The Parable of the Mustard Seed
Matthew 13:31-32; Mark 4:30-32; Luke 13:18-19
In 1968, a scientist named Spencer Silver, who worked for 3M, tried to develop a super-strong adhesive, but created a weak adhesive instead. This adhesive was initially seen as a failure because it didn't stick well enough for its intended purpose. But Silver believed there could be a use for this failed invention. Five years later, another 3M employee named Art Fry had the idea to use this adhesive for bookmarks that wouldn't fall out of his hymn book, leading to the creation of the now famous Post-It Note.
Fast-forward to today. Post-It Notes have become an office staple, changing how we think, remember, and organize information. This concept even carries over to how we use computers and cell phones, entering info into apps that function like a Post-It Note. What’s more, Post-It Notes transformed 3M’s reputation into a company that could transform accidents and seemingly insignificant things into solutions for everyday problems.
The invention of Post-It Notes shows us that big changes often come from small things. This concept contradicts, though, how we naturally think, for we naturally think that big change requires big things – the bigger the better. Whatever or whoever has the most fame, influence, popularity, power, value, and size today must, by default, be better.
In the parable we’re looking at today (which, ironically, is small – only two verses), Jesus corrected this mindset among his disciples. They were either confused or disappointed because what Christ was saying and doing about God’s kingdom seemed to be small, unpopular, and unsuccessful. With this parable, Jesus taught them not to make the “mustard seed mistake.”
What is the mustard seed mistake? It is to believe that if something is small then it must be insignificant or unsuccessful. But while the world and our own natural instincts tends to be impressed by popular people and big crowds, Christ teaches us to measure and view his kingdom in a different way. To do this, he uses the example of a mustard seed.
When Jesus speaks about a mustard seed, he was referring to a type of mustard seed and plant which grew commonly around the Palestine region at that time. It was an especially small seed which could grow to the size of a bush-like tree under the right conditions, up to ten feet tall. In comparison to other garden- and desert-type plants of that area, the difference between the size of the seed and the size of the tree was more dramatic than others.
As Jesus told the story, this small seed went from worst to first, from smallest to largest, from most insignificant to most significant. It transformed from a small seed which would be easily eaten by birds to a tree which provided shelter to birds. Such is the story of the mustard seed, and Jesus used this illustration to explain to his followers what the kingdom of God is like.
God’s kingdom has small beginnings.
With this parable, Christ wants us to know that God’s kingdom has small beginnings. It did not begin with grand and impressive events but with humble circumstances. Though Christ is God, his entrance into the world and his subsequent life was not grand or impressive.
He was born among animals to a mother who lived out her days with the reputation of having been immoral. He was rejected by his step siblings and grew up in the rural, northern, outlying regions of Israel. He began his teaching ministry with no endorsement from any respected rabbis, never owned a home, and was rejected by nearly everyone who had initially followed him.
At the time Christ told this story, the crowds were beginning to shrink in size and Christ’s upcoming crucifixion was drawing near. By all these measures, it seemed as though God’s kingdom was at risk of becoming insignificant and failing altogether. Yet with this parable, Christ urged his closest followers to remain faithful.
Don’t be like a child on Christmas morning who is elated if the presents wrapped for him are big and many but disappointed if his presents are small and few. Good things come in small packages, and so it is with God’s kingdom.
God’s kingdom outgrows rival kingdoms.
While God’s kingdom has small beginnings, it would eventually outgrow rival kingdoms. In fact, it would eventually outgrow all other kingdoms. Notice how Christ said, “when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree” (Matt 13:32).
With this, Christ compares and contrasts the mustard seed with other seeds in the garden and desert terrain of Israel. Other seeds were larger and more impressive, yes, but as they grew, they would not grow as large or as impressively in the end as the mustard seed would grow. This comparison reminds us, I think, of the maxim we use today that says, “it’s not how you start but how you finish.”
Junior high and high school are good examples of this life principle, aren’t they? At these grade levels, kids turn into teens who are growing and changing on their way to adulthood. As this happens, they change and grow at different rates. At various points along the way, some teens are more athletic, attractive, coordinated, intelligent, or whatever than others.
Throughout this period of their lives, it’s easy and natural for teens to choose their friends and make relationship choices based upon how things seem at the moment.
