Hello
family and friends.
Here
are my sermon notes from this last Sunday,
July
19, 2015
Sermon title:
“Beginning of the Kingdom”
(Jesus Teaches About the beginning of the Kingdom of
God)
Alternate Title:
“The
Kingdom has come” or “The Kingdom is Like”
Today's message is more of a lesson than a
sermon.
Theme is:
The slow but
steady growth of God’s Kingdom in the hearts and minds of humankind.
The scripture
asks a couple of questions:
Do you know who
the farmer is in the parable of the mustard seed?
Do you know who
the woman is in the parable of the yeast?
Is the kingdom of
God growing in your heart? Since you accepted Jesus as Savior, what changes in
your life have you noticed? Is your faith growing?
What activities or
lifestyles in your life do you need to weed out that stunt your spiritual
growth?
Some Lessons:
The kingdom has
already been established now we are waiting for Jesus' return.
To be presented July 19. 2015
Written by: Bill
Ferguson on 07-01-15
Page 1 of 5
Scripture Reading …......................................... Luke
13: 18 – 21
& .............. Luke 11:17-20 (pay close attention to verse 20)
Referring Scripture................. Ezekiel 17:22-24 &
Ezekiel 31:6
Responsive Reading …...... Psalm 124…..... UMH
page 846
The Words of God for the people of God, thanks be to
God!
First-century Jews expected the kingdom of
God to come all at once. (Indeed it did with Jesus’ arrival. And indeed
it will, but that is the future description found in both the old and
new testaments.) Jesus corrected their perception, by the
illustration of the mustard seed and yeast. Both are small; but
one grows into a huge shrub (or tree) and the other eventually
permeates an entire loaf of bread (much like Christianity has spread
throughout the world).
Jesus did not want his listeners to be
deceived by appearances. His ministry began small – healing the
sick only in Israel – but the ministry of the gospel would eventually
grow to cover the entire globe (a story Dr. Luke began to tell in in the
book of Acts). The kingdom of God had come upon them whether they
realized it or not. Jesus said in Luke 11:20; “But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the
kingdom of God has come to you.”
Listen. Two thousand years later, God's kingdom has
continued to grow, spreading to every nation on earth. I am not
talking about churches (buildings) but God's truth. Christians all over
the world are awaiting Jesus' second coming, when he will come in glory
and power, compelling everyone to bow before him. The question is: Will
you and I be ready?
Listen to Jesus' words in verse 18-19.
“He said therefore, “What is the kingdom of God
like? It is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in the garden; it
grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.”
Jesus used a variety of parables to describe what the kingdom of God is like.
Friends nothing on earth can completely explain the kingdom or give us an
adequate picture of it, for the kingdom will be far beyond anything we
could ever imagine. Jesus used this parable to explain that his kingdom
would have a small beginning. The general expectation among Jesus
listeners was that the Messiah would come as a great political king and leader,
freeing the nation from Rome and restoring Israel's former glory. But
Jesus said his kingdom was beginning quietly and it did. The mustard seed was so small that it would take
almost twenty thousand seeds to make one ounce.
From one tiny seed would grow a large
shrub – the largest shrub among all the herbs that the farmer would
plant in his garden. A mustard
shrub could grow six to nine feet in just a few weeks. No other seed so
small produced such a large plant. While this is not technically a “tree,”
Jesus used its rapid growth to stress both the insignificance (small
start) and magnificence of the kingdom. Like the tiny seed that
becomes a large plant, the kingdom of God would eventually push outward
until the whole world would be changed.
The
birds in this parable have had at least three of interpretations. Jesus'
mention of the birds of the air
added color and showed how large the shrub could become, but it probably
had no allegorical meaning here. Some scholars, however, think
the birds may represent the Gentiles becoming part of God's kingdom. The
Hebrew Bible referring scripture in Ezekiel 17:21-24 and Ezekiel 31:6
(which we read earlier) describes this prophecy.
