Are You Wheat Or A Tare? (From our 7-20-25 Worship)

Watch the video version here: https://youtu.be/jyEhowHNElYSummary:Introduction: County Fairs and the Desire to Be the BestCounty fairs highlight our competitive nature—art contests, tractor pulls, pie baking, etc.People naturally want to be seen as the best—even if it means faking it.Story of Han van Meegeren, a Dutch painter who faked 17th-century masterpieces, even deceiving Nazi officials. He was eventually exposed but only after nearly being convicted for selling national treasures.Point: Faking it can be dangerous—not just in art, but spiritually.Spiritual Deception: The Parable of the Wheat and Tares (Matthew 13:24–30, 36–43, ESV)Jesus’ parable teaches that the Kingdom of Heaven contains both genuine and false members.Tares (weeds) resemble wheat early in growth, but:Wheat bows under the weight of grain (fruitful).Tares stand tall but contain poisonous seeds.Jesus explains:Good seed = sons of the kingdom.Weeds = sons of the evil one, sown by the devil.Judgment will come at harvest (end of the age).Main warning: Not everyone who looks like a Christian is one.Application: What’s the Difference Between Wheat and Tares?Outward appearances can deceive.One key difference: true Christians meet physical needs to reach spiritual hearts, like Jesus did.Jesus’ Ministry Model: Meeting Physical Needs FirstFeeding the 5,000 (John 6:1–14, 25–35, ESV)Jesus fed people, not just to fill stomachs, but to lead them to the “bread of life.”He challenged them not to work for perishable food but for eternal life.Many rejected His spiritual teaching (John 6:66), but some believed (John 6:68–69).The Woman at the Well (John 4:1–30, ESV)Jesus broke social norms by speaking to a Samaritan woman.He asked her for water—not because He needed it—but to acknowledge her worth and open a door to spiritual truth.She went from isolation to evangelism, changing her village.Healing the Leper (Mark 1:40–42, ESV)Jesus touched a leper before healing him—something no one else would do.The touch itself met a deep emotional need for human connection.It showed Jesus’ compassion in action.Everyday Evangelism: Be Like JesusJesus’ “Go” (Matthew 28:18–20) means as you go—in daily life, on errands, at work.Like the Good Samaritan, opportunities come in everyday life.Be ready to meet physical needs to open doors for spiritual conversation.Final Thoughts and EncouragementDon’t let fear or inconvenience stop you from serving.You may never get another chance with that person.Even a small act—like a kind word, a meal, a ride, or a touch—can lead to a changed eternity.Scriptural ChargeJames 2:14–17 (ESV): "What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?... Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."Ephesians 2:10 (ESV): "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."InvitationIf you have a physical or spiritual need, come.God loves you. His people love you.Let us help—whether with a kind word, a prayer, or an act of service.