Kingdom Kernel #29 – Unveiling the Kingdom: The Parable of the Sower and the Mystery of God’s Reign

He began to teach again by the sea. And such a very large crowd gathered to Him that He got into a boat in the sea and sat down; and the whole crowd was by the sea on the land. And He was teaching them many things in parables, and was saying to them in His teaching, “Listen to this! Behold, the sower went out to sow; as he was sowing, some seed fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate it up. Other seed fell on the rocky ground where it did not have much soil; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of soil. And after the sun had risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. Other seed fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. Other seeds fell into the good soil, and as they grew up and increased, they yielded a crop and produced thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.” And He was saying, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” (Mark 4:1-9)

Introduction

The Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1–23, Mark 4:1–20, Luke 8:4–15) stands as a hermeneutical key to understanding the “mystery” (Greek: μυστήριον, mustérion, Strong’s G3466) of God’s kingdom. This term, rooted in the Greek mueó (“to initiate into secrets”), transcends its Hellenistic cultural context of esoteric rituals to describe divine truths revealed only through God’s grace. In the Gospels, Jesus employs this parable to unveil how the kingdom operates in a hidden yet transformative manner, centering on receptive hearts and the power of God’s Word.

Linguistic Roots: Defining the Terms

The Greek mustérion signifies a divine secret once concealed but now disclosed to those initiated by God. Unlike pagan mysteries guarded by exclusivity, Jesus democratizes access to this truth: the kingdom’s arrival is not through political force but through the sowing of the “word of God” (Luke 8:11). The term’s etymology underscores initiation—not into human rituals, but into God’s redemptive plan. Isaiah’s prophecy (Isaiah 6:9–10, cited in Matthew 13:14–15) frames this mystery as a divine paradox: the same message that hardens some hearts softens others, fulfilling God’s sovereign design.

The Parable as Revelation of Kingdom Dynamics

Jesus’ parable illustrates four responses to the “word of the kingdom” (Matthew 13:19):

The hardened heart (pathway soil): Satan snatches the Word, preventing understanding.

The shallow heart (rocky soil): Initial joy withers under trials.

The distracted heart (thorny soil): Worldly cares choke spiritual growth.

The receptive heart (good soil): The Word flourishes, yielding exponential fruit.

Here, the “mystery” lies in the kingdom’s unexpected manifestation—its growth depends not on human merit but on soil conditions (hearts) prepared by God. As Jesus explains to His disciples, “To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but to those outside, everything comes in parables” (Mark 4:11). The parable both reveals and conceals, separating earnest seekers from the spiritually indifferent.

Christological Fulfillment and Present Lordship

Jesus, as the divine Sower and incarnate Word, embodies the mystery. His teaching fulfills Isaiah’s prophecy, confirming His role as Messiah-King who inaugurates the kingdom in humility. The parable’s focus on hearing and perseverance (Luke 8:15) underscores that the kingdom is both a present reality and a future hope. While its ultimate consummation awaits Christ’s return, its power is active now: the Word transforms lives, and the Spirit enables believers to “bear fruit with perseverance.” (Luke 8:15)

Transformative Implications for Believers

The mystery of the kingdom reshapes discipleship. Believers are called to:

Sow indiscriminately, trusting God to prepare hearts. (Matthew 13:3–9)

Cultivate receptive soil by rooting out distractions and deepening faith. (Mark 4:18–19)

Anticipate spiritual multiplication, as good soil yields “thirty, sixty, or a hundredfold.” (Mark 4:20)

This parable also reaffirms Christ’s present lordship. Though His reign is contested, the Word’s efficacy proves His authority. As Paul later articulates, the mystery hidden for ages is “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:26–27)—a present indwelling that prefigures eternal fulfillment.

Conclusion: The Eternal Word and Kingdom Expansion

The Parable of the Sower reveals that the kingdom advances not through coercion but through the Spirit-empowered Word. By defining mustérion as God’s gracious disclosure, Jesus invites His followers into a participatory role: as sowers, hearers, and bearers of fruit. This mystery, centered on Christ’s redemptive work, transforms hearts today while pointing toward a harvest of cosmic renewal. In a world of shallow faith and divided allegiances, the parable calls believers to persevere as “good soil,” assured that the Sower’s promise will yield an eternal crop.

Disciple-Maker’s Short Story

The Sower’s Circle

In the soft glow of early spring, Pastor Tom and Anna’s living room hummed with quiet anticipation. The clock ticked toward 7 p.m., and the small group—Q-A-A, Questions, Answers, and Application—settled into mismatched chairs and a sagging couch. A faint breeze carried the scent of blooming lilacs through an open window, mingling with the warmth of coffee and Anna’s homemade lemon bars.

The Parable of the Sower, preached that morning, lingered in their minds like a seed waiting to take root.

Tom, lean and graying, sat in a wooden chair brought from the dining room, his Bible open to Matthew 13. Anna, her smile as steady as the lamplight, passed a plate of snacks. The group—eight in all, from college students to retirees—began with a recap of the sermon: the sower, the seeds, the soils, and the mysterious yields of thirty, sixty, a hundredfold. Tom’s voice, gentle but deliberate, invited them to dig deeper. “What stood out to you today? What questions do you have?”

The first to speak was Rachel, a barista with a nose ring and a notebook full of scribbled thoughts. “Why doesn’t Jesus just tell it straight?” she asked, her brow furrowing. “Parables feel like riddles. Why make it so hard to get?”

Tom leaned forward, but instead of answering, he turned to the group. “What do you think? Why parables?” Silence hung for a moment, then Marcus, a retired mechanic with hands like worn leather, cleared his throat. “Maybe it’s like a oil filter. You know, like filtering oil for dirt and debris. The ones who really want to understand stick around and ask, like the disciples did.” Heads nodded. Sarah, a shy college freshman, added, “It’s like he’s inviting us to chase the truth. If it was all laid out, we might not care as much.”

Tom smiled, his eyes crinkling. “That’s good. Jesus himself says in Matthew 13:11, ‘To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom, but to them it has not been granted.’ Parables separate the curious from the casual. They’re not just stories—they’re a call to lean in, to seek. And when we do, like Marcus said, we get initiated into something deeper.” Rachel jotted a note, her face softening as if a knot had loosened.

Next came Jamal, a high school teacher whose tie was still knotted from the morning service. “Okay, but the fourth soil—the good soil—feels so rare,” he said, his voice tinged with frustration. “The path, the rocks, the thorns… that’s most people, right? How much seed—how much of the Word—has to be sown to find that good soil?”

Again, Tom deflected to the group. “What do you make of that? How much sowing is enough?” Anna spoke up, her voice steady. “I think it’s not about counting the seeds. The sower in the story just keeps scattering, no matter the ground. It’s like he trusts the seed to do its work, even if most of it doesn’t take.” Peter, a wiry landscaper, chimed in. “Yeah, in my job, I plant a lot of seeds that don’t make it. You don’t stop planting—you just keep going, hoping for the ones that do.”

Tom nodded, flipping to Mark 4:20. “Exactly. Jesus says the good soil ‘hears the word and accepts it and bears fruit.’ It’s rare, sure, but the sower doesn’t discriminate. He sows everywhere, trusting God to prepare the hearts. Our job isn’t to judge the soil—it’s to keep sowing, keep sharing, keep praying. The yield’s up to Him.”

The room grew quieter as Ellen, a grandmother with a soft Southern drawl, raised her hand. “Tom, is this parable why you started Q-A-A?” Her question landed like a stone in still water, rippling through the group. Tom’s eyes met Anna’s, and a flicker of something—memory, maybe—passed between them.

“Let’s hear from you first,” Tom said, his voice softer now. “What do you think?” Ellen smiled faintly. “Well, this group feels like good soil to me. A place where we can ask hard questions, dig into the Word, and figure out how to live it. Maybe you started it to help us be that fourth soil.”

