Seeds of the Kingdom

Mark 4:26–34 ESV

And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.” And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.” With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it. He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.

I don't know about you, but I've had three types of experiences when it comes to spiritual growth.

The first is feeling like not much is happening at all, and wondering if I'm even growing, sometimes to the point of skepticism that any growth will ever happen.

Physically, two of my kids went through this, where it felt like they were never going to grow and catch up with their peers.

The second is moments where I experienced very clear moments of awareness that God is at work and an almost instantaneous sense of transformation.

Physically, this happened with one of my kids when he shot up seven inches over the course of a summer.

The third, is slow growth.

It's growth that happens over years and decades.

We can look back over time and see how God has changed us, but sometimes we wonder where it leads.

In today's lesson, God wants to assure us that as long as we keep our eyes focused on Him and live in faith, we will eventually see change.

Sanctification, or growth in holiness, is centered on faith and it trusts that God will work.

The Mystery of Growth

Mark 4:26–29 ESV

And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

In the first parable, Jesus compares the Kingdom of God to a man who scatters seed on the ground.

The man goes about his daily life, sleeping and rising, while the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not understand how.

This parable highlights the mystery of growth in God's Kingdom.

As we go about our daily lives, we may not always see the immediate results of our efforts or understand how God is working.

Yet, just as the seed grows silently and steadily, God's Kingdom is advancing in ways beyond our comprehension.

We are reminded that our role is to plant the seeds—through acts of love, kindness, and faith—and trust that God will bring about the growth.

I’m often reminded when sharing the gospel with unbelievers that I may not be the person who sees them ultimately converted.

My job, however, is to spread the seed, and to allow God to do the work of growing the gospel in that person’s life.

Think about a farmer.

After planting seeds, the farmer does not hover over the soil, anxiously watching for signs of growth.

Instead, the farmer trusts in the natural processes and patiently waits for the harvest.

Similarly, we must trust in God's processes, knowing that He is at work even when we cannot see it.

Next we come to the parable of the mustard seed.

The Mustard Seed

Mark 4:30–34 ESV

And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.” With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it. He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.

The second parable Jesus shares is that of the mustard seed.

Though it is the smallest of all seeds, when planted, it grows into the largest of garden plants, providing shelter for birds.

This parable emphasizes the expansive nature of God's Kingdom.

The mustard seed represents the seemingly insignificant beginnings of God's work.

What starts small can grow into something magnificent and far-reaching.

This growth is not due to our efforts but to God's power and purpose.

Consider the early church.

It began with a small group of disciples, ordinary men and women, who followed Jesus.

Despite persecution and challenges, the church grew and spread across the world, transforming countless lives and cultures.

This is the power of the mustard seed—small beginnings leading to great outcomes through God's mighty hand.

Sometimes it’s hard to trust in these outcomes because we may never be the people to see them.

Again, the courageous martyrs of the early church who faced persecution and death, often never lived to see the full growth and impact of the church they died for.

Their sacrifice was part of a larger story, just as our own faithfulness today is part of a story that extends beyond our lifetime.

We may not see the outcome, but our faithfulness matters in God's eternal plan.

Very often mustard seed faith means looking beyond ourselves and living instead for our children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and generations to come.

Trusting in God's Work

Both parables call us to trust in God's work.

The farmer trusts the process of growth he cannot see.

The mustard seed's growth teaches us to trust in the potential God has placed in small beginnings.

In our lives, we may face situations where progress seems slow or insignificant.

We may feel that our efforts are unnoticed or unfruitful.

However, these parables remind us to have faith in God's timing and His ability to bring forth growth and transformation.

I have to tell you, friends, this is why I’m not concerned about the size and growth of Renewal Methodist.

We will be what God wants us to be when He wants us to be it.

Perhaps our call is to simply spread the seed in our generation.

Perhaps it will be in this generation that we see the church grow into what we all hope for.

I imagine that when Abraham was promised a nation he would have liked to see it.

He didn’t this side of heaven, but now consider all that the Old testament shows us about the size and breadth of the Nation of Israel.

Perhaps God will expand this size of this faithful remnant in our generation.

Perhaps, the seeds we scatter today will bloom into fullness in later generations.

Wht we must not do, friends, is think that there is no growth, and that God is not preparing the soil.

He most assuredly is, and I suspect that as long as Renewal Methodist remains faithful to the Word of God, there will be a day when we look upon the seed we scattered…perhaps while we are in heaven…and we will see that seed in full bloom.

Application

Personal Growth: Trust that God is at work in your life, even when you don't see immediate results.

Continue to seek Him, pray, and grow in your faith, knowing that God is shaping you in ways you may not yet understand.

Church Ministry: As a church, let us be encouraged to sow seeds of love, outreach, and service in our community.

We may not always see the impact immediately, but we trust that God is growing His Kingdom through our efforts.

Community Impact: Remember that small acts of kindness and faith can have a profound impact.

Like the mustard seed, what we do in faith, no matter how small, can grow into something significant in God's Kingdom.

Conclusion

As we reflect on these parables, let us be inspired by the mysterious and expansive nature of God's Kingdom.

Let us trust in God's work, even when it is unseen.

May we be faithful in planting seeds of faith, love, and hope, confident that God will bring about the growth and transformation in His perfect timing.

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, thank You for the lessons of the growing seed and the mustard seed. Help us to trust in Your work, even when we cannot see it. Give us faith to plant seeds of Your Kingdom in our lives and our community. May we be patient and hopeful, knowing that You are at work in ways beyond our understanding. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Hymn of Response: Stand By Me (vs 1, 2, 5 – OGR # 352)