Beyond the Weekend

March 12 | Two Sons & Two Responses

March 12, 2020

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.  Matthew 21:32

Read: Matthew 21:28-32

Listen: Matthew 21

TODAY’S MESSAGE

Jesus shows the inadequacy of the religious leaders’ understanding of God through a simple story. The first son says he won’t do something but eventually does. The second says he will, but never does. The religious leaders are the second son. They try to say all the right things about God, but don’t actually do what he wants them to. The first son represents those who initially rebel against God but come to the realization their way of life doesn’t work, and they need God. Both sons resist, but only one ends up obeying.

Watch this video clip as Pastor Aaron Buer describes how some of us are still saying “no” today. Resisting God is part of the human condition. However, one way of resistance is more dangerous. The second son resists, but after having said that he would do it. Many of us might be like that. Maybe we said yes to God as a young person but never really followed through on it. Perhaps we felt God challenging us to change something; we intended to, but never did anything. We might’ve had good intentions at the moment, but nothing in our hearts or lives really changed. That “yes” didn’t adjust the way we think about decisions, friends, family or even God.

IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY

This past weekend, we were challenged to stop resisting God and to surrender to him. Determine one thing you need to surrender to him. Don’t let it be something you say “yes” to, and then don’t really do. Give it to him again today. Share the news with someone from your small group or a trusted friend to help hold you accountable.


Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.

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