{"id":2851,"date":"2024-12-04T00:05:36","date_gmt":"2024-12-04T06:05:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mydestinychurch.com\/sermons\/?p=2851"},"modified":"2024-12-04T00:05:37","modified_gmt":"2024-12-04T06:05:37","slug":"jesus-stories-part-10","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/mydestinychurch.com\/sermons\/2024\/12\/04\/jesus-stories-part-10\/","title":{"rendered":"Jesus Stories &#8211; Part 10"},"content":{"rendered":"<!--powerpress_player--><div class=\"powerpress_player\" id=\"powerpress_player_6151\"><!--[if lt IE 9]><script>document.createElement('audio');<\/script><![endif]-->\n<audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-2851-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"http:\/\/mydestinychurch.com\/sermons\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024-12-01.mp3?_=1\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/mydestinychurch.com\/sermons\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024-12-01.mp3\">http:\/\/mydestinychurch.com\/sermons\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024-12-01.mp3<\/a><\/audio><\/div><p class=\"powerpress_links powerpress_links_mp3\">Podcast: <a href=\"http:\/\/mydestinychurch.com\/sermons\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024-12-01.mp3\" class=\"powerpress_link_d\" title=\"Download\" rel=\"nofollow\" download=\"2024-12-01.mp3\">Download<\/a> (Duration: 33:32 &#8212; 30.7MB)<\/p>\n<p>December 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Matthew 13:10-14<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Matthew 13:16<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Matthew 13:44-46<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Matthew 13:44<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Matthew 13:45-46<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Romans 1:25<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Psalm 34:8<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Philippians 3:8<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Luke 14:33<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"jetpack-video-wrapper\"><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe class='youtube-player' type='text\/html' width='640' height='360' src='https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/oA3XGbmaqPw?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;fs=1&#038;autohide=2&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;wmode=transparent' allowfullscreen='true' style='border:0;'><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<p>The sermon by Pastor Gene, part of the &#8220;Jesus Stories&#8221; series, focuses on the parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great value (Matthew 13:44-46). These parables emphasize the incomparable worth of the Kingdom of Heaven, likened to a treasure or a pearl that one should be willing to give up everything to obtain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Key Themes:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol>\n<li><strong>The Kingdom&#8217;s Value<\/strong>: The Kingdom of Heaven is the greatest treasure one can discover. It offers salvation, a relationship with God, and eternal life.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Heart and Perspective<\/strong>: Jesus taught in parables to reveal truths to those with open hearts while concealing them from others. Understanding the Kingdom requires a willing and receptive heart.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Two Approaches<\/strong>:\n<ul>\n<li>One parable describes a man stumbling upon the treasure unexpectedly, illustrating how some find the Kingdom by chance or through divine intervention.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The other describes a merchant searching for pearls, symbolizing those actively seeking spiritual truth.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cost of the Kingdom<\/strong>: Obtaining the Kingdom requires giving everything. This mirrors the call to love God with all your heart, mind, and soul.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Trade<\/strong>: Believers are encouraged to &#8220;make the trade,&#8221; surrendering worldly values and temporary pleasures for the eternal treasures of God\u2019s Kingdom.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Application<\/strong>:\n<ul>\n<li>Recognize the distractions of &#8220;fake treasures&#8221; like materialism, fleeting pleasures, or shallow pursuits.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Embrace the joy and fulfillment found in the Kingdom.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Share this treasure with others, especially during the Christmas season, when the focus is on Christ&#8217;s coming as the ultimate gift.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pastor Gene&#8217;s Challenge:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This Christmas, prioritize the Kingdom of God above the hustle and materialism. Share the joy of the Gospel by inviting others to experience the treasure of a relationship with Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Invitation:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Pastor Gene concludes by inviting listeners to surrender their lives to Jesus, making the ultimate trade: giving up their lives for the abundant life Jesus offers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<!--powerpress_player--><div class=\"powerpress_player\" id=\"powerpress_player_6153\"><audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-2851-3\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"http:\/\/mydestinychurch.com\/sermons\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024-12-01.mp3?_=3\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/mydestinychurch.com\/sermons\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024-12-01.mp3\">http:\/\/mydestinychurch.com\/sermons\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024-12-01.mp3<\/a><\/audio><\/div><p class=\"powerpress_links powerpress_links_mp3\">Podcast: <a href=\"http:\/\/mydestinychurch.com\/sermons\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024-12-01.mp3\" class=\"powerpress_link_d\" title=\"Download\" rel=\"nofollow\" download=\"2024-12-01.mp3\">Download<\/a> (Duration: 33:32 &#8212; 30.7MB)<\/p><p>http:\/\/mydestinychurch.com\/sermons\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024-12-01.mp3 Podcast: Download (Duration: 33:32 &#8212; 30.7MB) December 1, 2024<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":""},"categories":[858],"tags":[861],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p5z53F-JZ","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/mydestinychurch.com\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2851"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/mydestinychurch.com\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/mydestinychurch.com\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/mydestinychurch.com\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/mydestinychurch.com\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2851"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/mydestinychurch.com\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2851\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2852,"href":"http:\/\/mydestinychurch.com\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2851\/revisions\/2852"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/mydestinychurch.com\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2851"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/mydestinychurch.com\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2851"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/mydestinychurch.com\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2851"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}