QUARTER 3 INTRODUCTION
The Third Quarter
Beauty
You are now halfway through the Twelve journey! By now you should have a clear sense of who Jesus is and what he is calling you into. But there is still so much more to see and learn. We shouldn’t expect anything less from Jesus. This quarter will focus exclusively on one aspect of Jesus’ teaching ministry: his parables.
Three Kingdom Metaphors
Sometimes a visual picture is worth 1,000 words. It’s hard to remember 1,000 words. It’s hard to repeat a string of even a couple dozen words without lots of practice and repetition. But stories, metaphors, and visual images have a way of implanting in our minds. Not only do the visual metaphors linger longer than a string of eloquently spoken words, they also tend to be helpful tools in teaching. Many concepts can hang on a single metaphor. So it is with the parabolic metaphors of Jesus.
In Jesus’ many parables, he tends to focus on three major metaphors that help to paint a more holistic picture of life in his kingdom. None of the three are mutually exclusive; they are all interdependent. The three overarching metaphors are (1) the tree, (2) the home, and (3) the farm. The tree metaphors focus on an individuals’ relationship to God: how the love of God and the gospel take root and grow inside the life of an individual. The home metaphors deal with the way we love and treat each other in the kingdom. The farm metaphors address what it means to live faithfully as servants or employees of the King.
We get in trouble when we think of the kingdom of God in singular dimensions. In fact, the very reason that Jesus used parables in describing the kingdom of God is because the kingdom cannot be seen, and the kingdom is far greater and more powerful than any single description. So when Jesus says the kingdom is like a seed, for example, he is taking something that we know, something we can understand, and associating it with something that we cannot see. Each parable tends to focus on one or two main aspects of the kingdom. Each individual parable is simply part of the bigger picture. But when we look at them together, we start to see the entire kingdom emerging with greater clarity.
Three Questions
The three questions you will consider in this quarter of Twelve all stem from one main question: Do you see my kingdom? That one question becomes three when we add in the three elements:
7. Do you see my kingdom as a tree?
8. Do you see my kingdom as a home?
9. Do you see my kingdom as a farm?
Imagine the kingdom as three spaces in a home: the front yard, the home, and the backyard. In the front yard, imagine a seed being planted to grow into a large tree that shades the home. Inside the home is a table with a prepared meal. Outside, around the back of the house, is a garden or farm—large enough to run as a business with servants or employees.
Taking the three kingdom metaphors together, each works to emphasize a different aspect of the kingdom of God. If we think that our life as a believer is only about the spiritual health of our plant, then we are going to fixate on the plant at the cost of cultivating a loving family home where everyone enjoys the father together. In the same way, we’ll miss out on the work of cultivation that God calls us to work toward along with him.
This quarter of Twelve centers on the concept of beauty. We’ve tried to develop the humility (first quarter) required to see Jesus clearly and respond appropriately. We’ve also focused on the heart (second quarter) as the place where true realization and transformation must take place. As we turn to look at the parables of the kingdom, we’re ready to see the beauty of Jesus and his kingdom. It all comes down to what looks the most appealing to us. Do we see the kingdom of God as beautiful, or do we prefer to do things our own way?
Now that you’re in the third quarter of Twelve, you’ll continue to take a more active role in the teaching and leading of Twelve. By now you’ve seen how your group leader(s) functions and you should be taking increasing ownership of the gathering on those weeks you lead the discussion. You should also be opening up to the other group members more to challenge each other and build your relationships.
Challenge
Your challenge for this quarter is to host a meal. That shouldn’t sound too frightening, but it’s an essential step to be taking at this point. As we talk about the kingdom of God being like a farm (in addition to the tree and farm metaphors), it’s vital that we see this as more than a metaphor. Yes, Jesus tells some parables in which people gather around tables for a family meal. But we’ll be impoverishing ourselves and robbing his kingdom if we only consider this a metaphor. The reality is that God has given you a table in your home and this is an essential tool to be used for his kingdom.
So your challenge is to gather a handful of people and host a meal at your table. (You can always host a meal at a restaurant, but try to do it at your home if possible.) As you plan this meal, think of the extra seats at your table and who belongs there. You may want to invite other members of your group, but think beyond this as well. What friends, neighbors, and coworkers could you bless through sharing your table with them? The point of this meal is not necessarily to convert someone, you are simply seeking to see Jesus’ kingdom take shape in your home around your table. After you’ve hosted your meal, be sure to share with your group what you learned from this experience. (Hopefully this will be more than a one time thing!)