Sermons on Matthew 20:1-20:

Greatness In God's Upside Down Kingdom

Contributed by Don Schultz on Mar 3, 2005

What is greatness? The opposite of what we think. We’re so thankful that God is "great" in this way.

Matthew 20:17-28: GREATNESS IN GOD’S UPSIDE-DOWN KINGDOM Once there was the president of a large corporation. He was a powerful man – when he said “jump” people would ask, “How high?” Everyone was below him, and everyone had to answer to him. And this job came with nice benefits – a fancy ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:17-28

Denomination: Lutheran

Bottoms Up!

Contributed by Eric Vertein on Mar 9, 2005

When it comes to seeking greatness and dealing with suffering for the sake of our Lord, Jesus advises us: "Bottoms up!"

Matthew 20:17-28 4th Sunday in Lent – A March 6, 2005 #092 Matthew 20:17-28 Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them, 18 "We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:17-28

Denomination: Lutheran

Not So With You Series

Contributed by Jeremy Houck on Mar 20, 2005

Greatness can only be achieved by doing things with compassion and mercy.

The first O.J. trial made DNA a household word. For hours and days on end we all sat in front of out TV’s and took a crash course on what DNA was and how forensic evidence would prove without a doubt who the real killer was. But in the end all that it illustrated was that even if the forensic ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:20-34

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Greed And Grace

Contributed by Dean Rhine on Jan 24, 2006

Dealing with a right perspective of things

“Greed and Grace” Matthew 20 1/11/98 INTRO: As I have started out the new year, I have set a goal for myself. I mentioned to you that I encouraged each of you to read the Bible through this year. For myself, I am going to try to read the Bible through four times this year, once each quarter. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The History And Principles And Mathematics Of Grace Series

Contributed by George Barton on Jan 31, 2006

An introduction to Matthew 5:3 which emphasizes that only those who recognize their spiritual bankruptcy will enter the kingdom of heaven.

MATTHEW 20-21 THE HISTORY AND PRINCIPLES AND MATHEMATICS OF GRACE (Luke 15:1 NIV) Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him. (Luke 15:2 NIV) But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." (Luke ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-19

Denomination: Baptist

1. The Generous Employer Series

Contributed by Don Jaques on Feb 13, 2007

The way into the Kingdom is by response to an invitation to come – not by justice (working for your wages). All people, regardless of background, can respond to God’s invitation and be rewarded with eternal life.

In a rather shocking story that Jesus told to a crowd of people, he shared with them that the ways of God’s relating to people are actually quite a bit different from our rules of fairness, justice, and good economic principles. Listen now as I’ll tell you a story like Jesus told it – it comes ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Lesson 10 Series

Contributed by Clyde White on Feb 20, 2007

It is the eternal soul, given by God, that is the subject of today’s study. We want to very briefly see the effect of Spiritual Maturity on three aspects of the soul – Mentality, Volition and Conscience.

Psychology (personal) = The emotional and behavioral characteristics of an individual, a group, or an activity; Subtle tactical actions or arguments used to manipulate or influence another. Our minds, do not have a psychology of their own. The personal psychology of each individual or group ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:20-28

The Good News And The Bad News Of The Good News

Contributed by Ovidiu Radulescu on Feb 23, 2007

God’s free grace may be good news for a dying backslider; but what about the dying missionary? Doesn’t he deserve at least equal treatment? Analyzing the parable of laborers in the Vineyard from Mat. 20, we continue to be astonished at God’s way of worki

The Good News and the Bad News of the Good News A man and a women had been friends for many years, had died and gone to heaven. They told St. Peter that they wanted to be married. - “Take your time and think about it,” said St. Peter, “you have eternity so take fifty years and see me ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16, 1 Corinthians 9:19-27

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

I Will Be A Servant In The Church Series

Contributed by Jason Cole on Mar 10, 2007

I preached this sermon at the oridnation of three deacons, but directed more as a charge to the church to be servants as well. We are all called to serve and sometimes we need to take off our bibs and put on our aprons.

“I Will Be A Servant in the Church” Introduction: Today, we have ordained three men into the position of deacon. Many times as events like this take place we fail to catch and see the meaning of what is taking place. First of all, it is important that we understand that word “ordain” simple ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:20-28

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Unfairness Of God

Contributed by Wesley Bishop on Jun 14, 2006

This is on the parable of the workers in the vineyard that were all paid the same.

I want to tell you a story… There is a small rural farming community not far from here. It is not a wealthy place. In fact, it’s a very poor place. There are a lot of immigrants—legal and illegal—there. Jobs are scarce. The only work most of these immigrants can get is backbreaking work in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16

Denomination: Wesleyan

The Upside Down Kingdom

Contributed by James Tetley on Jul 3, 2006

The kingdom of God totally contradicts the Kingdom of this World

The passage we will be looking at this evening is from Matthew 20 vs. 1-16. Often subtitled the workers in the vineyard. The approach I am going to take is that we will split the passage up into sections – read the story together and then I will offer you some thoughts on each part. But ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16

Denomination: Baptist

Laborers In His Vineyard

Contributed by Sam Martin on Dec 22, 2006

Challenge to serve God

LABORERS IN HIS VINEYARD Text: Matthew 20:1-16 I. The Enlistment A. He went out early. B. He offered a fair wage. C. He went back for more. II. The Exclamation A. Why stand ye all the day idle? B. Jehovah Witness - 120 members (20 Full-time)(Full-time ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16

Denomination: Baptist

The Right Thing For The Wrong Reason Series

Contributed by Sherman Gordon on Jan 6, 2007

James and JOhn apesking through their mother wanted the right thing by being close to Jesus, but their motives reveal it was for the wrong reason.

SUBJECT: THE RIGHT THING FOR THE WRONG REASON SCRIPTURE: MATTHEW 20:20-24 EARLY ON, THROUGHOUT, AND AT THE CLOSE, THE BIBLE TEACHES US AN IMPORTANT LESSON. THAT IS, BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU DESIRE, BECAUSE YOU JUST MIGHT GET WHAT YOU DESIRE, ONLY TO DISCOVER YOU DON’T CARE FOR WHAT YOU ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:20-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Kingdom Of Heaven Is Like

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Jan 18, 2007

1- The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner 2- The kingdom of heaven is like men working 3- The kingdom of heaven is like getting paid

INTRO.- The kingdom of heaven is a kingdom. It is a country, a domain, an empire. It is similar to our country and yet it is not similar. Heaven is not America and America is not heavenly! ILL.- When Edward Everett Hale was Chaplain of the Senate, someone asked him, “Do you pray for the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Well Meaning But Wrong

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Jan 27, 2007

In our text, we see some well meaning people who made some mistakes and how Jesus responded. 1- The mother’s request 2- The Savior’s comeback 3- The disciples’ reaction 4- The Savior’s example

INTRO.- Well meaning but wrong. Ever happen to you? ILL.- A young preacher said, “I was completing my first funeral service in my first congregation on the plains of Kansas. The words of committal for a dear, aged mother had been spoken and a prayer following concluded the graveside ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:20-28

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