But years later, it’s not uncommon to look back and realize that the teens you attended school and church with in junior and senior high change a lot as they enter into adulthood. Teens you thought would be a tremendous success often make disappointing choices and lead difficult lives while teens who were overlooked and neglected often rise to the top to become successful and influential adults.
In Daniel 2, the prophet Daniel speaks about a large statue with multiple layers: a golden head, a silver chest and arms, bronze stomach and thighs, and legs and feet of iron and clay. This statue represents major empires of the world, each of which are impressive and powerful in their own way. But in this presentation, Daniel also described a large stone falling from the sky which struck the statue at its feet, crushing the entire statue and growing into a mountain that covered the whole earth (Dan 2:44):
In the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.”
This presentation describes how the kingdom of God would be overshadowed by other kingdoms of the world which seem powerful and impressive through history. But in the end, they will be overthrown and overshadowed by God’s kingdom.
Though God’s kingdom was not the prevailing kingdom of the world at the time of Christ and still is not today, we should not be discouraged. We should recognize that there is coming a day when God’s kingdom will triumph over and overshadow all other kingdoms which seemed so much more powerful and impressive before. But today, we remain in a growing season. That mustard seed which was planted by Christ is still growing today.
So, how does this kingdom grow?
This growth is happening as a result of faithful followers of Christ who are being a gospel witness for Christ, whether in their local communities (many) or in other places around the world (as missionaries). We do this as we make public connections and meet personal needs in the world so that we can introduce people to the message of the gospel, the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ, influencing people to believe upon and turn to Jesus Christ as Savior and King. One way of explaining this growth is to say that …
God’s kingdom gives shelter to its foes.
Not only does God’s kingdom outgrow its rivals from small beginnings, but it brings into its care those who formerly opposed it. It gives shelter to its foes. Christ said of the tree that “the birds of the air come and nest in its branches” (Matt 13:32). By saying this, he points out that the very birds who once would have scavenged for seeds to eat them now come to those very seeds, now fully grown, to find shelter, protection, and rest.
This explanation calls to mind what the prophet Ezekiel once said (Ezk 17:23-24):
On the mountain height of Israel I will plant it; and it will bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a majestic cedar. Under it will dwell birds of every sort; in the shadow of its branches they will dwell. And all the trees of the field shall know that I, the LORD, have brought down the high tree and exalted the low tree, dried up the green tree and made the dry tree flourish; I, the LORD, have spoken and have done it.”
The idea here points back to an earlier stage of God’s plan for building his kingdom when he concentrated his love and loyalty on the nation of Israel. Unfortunately, the people of Israel developed a self-centered mindset, thinking that they were the only people whom God cared about or wanted in his kingdom.
The reality was much bigger – God wanted them to serve as his witness to the nations of the world, many of which had behaved as Israel’s sworn enemies. But as far back as the OT prophets, God had already announced his intentions of providing shelter and salvation not only to people in Israel who would believe on him but also to anyone else from any other nation of the world, even Israel’s enemies, who would also believe on him.
Today, we are recipients of this promise, as most of us are not Israelites but descend from other nations. Most importantly, we have been rescued from the kingdom of darkness and sin, ruled by Satan, into the kingdom of God, as Paul explains (Col 1:13-14):
For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.
Paul explains this in another way, too, in Rom 5:10:
When we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son …
This is remarkable, is it not? God’s kingdom grows slowly over time until it reaches its final and complete form when Christ comes again to reign from the Earth as King forever. And it grows as his children – those who follow Christ as Savior and King – share the love and truth of the gospel with people who are not in God’s kingdom, as you once were. And these people come from nations all over the world.
Let’s look at a few statistics. According to NationsOutreach.com this year in 2025, there is a world population of approx. 8.2 billion people. Only 31% of the world’s population identifies as Christian. This total includes Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant people, which means that many of these follow a form of Christianity without believing in Christ alone by faith alone.
To be fair, some Catholic and Orthodox people do believe the gospel but have not yet removed themselves from their unbiblical churches. Also, many Protestants also do not believe the gospel by faith alone, relying also upon their infant baptism or practice of the sacraments to save them. So, the true percentage of genuine followers of Christ is even smaller than 31%.
Now, let’s drill in a little deeper. According to research by 247WallSt.com (and JoshuaProject.net), only approx. 25% of professing Christians can be identified as “evangelical,” which refers to people who claim to believe on Jesus Christ alone by faith alone and who live out that faith by learning and obeying the Bible as their authority for faith and practice. This means that approx. 625 million (or only approx. 7-8% of the world’s population) are genuine believers. And, in reality, the number is probably even smaller than that since it is very likely that those who claim to be evangelical are more in number than those who genuinely are. (Christ’s previous parable of the wheat and weeds indicates that very thing.)
