"Parable of the Hidden Treasure & the Pearl"
Text: Matthew 13:44
A. Of the Treasure
+ Psalm 135:4 - Treasured possession
+ Galatians 6:16 - Treasured possession
- You and I, the chosen people of God who fear His Name, and His treasured possession.
Questions:
1. When God says you are His 'treasure', how does this impact the way you look at yourself?
2. In this parable, Jesus says that the treasure was hidden in the world. How were we, as a church, hidden in the world?
- Ephesians 2:1-7 tells us that before we were found, we were in the world and of the world..
3. Once Christ found us, what did He do? He hid us again. What does this mean? How does Christ hide is after He finds us?
- John 17:11, 14-18
4. What are the Christian values you live by that can make non-Christians either like you or hate you? Would you still choose to be different and stand for what you believe in?
- Our Lord and Saviour, finding the treasure of His chosen ones in the world, not only return us into the world but He also conceals and protects us against all the schemes of the enemy.
5. Jesus promises to protect us against the schemes of the enemy provided that we put on His spiritual armor. What are they?
- Hebrews 12:2; Acts 20:28; John 3:16-17
Three points from this Parable of the Hidden Treasure:
1. You are a treasure (precious in His sight)
2. You are found by God (no more lost)
3. You belong to God (you're not your own)
"You are a treasure, found by God, belong to God!"
B. Of the Pearl
+ Romans 3:11
+ John 6:44
Jesus Christ Himself is the only One who has what it takes to buy this pearl...
- For the Son of man came to seek and to save what was lost (Luke 19:10)
- You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit (John 15:16)
Do you find anyone in our fellowship 'irritating'? If we do, we are just like 'the pot calling the kettle black,' because we ourselves are 'irritants' (sinners) by nature too (Romans 3:23-24).
- Read Colossians 3:3; John 15:19; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 5:25-27 (brings out the "bride" aspect)
Three points from this Parable of the Pearl:
1. We are sinners (irritants)
2. We are saved by grace (in the oyster)
3. We are to shine for Christ's glory (transformed into a beauty)
"We are sinners, saved by grace, for Christ's glory!"
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