·   Illustration: This long story tells of a seminarian who canvassed families in the parish to determine their understanding of the kingdom of God, getting as many answers as there were people. Jesus used stories about the kingdom of God for a similar reason.

The kingdom is a gift (Matt. 20:1–16).

·   Jesus wanted to tell people that the kingdom of God was a gift.

·   Jesus told a story about men waiting to be hired for a day’s work.

-Illustration: Williams tells of seeing men with coils of rope waiting for work at Lake Titicaca. Later he saw a man carrying a refrigerator on his back.

·   All the men, no matter when they started work, were given a full day’s pay.

·   The kingdom is something God freely gives, not something that we can earn.

-Luke 12:32

The kingdom is an invitation ( Luke 14:15–24).

·   Jesus also wanted to tell people that there was some responsibility on their part.

·   Jesus told them that the kingdom of God was like an invitation to a wedding feast.

·   When those invited did not come, he extended the invitation to others.

-Illustration: Williams relates a time when he had persons in the congregation stand and give the excuses the invited guests provided Jesus. When the “actors” really got into their roles, the congregation had a time to discuss the parable.

·   They decided that an invitation to a banquet is something that is freely given.

·   They decided that an invitation depends upon the generosity of the host and not upon the qualifications of the recipient.

·   They decided the person who receives the invitation has the duty to answer; to ignore it is to be excluded.

·   They decided the kingdom demands a person’s acceptance and action in response to the gift.

·   Upon that, Williams offered the invitation to a very meaningful Holy Communion.

The kingdom is present and future ( Matt. 13:31–33).

·   Jesus told people the kingdom was working in the present while waiting to be fulfilled.

·   Jesus talked about a small mustard seed that would grow into a great shrub, and a woman kneading leaven into her bread so that it would rise.

·   The mustard seed emphasizes how the kingdom, from small beginnings, will have great consequences.

·   The parable of the leaven emphasizes the mysterious workings of the yeast—pervasive, dynamic, and irresistible.

·   The kingdom may be concealed from the eye, impossible to discern, hidden, and small, yet it will have an inevitable and powerful result.

The kingdom is judgment ( Matt. 25:31–46).

·   The kingdom of God also comes with an announcement of judgment.

·   We must always be prepared for the unexpected.

·   Matthew tells a story of a king who has come to inaugurate his kingdom.

·   The ones who participate had done the works of the king by providing food, drink, welcome, clothing, comfort, and consolation to the king’s subjects.

·   Those who receive praise do not understand why they have been commended.

·   The parable wants to say that if you do what you do out of fear of the judgment, you have done it for the wrong reason.

·   Our actions do make a difference; ultimately they meet with their consequences.

·   Jesus was saying, “God is on the move. A new day is dawning. Everyone’s invited. You come, too!”