We should take note that this parable of
the Mustard seed is also recorded in Matthew 13:31. Here's a third interpretation. Some
scholars have linked the parable of the Farmer Scattering Seeds, also
know as the Parable of the Sower with this parable about the mustard seeds (recorded
in Matthew 13:1-23). Listen
closely. Their interpretation provides a somewhat more sinister thought.
In Matthew 13:4 the birds represent Satan who snatches the
gospel truth from those who do not want to hear the truth or to understand. Many of these scholars believe
that the birds are the same in both parables. In other words, when
the tree (mustard seed) reaches maturity, birds come and
live in the tree. Scholars in this third
interpretation say that these birds represent demons who invade the church. The
demons build their nest and bring doctrines that serve to mislead the church.
This third interpretation raises a question:
Could this parable also be
prophetic? Quite possibly, this third interpretation might serve to
explain why so many denominations are accepting some secular/worldly doctrines
which are dividing the church causing many people to fall away. In any
case it gives us something to think about.
Speaking
to his disciples, in Matthew 13:13, Jesus echoed Isaiah 6:9-11saying, “This is why I speak to them in parables: Though seeing, they
do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.” In other words,
Jesus was saying: “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the
Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not.” We might ask, why?
Like
this generation, these unbelievers had already rejected Jesus. Their hearts
were callous and no amount of explaining or talking would make any difference.
The soil of their hearts was hard; the seed of the Word would not grow; the
parables would be nothing more than strange stories to them. Jesus was not
hiding truth from sincere seekers because those who were receptive to spiritual
truth understood the illustrations. To the “path,” “thorn patch,” or “rocky
soil” people, the parables were only stories, without meaning. The parables
allowed Jesus to give spiritual food to those who hungered for it; but
for the others, Isaiah’s prophecy explained their situation.
Now look at verse 20-21. “What else is the kingdom of God like? It is like yeast used by a woman making
bread. Even though she used a large amount of flour; the yeast permeated every
part of the dough.” Another symbol of something small producing
something much larger occurs with yeast added to flour in making dough. It
is important that we know, that in
the other Bible passages, “yeast” is
used as a symbol of evil or uncleanness. An example of yeast as evil can
be found in Luke 12:1 where Jesus warns his disciples about hypocrisy,
“Be on your guard against the yeast of the
Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.” But here, in today's
scripture, yeast
pictures positive growth. While the mustard seed grows, the yeast
permeates and transforms, providing another picture of the kingdom of God. Although yeast looks like a
minor ingredient (only a small amount is used), it is responsible
for the dough's rising. Although God's kingdom had small beginnings, it
would grow to have great impact on the world. I might add that this
parable about the yeast is also recorded in Matthew 13:33.
Jesus made it clear that his kingdom would
not be a political coup overthrowing Roman oppression. Instead, the
kingdom would steadily grow in people's hearts, making a difference in
people's lives and preparing them for life in that eternal kingdom.
Another title for this message could be
Plant Life. Chances are you have never planted a mustard seed, never
watched mustard grow, never measured the mass of a full-grown plant
against its original seed. No matter. Here's a challenge.
Next spring, take a seed – any
seed – most are small. It represents your life in relationship
with God and the growth of your faith. Plant it. Care for it. Each
time you check it, praise God for your growing faith. It may be
slow and quiet, but it is sprouting and bearing (blossoms or fruit) and
reaching for the sun. When you water the plant, water your life
with God's Word. When you weed around the plant, eliminate
activities, habits and lifestyles that stunt your spiritual growth. As
you watch the plant grow and blossom, thank God for his personal love
and care for you.
If you have never made a profession of
faith or perhaps you feel you need to make a new commitment, please come
forward during our closing hym.
Dear Heavenly Father, we praise Your Name. Forgive us of our sins
and give us strength to do thy will. Lead us into thy Kingdom. Lead us
that we will grow as you desire, and share your message with others. In
Jesus Name we pray, Amen.
