a drop of waterArchive for the ‘Growth’ tag
Small 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.
The Reliable Pattern of Kingdom Growth (VIM)
At Bethel Seminary San Diego’s recent spiritual renewal conference, Dr. Dallas Willard presented VIM, a reliable pattern of kingdom growth. VIM stand for Vision, Intention, and Means and it is a method of change, including spiritual change.
- Vision is our reality of what is good, that which governs us.
- Intention is a decision whose stability is dependent on our vision.
- Means is what allows the doing, dependent on proper vision and intention.
When we have a more accurate vision of God, we are primed to form stable intentions of becoming a disciple of God. One of examples that Dr. Willard brought up was that of God’s love. An inaccurate vision of God would be that he really doesn’t love us, that he merely lets us off the hook and gives us a break from what we deserve. This inaccurate vision will result in unstable intentions and shortlived (worthless) means. But when we consider the vision that God is love, right obedience in the form of right intentions and right means will come easily. Dr. Willard noted that
“the main thing that has to change is our understanding of God, before our will can sign on to God. When we have the correct vision of God, we are ready to form the intention of becoming a disciple of God.”
For me, one of the most difficult struggles is finding significance in my work. My vision of life, career and vocation often drifts toward assigning significance to only the spiritual, ignoring the secular. But if I were to take a step back and refresh my vision of career and vocation as something individually prepared by God, for me to be at the right time in the right place for the lives of those who I will come in contact with and have the responsibility and opportunity to influence for good, then I can make right intentions to hold on to that vision, and find means that God has provided right in front of me to make it happen.
