What a wonderful Sunday yesterday! Reformation Sunday was celebrated in a single worship service with the welcoming of 17 new members. Providing music for our worship was our children’s choir, choir, organist, pianist, guitarist, bass player, drummer, praise team leaders, and a bag piper. All who lead us in contemporary worship songs and hymns as we celebrated not only our Reformation history but the continual work of reformation that Christ is doing in his church. Ecclesia reformata, semper reformanda indeed!
My sermon text came from Matthew’s gospel, 13:31-35. Here Jesus speaks of the inbreaking kingdom of God using the image of a mustard seed planted in a field and a small amount of yeast mixed in with some dough. Jesus began his preaching ministry by proclaiming that God’s kingdom was at hand. Throngs of people gathered to discover what that meant.
And here Jesus tells them that if they are not careful they might miss it. Jesus doesn’t point to the cedars of Lebanon and say “the kingdom of God is like that!” He doesn’t point to a power wielding empire and say “the kingdom of God is like that!” He points to a seed that grows into a garden bush. He points to a lump of dough that is bigger in the morning.
The irony of the kingdom is at play in this parable. “God’s kingdom is here!” Jesus cried. God in flesh was standing right in front of them announcing “I’m here!” Where? They were looking for something a little more robust than a homeless teacher. The work of God’s kingdom swirls around us. God is present and he is at work building his kingdom right where you are right now. But we miss it. All we see are shrubs and leaven bread.
The sermon yesterday was a call to pay attention, to get involved in the day to day newness of God’s kingdom work. It rages around us looking like dirty stables and empty mangers, fishermen and folk tales, bushes and bread. We want to see God rip open the sky and prove himself to the world! All the while his kingdom work continues faithfully on while we wait around for the good stuff. Anybody up for a mustard sandwich?
Pastor Scott
My sermon text came from Matthew’s gospel, 13:31-35. Here Jesus speaks of the inbreaking kingdom of God using the image of a mustard seed planted in a field and a small amount of yeast mixed in with some dough. Jesus began his preaching ministry by proclaiming that God’s kingdom was at hand. Throngs of people gathered to discover what that meant.
And here Jesus tells them that if they are not careful they might miss it. Jesus doesn’t point to the cedars of Lebanon and say “the kingdom of God is like that!” He doesn’t point to a power wielding empire and say “the kingdom of God is like that!” He points to a seed that grows into a garden bush. He points to a lump of dough that is bigger in the morning.
The irony of the kingdom is at play in this parable. “God’s kingdom is here!” Jesus cried. God in flesh was standing right in front of them announcing “I’m here!” Where? They were looking for something a little more robust than a homeless teacher. The work of God’s kingdom swirls around us. God is present and he is at work building his kingdom right where you are right now. But we miss it. All we see are shrubs and leaven bread.
The sermon yesterday was a call to pay attention, to get involved in the day to day newness of God’s kingdom work. It rages around us looking like dirty stables and empty mangers, fishermen and folk tales, bushes and bread. We want to see God rip open the sky and prove himself to the world! All the while his kingdom work continues faithfully on while we wait around for the good stuff. Anybody up for a mustard sandwich?
Pastor Scott
P.S. I mentioned in my sermon (one of those unplanned insertions) that yeast was a bacteria. 9 year old Amelia was puzzled by this statement- knowing that yeast is actually a fungus. Oops! Thanks for the catch Amelia.
Thank you for the encouraging sermon, Pastor. The hardest part of my job as a primary care doctor is convincing people to change their lifestyles (quit smoking, eat vegetables, exercise). Your sermon reminded me that 1) spiritual lifestyle changes are way more important than physical ones, and 2) God is THE EXPERT at changing spiritual lifestyles.
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