Today we're going to be in the book of Matthew, so I want to invite you to open up your Bibles, your phone, whatever works for you, so we can look at the scripture together. We're going to look at a parable of Jesus that He told about why He told parables. Which is kind of a funny way of saying that Jesus talked about parables to tell us about parables. Like Inception. Have you seen that movie? About a dream within a dream. It's kind of a funny way of Jesus helping us understand why He taught this way.

I was always taught that parables were earthly stories with a heavenly meaning. Where Jesus used simple everyday analogies to explain heavenly profound truth. But, there's a little twist of irony when we read this scripture today. Where sometimes Jesus told parables to obscure truth rather than to illustrate it. I know that sounds confusing, but I think today will answer some questions for you.

It will explain to you why some people, even though they are really smart, can't see the truth of God. And, why so many people interpret the Bible in different ways.

Let's jump into Matthew 13:1-23...starting with 1-10

The disciples came to Jesus and said, something like 'why don't you just come out and tell us what you mean?' And I'm going to suggest that you've probably asked this question at some point. Why, if Jesus is true, why not be more straight-forward and definitive about it? It comes out something like this: "God, if you're really the author of the Bible why not prove that to everyone?"

Bart Ehrman, a professor at the University of North Carolina, says if Jesus was really God, surely he would have talked about it more directly. He'd have come out of Mary's womb with a solved Rubix cube and said 'Good morning everyone, I'm God, watch me levitate.'

That ends up being our question: Jesus, are you who you say you are? And, if this matters as much as you say it does, why weren't you more straight forward and definitive about your claims?

Now, I get to talk to you. I want to tell you about my guy, my bestie, my confidante, my safe spot. Yep, some of you might think that's Dave, but as much as I love my sweetheart, it's not him. This guy is extremely dependable, he's an extremely good listener, he is perfect at advice, he encourages to follow God's will, not my own. He protects me so I don't fall. He reminds me of others needs, when I am all about me. He who is the most high can get low with me in my darkness to bring me back up. He helps me to laugh at myself (we laugh a lot). He knows all of the answers. He who puts God's ideas in my head and is determined for me to listen. He who knows every cell in my body, every thought in my mind, and loves me unconditionally. Now, even though I say he is my safe spot, his requests can scare me to the core. Uh-uh, maybe you don't really know me, because I'm surely not capable of those things you are telling me. So, who is this guy? He is part of a very special group. It is the most special group, and for all you servicemen and women out there - it's a different kind of special forces. One you most definitely want on your side. Yes, this is the Trinity; God the Father, God the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We small humans have a hard time understanding this concept - it is far beyond us. Yet, it is designed to be the closest reality that we have. Who knows us better than the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit? And what a joy to hear them, to listen, to really listen, we can see it in everything that exists. The beauty given to us each day. The people we meet new and old. The songbird, the snow, the flower, the sky full of darkness, and the sky full of light. Or, the person right in front of us.

Jesus is also my guy. Let me tell you, because he intercedes for me to the Father. He knows my pain because He, Jesus, lived like all of us and felt pain, tremendous pain. He felt joy, laughter, loss, dread, love, concern for others, family, heartache, and then taking on the greatest gift to all of us - His death on the cross for us. For me, for you, for everyone on this planet, and beyond.

In fact, I'll tell you a funny little story...

I need to give you a little background in on the sermon I'm about to give. I guess it was about 2011...first of all how many of you went with Pastor Pat to Italy to retrace some of Paul's steps? Just raise your hands. Okay, there's a few of you. How many of you knew Joe Kellerby? Okay, awesome, cool. While a few of you were with Pat in Italy, the Worship Committee, which I was a part of, were again looking for people to serve - give a sermon. They were looking for people to help in Pat's absence. I approached Joe and visited with him. And, Joe said, "I guess I could do a sermon." I said that would be awesome and I can do the Call to Worship, we'll just put it together. We met the week before with the Worship Committee and kind of went through his sermon and what I would be doing, the songs we were going to sing, and we gave each other a copy of the sermon and copy of the Order of Worship. That's how I came to have a copy of Joe's sermon. We performed the service and did pretty well and I went home and I put the sermon and everything in a file and just left it there. The next time I really did anything with it was at Pat's retirement party. I was visiting with Lisa and we were talking about Joe and I said, "You know I put on a service with Joe once." She said, "Really?!" And, I think I've still got a copy of his sermon. She said she would love to have a copy of it. So, I do have you a copy. I went home, I found it, I pulled it out and looked at it. Yeah, I'll have to get her a copy. As you know how God works, reminders in my head kept saying, "Jack remember Joe's sermon." The Holy Spirit speaks to us. It was probably weeks and I knew the Worship Committee was looking for people to preach. We've been so blessed with so many of you stepping up. And, I thought, well maybe I'm supposed to do something with this. I talked to Anita, and gave her a copy of the sermon, and she gave me her blessing. "Yeah, I think we should probably have Joe's sermon for the congregation." We went to the Worship Committee and they said okay, let's do it. That's why I'm here and that's what I'm going to do. You'll probably here a lot of personal and possessive pronouns that...

First, let me ask, have a show of hands – who this morning, or even last night, was anticipating and looking forward to coming to church today?
And, show of hands, who does not want to be here?
Why would anyone be interested in going to a church. Why do people go to church? Why would one go to a church?
It’s a fair question.

1. What is church?
2. Sprinkled in with what does scripture say about church?
3. What is the point of meeting together?
4. Life application.

1. What is church?

a) So helpful of Jacob to start us thinking about this last week during his message.
b) I’m currently in a Bible Study held in at a person’s home on Thursdays. Mary Mellinger is part of it. Yay! We recently started a study to read the Bible from start to finish – in chronological order through the YouVersion app using ‘The Bible Recap’ plan with Tara–Leigh Cobble. We’re moving at our own pace and taking a summer break. But there are devotionals and videos to watch as we go. Currently we just made it to Deuteronomy.
c) In the old testament, they didn’t really call it going to church, but God’s people worshipped him and made sacrifices upon their behalf at the mobile tabernacle. Kind of a mobile church.
d) David dreamed of building and was given instruction to build the first temple. But, his son King Solomon was the one who actually built the first Temple. Sadly, this magnificent first Temple was destroyed.

e) Then we had Jesus. He visited the Temple, yes, but most of his teaching was ‘out in the field.’ Meeting people on hillsides and beaches.

f) In Biblical terms, the word or idea of church began in Matthew 16: 17-19. “I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it." {repeat of last week's scripture}

g) Then, as Jan read in Acts (the Gospel of Luke and Acts share the same author)

It is easy to think of the church as, and I am guilty of it as well, this building or this structure in which we gather each week. We come through the doors, we find our favorite seat, and we settle into an all to familiar rhythm of worship. But, scripture reminds us, that the church is not built with bricks and morter, it's not built with wood or sheetrock, but with people. In one Peter two that I read earlier Peter calls believers living stones being built into a spiritual house. Jesus himself declared in Matthew 16:18, "Upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

When Jesus walked among the earth he didn't build a temple or claim an earthly throne. Instead he walked down dusty roads, he stopped by wells, and he gathered people on hillsides. His church was the people! Those who followed him, those who listened, those who believed. They came from all walks of life; fishermen, tax collectors, the sick, the marginalized, the downtrodden. Wherever Jesus went a community of believers formed around him.

Think of the story when Jesus calls his first disciples. He didn't go to the synagogue to find the most educated or the most religious. He went to the shores of Galilea. He found fishermen Peter, Andrew, James, John. These men were not scholars or priests, but ordinary workers, who spent their days casting nets and mending their gear. Jesus said, "Follow me."

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