OUTLINE:

Unbelievers
The basic reason why someone rejects the Gospel is because its foundational premise is that they realize that a person NEEDS a Savior! If a person never rightly reconciles the chasm between themselves and the sovereign God of the Universe, they will miss this point altogether. There's a very real impetus for salvation.

Evil Has a Champion
Satan's ploy is to get people believing they are righteous without God's help...or at least "enough" to gain entrance into Heaven (even the end goal is perverted). He propagates lies stating that if you're self-righteous enough, you certainly don't need Christ-righteousness.

Mt 13 - The "Key" Parables
Ask yourself, after reading through Mt 13 all at once without stopping/pondering doctrines, what the nature of Jesus' parables were. Think big-picture, and think simple. HINT: consider membership, not membership types.

Heb 13:17
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.

The Gospel Hope
The Gospel is EVERYTHING to a believer. Any hope of deliverance at or after being saved is a function of this one reality.

1Th 5:21-22 [Amplified]
But test and prove all things [until you can recognize] what is good; [to that] hold fast.Abstain from evil [shrink from it and keep aloof from it] in whatever form or whatever kind it may be.

"examine everything carefully"
Never take anyone's word at face value. Examine the things you hear from fellow man carefully, lest you be lazy and accept false doctrines as truth. "A man who stands for nothing falls for anything."

Jn 8:32
"and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."

"examine everything carefully"
Never take anyone's word at face value. Examine the things you hear from fellow man carefully, lest you be lazy and accept false doctrines as truth. "A man who stands for nothing falls for anything."

A Shepherd's Heart
A true shepherd is not interested in his sheep doing anything except following his God-given ability to lead them to Truth. The act of believing Holy Scripture is an issue between a sheep and the Great Shepherd, Jesus Christ. (Ac 17:10-12)

The Gospel Lynchpin
Simply stated: either Christ is who He said He is, or He's a liar and we're all doomed. (1Co 15)

The Gospel Lynchpin
We believers never fully depart from the Gospel (as Paul alluded to in Ro 1:16-17), not just because we love it so much (we do), but it represents the theological lynchpin to our faith! God saves us based on the merits of Christ. If Christ is a farce, then so is our faith (1Co 15:14-17).

The Resurrection Hope
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the righteous basis of our salvation, as well as the foundation of our living hope. As sinners, we had no hope beyond the grave. - William MacDonald

F. B. Meyer
Calls the "living hope" the "link between our present and future."

The Gospel Lynchpin
We believers never fully depart from the Gospel (as Paul alluded to in Ro 1:16-17), not just because we love it so much (we do), but it represents the theological lynchpin to our faith! God saves us based on the merits of Christ. If Christ is a farce, then so is our faith (1Co 15:14-17).

Jesus Prayed Before Choosing the Apostles
Jesus was a human being. As a human being, He had to "increase in wisdom" (Lk 2:40, 52). He often prayed to His Father in Heaven before completing a next step in His ministry, like choosing the first twelve apostles (Lk 6:12-13).

Jesus' Ministry
Prayer was a large part of Jesus' ministry (e.g. Mt 26:42; Lk 6:12; Jn 17). Not only did He pray persistently, but He also instructed His disciples to do the same (e.g. Mt 6:9). An effective ministry cannot exist in the absence of prayer. (e.g., Jer 33:3; Mt 26:41; Mk 11:24; Lk 11:9; Ro 8:26; Php 4:6; 1Th 5:17; 1Ti 2:1-4; Jas 5:16, etc.)

Jer 33:3 [Amplified]
'Call to Me and I will answer you, and tell you [and even show you] great and mighty things, [things which have been confined and hidden], which you do not know and understand and cannot distinguish.'

Mk 11:24 [Amplified]
For this reason I am telling you, whatever things you ask for in prayer [in accordance with God's will], believe [with confident trust] that you have received them, and they will be given to you.

Php 4:6 [Amplified]
Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God.

Jas 5:16 [Amplified]
Therefore, confess your sins to one another [your false steps, your offenses], and pray for one another, that you may be healed and restored. The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) can accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God-it is dynamic and can have tremendous power].

Jesus' Ministry
Prayer was a large part of Jesus' ministry (e.g. Mt 26:42; Lk 6:12; Jn 17). Not only did He pray persistently, but He also instructed His disciples to do the same (e.g. Mt 6:9). An effective ministry cannot exist in the absence of prayer. (e.g., Jer 33:3; Mt 26:41; Mk 11:24; Lk 11:9; Ro 8:26; Php 4:6; 1Th 5:17; 1Ti 2:1-4; Jas 5:16, etc.)

Prayer Is Integral
In light of 1Th 5:16-18 (and a multitude of scripture), we must think of prayer as an integral part of the whole. Without prayer, the whole could not exist/function. Rejoicing, praying, and thanksgiving are borne of one root, therefore they increase/exist simultaneously.

Perspective
If Jesus prayed often, being perfect, why in the world wouldn't we, His disciples? It seems asinine that any of us would ever NOT make prayer a top, daily priority. Yet, most Christians have their priorities messed up.

Jesus Chose His Apostles
• Jesus prayed a LOT and His apostles took notice, often writing it down as Holy Scripture.
• Jesus prayed "all night" before He decided to choose the apostles.
• In His humanity, Jesus was seeking the righteous discernment of His Father ("Thy will be done")

Ability To Sin
• God: Non Posse Peccare ("not able to sin")
• Spirit-Filled Humanity: Posse Non Peccare ("able not to sin")
• Human Flesh: Non Posse Non Peccare ("not able not to sin")

Jesus Chose His Apostles
As a function of His praying, Jesus never made a mistake in choosing the apostles. Even Judas Iscariot was a choice He made at the behest of His Father in Heaven.

Jesus Chose YOU!

"By Grace, They Were Prepared"
Not only did their natural abilities have nothing to do with Jesus choosing them; but they had nothing to do with their preparation for ministry. In fact, their natural "abilities" handicapped them.

Sending the Apostles Out
• Jesus called them
• Jesus trained them (academically & OJT)
• Jesus sent them out

"By Grace, They Were Prepared"
Not only did their natural abilities have nothing to do with Jesus choosing them; but they had nothing to do with their preparation for ministry. In fact, their natural "abilities" handicapped them.

"By Grace, They Were Prepared"
The great work for any believer is to spread the Gospel. We all need to be literally changed by grace through faith in order to accomplish this good work. Jesus has left His precious salvation ministry to His sheep to carry on.