Parable of the Mustard Seed

Intro

Group Intro

Group Intro

- What we do

Scripture

Hear God speak, not self help or opinions

Scripture transforms us

It is the foundation for the other two

Prayer

Us speaking back to God

Acknowledging the truth of scripture

Community

The context that scripture and prayer are effective

Not just socializing - ministering the gospel to each other

- Goal

Jesus tells His disciples that Every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his storeroom what is new and what is old

We are not here for a simple uplifting thought or even a message to deal with your individual problems.

God is calling us to more, to be trained and equipped for the kingdom

So that like a well prepared host, we can bring out the riches of God’s word to those God puts in our life.

Series Intro

We will be focusing on parables that introduce the Kingdom of God

How do you become a part of it

Once you become part of the Kingdom, what does it look like to be a servant

Last study we looked at the parable of the laborers in the vineyard

How many times are we supposed to forgive?

What was Jesus teaching us about our role in the kingdom? - That of a bondservant

Why should we choose mercy over justice?

What does true forgiveness look like?

What gets in the way of seeing our place in the kingdom? - envy, greed, arrogance,

How does this lay the groundwork for Christian community?

How do we joyfully accept our call as a bondservant of Christ? - see that he served first

Introductory questions

What makes a successful business or organization? What makes a successful church?

What does the word “Duty” mean to you? Where do you have duties today?

What do people mean when they say America is or was a christian nation? It that something God is calling us to?

Read

Conclusion

Mustard Seed

Both of these parables contrast the small size of starting point, and the greatness of the effects. The first one on the mustard seed is the contrast between the tininess of the seed and the largeness of the tree

The first one on the mustard seed is the contrast between the tininess of the seed and the largeness of the tree

Details

A mustard seed is about the size of a tip of pencil, less than a period at the end of a sentence

Yet despite its size, it grows into a 15ft tall plant - larger than any other garden plant.

It is big enough for birds to come nest in it.

Starting point

Now God could have created His kingdom in an instant , yet that is not how He works

The starting point may be small, but the purposes are mighty

We will certainly err if we judge the kingdom by the way it looks today - Bill Gleason

Why can we become discouraged if we focus on the kingdom as it looks now? What does this parable teach us about why not to be discouraged?

Results

It is an allusion to the OT in Daniel & Ezekiel use this imagery of a large tree providing shelter to the nations

Jesus Teaches that God's kingdom may seem unimportant and insignificant... But the gospel of the kingdom... will have a tremendous impact upon the world at large. The tiny seed sown in Galilee at the dawn of the new age of Christianity has become a tree that today provides shelter and rest to people everywhere. And yet the day is not spent. Kistemaker

The tree isnt just large, but it blesses the world around it. It provides shelter and food. It will gather the people of the world in its shade.

* * Jesus Teaches that God's kingdom may seem unimportant and insiginificant... But the gospel of the kingdom... will have a tremendous impact upon the world at large. The tiny seed sown in Galilee at the dawn of the new age of Christianity has become a tree that today provides shelter and rest to people everywhere. And yet the day is not spent. Kistemaker

The lesson of the parable

An antidote to discouragement - It gives us eyes of faith to see what God sees

It is a call to take the gospel to the world around us

We are called to take the good news of the gospel to our community, country, and the world in the great commission - We are to provide shelter to those weary in the world

The gospel may seem to be weak, and the church small. But God will build His kingdom

For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, “ ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ” - quoting

“ ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles,

for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. -

May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth! May desert tribes bow down before him, and his enemies lick the dust! May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands render him tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts! May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him!

as the waters cover the sea.

8  May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth! May desert tribes bow down before him, and his enemies lick the dust! May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands render him tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts! May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him!

that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”

and from the River to the ends of the earth!

9  May desert tribes bow down before him, and his enemies lick the dust! May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands render him tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts! May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him!

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

and his enemies lick the dust!

10  May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands

render him tribute;

may the kings of Sheba and Seba

How does this parable shape your view of the Kingdom? How does it change the way you treat building the Kingdom?

bring gifts!

11  May all kings fall down before him,

all nations serve him!

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Yeast

If the Mustard Seed was about the extensive, outward growth of the kingdom, The yeast is about the intensive, internal growth of the kingdom

Details

For those of you arent bakers, bread is a simple recipe - flour, salt, water, and yeast. You mix the flour and water into a dough. Then a little yeast is added. As it works, it creates gas bubbles inside the dough which makes it rise, and makes it more than just pita bread.