So, how does this make you feel? On one hand, the encouraging news is that the movement and kingdom Christ started from a very small beginning with only twelve fisherman and a handful of others has grown to consist of approx. 625 million people, or 7-8% of the world’s population at best (possibly more like 3-5%, or 300 million, if estimates are reduced to account for false professions). If this many people were combined into one nation, it would equal the population of somewhere between the 3rd (United States) and 4th (Indonesia) most populous nations in the world.
As impressive as this seems, we have a lot of work to do, since only a single digit percentage has submitted to Christ as King of those who are alive today. It is also remarkable to note that of the world’s total population, approx. 42% (3.4 billion people) have never yet heard about Jesus.
Can you see how Christ’s parable of the mustard seed that grew into a tree helps us gain valuable perspective today? Not only does the previous parable about the wheat and weeds growing up together until the final harvest help us accept and acknowledge how there will be many nonbelievers in the world, many who even seem to be believers, but this parable of the mustard seed and tree helps us to understand how God’s kingdom grows over time.
If you are not yet a follower of Christ, let me encourage you to turn to Jesus Christ today by faith alone as your God, Savior, and King. Don’t let the kingdoms, nations, powers, and priorities of this sinful world hold your heart captive. They will all one day be overcome and overshadowed by the kingdom of God.
And for those who do believe in Christ as God, Savior, and King, don’t be discouraged the small and obscure beginnings of God’s kingdom. Also, don’t be discouraged or disheartened by how comparatively small and obscure it still seems today. Like a mustard seed that’s planted in a garden, it takes time to germinate and grow from a seed to a seedling, to a small brush, to a tree. That growth process is still happening today, and we can see the progress! But there is much work and growth left to be done. In what way(s) are you helping to reach people for Christ, bringing nonbelievers, enemies of Christ, lost souls, and outsiders into the kingdom of God?
In conclusion, the Parable of the Mustard Seed teaches us not to judge the significance of God's kingdom by its humble beginnings or its seemingly slow growth. Like the mustard seed, which starts as the smallest of all seeds yet grows into the largest of garden plants, God's kingdom, though it began with Christ in humble, obscure circumstances, is destined to expand and overshadow all other kingdoms in the end.
When God’s people make gospel influence and impact a top priority in their lives, they find ways to get involved in their church and community for that purpose. They teach a Sunday School class, welcome neighbors into their home, build relationships with people in need, find people in the church to mentor in faith through regular meetings together, and who do faithful, regular things to make a difference for Christ.
While we are familiar with many famous names in church history, like D.L. Moody, Mary Slessor, and Billy Graham, we should know that the real heroes of God’s growing kingdom are those faithful, godly people who put their faith into action quietly, behind the scenes day after day with love and grace. Sunday School teachers, neighbors, community servants, one-on-one disciple-makers, pastors of small churches, teachers, and missionaries in foreign lands. Are you one of these people? If so, be encouraged to keep on. If not, be encouraged to get involved today. Let me or Pastor Will know that you want to get involved in serving Christ through your life and we’ll be happy to help you take that step of faith.
In conclusion, this parable encourages us not to be discouraged by the current state of the church or the number of believers but to actively participate in its growth. Just as a mustard tree provides shelter for birds, so too does God's kingdom offer refuge and salvation to all who seek it, even to those who were once its adversaries. Let us, therefore, embrace our role in God’s kingdom today, spreading the gospel message with patience and faith, knowing that every small act of faith contributes to the vast, ever-growing kingdom of God. Don’t make “the mustard seed mistake.” Don’t be enamored with size. Be okay with the small but growing nature of God’s kingdom today. When it finally outgrows them all forever, you’ll be glad you did.
Discussion Question
Life101
In 1968, a scientist named Spencer Silver, who worked for 3M, tried to develop a super-strong adhesive, but created a weak adhesive instead. This adhesive was initially seen as a failure because it didn't stick well enough for its intended purpose. But Silver believed there could be a use for this failed invention. Five years later, another 3M employee named Art Fry had the idea to use this adhesive for bookmarks that wouldn't fall out of his hymn book, leading to the creation of the now famous Post-It Note.
