Fusion: week of 4/13

FAMILY THEME: FAITHFULNESS

THE UNFAITHFUL TENANTS

Matthew 21:33-46

Jesus used the parable of the unfaithful tenants to give 

perspective to Israel's rejection of God's messengers 

and their imminent rejection of His Son. He also outlined

the importance of faithfulness and the dangers of not

bearing fruit.

1.  Faithfulness is Listening to God's Servants 

     (Matthew 21: 33-36)

     This parable represents how Israel did not want to

     hear God's message so they rejected the messengers.

 
2.  Faithfulness is Loving God's Son

     (Matthew 21:37-42) 

     Jesus, though generally rejected by the religious 

     leaders, is the foundation upon which God's kingdom

     is being built.

 
3.  Faithfulness is Living to Produce Kingdom Fruit

     (Matthew 21:43-46)

     The kingdom of God would be given to those who

     bear its fruit.

Fusion: week of 4/6

FAMILY THEME: GRACE

THE GRACIOUS GIFT OF GOD

Matthew 20:1-16

Jesus paralleled God's grace with that of a gracious farmer.

1.  God Extends a Gracious Invitation 

     (Matthew 20: 1-7)

     The common denominator among the workers is that 

     they all were invited to work.

 
2.  God Promises a Gracious Reward

     (Matthew 20:8-9) 

     How long each person worked proved completely

     irrelevant to what he received.

 
3.  God Expects a Gracious Response

     (Matthew 20:10-16)

     All who trust Christ are graciously given salvation, no

     matter when they come to Christ.

Fusion: week of 3/30

FAMILY THEME: RESTORATION

EATING LIKE A PIG

Luke 15:1-32

The Pharisees found it indefensible that Jesus would willingly associate

with know sinners. But, Jesus responded to their criticism with three

parables that outline the very purpose of His coming: to find and restore

the lost.

1.  Spiritual Restoration Begins with God 

     (Luke 15:1 - 10)

     When something valuable is lost, every effort is made to find it.

 
2.  Spiritual Restoration Requires Humility

     (Luke 15:11 - 24) 

     God responds to genuine humility with restoration.

 
3.  Self-Righteousness Keeps People From God

     (Luke 15:25 - 32)

     Self-righteousness bars the door to true fellowship with God.

Fusion: week of 2/23

FAMILY THEME: TRUST

DON'T WORRY, BE GENEROUS

Luke 12:13-34

Priorities and perspective are two areas even Christians seem to struggle

with mightily. However, this is not a new issue. Jesus used a story of a 

foolish lover of wealth to teach that there is much more to life than the

accumulation of money and possessions.

1.  Covetousness is the Enemy of Trust 

     (Luke 12:13 - 21)

     Jesus gave a principle for life: Life is not about possessions.

 
2.  Trust is the Antidote for Worry

     (Luke 12:22 - 31) 

     Worrying is an epidemic of immeasurable proportions, even among

     Christians. Yet, worry is a sign of lack of trust in what God is doing

     and will do.

 
3.  Giving is an Expression of Trust

     (Luke 12:32 - 34)

     What matters most to us? The answer to that question may be found

     in what occupies our thoughts. Our focus in life will reveal what is most

     important to us.

Fusion: week of 3/16

FAMILY THEME: COMPASSION

HAVE A HEART

Luke 10:25-37

Jesus constantly challenged the social and racial barriers of His day.

He also displayed contempt for hypocritical religious leaders. In the

parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus taught that true compassion

is blind to race, social standing, and convenience.

1.  Compassion Goes Beyond Mere Knowledge  

     (Luke 10:25 - 29)

     Knowledge of truth is no doubt necessary, but alone it means nothing.

 
2.  Compassion Transcends Social Differences

     (Luke 10:30 - 34) 

     The two who should have helped didn't, and the one who shouldn't

     have did.

 
3.  Compassion Acts Beyond Convenience

     (Luke 10:35 - 37)

     The Samaritan willingly sacrificed time, money, and energy.

Fusion: week of 3/9

FAMILY THEME: JUDGMENT

THE FINAL SEPARATION

Matthew 13:24-30, 34-43

Parables were Jesus' primary means of communicating with

the crowds that gathered to hear Him teach. In the parable of

the weeds, Jesus explained that those who reject Him will be

separated from the righteous and face eternal judgment.

1.  Human Reasoning Won't Fix What is Wrong with Our World  

     (Matthew 13:24 - 30)

     Man's solutions to the problems of our world are always

     insufficient and often harmful.

 
2.  Jesus Revealed the Solution to Humanity's Woes

     (Matthew 13:34 - 35) 

     Jesus' answers will be clear to those who seek Him and

     hidden from those who reject Him.

 
3.  Judgment Will Bring a Final Separation

     (Matthew 13:36 - 43)

     The wheat and the weeds will not always be together.

Fusion week of 3/2

FAMILY THEME: THE WORD

THE SOWER SOWS THE WORD

Mark 4

Jesus used the parable of the sower to explain the various ways

people respond to the Word.

1. Jesus Used Common Events to Teach Uncommon Truth 

     (Mark 4:1 - 9)

     Jesus used things common to His culture, such as farming,

     to drive home His teaching.

 
2.  Jesus Told Parables to Reveal and Conceal Truth

     (Mark 4:10 - 12) 

     It is a mistake to say Jesus' use of parables was a way to

     make it easier to relate to the truth.

 
3.  People Will Respond to the Word in One of Four Ways

     (Mark 4:13 - 20)

     Different people respond to the Word in different ways.