Heaven on Earth?

In the book of Matthew, we read a great deal about the "Kingdom of God" and the "Kingdom of Heaven". Are they one and the same? What can we learn from Jesus' parables about the Kingdom of Heaven?
In this brand new series, we're digging deep into the first book of the New Testament, and rethinking what we may have taken for granted about what the Kingdom of Heaven really is.

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SERMON NOTES

The Kingdom of Heaven:

1. Includes this World
2. Has an Enemy
3. Will Have a Sorting Time

Response: We look forward to the new heaven!

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 13:24-30

24 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, 25 but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds[a] among the wheat and went away. 26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. 27 And the servants[b] of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”


DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. When you think of a place called heaven; what are the first things that come to mind?

2. Read Isaiah 66:1-2. What are the characteristics of the people whom God looks upon as his seeds of wheat?

3. List all the things in this world that you know that Satan has influence over?

4. Read 2 Peter 3:10-13, Isaiah 65:17 and Revelation 21:1-8. Can you name the characteristics of the new heaven? What happens to the heaven that exists now?

5. How does God sort humanity? Read Matthew 24:31-46.