Fast-forward to today. Post-It Notes have become an office staple, changing how we think, remember, and organize information. This concept even carries over to how we use computers and cell phones, entering info into apps that function like a Post-It Note. What’s more, Post-It Notes transformed 3M’s reputation into a company that could transform accidents and seemingly insignificant things into solutions for everyday problems.
The invention of Post-It Notes shows us that big changes often come from small things. This concept contradicts, though, how we naturally think, for we naturally think that big change requires big things – the bigger the better. Whatever or whoever has the most fame, influence, popularity, power, value, and size today must, by default, be better.
In the parable we’re looking at today (which, ironically, is small – only two verses), Jesus corrected this mindset among his disciples. They were either confused or disappointed because what Christ was saying and doing about God’s kingdom seemed to be small, unpopular, and unsuccessful. With this parable, Jesus taught them not to make the “mustard seed mistake.”
What is the mustard seed mistake? It is to believe that if something is small then it must be insignificant or unsuccessful. But while the world and our own natural instincts tends to be impressed by popular people and big crowds, Christ teaches us to measure and view his kingdom in a different way. To do this, he uses the example of a mustard seed.
When Jesus speaks about a mustard seed, he was referring to a type of mustard seed and plant which grew commonly around the Palestine region at that time. It was an especially small seed which could grow to the size of a bush-like tree under the right conditions, up to ten feet tall. In comparison to other garden- and desert-type plants of that area, the difference between the size of the seed and the size of the tree was more dramatic than others.
As Jesus told the story, this small seed went from worst to first, from smallest to largest, from most insignificant to most significant. It transformed from a small seed which would be easily eaten by birds to a tree which provided shelter to birds. Such is the story of the mustard seed, and Jesus used this illustration to explain to his followers what the kingdom of God is like.
God’s kingdom has small beginnings.
With this parable, Christ wants us to know that God’s kingdom has small beginnings. It did not begin with grand and impressive events but with humble circumstances. Though Christ is God, his entrance into the world and his subsequent life was not grand or impressive.
He was born among animals to a mother who lived out her days with the reputation of having been immoral. He was rejected by his step siblings and grew up in the rural, northern, outlying regions of Israel. He began his teaching ministry with no endorsement from any respected rabbis, never owned a home, and was rejected by nearly everyone who had initially followed him.
At the time Christ told this story, the crowds were beginning to shrink in size and Christ’s upcoming crucifixion was drawing near. By all these measures, it seemed as though God’s kingdom was at risk of becoming insignificant and failing altogether. Yet with this parable, Christ urged his closest followers to remain faithful.
Don’t be like a child on Christmas morning who is elated if the presents wrapped for him are big and many but disappointed if his presents are small and few. Good things come in small packages, and so it is with God’s kingdom.
God’s kingdom outgrows rival kingdoms.
While God’s kingdom has small beginnings, it would eventually outgrow rival kingdoms. In fact, it would eventually outgrow all other kingdoms. Notice how Christ said, “when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree” (Matt 13:32).
With this, Christ compares and contrasts the mustard seed with other seeds in the garden and desert terrain of Israel. Other seeds were larger and more impressive, yes, but as they grew, they would not grow as large or as impressively in the end as the mustard seed would grow. This comparison reminds us, I think, of the maxim we use today that says, “it’s not how you start but how you finish.”
Junior high and high school are good examples of this life principle, aren’t they? At these grade levels, kids turn into teens who are growing and changing on their way to adulthood. As this happens, they change and grow at different rates. At various points along the way, some teens are more athletic, attractive, coordinated, intelligent, or whatever than others.
Throughout this period of their lives, it’s easy and natural for teens to choose their friends and make relationship choices based upon how things seem at the moment.
But years later, it’s not uncommon to look back and realize that the teens you attended school and church with in junior and senior high change a lot as they enter into adulthood. Teens you thought would be a tremendous success often make disappointing choices and lead difficult lives while teens who were overlooked and neglected often rise to the top to become successful and influential adults.
In Daniel 2, the prophet Daniel speaks about a large statue with multiple layers: a golden head, a silver chest and arms, bronze stomach and thighs, and legs and feet of iron and clay. This statue represents major empires of the world, each of which are impressive and powerful in their own way. But in this presentation, Daniel also described a large stone falling from the sky which struck the statue at its feet, crushing the entire statue and growing into a mountain that covered the whole earth (Dan 2:44):
In the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.”