Others murmured agreement. Rachel added, “Yeah, it’s like we’re learning to sow, too—not just hear the Word, but spread it.” Tom leaned back, his smile broadening. “Exactly! When Anna and I started this, we’d been through some rocky years—ministry struggles, doubts, distractions. We saw how easy it was for the Word to get snatched away or choked out. We wanted a space to cultivate good soil, for ourselves and others. This parable? It’s a reminder that the Word works, but it takes time, questions, and persistence. Like Jesus, we’re called to sow generously and trust the harvest to God.”

The group fell silent, the weight of the parable settling in. Tom shifted gears. “Let’s close with applications. How’s this parable challenging you to live differently? To be more like Jesus?”

Peter spoke first, his voice rough but earnest. “I’m gonna start talking about my faith at work. I’ve been too quiet, worried about the ‘rocks’ or ‘thorns’ in people’s lives. But Jesus didn’t hold back. I want to sow like He did.”

Rachel, flipping through her notebook, said, “I need to stop overthinking and just listen to the Word with an open heart. Be that good soil, you know? Jesus was always seeking the Father’s will—I want that kind of focus.” Jamal, his earlier frustration softened, added, “I’m gonna keep teaching my students about truth, even when it feels like it’s not sticking. Jesus kept sowing, no matter the odds. I want His patience.”

As the group shared, Anna’s eyes glistened. She spoke last, her voice barely above a whisper. “I want to be like Jesus in how He saw people—not as bad soil, but as potential for a harvest. He never gave up on anyone. That’s the heart I want.”

The clock struck 8:30, and the group prayed, their voices weaving together like roots reaching deep. Outside, the spring night was alive with possibility, as if the seeds of their words were already taking hold, waiting for the Sower’s hand to bring the yield.

Kingdom Kernel Collection

The Depth Challenge

Depth Charges in WWII Anti-Submarine Warfare

Depth charges were the primary anti-submarine weapon of World War II, undergoing significant tactical evolution throughout the conflict while presenting unique challenges in confirming their effectiveness.

At the war’s outset, Allied navies relied on basic barrel-shaped depth charges rolled off the stern of escort vessels. These contained 200-300 pounds of explosive set to detonate at predetermined depths. Early tactics were crude—ships would drop charges where a U-boat had last been detected, hoping for a lucky hit within the weapon’s roughly 20-foot lethal radius. The Battle of the Atlantic, however, drove rapid tactical and technological improvements that transformed these weapons from relatively ineffective to submarine killers.

Ships began dropping patterns of multiple charges to saturate an area, dramatically increasing hit probability. The innovative “creeping attack” emerged, where one ship held sonar contact while another crept in slowly to attack, preventing U-boats from hearing the approach. Forward-throwing weapons like the Hedgehog (1942) and Squid (1943) represented major advances, firing projectiles ahead of the ship to maintain continuous sonar contact during attack. These contact-fuzed weapons only exploded upon hitting a submarine, reducing false alarms. Depth settings also improved as U-boats learned to dive deeper; by war’s end, charges could reach 500+ feet. Long-range patrol aircraft became increasingly important after 1943, dropping depth charges on surfaced or shallow-running U-boats with devastating effect once the Atlantic “air gap” closed.

Confirming a U-boat kill, however, remained notoriously difficult throughout the war. The most convincing proof was physical evidence surfacing after an attack—oil slicks, hull fragments, wooden fittings, clothing, or personal effects. Large oil patches spreading over time were particularly persuasive, though clever U-boat commanders sometimes released oil and debris deliberately to fake their destruction while escaping.

Sonar operators listened for the distinctive sounds of a submarine breaking up—hull collapse, bulkheads failing, or internal explosions. If a previously active submarine suddenly went silent with no further contact despite extensive searching, crews claimed a “probable” kill. This uncertainty was deeply frustrating for crews who might spend hours in brutal attacks without knowing if they’d succeeded.

The difficulty in confirmation led to widespread overclaiming. Allied navies classified results as “confirmed,” “probable,” or “possible” kills, but actual success rates were often far lower than reported. Early in the war, it sometimes took over 100 depth charges per U-boat actually sunk. Intelligence from decoded German communications occasionally provided confirmation when U-boats failed to report in, but this couldn’t be shared with crews for security reasons.

Many wartime claims were only verified years later by comparing Allied attack records with German U-boat loss records. Despite these challenges, improved tactics, technology, and training transformed depth charges into effective weapons by 1943-44, contributing decisively to the defeat of the U-boat threat and Allied victory in the Battle of the Atlantic.

Depth Charges and Discipleship: Generational Assessment

The challenge facing World War II naval commanders dropping depth charges into uncertain waters mirrors a contemporary challenge in disciple-making: how does a first generation disciple-maker accurately assess what is happening at multiple levels below them? In both cases, information must travel through layers—whether ocean depths or spiritual generations—and what surfaces determines understanding and action.

When Allied warships dropped depth charges against U-boats, they sent destructive force through multiple depth layers, waiting for evidence to surface that confirmed success. Sonar operators at various positions reported what they heard, lookouts scanned for debris, and commanders pieced together fragmentary information to assess whether they had achieved their objective. The uncertainty was maddening. Oil slicks might indicate a kill or a clever deception. Breaking-up noises heard at one depth might not be detected at another. Each level of observation contributed partial knowledge, but only the commander integrating all reports could attempt to see the complete picture.

Discipleship faces a parallel dynamic, but with an essential difference: the purpose is constructive rather than destructive. When a primary disciple-maker seeks to assess the health and progress of discipleship spanning multiple generations, they face the same challenge of penetrating multiple “depths” of leadership. Just as depth charges had to reach through layers of water to their target, assessment questions must travel through generations of disciple-makers—from the first generation disciple-maker, through second-generation disciples, to third-generation and beyond. Each generation represents a spiritual depth in the multiplication chain.

The critical parallel lies in responsibility at each level. Just as naval crews had to accurately report what they observed at their position—sonar contacts, visual confirmation, acoustic evidence—each disciple-maker must faithfully transmit information both up and down through the assessment system. An intentional process can serve as the modern equivalent of sonar, providing the mechanism for information flow, but it only functions effectively if each generation faithfully pushes data upstream to leadership and downstream to those they disciple. The primary disciple-maker at the beginning of the stream, like a naval commander, sees the complete picture aggregated from all depths, but depends entirely on the timeliness, integrity, and accuracy of feedback at each intermediate level.

Where depth charges brought destruction, discipleship assessment must bring construction. The goal is not to destroy but to build up the body of Christ—identifying where discipleship is thriving, where it needs support, where spiritual “pressure” exists in the form of challenges or needs at various depths. The information that surfaces through an intentional process should reveal spiritual vitality, multiplication patterns, obstacles to growth, and opportunities for encouragement. When a third-generation disciple-maker reports struggles, and that information travels faithfully through the second generation to the first generation disciple-maker, the response should be resources, prayer, and support flowing back down through the same channels.

The dangers, however, echo those faced by WWII crews. Communication can break down. Information can be filtered by fear or pride at intermediate levels. Just as some U-boat commanders released fake debris to deceive pursuers, disciple-makers might report inflated success to please leadership above them especially if they perceive their salaries or resources are contingent on their performance. Conversely, they might suppress troubling information to avoid appearing unsuccessful. The intentional process of gathering information provides the mechanism, but cannot guarantee transparency.

This is where the comparison reveals its most important lesson: multiple verification points proved essential in naval warfare, and they remain essential in discipleship assessment. The first generation disciple-maker cannot rely solely on what bubbles up through official channels. They need direct relationships, periodic face-to-face contact, and cultural norms that reward honest reporting over optimistic fiction. Just as naval intelligence eventually compared attack reports with intercepted enemy communications to verify kills, wise primary leaders create feedback loops—visiting downstream generations, encouraging peer-to-peer communication, and modeling vulnerability about their own challenges.

The ultimate goal transforms the comparison entirely. Depth charges succeeded when they destroyed their target. Discipleship assessment succeeds when it strengthens every generation of disciple-makers—when the first generation disciple-maker gains accurate understanding, when intermediate generations feel supported rather than merely monitored, and when the newest disciples at the deepest levels know their reality matters to leadership even though they may never meet face-to-face. The intentional process of assessment downstream becomes not a weapon sent into the depths, but a lifeline connecting generations, ensuring that assessment remains constructive, that information flows freely in both directions, and that the entire generational chain grows stronger through transparent, faithful communication across every spiritual generation.

