A Rich Ruler and the Rewards of Righteousness | Matthew 19:10-12 | Noel Piepgrass

In Matthew 13:1-23, Jesus begins his sermon of parables with a story about a farmer who’s sowing seeds.  The seed falls upon 4 different soils and we’re told, by Jesus, that each type of soil represents a heart condition.  In this sermon, Pastor Noel Piepgrass shares how the heart can be hard, shallow, or distracted and thus unable to receive the seed of the gospel and thrive.  Finally, Noel points us to Jesus, the one who makes our soil good as we turn to him through repentance.  (sermon credit due, Danny Bartlett, whose work Pastor Noel drew heavily from) 

In Matthew 13 Jesus gives a sermon using parables, short stories with a moral to them.  In verses 10-17, we see Jesus quote a passage from the book of Isaiah which effectively communicates to the audience that his use of parables is the most impactful way to help his audience hear and see the mysteries of the Kingdom.  In this message, Noel goes on to share his own story and invites the listener into the story God is writing over their own lives and over the life of Exeter Valley Church.    

In Matthew 18:21-35 Jesus tells a parable about a merciful King and an unmerciful servant. By Noel Piepgrass 

In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus teaches that our worry reveals our worship and that he can be trusted to provide for us so we should seek first His kingdom.  By Noel Piepgrass