Sermon monologue for Sunday, March 16, 2003

Parable of the Mustard Seed - Page 1 of 3
Focal Verses: Matthew 13:31-32

I hope that all of you know that we have adopted Matthew 6:33 as our focal verse this year.

Matthew 6:33
33But seek first His kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

With this verse we are focusing on being kingdom people. I believe that it is important that we have a better understanding of God's kingdom. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus' teaching on being kingdom people is clear and to the point. This time of teaching was directed to His disciples.

Many times when He taught in public He used parables. Jesus used parables to teach about the Kingdom of God. There are over 25 parables on the kingdom in the gospels.

A parable is a story that illustrates a spiritual truth. Most times a parable has one primary idea and that it is teaching. The disciples wondered why Jesus used parables many times in His teaching.

Matthew 13:10-13
10The disciples came to him and asked, "Why do you speak to the people in parables?"
11He replied, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.
12Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.
13This is why I speak to them in parables: "Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.

Jesus wanted to make sure that those that heard the parables understood the importance of making God their King (Lord) of their life. The public had seen Him heal and perform miracles. They wanted to be a part of that kind of kingdom, without making him ruler of their lives. To be kingdom people means a full commitment to the kingdom and allow God to rule your life in ever area. I want us to study one of those parables this morning.

Matthew 13:31-32
31He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field.
32Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches."

The mustard seed is the smallest seed; from it comes one of the largest plants. It can grow as tall as twelve feet. I believe the seed of the kingdom is our faith. It is by faith that we become kingdom people.

• It is by faith that we accept the Bible as God's Word.
• It is by faith we accepted Jesus was born of a virgin.
• It is by faith that we accept Jesus lived a sinless life.
• It is by faith that we accept Jesus' death on the cross and resurrection.

If we only have a little faith and plant it into God's kingdom, both our faith and the kingdom will grow larger. As Kingdom people we want to please God our King. It is only by faith that we can please Him.

Hebrews 11:6
6And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

We have to answer the question, "What is faith?" Look at verse 1 in the same chapter.

Hebrews 11:1
1Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

I found that this definition of faith "is not believing in spite of evidence, but obeying in spite of consequence" 1 to be vital. All those that have served God have done it by faith.

• Abraham began a journey with faith not knowing where it would lead.
• Daniel was thrown in the lion's den with faith that he would be taken care of.
• The Israelites marched around the walls of Jericho with faith that the walls would come down.

This morning, I want to look at faith as individuals, then as a community. Let me ask how are you doing with your faith? Are you pleasing God?

First, I must ask you if you have ever placed your faith in to Jesus as Savior and King (Lord). If you haven't done that, you need to transfer your faith to Him today. That brings you under the ruler of God as King. It is by faith that you are saved. Are you living a life of faith, doing what God has asked you to do? Sometimes that is very difficult to do. Henry Blackaby in his study, Experiencing God states that we all come to a crisis of belief. The only way we can work through that crisis is with faith. Let's look at one biblical character this morning, which handled his crisis with faith. The character is Noah. Turn with me to Genesis 7:5.