Wanderlust is a teaching series of Society Church that is all about staying rooted in community and growing in our faith amidst a wanderlust world.
As Paul prayed for the church in Ephesus in Ephesians 3:17-
Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.
Matthew 13:1-9,23 Later that same day Jesus left the house and sat beside the lake. 2 A large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat there and taught as the people stood on the shore. 3 He told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one: “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds. 4 As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. 5 Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. 6 But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants. 8 Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted! 9 Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”… 23 The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”
Context: Jesus often told parables or riddles to explain “The Kingdom of God”. The Kingdom of god is the presence and effect of God being with us and us one day fully being with him. When Jesus taught us to pray he said, “may your kingdom come, your will be done here on earth as it is in heaven.” The idea of heaven invading earth and that we as Jesus’s people are curators of heaven for the world.
Today we are going to look at 3 practices that help us to become Oaks of Righteousness. A people rooted, growing and healthy amidst a Wanderlust world:
- The Practice of Rooting
- The Practice of Abiding
- The Practice of Producing
Practice #1 of an Oak of Righteousness: Rooting
Matthew 13:10 His disciples came and asked him, “Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?” 11 He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets[a] of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. 12 To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. 13 That is why I use these parables, For they look, but they don’t really see. They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand. 14 This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says, ‘When you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend. 15 For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes— so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’[b]
Practice #2 of an Oak of Righteousness: Abiding
John 15:4-5, 8 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 8- When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.
Practice #3 of an Oak of Righteousness: Producing
Matthew 13:31-32- 31Here is another illustration Jesus used: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. 32It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches.”
Conclusion:
Isaiah 61: 3-4- To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the LORD has planted for his own glory. They will rebuild the ancient ruins, repairing cities destroyed long ago. They will revive them, though they have been deserted for many generations.