Biblical Examples

Jesus established the pattern of commissioning disciples, sending them into ministry, and receiving their reports. In Matthew 10 and Luke 9, He focused on the Twelve, giving them authority and specific instructions before sending them out, then gathering them afterward to hear what had happened. Later, in Luke 10, He expanded this approach by sending seventy-two disciples in pairs, who returned with joy to report that even demons submitted to them in His name (Luke 10:17). Jesus didn’t send His disciples into the harvest and abandon them to figure things out alone—He created a rhythm of sending, assessing, and responding. His prayer in John 17 reveals the generational scope of His vision: He prayed not only for the disciples He had personally trained, but also “for those who will believe in me through their message” (John 17:20)—acknowledging multiple spiritual generations flowing from His original investment. His final commission made this generational multiplication explicit: “Go and make disciples of all nations…teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20), which necessarily includes the command itself to make disciples, creating an unbroken chain until He returns.

Paul replicated this same pattern throughout his apostolic ministry, maintaining active assessment across the churches and leaders he had established. He regularly sent co-workers like Timothy, Titus, and Epaphroditus to assess situations and report back (Philippians 2:19-30; 2 Corinthians 8:16-24), while also receiving reports from church members about both encouraging developments and troubling conduct. The Corinthian correspondence reveals this dynamic clearly—Paul responds to oral reports from “Chloe’s household” (1 Corinthians 1:11) and written questions from the church, addressing specific issues at multiple depths of their community life. He didn’t wait for problems to surface accidentally; he intentionally created channels for information to flow.

Moreover, Paul trained those he mentored to practice the same assessment principles in their own spheres of leadership. He instructed Timothy to carefully evaluate potential elders (1 Timothy 3:1-7; 5:22), to assess the effectiveness of different workers (2 Timothy 2:2—”entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others”), and to pay attention to how teaching was being received and applied (2 Timothy 2:14-19). To Titus, he gave similar directives about appointing elders in every town and addressing false teaching that was disrupting “whole households” (Titus 1:5-11), requiring Titus to assess not just individual leaders but the ripple effects of their influence through family and community networks. Both Jesus and Paul understood that faithful multiplication required more than initial training—it demanded ongoing assessment, honest reporting, and responsive care across every generation of disciple-makers.

Potential Application

5 Step Process:

Identify & List: Identify and list your top ten discipleship elements
Select & Ask: Choose one discipleship element and ask one of the people you are discipling the associated question during your regular meeting
Engage & Equip: Listen, encourage, and coach based on what you hear—then ask them to do the same with someone they’re discipling
Surface & Synthesize: Each generation reports key insights upstream in their next meeting (2-3 sentences max)
Pray & Respond: Disciple-makers up and down the chain review, pray, send encouragement/resources back downstream

Key Suggestions for Implementation:

Make it Conversational, Not Clinical:

Embed the question naturally in existing discipleship meetings—don’t create a separate “assessment meeting”
Frame it as “I’m curious about…” rather than “I need to assess…”
The question should spark genuine conversation, not data collection

Simplify Information Flow:

Each person only passes upstream: (1) their own answer, (2) one memorable insight from downstream
Avoid lengthy reports—think “headline + story” not “comprehensive analysis”
Use voice messages or quick texts between meetings if something significant surfaces

Rotate Elements Organically:

Establish regular rhythms (e.g., “Love God” one week, “Prayer” in another)
Let the first generation disciple-maker choose the next element based on what surfaced in the previous cycle
This makes it responsive rather than mechanical

Build in Multiple Verification:

First generation disciple-maker periodically asks the same question directly to 2nd or 3rd generation disciples perhaps in a 1-3-9 meeting (bypassing layers)
Compare: Does what they say match what was reported upstream?
These relational meetings filters information without creating surveillance culture

Create Psychological Safety:

Explicitly celebrate “I’m struggling with…” reports more than “Everything’s great!” reports
Share your own struggles first before asking downstream
If salaries or resources are involved, expect it to muddy the waters in your assessment

Additional Pitfalls to Avoid:

Going too deep too fast – Start with just 2-3 generations until the rhythm is established
Forgetting to close the loop – If someone shares a struggle and never hears back, trust evaporates
Making it one-directional – Downstream generations should also ask the first generation disciple-maker the same questions periodically
Losing the “why” – Regularly remind everyone: “We do this to strengthen each other, not monitor each other”
Collecting without connecting – Information without relationship breeds cynicism

The Simplest Version:

One question → One conversation → One insight upstream → One response downstream → Repeat when natural

The power isn’t in the system’s complexity—it’s in the consistency of care it reveals.

Example – First Generation Disciple-Maker’s Assessment Notes

Discipleship Element: The Word
Question: “What are your rhythms in getting in the Word of God?”
Date: September 30, 2025
Stream: John (me) → Marcus → Al → David

Generation 1 (John – Me)

My own answer first:

Morning coffee + OT/Gospel/NT (one chapter each) – consistent 7 days a week
Struggling with depth – Sometimes I’m on autopilot and don’t get much from my reading
Need to spend some concerted time in Bible study (2-3 hours a week)

Generation 2 (Marcus)

What I heard from Marcus:

Reading through Matthew right now, 15-20 min during lunch break at work
Uses audio Bible during commute (30 min)
Said he’s feels like he’s getting plenty of time in the Word

What Marcus reported from downstream:

Al mentioned he’s all over the place with it

Generation 3 (Al)

What Marcus heard from Al:

Tries to read before bed but often too exhausted
Sometimes goes 3-4 days without opening his Bible
When he does read, it’s “just a verse or two from a devotional app”

What Al reported from downstream:

David is actually doing better than he is—reading with his roommate

Generation 4 (David)

What Al heard from David:

New believer (8 months), reading through John with his roommate Jake (also new believer)
They meet 3x/week at breakfast, read a chapter, talk about what confuses them
Misses days when his roommate travels for work but loves discovering new things

Observations & Patterns

Strengths:

David has built-in accountability and freshness of a new believer
Marcus has multiple touchpoints (visual + audio)
Everyone has some rhythm, even if inconsistent

Challenges:

Al is isolated in his struggle—very little accountability
Marcus and I both sense we’re going through motions (mature believer drift)
Weekend gaps, bedtime struggles for Al, travel disruptions for David

Surprises:

The newest believer has the most joy and consistency
The “problem” isn’t lack of discipline—it’s lack of engagement/freshness (me & Marcus) or sustainable structure (Al)

Prayer & Response Plan

Prayer Focus:

Al: Needs encouragement and accountability. Pray and suggest integrating into a morning routine.
Marcus: Pray for renewed hunger, not just habit.
David: Protect his enthusiasm, help him build depth and daily consistency.
Me: Ask God to break through my mechanical approach and draw some folks into a deeper Bible study.

Downstream Encouragement:

To Marcus: “Thanks for your honesty about ‘checking the box.’ I’m feeling that too. What if we both tried asking God one question each week: ‘What do You want me to see that I’m missing?’ Let’s ask each other what we are getting out of the Word when we meet.”

Marcus to Al: “Tell Al I’m proud he was honest about his struggle. Ask if he’d be willing to try something: read one chapter a day beginning in the Gospel of Mark for the next 16 days in the morning with coffee instead of at bedtime. In 16 days you’ll have finish your first book in the Bible. A quick win!”

Al to David: “Tell David his question about him and his buddy reading together made my day. His hunger is a gift. Encourage him to write down his questions as he reads—they’re gold. Maybe Al could meet with him and Jake once to answer some of those questions? That might help both of them.”

A Look in the Mirror – #134

ENGLISH / ESPAÑOL

Welcome Back! Today, we’ll be looking at the Gospel of John to see how Jesus made judgmental people look at their own imperfections.

So let’s get started.

