelation). Which of these do you find most challenging in your Bible study, and why?
In what ways might you be allowing 'weeds' to grow alongside the 'wheat' in your spiritual life? What steps could you take to address this?
The sermon states that 'to live for Christ is to die to self' and calls this counterintuitive. What other counterintuitive principles of God's kingdom have you experienced?
How does the parable of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price challenge your priorities? Is there anything you need to 'sell' (give up) to more fully pursue God's kingdom?
Pastor bill emphasized generational blessings versus generational curses. How might your current spiritual choices be affecting future generations in your family?

Life Application

This week, identify one area where you've been allowing the 'soil' of your heart to become hardened, shallow, or choked with thorns. Take specific steps to cultivate good soil in that area by:

Setting aside 15 minutes daily to read and meditate on God's Word,
Removing one distraction that's been choking out spiritual growth, and
Sharing with someone else what God is teaching you.

Remember that God's kingdom often starts small but grows to have tremendous impact when we prioritize it above all else.

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Closing

Key Takeaways

God's kingdom often starts small and seemingly insignificant but grows to have tremendous impact and blessing.
The enemy tries to plant deception (weeds) alongside truth (wheat), but God's purposes cannot be thwarted.
We need to move beyond surface-level understanding of Scripture to deeper levels of comprehension and application.
The kingdom of God is of such great value that it's worth giving up everything else to obtain it.
Our obedience to God's Word not only affects our lives but can become a blessing to many others, even across generations.

Ending Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank You for revealing the mysteries of Your kingdom through these parables. Help us to be good soil that produces a harvest thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold. We break up any fallow ground in our hearts and ask You to plant Your Word deep within us. May we value Your kingdom above all else and recognize that even small beginnings can lead to tremendous impact when surrendered to You. Give us eyes to see and ears to hear what Your Spirit is saying. We commit to prioritizing Your kingdom this week in our daily choices. In Jesus' name, amen.

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