Delivered October 29, 2006
by Pastors: Marilyn & Eric Henderson
The Kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.
The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed. An eensey-weensey, tiny seed. So small, its hardly worth planting. And surely if one planted such a miniscule seed, the plant would also be next to nothing. A word of encouragement is so small nothing of any consequence would come of it. And baking Christmas Cookies for neighbors is an outmoded gesture of kindness that only grows fat neighbors and nothing more. If there was more time in a day, and if the results would amount to something really big, being with another in crisis would be logical. A short prayer here and there seems as significant as a breath in cold crisp air.
The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree,
Wonder of wonders-the eensey, weensey, tiny seed grows. Not into some little scrubby bush, but a great grand shrub as tall as a tree. The kingdom of heaven had a small beginning-John the Baptist, Jesus, 12 disciples-one casualty, 120, several thousand on Pentecost, small groups in Corinth, Ephesus, Thessalonica, Rome, Galatia, Jerusalem and other places. The kingdom of heaven grew from a tiny, eensey, weensey seed of faith, one man, one small group of 12, one church in Jerusalem, one dynamic missionary named Paul, plus Barnabas. One healing, another casting out demons, a sermon here, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit there and the kingdom grew. And now includes millions in most nations and people groups of the world.
The Kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.
Many people long for faster computers, cars, dishwashers, more powerful search engines, tools, tractors, power-point presentations, dishwashing detergents, and dollars. The kingdom of heaven is odd, nonsensical, different from the bigger, faster more powerful things we desire.
In the Kingdom of heaven a small hidden seed, planted, grows, changes into a tree that sustains and shelters whatever bird happens along.
The Kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.
The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.
The kingdom of heaven is like yeast - or yogurt. That small little sour glob that makes you gag if tasted. Eeyeww - it stinks, its nasty stuff. Throw it in the trash or let the hogs eat it. I think it's organic. So let's blend in with everyone else. Trying to stop a group that gossips might leave a sour taste in their mouth so join in. Being a radical for peace might cause turmoil, rather than create peace, so be silent. Befriending the geek can tick off others and you run the risk of being called a geek, so don't be a geek-pick on the geeks.
The kingdom of heaven is like yeast (or yogurt) that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour (or milk) until all of it was leavened ( or turned to yogurt).
Members of the kingdom of heaven are different. They're motivation and actions reflect the relationship with King Jesus.
When Roman Gladiators battled and killed one another for sport a monk joined the throng headed for the arena. He was shocked that people killed each other and that the crowd loved it. The monk's horror moved him to jump into the bloody field. People jeered and booed as the monk yelled and grabbed fighters in an attempt to stop the killing. Emboldened by shouts from the crowd a gladiator ended the life of the peculiar monk. Unexpectedly the crowd went silent. Slowly the people left the stadium, never to return for another Gladiatorial Contest.
The kingdom of heaven is like yeast (or yogurt) that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour (or milk) until all of it was leavened or turned to yogurt.
Luke and Dorothy Beidler joined an Indonesian couple in Indonesia to spread the news about the kingdom of heaven. The Indonesian man became sick and was hospitalized. In Indonesia, someone other than hospital personal needs to provide all nursing care for the patient. Luke was the only one available, so he went. The other Indonesian patients and caregivers watched the white man prepare food, take out the bedpan, change bed linen, and bath his brother in Christ. Most shocking of all was seeing Luke climb under the bed to sleep, like all the other caregivers. Soon after leaving the hospital, Luke and the Indonesian Christian received calls from surrounding villages asking, "Come and tell us about Jesus."
The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed.
The kingdom of heaven is like yeast.
The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, and when it has grown gives shelter and sustenance to those who come.
The kingdom of heaven is like yeast, and when mixed in the world creates change.
Jesus invites us to be seeds and yeast in the kingdom of heaven.
Petitcodiac Mennonite Church