(Click here to get a copy of the Gospel Sync document)

John 8:1-11

But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning He went back into the temple courts. All the people came to Him, and He sat down to teach them. The scribes and Pharisees, however, brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before them and said, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such a woman. So what do You say?” They said this to test Him, in order to have a basis for accusing Him. But Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with His finger. When they continued to question Him, He straightened up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her.” And again He bent down and wrote on the ground. When they heard this, they began to go away one by one, beginning with the older ones, until only Jesus was left, with the woman standing there. Then Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are your accusers? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, Lord,” she answered. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Now go and sin no more.”

My Thoughts

It should only take a little self reflection to help truth and grace find their way to the top.

The religious leaders had Jesus pinned to the mat on this one. Or at least they thought they did. It was a requirement of the Mosaic Law to put an adulteress or adulterer to death. (Deuteronomy 22:22-24; Leviticus 20:10) Surely this was a sin that required the strictest justice. But there are several things wrong with this situation.

First, where’s the man? I mean the woman was caught in the very act. The Law requires both the man and woman be put to death. That’s the initial clue that something fishy is going on here. Second, the Jews were under Roman occupation and law. They were forbidden to execute capital punishment. (Hence the reason they had to bring Jesus to Pilate to have Him crucified.) This was just another attempt to put Jesus in a political headlock between the Jews and the Romans. And lastly, their trickery was quite apparent to Jesus and He knew they were trying to trap Him. They weren’t interested in justice or righteousness. They were interested in one thing, getting rid of the person who exposed their hypocrisy. But it all backfired.

Jesus, with the wisdom of heaven, puts a counter move on them that they couldn’t squirm out of. He tells them to look in the mirror. He exposes their imperfections publicly and they slink away with their tails between their legs. The Master, as always, was ready with the wisdom, mercy, and forgiveness to counter anything they threw at Him.

But notice too that Jesus didn’t declare her innocent. He didn’t wink at her sexual immorality or justify it as though it was just an “alternate life-style” or some degenerative birth defect that she was unable to resist. No, He called it what it was, sin. And He added, don’t do it again!

We as disciple makers need to be careful when using the sharp edges of truth and grace. Truth does not always demand punishment and grace doesn’t always demand tolerance. They must both be applied and taught as a unit and great wisdom needs to be applied as a brain surgeon would use a scalpel. Just as Jesus did in this situation.

This will demand that we first take a long look in the mirror. It doesn’t mean not helping a brother get a speck out of his eye. But it does mean removing the log from our own.

My Story

I’m not often put into situations like this one. Jesus had to navigate the tricky shoals of each party being in the wrong and dealing with both in an appropriate manner. No, mine are either “black and white” or a matter of “preference.” Let me explain.

There are times when it is absolutely clear to me that a person is in the wrong and I don’t address it. Usually, it’s because I’m afraid. Afraid of losing a friendship or afraid of the backlash it might cause. I’m working on being more loving by being courageous. To let a person walk off a cliff when you know it’s there, is not very loving.

The other side of the coin is when it’s not a moral issue but preference. There are times when I’ll weigh in too strongly and I shouldn’t. If that person is being told by Jesus to do something different from the way He told me to do it, who am I to judge the servant of another. (Romans 14:4)

So should I stop making disciples because I don’t get it right every time? Ridiculous! As disciple makers we are learning the art of influencing people the way Jesus did. This takes practice and probably a whole lot of mistakes. We must take the risk of leading even when we know we won’t get it right every time. But as leaders, we also need to humble ourselves, be willing to admit our faults, repent, and look to Jesus for the next right thing to do. This is the heavy mantle of disciple making and we should bear its burden comfortably.

Our Action Plan

Now it’s time for application. Here’s some ideas;

Pray for wisdom
Listen to the people you are discipling, are they too harsh or too soft on sin?
Do a Bible study with them on the application of grace and truth

Jesus was put into some tricky situations but handled them like the expert disciple-maker He is. Like Jesus, we will enter into some awkward, messy, and even hostile circumstances where the wisdom of God is the only solution. Let’s acknowledge our own shortcomings and apply grace and truth appropriately.

Organic Writing – No Artificial Intelligence or Sweeteners Added

(Click here to get a copy of the Gospel Sync document)

Una Mirada al Espejo – #134

¡Bienvenidos de nuevo! Hoy analizaremos el Evangelio de Juan para ver cómo Jesús hizo que las personas críticas se fijaran en sus propias imperfecciones.

¡Comencemos!

Juan 8:1-11

Pero Jesús se dirigió al Monte de los Olivos. Temprano por la mañana, regresó al templo. Todo el pueblo acudió a él, y se sentó a enseñarles. Pero los escribas y fariseos le trajeron a una mujer sorprendida en adulterio. La pusieron de pie ante ellos y le dijeron: «Maestro, esta mujer fue sorprendida en el acto mismo de adulterio. En la Ley, Moisés nos mandó apedrear a tal mujer. ¿Qué dices, pues?». Decían esto para ponerlo a prueba, para tener base para acusarlo. Pero Jesús se inclinó y comenzó a escribir en el suelo con el dedo. Como insistían en preguntarle, se enderezó y les dijo: «El que esté sin pecado, que tire la primera piedra contra ella». Y de nuevo se inclinó y escribió en el suelo. Al oír esto, comenzaron a retirarse uno a uno, comenzando por los mayores, hasta que solo quedó Jesús, con la mujer allí de pie. Entonces Jesús se enderezó y le preguntó: «Mujer, ¿dónde están tus acusadores? ¿Nadie te ha condenado?». «Nadie, Señor», respondió ella. «Entonces yo tampoco te condeno», declaró Jesús. «Ahora vete y no peques más».

Mis Pensamientos

Basaría con un poco de introspección para que la verdad y la gracia se abrieran paso.

Los líderes religiosos tenían a Jesús condenado a muerte por este caso. O al menos eso creían. La Ley Mosaica exigía la muerte de cualquier adúltero o adúltera (Deuteronomio 22:22-24; Levítico 20:10). Sin duda, este era un pecado que requería la justicia más estricta. Pero hay varios aspectos erróneos en esta situación.

Primero, ¿dónde está el hombre? Es decir, la mujer fue sorprendida en el acto mismo. La Ley exige que tanto el hombre como la mujer sean condenados a muerte. Esa es la primera pista de que algo raro está sucediendo. Segundo, los judíos estaban bajo la ocupación y la ley romanas. Tenían prohibido ejecutar la pena capital (de ahí la razón por la que tuvieron que llevar a Jesús ante Pilato para que lo crucificaran). Este fue otro intento de poner a Jesús en una situación política difícil entre judíos y romanos. Y por último, su engaño era bastante evidente para Jesús, quien sabía que intentaban tenderle una trampa. No les interesaba la justicia ni la rectitud. Les interesaba una sola cosa: deshacerse de quien había expuesto su hipocresía. Pero todo les salió mal.

Jesús, con la sabiduría del cielo, les lanzó una contraofensiva de la que no pudieron escapar. Les dijo que se miraran al espejo. Expuso sus imperfecciones públicamente y ellos se escabulleron con el rabo entre las piernas. El Maestro, como siempre, estaba listo con la sabiduría, la misericordia y el perdón para contrarrestar cualquier cosa que le lanzaran.

Pero note también que Jesús no la declaró inocente. No hizo la vista gorda ante su inmoralidad sexual ni la justificó como si fuera solo un “estilo de vida alternativo” o un defecto de nacimiento degenerativo al que no podía resistirse. No, lo llamó por su nombre: pecado. Y añadió: ¡No lo vuelvan a hacer! Como hacedores de discípulos, debemos ser cuidadosos al usar las aristas de la verdad y la gracia. La verdad no siempre exige castigo, ni la gracia siempre exige tolerancia. Ambas deben aplicarse y enseñarse como un todo, y se requiere gran sabiduría, como un neurocirujano usaría un bisturí. Tal como lo hizo Jesús en esta situación.

Esto requerirá que primero nos miremos detenidamente en el espejo. No significa no ayudar a un hermano a sacarse una paja del ojo. Pero sí significa quitar la viga del nuestro.

