Connect Group Guide: June 12, 2022
Speaker: Nate Heitzig
Teaching: "Trojan Horses"
Text: Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
Main Point
This weekend's parable of Jesus is about the Wheat and the Tares. Like trojan horses, the weeds are planted by the enemy in God's good crop. If he cannot prevail openly, he will seek to come in disguise, creep into our midst in the secret of the night, only to open the gates and destroy us from the inside out — but God is at work and has a plan for His kingdom.
"The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest." —Luke 10:2
Talk about It
1. The best countermeasure for spotting a fake is knowing the truth. How are you using God's word to be more knowledgeable of the truth?
2. God allows the counterfeit to grow alongside the good crop until His judgment. What can we learn from this? How can we be lovingly patient to help others grow in the mixed crop?
3. Has your attention been on the momentary things? How can you kindle passion for the things of God which are monumentally important?
4. The end of this story promises "the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father" (v. 43). How are you living to represent the Father and His kingdom?
5. Do you share your faith with others? If not, or rarely, why?
"To defeat sin's control in our lives, we need to move up from carnal self-indulgent living to the Spirit-empowered life where sinful things simply cannot survive." —Nate Heitzig
Make It Practical
Sanctification is God's work in our lives to remove the sins which ensnare us. Spend time asking the Lord to create in you a clean heart, confessing sin and becoming more holy and set apart for His work. God is looking for laborers. How will you represent Him this week by speaking the truth, telling someone that Jesus loves them, and sharing the Gospel? Take action through a note, phone call, or a message, to remind a fellow believer of God's love for them — remind them that He is a gracious Father.
Pray
Lord God, thank you for your long-suffering to wait for the harvest. Help me not to be distracted by the present world or false things but to have my heart set on Your truth. I want to grow in You to be holy and I ask for Your Spirit to help me to be cleansed and equipped for the work You have for me to do now. Please give me the boldness to proclaim Your love to others in word and in actions. Thank You for Your salvation! Amen.
Cross references: Psalm 51:10; Proverbs 18:13; Matthew 5:44, 26:49; Luke 6:35, 10:2; Romans 12:17; Acts 5:1-4, 8:9-24; 1 Corinthians 1:21, 3:1-4, 13:4-7; 2 Corinthians 11:26; Galatians 1:6; Ephesians 4:14