This presentation describes how the kingdom of God would be overshadowed by other kingdoms of the world which seem powerful and impressive through history. But in the end, they will be overthrown and overshadowed by God’s kingdom.
Though God’s kingdom was not the prevailing kingdom of the world at the time of Christ and still is not today, we should not be discouraged. We should recognize that there is coming a day when God’s kingdom will triumph over and overshadow all other kingdoms which seemed so much more powerful and impressive before. But today, we remain in a growing season. That mustard seed which was planted by Christ is still growing today.
So, how does this kingdom grow?
This growth is happening as a result of faithful followers of Christ who are being a gospel witness for Christ, whether in their local communities (many) or in other places around the world (as missionaries). We do this as we make public connections and meet personal needs in the world so that we can introduce people to the message of the gospel, the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ, influencing people to believe upon and turn to Jesus Christ as Savior and King. One way of explaining this growth is to say that …
God’s kingdom gives shelter to its foes.
Not only does God’s kingdom outgrow its rivals from small beginnings, but it brings into its care those who formerly opposed it. It gives shelter to its foes. Christ said of the tree that “the birds of the air come and nest in its branches” (Matt 13:32). By saying this, he points out that the very birds who once would have scavenged for seeds to eat them now come to those very seeds, now fully grown, to find shelter, protection, and rest.
This explanation calls to mind what the prophet Ezekiel once said (Ezk 17:23-24):
On the mountain height of Israel I will plant it; and it will bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a majestic cedar. Under it will dwell birds of every sort; in the shadow of its branches they will dwell. And all the trees of the field shall know that I, the LORD, have brought down the high tree and exalted the low tree, dried up the green tree and made the dry tree flourish; I, the LORD, have spoken and have done it.”
The idea here points back to an earlier stage of God’s plan for building his kingdom when he concentrated his love and loyalty on the nation of Israel. Unfortunately, the people of Israel developed a self-centered mindset, thinking that they were the only people whom God cared about or wanted in his kingdom.
The reality was much bigger – God wanted them to serve as his witness to the nations of the world, many of which had behaved as Israel’s sworn enemies. But as far back as the OT prophets, God had already announced his intentions of providing shelter and salvation not only to people in Israel who would believe on him but also to anyone else from any other nation of the world, even Israel’s enemies, who would also believe on him.
Today, we are recipients of this promise, as most of us are not Israelites but descend from other nations. Most importantly, we have been rescued from the kingdom of darkness and sin, ruled by Satan, into the kingdom of God, as Paul explains (Col 1:13-14):
For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.
Paul explains this in another way, too, in Rom 5:10:
When we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son …
This is remarkable, is it not? God’s kingdom grows slowly over time until it reaches its final and complete form when Christ comes again to reign from the Earth as King forever. And it grows as his children – those who follow Christ as Savior and King – share the love and truth of the gospel with people who are not in God’s kingdom, as you once were. And these people come from nations all over the world.
Let’s look at a few statistics. According to NationsOutreach.com this year in 2025, there is a world population of approx. 8.2 billion people. Only 31% of the world’s population identifies as Christian. This total includes Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant people, which means that many of these follow a form of Christianity without believing in Christ alone by faith alone.
To be fair, some Catholic and Orthodox people do believe the gospel but have not yet removed themselves from their unbiblical churches. Also, many Protestants also do not believe the gospel by faith alone, relying also upon their infant baptism or practice of the sacraments to save them. So, the true percentage of genuine followers of Christ is even smaller than 31%.
Now, let’s drill in a little deeper. According to research by 247WallSt.com (and JoshuaProject.net), only approx. 25% of professing Christians can be identified as “evangelical,” which refers to people who claim to believe on Jesus Christ alone by faith alone and who live out that faith by learning and obeying the Bible as their authority for faith and practice. This means that approx. 625 million (or only approx. 7-8% of the world’s population) are genuine believers. And, in reality, the number is probably even smaller than that since it is very likely that those who claim to be evangelical are more in number than those who genuinely are. (Christ’s previous parable of the wheat and weeds indicates that very thing.)
So, how does this make you feel? On one hand, the encouraging news is that the movement and kingdom Christ started from a very small beginning with only twelve fisherman and a handful of others has grown to consist of approx. 625 million people, or 7-8% of the world’s population at best (possibly more like 3-5%, or 300 million, if estimates are reduced to account for false professions). If this many people were combined into one nation, it would equal the population of somewhere between the 3rd (United States) and 4th (Indonesia) most populous nations in the world.