Mi Historia

No suelo encontrarme en situaciones como esta. Jesús tuvo que sortear los escollos de la injusticia de cada parte y lidiar con ambas de forma adecuada. No, las mías son o bien “blanco o negro” o bien “cuestión de preferencias”. Déjenme explicar.

Hay veces en que tengo absolutamente claro que alguien está equivocado y no lo abordo. Normalmente, es por miedo. Miedo de perder una amistad o miedo a las consecuencias negativas que pueda causar. Estoy trabajando en ser más amoroso siendo valiente. Dejar que alguien se tire por un precipicio cuando sabes que está ahí no es muy amoroso.

La otra cara de la moneda es cuando no se trata de una cuestión moral, sino de preferencias. Hay veces en que intervengo con demasiada fuerza y no debería. Si Jesús le dice a esa persona que haga algo diferente a lo que me dijo a mí, ¿quién soy yo para juzgar al siervo de otro? (Romanos 14:4)

¿Debería entonces dejar de hacer discípulos porque no siempre lo hago bien? ¡Ridículo! Como hacedores de discípulos, estamos aprendiendo el arte de influir en las personas como lo hizo Jesús. Esto requiere práctica y probablemente muchos errores. Debemos asumir el riesgo de liderar incluso cuando sabemos que no siempre lo haremos bien. Pero como líderes, también debemos ser humildes, estar dispuestos a admitir nuestras faltas, arrepentirnos y buscar en Jesús la siguiente decisión correcta. Esta es la pesada responsabilidad de hacer discípulos y debemos llevarla con comodidad.

Nuestro Plan de Acción

Ahora es momento de aplicar. Aquí tienes algunas ideas:

Ora pidiendo sabiduría.
Escucha a las personas a las que estás discipulando: ¿son demasiado duras o demasiado blandas con el pecado?
Realiza un estudio bíblico con ellas sobre la aplicación de la gracia y la verdad.

Jesús se vio envuelto en situaciones difíciles, pero las manejó como el experto hacedor de discípulos que es. Al igual que Jesús, nos encontraremos con circunstancias incómodas, complicadas e incluso hostiles donde la sabiduría de Dios es la única solución. Reconozcamos nuestras propias deficiencias y apliquemos la gracia y la verdad apropiadamente.

Escritura orgánica: sin inteligencia artificial ni edulcorantes añadidos.

Si ve un problema importante en la traducción, envíeme una corrección por correo electrónico a charleswood1@gmail.com

Kingdom Kernel #28 – The Divine Commission – Pray, Appoint, and Send (Luke 10:1-12)

Kingdom Kernel Collection

Now after this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them in pairs ahead of Him to every city and place where He Himself was going to come. And He was saying to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. Go; behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. Carry no money belt, no bag, no shoes; and greet no one on the way. Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house.’ If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. Stay in that house, eating and drinking what they give you; for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not keep moving from house to house. Whatever city you enter and they receive you, eat what is set before you; and heal those in it who are sick, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ But whatever city you enter and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your city which clings to our feet we wipe off in protest against you; yet be sure of this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’ I say to you, it will be more tolerable in that day for Sodom than for that city. (Luke 10:1-12)

Introduction: Contextualizing the Mission

In Luke 10:1-12, Jesus, the Messiah and King, expands His kingdom mission by appointing seventy “others” to go ahead of Him, preparing the way for His arrival in every city and place. This follows the earlier sending of the Twelve (Luke 9:1-6), revealing a pattern of divine delegation rooted in God’s redemptive plan. The passage highlights key actions—appointing, beseeching, and sending—intertwined with praying and going, which illuminate Jesus’ lordship and the Kingdom of God’s nearness. This essay analyzes these terms linguistically and theologically, connecting them to Christ’s eternal reign and their transformative power for believers today.

Linguistic Roots: Defining the Terms

The Greek terms in Luke 10 provide a foundation for understanding this commission. “Appointed” (ἀνέδειξεν, anedeixen, Strong’s G322) derives from ana (up) and deiknumi (to show), meaning to lift up or designate publicly. Jesus visibly sets apart the seventy, marking them for a purpose tied to His authority as King. “Beseech” (δεήθητε, deēthēte, Strong’s G1189) from deomai (to beg or petition) conveys urgent, dependent prayer, as the disciples implore the Lord of the harvest to act. “Sent/send” (ἀπέστειλεν, apesteilen, Strong’s G649) stems from apostellō, blending apo (from) and stellō (to set in order), signifying a deliberate dispatch with divine commission, echoing the apostolic mission of the Twelve.

Etymologically, these words emphasize intentionality and authority. Anedeixen suggests a royal appointment, deēthēte a reliance on divine power, and apesteilen a purposeful extension of Christ’s mission. Together, they frame the seventy’s role as an outflow of Jesus’ messianic kingship, preparing the world for His presence.

Theological Significance: The Kingdom in Action

The appointment of the seventy mirrors the sending of the Twelve, expanding the scope of God’s kingdom proclamation. This dual commission prophetically points to Christ’s reign over all mankind and how the kingdom would spread, fulfilling God’s redemptive plan (Isaiah 49:6). Jesus, as the Lord of the harvest, orchestrates this mission, revealing His divine attributes: omniscience in knowing the need, omnipotence in empowering laborers, and mercy in offering peace and healing (Luke 10:9).

Prayer (deēthēte) and going (apesteilen) are inseparable. The command to beseech the Lord for laborers underscores human dependence on divine initiative, while sending them as “lambs among wolves” (Luke 10:3) demonstrates faith in action. This duality reflects the Kingdom of God’s nearness—present in power yet requiring participation. The message, “The kingdom of God has come near” (Luke 10:9, Luke 10:11), ties directly to Jesus’ identity as Messiah, whose presence inaugurates God’s reign, a reality both now and not yet fully consummated (Matthew 4:17).

Christological Fulfillment: Jesus as King

Jesus’ lordship shines through this passage. He appoints with authority, directs prayer to Himself as the harvest’s Lord, and sends with a mission that prefigures His eternal reign (Revelation 11:15). Unlike earthly kings, His rule is marked by vulnerability and provision, as seen in the command to carry no resources (Luke 10:4), trusting the King who supplies all needs (Philippians 4:19). This lordship is not merely future; it is real today, transforming believers into laborers who extend His reign in this age, even as we await its ultimate fulfillment.

Transformative Power: Living the Commission

For contemporary Christians, this concept inspires a life of purpose and dependence. Being appointed calls us all as priests (1 Peter 2:9) to recognize our divine calling under Christ’s kingship. Beseeching fuels prayer for kingdom expansion, while being sent compels us to go boldly, trusting God amid rejection or reception (Luke 10:10-11). The interconnectedness of Scripture—seen in the Twelve’s mission (Luke 9), the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20), and the harvest imagery (John 4:35-38)—reveals a unified narrative of God’s unstoppable kingdom. Embracing this transforms disciples into active heralds, reflecting Jesus’ eternal reign and the expansive nature of His rule, both now and forever.

Conclusion

The appointment and sending of the seventy in Luke 10:1-12 unveil Jesus as the Messiah who reigns with purpose and power. Through anedeixen, deēthēte, and apesteilen, we see a King who delegates, invites prayer, and commissions laborers to proclaim His near kingdom. This passage bridges ancient text to modern faith, affirming Christ’s lordship as a present reality with eternal promise, urging believers to pray and go as reflections of His redemptive plan.

Disciple-Maker’s Short Story

The Weight of the Call

The late afternoon sun spilled golden light across the park, threading through the budding branches of ancient oaks. Ed’s sneakers crunched against the gravel path as he walked beside the outreach team, their voices rising in soft prayer. The air carried the scent of damp earth and the faint tang of blooming azaleas. Every Saturday, they came here—prayer walking through the local park, sharing the gospel with joggers, dog walkers, anyone who’d listen. Today, though, Ed’s attention wasn’t on the strangers they approached. It lingered on Felix, who, as always, hung back with the prayer team, his hands shoved deep into his jacket pockets, his eyes fixed on the ground.

