Campfire Stories: The First and The Last
The stories Jesus told were shocking, insulting, provocative, challenging, disrupting, unsettling, and frightening. They were anything but sweet, comforting, simple, and trite. In these short stories we experience the creative genius of Jesus as he crafts stories and examples intended to provoke a reaction... and let me warn you, "indifference", is not an option!
TODAY'S MESSAGE
The Parable of the Vineyard Workers gives a response to the disciple Peter's question, 'We've given up everything to follow you, what will we get?' We learn in Jesus' response that if you’re going to stay encouraged in the field of the Kingdom, you need to remember that it all functions on the land owners generosity and not on what we deserve.
SCRIPTURE READING: Matthew 20:1-16
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 and to them he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’ 5 So they went.Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’7 They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’ 8 And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’ 9 And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. 10 Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius.11 And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house,12 saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ 13 But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. 15 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’ 16 So the last will be first, and the first last.”
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Join us at Faith Community for Science Camp, Aug. 20-23, 9am-1pm. This camp is for kids entering 2nd-6th grades. We will explore biblical themes around God’s creation each day. This year's science theme is Ecology. Each day the children will witness demonstrations, participate in hands-on experiments, create take-home projects, play games and enjoy lunch together. This camp will also include 2 off-campus field trips. This camp is limited to 25 students so early registration is recommended to reserve a place in the lab. The cost for the camp is $60.00.