Untitled Sermon (15)

The Kingdom of God; Jesus’ teaching, misssion, and life revolves around this theme. Much of what Jesus had to say to those who followed him had to do with the ushering in of the Kingdom of God. Part of the challenge for them, and for us, is to remember that the KOG is not a physical Kingdom like all the other’s on Earth. It has no physical or geogrphical bouds- it is something bigger, something better, than that. For thousands of years now scholars, theologians, and pastors have tried to unpack the idea of what the KOG is, some have done it justice, others, not so much. But one of my favorite quotes about the KOG is from B. D. Chilton, who has argued that KG is an expression for ‘the saving revelation of God himself’ or ‘God in strength’, and that it refers to ‘a personal God revealed.” With this kind of understanding, we see that the KOG is not something that comes later, but something is both and later- it is shown to us when the God of Heaven is reveled to us; and it is ultimately solidified when Jesus takes his regin in the New Heaven and New Earth of Revelation.

These 2 short parables that we read today are a glimpse of the KOG and it’s power in the world. The images of the mustard seed and the yeast communicate some important things about this Kingdom to our lives. JC Ryle and others have broken these 2 parables down saying that the mustard seed represents KOG in the world and yeast represents KOG in a believer’s heart. So, Ryle would see these are 2 connected parables about 2 different applications of the KOG. We are not going to discuss these parables at that level today. Rather, we are going to hear about 3 overarching concepts that should pentrate our hearts about the KOG

Frist, mustard seed and yeast remind us that with the KOG, small is significant. We love the big and flashly things in our world- we love extreme home makeover; we love the biggest fireworks; we want the tallest roller coasters; the fastest cars; and the shinest things. We really have a world that says “the bigger, the better.” This is even true of many Christians= they go to the biggest church in town, they want the concert quality badns, the celebrity preacher; and we all love to hear the story of the reformed drug addict who was about to lose his life and expereicned a life transformation; and in many settings that is seen as more holy than the person who was raised in church and withstood temptation for 20 years- why? Because one of these seems flashier than the other.

The problem with that is it is quite the opposite for most of the story of Christianity. Many time- it not most of the time- the work of God starts out quite small and insignificant in the eyes of the world. Like the mustard seed- many times the work of God starts so small we might miss it if we are not looking for it. Even the beginning of the church itself came about in this manner. Jesus and a hodgepodge of 12 friends meeting in an upper room, finding their roots in a region called Judea- a small powerless town in the midst of the powerful Roman empire. This group of 12, comissioned by Jesus and empowered by ther Holy Spirit would begin a movement that would become the most influential relgious movement in human history. The message of Christ has infultraited the globe an impacted billions of lives throughout human history. Furthermore, more humanitarian aid, eduacational material; and spiritual health has been promoted in the name of Jesus Christ than an other method in history; and it all started with Jesus and 12 friends in an upper room. This, if nothing else, should point us back to the mustard seed and yeast and remind us that small is significant in the KOG and that we should never underestimate the quiet, subtle moves of God in our lives.

So, never underestimate the power in the small- the slight stirrings of God, because we see in this teaching of Jesus that small is significant in the KOG.

We also see that the KOG is not something to consume, it is something to expereience. When the mustard seed grew and blossumed into a tree the birds of the air came and found refuge in it. The birds came to the bush and experienced all that the bush could do for them and found a place of safety and rest.

Friends, the work of God in the world is not something we are just called to look at and think “isn’t that nice?” or “wow, that is pretty cool.” The work of God is something we are called to expereince and participate in. Many Churches and Christians has morphed into a consumeristic culture of following Jesus. They want to come to church and sit in a pew or chair and hear the praise team, listen to a sermon, and leave- they are not interested in serving, getting involved, or doing the harrd work of faith- they want to consume what God is up to, but not participate.

However, we must remember that Jesus did not call an audience- he called disciples! He called us to a lifestyle of not just consuming the KOG, but a lifestyle of particiation in KOG. But how?

When you share the Gospel When you give to needy When you lay hands on someone to be anointed

When you serve on a board or commssion When you lead a class or a worship service When you give tithes and offerings

you visit a shutin or sick person When you pray for your friends When you go on a mission trip or service - are the ways that we experience the KOG. This is how we see Jesus on the move and we move with him!

In the yeast, we see that the KOG is infectious. Many of us have baked bread with yeast- and seen how a small amount of yeast effects the entire dough- it s not just the yeast that rises- its the entire loaf. In the same way; when we accept the Lord Jesus he too wants to infect, and impact all of our lives.

Many of us have been guilty of trying to put boundaries on Jesus. We walk with him for years and keep certain parts of our lives off limits to him and his work.

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