Felix was a wiry man in his late twenties, all sharp angles and quiet intensity. He’d joined the church a year ago, drawn in by the community, but Ed had noticed this pattern early on. When the team fanned out to talk to people, Felix stayed rooted, murmuring prayers under his breath. At first, Ed figured it was just his way—some people were talkers, others intercessors. But lately, it gnawed at him. Felix wasn’t shy; he’d banter with the team over coffee or fix a kid’s bike tire without any problem. So why this hesitation?

The next day, Ed found Felix at the bike shop where he worked part-time. The bell above the door jingled as Ed stepped inside, the space humming with the metallic clink of tools and the faint hum of a radio playing classic rock. Felix was hunched over a derailleur, his fingers deftly threading a cable, his brow furrowed in concentration. Ed leaned against the counter, watching for a moment before clearing his throat.

“Hey, Felix,” he started, his tone light but steady. “Got a sec?”

Felix glanced up, wiping his hands on a rag. “Yeah, sure. What’s up?”

Ed shifted his stance, choosing his words with care. “I’ve seen you out there with us—prayer walking, lifting up the team. You’re solid, man. You’ve got the training, too—those evangelism workshops we did last fall. You aced the role-plays. So I’ve been wondering… why don’t you ever step out and share?”

Felix’s shoulders stiffened, his gaze dropping to the greasy rag in his hands. He twisted it once, twice, before answering. “I’m not really built for that, you know? Evangelism’s a gift, right? Some people have it—guys like you who can just walk up to anybody and start talking about Jesus. I don’t. I figure my part’s praying for you all. That’s what I’m good at.”

Ed nodded slowly, letting the words settle. He’d heard this before—people carving out their roles, dodging what scared them by calling it a “gift.” But something in Felix’s voice, a faint tremor beneath the excuse, told Ed there was more. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the counter.

“Fair enough,” he said. “But let me ask you this: when you signed up for this team, didn’t you commit to sharing the gospel? Not just praying, but going out with us?”

Felix’s jaw tightened, and he tossed the rag onto the workbench. “Yeah, I guess. But like I said, I don’t have the gift. I’m not off the hook or anything—I just think God’s got other people for that job.”

Ed straightened, his voice softening but carrying a quiet weight. “Felix, you know the Great Commission, right? Matthew 28:18-20—Jesus tells the disciples to go, make disciples, teach them to obey everything He commanded. And that includes Mark 16:15—‘preach the gospel to all creation.’ He didn’t say, ‘Only if you’ve got the gift.’ He said it to all of us. You, me, the whole church. Prayer’s vital, don’t get me wrong—but it’s not a substitute for going.”

Felix didn’t respond right away. He turned back to the bike, fiddling with the chain, but his hands moved slower now, less sure. Ed waited, the silence stretching between them like a taut wire. Finally, Felix let out a breath, his voice barely above a whisper.

“It’s not about gifts, okay? I’m… I’m scared, Ed. What if I mess it up? What if I say the wrong thing and push someone away from God instead of toward Him? I’d rather pray and let you guys handle it.”

There it was—the real thing, raw and jagged. Ed felt a pang of recognition; he’d wrestled with that fear himself years ago. He stepped closer to Felix, his tone gentle but firm.

“I get it. I’ve been there. But here’s the thing: Jesus didn’t send us out because we’re fearless or perfect. He sent us because He’s with us. Look at Luke 10—the seventy He appointed weren’t superheroes. They were just people, like us, told to go as lambs among wolves. And you know what? He went with them. He goes with us, too. How about this: next week, you come with me. I’ll share first, show you how I do it. You just watch. No pressure.”

Felix met his eyes, uncertainty flickering there, but he gave a small nod. “Okay. I’ll try.”

The following Saturday, the park buzzed with life—kids shrieking on the playground, a guy strumming a guitar under a pavilion. Ed and Felix walked side by side, the outreach team scattering ahead. Felix’s hands were back in his pockets, his posture tense, but he stayed close. Ed scanned the path and spotted a man sitting alone on a bench, scrolling on his phone—a wiry guy in a hoodie, maybe mid-thirties.

“Watch this,” Ed murmured to Felix, then approached the man with an easy smile. “Hey, we’re sharing a story that changed our lives. Mind if I tell you mine?”

The guy glanced up, shrugged. “Free country.”

Ed settled beside him, leaving space, and started his story;

Well there was a time in my life when I was angry and alone. One day this guy approached me like I did you and told me how God loved me so much He sent His Son Jesus to the earth, He lived a perfect life and then Jesus died on a cross for everything I’ve ever done wrong. The man said if I surrendered my life to Jesus as my King, my Boss, He would give me true life. I did that by telling God I believed what this man said and I wanted to start living my life His way not mine. My life radically changed from that point on. I was much happier and had people that really cared about me. Have you ever had an experience with Jesus that changed your life?”

The man snorted, but it wasn’t hostile. “Not really. Church isn’t my thing.”

“Fair enough,” Ed said, unfazed. “I wasn’t big on it either till I figured out it’s not about the building. It’s about a relationship with Jesus”

The man paused, then shrugged again. “I’m not very religious.”

Ed pulled out a small tract and gave it to the man, “ Well if you ever change your mind, my contact info is on the back and this is just something to chew on.”

The guy took it, nodded, and Ed stood, clapping Felix on the shoulder as they walked away. Felix’s eyes were wide, his voice hushed. “That’s it? You just… talked to him? Like it was nothing?”

“It’s not nothing,” Ed said. “It’s everything. But yeah—it’s simple. Tell them who Jesus is, what He’s done for you, and let Him do the rest. You ready to try?”

Felix swallowed hard, but something shifted in his stance—a spark of resolve. He nodded. Ahead, a woman sat on a picnic blanket, reading a book. Felix took a shaky breath and stepped forward, Ed trailing just behind.

“Uh, hi,” Felix started, his voice cracking slightly. “Mind if I interrupt for a sec?”

She looked up, surprised but not annoyed. “Sure, what’s up?”

“I’m Felix. I’m here with my friend Ed, and… I’ve been telling people a story that changed our lives.Would you like to hear mine?” Felix started with his simple story that bled into a meaningful conversation that lasted twenty minutes.

The woman wanted to know more. Felix blinked, startled by her openness, then fumbled for one of the cards Ed had given him. “Here—this has some info if you’re curious.”

She smiled faintly, taking it. “Thanks, Felix.”

As they walked away, Felix turned to Ed, his face lit with a mix of shock and exhilaration. “Oh, I can do this! It’s not… it’s not as hard as I thought.”

Ed laughed, slinging an arm around his shoulders. “Told you. It’s not about being slick or fearless. It’s about being like Him—Jesus went to people, met them where they were. You just did that, too.”

Felix grinned, the weight lifting from his frame. For the first time, he saw it—not just the call, but the One who’d called him. And he wanted to be more like Him, one shaky step at a time.

Kingdom Kernel Collection

The Spiritual Jackhammer – #133

Index for all posts in the Gospel Sync Series

ENGLISH / ESPAÑOL

Welcome Back! Today, we’ll be looking at the Gospel of John to see the people most hostile and opposed to God’s love and discover how some actually turned to follow Him later.

So let’s get started.

(Click here to get a copy of the Gospel Sync document)

John 7:45-53

Then the officers returned to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring Him in?” “Never has anyone spoken like this man!” the officers answered. “Have you also been deceived?” replied the Pharisees. “Have any of the rulers or Pharisees believed in Him? But this crowd that does not know the law—they are under a curse.” Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who himself was one of them, asked, Does our law convict a man without first hearing from him to determine what he has done?” “Aren’t you also from Galilee?” they replied. “Look into it, and you will see that no prophet comes out of Galilee.” Then each went to his own home.

My Thoughts

I have a saying; “You can’t push a rope.” In other words, no matter how hard you try, you aren’t going to change that person’s mind. The religious leaders of the day had set their minds in rebar and concrete and it would take a spiritual jackhammer to change it. Sometimes you just have to pray and let the Holy Spirit go to work. He is that “Spiritual Jackhammer.” And although these characters railroaded Jesus to the cross, many of them crossed the tracks. They saw the light. They gave their lives to Jesus as the Messiah.