Here a baker uses are large amount of flour - 40 liters - enough bread for hundreds

A small amount of yeast is worked into it

How the kingdom works

Again there is a contrast to a small quantity and large effects

Effects on culture

We are mixed into the world.

It can no longer be separated from the dough

We work on culture from the inside out

It is in the midst of it, separated from each other. But that doesnt diminish its power

This is how God works with Christians. He sends us out into the culture, often scattered from each other

We are embedded in jobs, communities, nations. We are not to withdraw into a holy huddle. We are not to create a christian nation

Despite this dispersion, we are have enormous effects

Effects on a person

The yeast is worked into your heart. The little bit of scripture and Holy Spirit works to transform you

It works mysterious and invisible - Bilkes. And it is not in an instant.

It may seem like at times that nothing is happening inside you

We sometimes try to measure sanctification in days, but it really should be measured in decades

It works just like culture, from the inside out

It transforms the entire loaf

Takes time - it is a process

This isnt an overnight, viral transformation

It takes patience. But God will surely do it.

It works in secret, but the effects are sure.

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. -

Application

See the power of Christ

We are people who cant see past our circumstances to see what God is doing.

Jesus tells this parable to encourage His church, especially when things seem confusing, and small.

We are call not to doubt when the situation seems too large (40 L of flour vs a little yeast)

we are prone to think that because the kingdom does not seem to be coming quickly, it may not be coming at all! Bill Gleason.

But the coming of the kingdom is coming, even if the method doesnt match our expectations

It is inevitable - it will happen - may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

It brings great works by working with small weak things -

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

How do you underestimate the power of Christ? What happens when you do?

How the kingdom works

When we get discouraged, we often to look to worldly methods of success

But the ironic part, it is by looking at these wordly methods that brings the discouragement in the first place!

It is not by

Celebrities, big name preachers

Large ministries

Christian governments

A secret formula, or even by anything you can measure

These are often distractions from the gospel, so that even success is failure in disguise - Bill Gleason

Instead it is by

Faithful, yet unknown and forgotten, pastors

Loving parents

Steady exposure to the scriptures

Ultimately, God is wanting to build in us confidence (faith) that God will build His kingdom - Bill Gleason

12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.

Just because you dont see anything on the surface doesnt mean nothing is going on below the surface - Bilkes

* * * ust because you dont see anything on the surface doesnt mean nothing is going on below the surface - Bilkes

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

How does this impact the way you view parenting? Ministry? work?

Culture and how to live in the world

How does God call us to live? Are we supposed to lock ourselves in a monastery? Live under a Christian president?

We are worked into culture - It can no longer be separated from the dough

We are in the midst of culture, separated from each other. But that doesnt diminish its power

This is how God works with Christians. He sends us out into the culture, often scattered from each other

We are embedded in jobs, communities, nations. We are not to withdraw into a holy huddle. We are not to create a christian nation

Despite this dispersion, we are have enormous effects

Why might God work this way? How does that change the way we perceive our culture?

In the end God is transforming culture and has promised the world over will be a faithful holy people. But that is not yet.

Conclusion

You measure the spiritual growth in decades

It has been a blessing to see yall grow over the years. I am beyond thankful that God has given me the privilege to participate in that work of His Spirit

But as I heard in college, dont measure a ministry by the fruit you see. Measure it by the fruit it bears 10-20 years down the road.

I know some of you are coming tonight dealing with painful family situations, exhausted by frustrating work and crazy kids, fighting demons from your past. Tonight you may feel small, insignificant, a mustard seed that is trampled underfoot by life.

But that is not what I see. Now I am certainly not a prophet, but I hope I am seeing with eyes of faith. I see 20 years from now Oaks of Righteousness, a Planting of the Lord as Isaiah says. I see men and women standing firm in faith. A royal priesthood that blesses the world around you.

I see parents raising children in the knowledge of God, children who have experienced the love of God through you all the days of their life.

I see wise and gracious employees and managers blessing those they work with

I deacons, and elders, and pastors, and sunday school teachers, and VBS leaders

I deacons, and elders, and pastors, and sunday school teachers, and VBS leaders

I see the kingdom God is building. It may be a mustard seed of a group, but in the coming decades we will dumbfounded by the amount of fruit.

And I see that we will be together for eternity praising God for the privilege of being part of this group.

3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. -

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.