In this sermon from the Stories by the Sea series, Pastor Matt reflects on Jesus’s parable of the wheat and the weeds (Matthew 13:24–30), weaving together personal stories, biblical theology, and pastoral encouragement to offer a powerful message about patience, rest, and trusting God’s timing.
The message opens with a lighthearted story about Matt’s impatience during a round of golf—a humorous but honest entry point into the deeper spiritual struggle of waiting. He admits that resting, especially at the beach, doesn’t come naturally to him. Yet this series, and especially this parable, challenges that impulse by inviting us to embrace the countercultural rhythm of rest.
Drawing on the biblical concept of Sabbath, Pastor Matt reminds us that in God’s economy, the day doesn’t begin with work—it begins with rest. He highlights how Jesus often works not in flashy moments, but quietly—like the resurrection, which occurred while the world was asleep. Rest is not passive laziness but active trust that God is working even when we’re not.
The parable of the wheat and weeds becomes a framework for understanding the reality of living in a broken world. Though God has sown good seed, the enemy has scattered weeds. Instead of immediately pulling them out, God tells us to wait—because His plan is unfolding slowly, deliberately, and purposefully. The kingdom of God is present now, but not yet complete.
Pastor Matt warns against two common distortions of the Christian life: triumphalism, which assumes that faith guarantees instant victory, and defeatism, which assumes that spiritual struggle is unchangeable. Instead, Jesus teaches us to live in the tension of the “already and not yet”—a time when spiritual renewal has begun, but the final harvest is still to come.
The call of the sermon is simple but profound: rest, trust, and wait well. Just as God set the boundary for the sea, He is sovereign over the chaos of our lives. So while we wait for healing, reconciliation, or breakthrough, we don’t wait in frustration—we wait on the beach, in peace, knowing that Jesus is at work.
Key Takeaways:
Rest is a spiritual discipline that begins each day in God’s design.
Jesus often works in hidden, quiet ways—especially while we’re resting.
The kingdom of God is both now and not yet; we must live in that tension.
The presence of weeds (evil, suffering, injustice) doesn’t mean God has failed—it means the harvest hasn’t come yet.
Trusting God’s timing often means letting go of control and resisting the urge to fix everything ourselves.
This sermon is a needed reminder for all who are weary or anxious: God is not done. His work is steady and sure. And while we wait, He invites us to rest—on the beach, in His peace.
