From Small to Big

INTRO:

What is a Parable? - Story to give a kingdom truth, Reveals why we follow Christ

Iphone

History - developed in 2004, released in 2007

Secretive development - exclusive to only AT&T until 2011

Exploded into what it is today

Started small, a secretive little project and blossomed into what it is today

Parables of Christ:

What is a Parable? - Story to give a kingdom truth, Reveals why we follow Christ

Starting Small and Growing

Matthew 13:31–33 ESV

31 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. 32 It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” 33 He told them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.”

Matthew 13:

Context:

Mustard seed smallest seed - Not the smallest known seed, smallest planting seed planters in Galilee used in that time

Leaven - Used to make dough rise, otherwise

Kingdom of God starts small in our hearts - it’s a personal deal

Follow with Baptism - public declaration of our Faith

We begin to share with others

Think of how the Church started - 12 disciples, really one man Jesus

Revelation 7:9 ESV

9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,

Church started so small and now has followers from every tribe, tongue, and nation

Just like the mustard seed

what was small became large

Kingdom of Gods starts small in our hearts - it’s a personal deal

Doesn’t stay that way for long

Follow in Baptism - Public declaration of our Faith

What is a Parable? - Story to give a kingdom truth, Reveals why we follow Christ

Begin to share with others about who Jesus is and what He has done

Provision for Others

The Gospel is not just for you

Zombie movies - imagine having the cure to a zombie epidemic and not using it but keeping it for yourself just incase you get infected

The Gospel is the cure to our dead soul, it is meant for us to share with others

Mustard seed, starts small and grows to a tree over 10ft. that provides shade and shelter for other animals

Leaven used to make the dough rise that would have fed over 150 people

The blessing of the Gospel is not to be expended on ourselves

Psalm 9:1 ESV

1 I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.

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Psalm 145:6 ESV

6 They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness.

We can’t hold in what God has done, we must tell it

Romans 10:13–15 ESV

13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

Romans 10:1

How do people call on the name of Jesus?

How will they believe if they have never heard?

How will they even hear if it’s not preached?

Vs. 15 quotes

Isaiah 52:7 ESV

7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”

What Does This Mean for Me?

What has started small in you is meant to bloom into something greater

It started small

It goes beyond you

It is meant to be shared with others

How do I do this?

Play One video

Preach the Gospel with your mouth and your life

befriend the outcast

share a kind word

stand up for an injustice

start a movement

attend FCA

start a morning bible study

The calling is to you, no one here will be with an excuse

Matthew

Matthew 28:19–20 ESV

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

The command is from God, I am reiterating it