Preparing for Sunday - Matthew 21:33-46

May 14, 2015 Preparing for Sunday

Read Matthew 21:33-46. Read Matthew 21:1-46.
Thinking through the setting and previous verses what do we see Jesus doing in verses 33-46 as compared to verses 1-32?
What is the primary issue Jesus is trying to illustrate?
In verse 41, the Pharisees respond to Jesus parable strongly, what is their response?
Why do they respond now but they did not in verses 25-27?
What is Jesus doing in verses 42-44?
Why do the Pharisees not doing anything when Jesus is boldly confronting them? What are their hearts truly set on?

Think through who we are more like in this passage? Read verses 33-46.
Reflect your heart and what you do when you hear the Word and see others proclaiming it, especially outside of the pulpit.
Think on what it means to be a “people producing fruits” and compare to your fruits and the fruits of this body.

What sin does this passage expose in you? Remember not only to confess your sins, but to “turn away” from those sins and “turn to” God.
What can you do to be trusting in the promised hope this passage has?
How should we as the local body of Christ respond to this message? What ways can we test the fruitfulness of our lives, individually and corporately? Pray for our church now.
Pray for non-Christians to be convicted of their need of Christ this Sunday. Pray that Christians will be fruitful in their application of the intent of this passage.
Pray for those who will be leading the service this week: Dawson Bryant, music; Todd Arnold, Elders' prayer and Scripture reading; Bret Capranica, teaching. Pray for protection of their hearts and for their families as the lead us corporately in worship.
Listen to the music we will be singing on Sunday; think on how corrupt your heart is and how often we are grumbling against the Lord during the week. Let the lyrics replace that grumbling in the week and guide your heart to contentment in your circumstances and prepare you for worshipping our King together.