a drop of waterSmall as a Mustard Seed
Here is a reproduction of the sermon handout from Coast Vineyard, on Sunday, February 22, 2009. Pastor Jamie gave the first message in a series focused on the Kingdom of God.
A few points really struck accord with me. The first one was about self righteousness, how it blinds us to invalidate the goodness and compassion in God’s work because it does not line up with our picture of how it should be done. I’m unfortunately a familiar friend to this type of arrogance, especially when it comes to how ministry should be done. It is ‘easy’ for me to package up ministry and write down some guidelines and instructions on the box. Any deviation from whats written, invalidates the fruits and growth of that ministry, when instead I should be open to God working in ways that I could not conceive of.More than Meets the Eye (A message from Luke 13)
Jesus and the Kingdom of God: The Basics
- Jesus’ message explains his ministry. (They go hand in hand and we need both).
- When Jesus talks about the “Kingdom of God,” he is referring to God’s dynamic rule (sometimes we associate the kingdom with a physical place, but it is so much are: ”The Kingdom of God is the range of God’s effective will” - Dallas Willard)
- Self righteousness will keep us from experiencing God’s kingdom. (We invalidate the goodness and compassion in something because it contradicts our understanding of how life should work.)
- The Kingdom of God starts out small and surprising.
- The nature of the Kingdom is to grow.
- The Kingdom of God is meant to provide shelter for the nations.
- Why two parables? The Kingdom of God is available to everyone.
Growing in the Kingdom of God
- Pay attention to small beginnings in your life.
- Always expect more.
- Give it away!
Which leads into another point that spurred me on: “Always expect more.” This isn’t the type of greedy expectation that focuses on the more of what we get out something. It is the type of outward, particaptory expectation that expects, hopes, and depends on God to work more powerfully, bring more healing, fill with more peace, and love more tangibly. We must live a life that expects more
Lastly, the encouragement to “give it away” was timely for me. Jamie noted a spiritual economic stance, that we would be wise to “empty and spend all that God has filled our pockets with.” I love that idea, because it is saturated with the idea that what God gives us, how he provides for us is intended for us to give away. From the parable, small things grow, and so in turn we have been entrusted with something small, that has the power to grow. The cultural context of mustard seeds and yeast being common items that both men and women of the time would have access to, regardless of social or economic status, is an empowering vision for our lives in sharing and bringing the kingdom of God into our communities.
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Joe aka #1 fan