The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith. (Acts 6:7)

Do you have family members, friends, neighbors, co-workers, acquaintances who you’ve shared the gospel with and they stubbornly hold to their own devices? Keep praying! You can’t push a rope, but God can.

My Story

We are living in very interesting times. Never have I seen people so divided. Truth has been trashed for opinion. Even “Mother Nature,” the false goddess of the last several centuries, has been kicked to the curb by many who can’t even acknowledge simple biology. We are in chaotic times. People are angry and spew their vileness on each other in ways that seem to look like we are on the brink of the end of civilization.

But I have hope. Hope in a God that can take a murderer and turn him into a staunch proclaimer of the very truth he opposed. And he did it to such a degree it cost him his own life. Of course I’m talking about the Apostle Paul. And many such opposers in our time are seeing the lies the enemy has fed them and just like the Apostle Paul and many of those guilty of hanging Jesus on the cross are turning to the very Truth they persecuted. As disciple makers, now more than ever, we need to cast the nets wide. Share the gospel. Train the young believer to follow Jesus and then train them to make disciples themselves. But above all, we need to pray that the “Great Spiritual Jackhammer” does His work in people’s lives.

I see the Light shining through. I am witnessing the Holy Spirit at work. I see Jesus Christ breaking in. And the Father having His way. I have hope!

If you want to follow Jesus and be a part of the process called discipleship (Matthew 28:18-20) that makes a difference in this world, email me: Charleswood1@gmail.com

Our Action Plan

Now it’s time for application. Here’s some ideas;

Pray for the people in your relational network daily (family members, friends, neighbors, co-workers, acquaintances, etc…) Video
Share the gospel with them. Video
Keep praying for them daily

It can be very discouraging to see the people you love dearly reject Christ. It is painful to God to see anyone reject Him. Let’s keep praying in faith that the Holy Spirit will do the work needed to change the hearts and minds of the people around us.

Organic Writing – No Artificial Intelligence or Sweeteners Added

Index for all posts in the Gospel Sync Series

Los de Corazón Duro – #133

¡Bienvenidos de nuevo! Hoy analizaremos el Evangelio de Juan para ver quiénes eran las personas más hostiles y opuestas al amor de Dios, y descubriremos cómo algunos lo siguieron posteriormente.

Comencemos.

Juan 7:45-53

Entonces los guardias regresaron adonde estaban los principales sacerdotes y los fariseos, quienes les preguntaron: “¿Por qué no lo trajeron?”. “¡Jamás nadie ha hablado como este hombre!”, respondieron los guardias. “¿También ustedes han sido engañados?”, respondieron los fariseos. “¿Acaso alguno de los gobernantes o fariseos ha creído en él? Pero esta gente que no conoce la ley, está bajo maldición”. Nicodemo, quien había ido antes a Jesús y que era uno de ellos, preguntó: “¿Acaso nuestra ley condena a un hombre sin escucharlo primero para determinar lo que ha hecho?”. “¿No son ustedes también de Galilea?”, respondieron. “Infórmense, y verán que ningún profeta sale de Galilea”. Luego cada uno se fue a su casa.

Mis Pensamientos

Tengo un dicho: “No se puede empujar una cuerda”. En otras palabras, por mucho que lo intentes, no vas a cambiar la opinión de esa persona. Los líderes religiosos de la época tenían la mente puesta en las varillas y el hormigón, y se necesitaría un martillo neumático espiritual para cambiarla. A veces solo hay que orar y dejar que el Espíritu Santo actúe. Él es ese “Martillo Neumático Espiritual”. Y aunque estos personajes llevaron a Jesús a la cruz, muchos cruzaron las vías. Vieron la luz. Entregaron sus vidas a Jesús como el Mesías.

La palabra de Dios seguía difundiéndose; y el número de los discípulos seguía aumentando mucho en Jerusalén, y muchos sacerdotes se hacían obedientes a la fe. (Hechos 6:7)

¿Tienes familiares, amigos, vecinos, compañeros de trabajo o conocidos con quienes has compartido el evangelio y se aferran obstinadamente a sus propios recursos? ¡Sigue orando! Tú no puedes empujar una cuerda, pero Dios sí.

Mi Historia

Vivimos tiempos muy interesantes. Nunca había visto a la gente tan dividida. La verdad ha sido destrozada por la opinión. Incluso la “Madre Naturaleza”, la falsa diosa de los últimos siglos, ha sido desechada por muchos que ni siquiera reconocen la simple biología. Vivimos tiempos caóticos. La gente está enojada y se lanza su vileza unos a otros de maneras que parecen indicar que estamos al borde del fin de la civilización.

Pero tengo esperanza. Esperanza en un Dios que puede tomar a un asesino y convertirlo en un firme proclamador de la misma verdad a la que se oponía. Y lo hizo a tal grado que le costó la vida. Por supuesto, me refiero al apóstol Pablo. Y muchos de estos opositores en nuestro tiempo están viendo las mentiras que el enemigo les ha dado y, al igual que el apóstol Pablo y muchos de los culpables de colgar a Jesús en la cruz, están recurriendo a la misma Verdad que persiguieron. Como hacedores de discípulos, ahora más que nunca, necesitamos extender las redes. Compartir el evangelio. Capacita a los jóvenes creyentes para seguir a Jesús y luego capacítalos para que ellos mismos hagan discípulos. Pero sobre todo, necesitamos orar para que el “Gran Martillo Neumático Espiritual” haga su obra en la vida de las personas.

Veo la Luz brillando. Presencio la obra del Espíritu Santo. Veo a Jesucristo irrumpiendo. Y al Padre haciendo su voluntad. ¡Tengo esperanza!

Si quieres seguir a Jesús y ser parte del proceso llamado discipulado (Mateo 28:18-20) que marca la diferencia en este mundo, escríbeme a: Charleswood1@gmail.com

Nuestro Plan de Acción

Ahora es momento de aplicarlo. Aquí tienes algunas ideas:

Ora por las personas de tu red de relaciones a diario (familiares, amigos, vecinos, compañeros de trabajo, conocidos, etc.).

Comparte el evangelio con ellos.

Sigue orando por ellos a diario.

Puede ser muy desalentador ver a tus seres queridos rechazar a Cristo. A Dios le duele ver a alguien rechazarlo. Sigamos orando con fe para que el Espíritu Santo haga la obra necesaria para cambiar los corazones y las mentes de quienes nos rodean.

Escritura orgánica: sin inteligencia artificial ni edulcorantes añadidos.

Si ve un problema importante en la traducción, envíeme una corrección por correo electrónico a charleswood1@gmail.com

Kingdom Kernel #27 – Grace Empowered Obedience as the Foundation of Kingdom Entrance: A Theological Analysis of Matthew 7:15-27

Kingdom Kernel Collection

“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits.

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”

Matthew 7:15-27

Introduction

Matthew 7:15-27 concludes Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount with a sobering discourse on authentic discipleship. Within this passage, three pivotal concepts – enter (εἰσέρχομαι, G1525), does the will (θέλημα, G2307), and acts on them (ποιέω, G4160) – reveal a tension between professed faith and lived obedience. Set against warnings about false prophets and the parable of two builders, Jesus establishes that verbal allegiance alone cannot secure entry into God’s kingdom. This essay explores how these terms linguistically and theologically underscore the necessity of grace-empowered obedience to Christ’s lordship.

Key Words and Phrases

Enter (εἰσέρχομαι, G1525): This compound Greek term (eis = “into,” erchomai = “come”) denotes intentional movement across a threshold. In Jewish eschatology, “entering the kingdom” (Matt 7:21) implied participation in God’s redemptive reign. Unlike passive admission, the term carries covenantal overtones – one actively aligns with divine authority.

Does the Will (θέλημα, G2307): Thelēma refers to God’s determined purpose, distinct from human whims. In the Septuagint, it often translates rāṣôn (“pleasure”), emphasizing God’s sovereign desire (Ps 40:8). Jesus redefines obedience as participation in the Father’s redemptive agenda rather than legalistic observance.