As impressive as this seems, we have a lot of work to do, since only a single digit percentage has submitted to Christ as King of those who are alive today. It is also remarkable to note that of the world’s total population, approx. 42% (3.4 billion people) have never yet heard about Jesus.
Can you see how Christ’s parable of the mustard seed that grew into a tree helps us gain valuable perspective today? Not only does the previous parable about the wheat and weeds growing up together until the final harvest help us accept and acknowledge how there will be many nonbelievers in the world, many who even seem to be believers, but this parable of the mustard seed and tree helps us to understand how God’s kingdom grows over time.
If you are not yet a follower of Christ, let me encourage you to turn to Jesus Christ today by faith alone as your God, Savior, and King. Don’t let the kingdoms, nations, powers, and priorities of this sinful world hold your heart captive. They will all one day be overcome and overshadowed by the kingdom of God.
And for those who do believe in Christ as God, Savior, and King, don’t be discouraged the small and obscure beginnings of God’s kingdom. Also, don’t be discouraged or disheartened by how comparatively small and obscure it still seems today. Like a mustard seed that’s planted in a garden, it takes time to germinate and grow from a seed to a seedling, to a small brush, to a tree. That growth process is still happening today, and we can see the progress! But there is much work and growth left to be done. In what way(s) are you helping to reach people for Christ, bringing nonbelievers, enemies of Christ, lost souls, and outsiders into the kingdom of God?
In conclusion, the Parable of the Mustard Seed teaches us not to judge the significance of God's kingdom by its humble beginnings or its seemingly slow growth. Like the mustard seed, which starts as the smallest of all seeds yet grows into the largest of garden plants, God's kingdom, though it began with Christ in humble, obscure circumstances, is destined to expand and overshadow all other kingdoms in the end.
When God’s people make gospel influence and impact a top priority in their lives, they find ways to get involved in their church and community for that purpose. They teach a Sunday School class, welcome neighbors into their home, build relationships with people in need, find people in the church to mentor in faith through regular meetings together, and who do faithful, regular things to make a difference for Christ.
While we are familiar with many famous names in church history, like D.L. Moody, Mary Slessor, and Billy Graham, we should know that the real heroes of God’s growing kingdom are those faithful, godly people who put their faith into action quietly, behind the scenes day after day with love and grace. Sunday School teachers, neighbors, community servants, one-on-one disciple-makers, pastors of small churches, teachers, and missionaries in foreign lands. Are you one of these people? If so, be encouraged to keep on. If not, be encouraged to get involved today. Let me or Pastor Will know that you want to get involved in serving Christ through your life and we’ll be happy to help you take that step of faith.
In conclusion, this parable encourages us not to be discouraged by the current state of the church or the number of believers but to actively participate in its growth. Just as a mustard tree provides shelter for birds, so too does God's kingdom offer refuge and salvation to all who seek it, even to those who were once its adversaries. Let us, therefore, embrace our role in God’s kingdom today, spreading the gospel message with patience and faith, knowing that every small act of faith contributes to the vast, ever-growing kingdom of God. Don’t make “the mustard seed mistake.” Don’t be enamored with size. Be okay with the small but growing nature of God’s kingdom today. When it finally outgrows them all forever, you’ll be glad you did.
Discussion Question
Life101
- What are some areas of life in which you have experienced the big power of small things?
- What is the danger of making the “mustard seed mistake,” or in undervaluing small things?
- What can we learn from the humble beginnings of the mustard seed and of Christ on earth?
- How should this affect our mindset and behavior toward other people, especially those who may not be obviously impressive?
- What are the “small” ways that God is using to grow His kingdom today?
- What does our level of participation in the work of God’s growing kingdom demonstrate about how significant the small things are to us?
- What are some areas of life in which you have experienced the big power of small things?
- What is the danger of making the “mustard seed mistake,” or in undervaluing small things?
- What unbiblical patterns of thought cause us to undervalue small things?
- What can we learn from the humble beginnings of the mustard seed and of Christ on earth?
- How should this affect our mindset and behavior toward other people, especially those who may not be obviously impressive?
- What are the “small” ways that God is using to grow His kingdom today?
- What does our level of participation in the work of God’s growing kingdom demonstrate about how significant the small things are to us?
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