Scripture
Matthew 22:18,21
Isaiah 45:1,4-6; Psalm 96:1,3-5,7-10; I Thessalonians 1:1-5; Matthew 22:15-21
Sermon Week/Year
In a story called “By Invitation of Jesus,”1 a wealthy and powerful man, living in Washington, D.C., opens his Bible where he stumbles upon the story of Jesus dining at the house of a leading Pharisee. The man is especially intrigued by Jesus’ parting words to His host: “When you give a lunch or a dinner, do not ask your friends, brothers, relations or rich neighbors, for fear they repay your courtesy by inviting you in return. No, when you have a party, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; that they cannot pay you back means that you are fortunate, because repayment will be made to you when the virtuous rise again” (Lk. 14:12-14).
Somehow, the wealthy man could not get those simple words out of his mind. He wondered what would happen if someone took them seriously. What if someone like himself, after reading those words, should say “Thy will be done” and mean it! He thought about the wonderful…
To view this resource, log in or sign up for a subscription plan