Acts On Them (ποιέω, G4160): Meaning “to make, do, or practice,” poieō implies habitual action. The wise builder “acts” (Matt 7:24) by embodying Christ’s teachings, contrasting with the folly of mere hearing.

Theological Significance

1. The King’s Authority and Judgment

Jesus presents Himself as the Messianic arbiter who discerns true allegiance (Matt 7:22-23). The shocking rejection of those performing miracles in His name (v22) exposes a critical distinction: external works devoid of internal submission constitute “lawlessness” (ἀνομία, G458). This aligns with His earlier warning against wolves in sheep’s clothing (7:15) – outward religiosity masks spiritual bankruptcy.

2. Kingdom Ethics: Grace and Obedience Intertwined

The passage resolves the faith-works paradox: salvation is by grace (Eph 2:8-9), yet genuine faith inevitably produces “fruit” (Matt 7:16-20). Christ’s lordship demands transformative obedience, as exemplified in His own fulfillment of the Father’s will (Heb 10:7). The ability to obey stems from the New Covenant promise: “I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts” (Jer 31:33).

3. Christological Fulfillment

Jesus embodies the “rock” foundation (7:25), fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy of a tested cornerstone (Isa 28:16). His teachings transcend Moses’ law (Matt 5:17), establishing a kingdom where love and humility define righteousness. The rejection of false followers (7:23) parallels Luke 13:27 (““And He will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you are from; depart from Me, all you evildoers.’”), asserting His divine authority.

Contemporary Implications

1. Lordship in the Present Age

Christ’s kingship is not deferred to eternity; believers now live under His active reign (Col 1:13). The call to “build on the rock” (7:24) demands daily obedience, enabled by God’s empowerment (Phil 2:12-13). Modern discipleship must confront cultural Christianity that prioritizes verbal confessions over sacrificial love.

2. Transformative Power of Grace

Augustine noted, “God crowns not your merits but His own gifts.” The ability to obey – itself a grace – dismantles pride and fosters dependence. As Bonhoeffer warned, “Cheap grace is grace without discipleship”; costly grace compels action.

Conclusion

Matthew 7:15-27 dismantles performative religion, revealing Grace empowered obedience as the hallmark of kingdom citizenship. Through careful linguistic analysis and theological reflection, we see Christ not merely as a future judge but as the present foundation for life. His words, when enacted through Spirit-empowered faith, create an unshakable identity that withstands life’s storms. This passage ultimately points to the gospel’s heart: we are saved by grace for obedience (Eph 2:10), participants in a kingdom where the King’s will becomes our joy.

Disciple-Maker’s Short Story

Chai and the Cornerstone

The apartment smelled of cardamom and cinnamon, a warm haze curling from the steaming chai in chipped ceramic cups. Sally sat cross-legged on a woven rug, her Bible open on her lap, its pages creased from years of thumbing. Across from her, three women—Fatima, Aisha, and Priya—nestled into mismatched cushions, their dark eyes flickering between curiosity and quiet skepticism. The late afternoon sun slanted through the window of Priya’s modest apartment, gilding the edges of a faded tapestry on the wall. A ceiling fan whirred lazily overhead, stirring the spiced air.

They’d been meeting like this for weeks, these discovery Bible studies, peeling back layers of scripture with questions that hung heavy between sips of tea. Today, they’d reached Matthew 7:15-27, Jesus’ words slicing through the text like a blade through silk. Sally had just finished reading aloud, her voice steady but soft, letting the weight of “Depart from me, you who practice lawlessness” settle into the room.

Priya tilted her head, her braid slipping over her shoulder. Her voice, lilting with the cadence of Hyderabad, broke the silence. “Sally, this Jesus, He says only those who do His Father’s will, will enter the kingdom. Then why do I see American Christians no live this way? They say ‘Lord, Lord,’ but I see fighting, greed, so much noise. Where is this obedience?”

The question wasn’t accusatory, but it carried an ache, a thread of disillusionment woven into her words. Fatima nodded faintly, her fingers tracing the rim of her cup, while Aisha’s gaze dropped to the rug, as if searching its patterns for an answer.

Sally exhaled, feeling the weight of Priya’s observation settle into her chest. She set her Bible down, letting her hands rest on her knees. “You’re right to notice that,” she said, her tone gentle but unflinching. “It’s a paradox, isn’t it? Jesus warns us about this exact thing—people who look like they belong to Him but don’t live it out. He calls them wolves in sheep’s clothing, or houses built on sand that collapse when the storms come.”

She paused, glancing at each of them, their faces a mosaic of doubt and longing. “But here’s the thing: being a follower of Jesus isn’t about what we say or even what we do on our own strength. It’s about grace. We’re saved by faith—by trusting Him, not by earning it. But that faith, if it’s real, changes us. It’s like He gives us the ability to obey, to build our lives on His words, because He’s the rock that holds us up.”

Fatima’s brow furrowed, her voice barely above a whisper. “So, you’re saying it’s not just rules? Not like… a list we follow to be good?”

“No,” Sally said, leaning forward slightly. “It’s deeper than that. It’s about knowing Him, letting His love and His will become yours. Those people Jesus rejects—they did miracles, big things, but their hearts weren’t His. They didn’t want Him as Lord, just as a name to use. True followers, though? They’re not perfect, but they’re being shaped by Him, step by step.”

Aisha looked up now, her eyes sharp with something unspoken. “But how do you know? How do you know if you’re the wise one or the foolish one?”

Sally smiled faintly, a flicker of vulnerability crossing her face. “That’s the sober part, isn’t it? Jesus says we’ll know by the fruit—the way we live, the love we show, the obedience that grows out of trusting Him. It’s not about judging others; it’s about looking at ourselves. I ask myself that question too, Aisha. Am I building on the rock? Or am I just hearing and not doing?”

The room grew quiet, the hum of the fan blending with the distant clatter of pots from a neighbor’s kitchen. Priya sipped her chai, her gaze distant. “I like this Jesus,” she said finally, her voice low. “He sees the heart. But it’s hard. To live that way—it’s not what I see around me.”

Sally nodded, her own cup warm against her palms. “It is hard. And I won’t pretend it’s not. But here’s the encouragement: if you want to follow Him, really follow Him, He doesn’t leave you to do it alone. He promises to put His law in your heart, to give you His Spirit. It’s not about being strong enough—it’s about wanting to be like Him, and letting Him make you that way.”

Fatima shifted, her scarf slipping slightly as she met Sally’s eyes. “Like Him,” she echoed, the words tasting new on her tongue. “You mean… kind? Forgiving? The way He was with people?”

“Yes,” Sally said, her voice softening with a quiet fire. “And obedient to His Father, even when it cost Him everything. That’s the rock we build on—His life, His love. I want that too. Every day, I’m asking Him to help me be more like Him, because I can’t do it on my own.”

Priya set her cup down, her fingers lingering on its edge. “Then maybe we should ask that too,” she said, almost to herself. “To be like this Jesus. Not just to hear, but to do.”

The air shifted, a subtle tension giving way to something fragile and alive. Outside, the sun dipped lower, casting long shadows across the rug. Sally picked up her Bible again, but she didn’t open it—not yet. For now, it was enough to sit there, the chai cooling between them, as the words of the Carpenter from Galilee lingered like an invitation.

Kingdom Kernel Collection

Real Spiritual Sustenance – #132

Index for all posts in the Gospel Sync Series

ENGLISH / ESPAÑOL

Welcome Back! Today, we’ll be looking at the Gospel of John to see what spiritual sustenance Jesus offers.

So let’s get started.

(Click here to get a copy of the Gospel Sync document)

John 7:37-44

On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and called out in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said: ‘Streams of living water will flow from within him.’” He was speaking about the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive. For the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet been glorified. On hearing these words, some of the people said, “This is truly the Prophet.” Others declared, “This is the Christ.” But still others asked, “How can the Christ come from Galilee? Doesn’t the Scripture say that the Christ will come from the line of David and from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?” So there was division in the crowd because of Jesus. Some of them wanted to seize Him, but no one laid a hand on Him.