Mustard Seed and Leaven

Matthew 13:31-33

Matthew 13:31–33 “He presented another parable to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It’s the smallest of all the seeds, but when grown, it’s taller than the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the sky come and nest in its branches.” He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and mixed into fifty pounds of flour until all of it was leavened.””

Topic: What is the kingdom of heaven like?

Who: large crowds of people

Mustard Seed (Extensive Impact)

Mustard seed- small seed sown with a purpose by a farmer to grow

Mustard Seed grows rapidly (one of the fastest growing plants)

seed-something that takes root and reproduces what reproduced itself

Christ the seed mentioned in Genesis 3:15, from woman God would provide a life altering seed that would reproduce life within all of mankind.

He was planted, He provides blessing, he reproduces life in us

He is seed that provides a home.

He is the seed that provides life for more than one generation.

Begins small but ends up as a Mustard Tree-

Taller than other plants

Provides nesting for the birds of the sky

Leaven (Intensive Impact)

Yeast that over time provides lift to the dough

Small batch can cause a large amount of flour to rise.

Hidden within a dough but creates outward change

Main idea:

Impact-One small seed or measurement makes a Expansive and Intensive Impact

Obvious- hidden work that results in not so hidden impact

How is the inward change of the gospel “hidden”?

How is the kingdoms impact obvious in the life of a believer?

Should a commitment to Christ be public? Why?

Should a Christian be transparent about growth?

Widespread- internal and external impact (from small impacts come great movements) [kingdom started with a 12 and has exploded] [starts with one believer]

What areas of a believers life should change?

How can the impact of the kingdom be felt outside of the life of a believer?

Where/who should the kingdom impact? Why? How?

How can a small church make an impact? How can FBC Sinton make an impact?

What small changes can we make in our church to see great l impacts for the kingdom?

What did Jesus do? (Kingdom Minded, Kingdom Filled, Kingdom Impact)

Prayer Fueled

Spirit Filled

Word Centered (Obedient)

Mission Minded (disciple making)

Purposeful- not a stale or useless impact

What is the difference between a stale impact and a fresh impact?

(Not a Fan Quote] “Are you a follower of Jesus?” But before you move on too quickly, let me clarify what I am not asking. I am not asking the following: Do you go to church? Are your parents or grandparents Christians? Did you raise your hand at the end of a sermon one time? Did you repeat a prayer after a preacher? Did you walk forward during a twelve-minute version of “Just As I Am”? Do you own three or more Bibles? Have you ever appeared in a church directory? Did you grow up going to VBS and/or church camp? Is your ringtone a worship song? When you pray are you able to utilize five or more synonyms for God? I can keep going. Seriously, I can. Have you ever worn “witness wear”? Is the KJV the only real version of the Bible? Have you ever kissed dating good-bye? Under “religious views” does your Facebook page say “Christ follower”? Did you dog Harry Potter and rave about Lord of the Rings? Did you get a purpose driven life in 40 days or less? Do you say “Bless their heart” before speaking badly about someone? Do you understand phrases like “traveling mercies” and “sword drill”?

Behavior modification without life change (legalistic change)

Religious action without heart

ETC.

When does the impact the become ineffective? (when it’s not kingdom work)

Driving- Instantaneous and steady (organic growth) impact

-What is gospel transformation?

-How is that impact immediate?

-What is the difference between steady growth and nonexistent growth? Do we see this in our church members/ourselves?

-Can a person be a believer and not experience steady growth?

-How do we spur on growth in those we disciple?

-When does the Tree/Dough/Believer become fully matured?