Scripture Reading
Let’s begin by reading Jesus’ words about the mustard seed, found in three places in the Gospels.
Matthew 13:31-32 (ESV):
“He put another parable before them, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.'”
Mark 4:30-32 (ESV):
“And he said, ‘With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.'”
Luke 13:18-19 (ESV):
“He said therefore, ‘What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.'”
Introduction
Friends, I want to talk to you today about how God works in our lives, in our church, and in the world. Jesus tells us that the kingdom of heaven—God’s rule and reign—is like a tiny mustard seed. Something so small you might overlook it, but when planted, it grows into something so big and welcoming that even the birds come and make their home in its branches.
Isn’t that just like God? He takes what looks insignificant and makes it glorious. He starts with the small, the humble, and the everyday, and He turns it into something that blesses many.
The Power of Small Beginnings
When Jesus spoke these words, He was talking to ordinary people—farmers, fishermen, mothers, and children. Folks just like us. They knew what a mustard seed looked like. It’s hardly bigger than a grain of sand. Yet, when it’s put in the soil, watered, and cared for, it grows into a plant so large that it’s called a tree in the region, sheltering birds and providing shade.
The early church fathers like Augustine and Chrysostom saw this parable as a picture of the gospel itself. Augustine wrote, “The seed is the faith that is sown in our hearts, small at first, but destined to become great.” Chrysostom said, “The preaching of the gospel was at first a small thing, but it spread and grew until it filled the world.”
Martin Luther, the great reformer, reminded us that “God’s works begin in hidden ways, but He brings them to light and makes them fruitful.” The Puritan John Owen said, “The kingdom of Christ grows not by outward might, but by inward grace.”
So, what does this mean for us today?
God’s Kingdom Starts Small—In Us
Let’s think about our own faith. Maybe you remember the first time you heard about Jesus. Maybe it was a simple prayer, a quiet moment at home, or a gentle word from a friend. It might have felt small, almost like nothing at all. But that’s how God works. He plants faith in our hearts, and as we trust Him, that faith grows.
Paul writes in Philippians 1:6 (ESV):
“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
God doesn’t despise small beginnings. He rejoices in them! Zechariah 4:10 (ESV) says,
“For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice.”
If you feel like your faith is weak or small, remember the mustard seed. It’s not about how big your faith is—it’s about who your faith is in. Jesus said in Matthew 17:20 (ESV):
“For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”
God’s Kingdom Grows—In Our Church
Think about our church family. Maybe we’re not the biggest church in town. Maybe we don’t have the fanciest building or the largest programs. But God isn’t looking for outward show. He’s looking for hearts that love Him and love others.
The early church started with just a handful of disciples in an upper room. Acts 2:41 (ESV) tells us,
“So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.”
From a mustard seed to a mighty tree! The church grew because God was at work, and people were faithful in small things—prayer, teaching, fellowship, and sharing what they had.
John Calvin said, “The church is the nursery of God’s kingdom. It may seem small, but it is the seedbed of eternity.”
So, let’s not be discouraged if our gatherings are small or our resources limited. God delights to use what is humble and make it great for His glory.
God’s Kingdom Blesses—The World
The mustard tree in Jesus’ parable doesn’t just grow for itself. It becomes a place of shelter and rest for the birds of the air. That’s a picture of what happens when God’s kingdom grows—it blesses others.
Our faith isn’t just for us. It’s meant to be shared. Our church isn’t just for insiders. It’s a place where anyone can come and find hope, comfort, and love. The world is full of people looking for shelter from the storms of life. When God’s love grows in us and in our church, we become branches where others can find rest.
Charles Spurgeon said, “A little faith brings great blessings, not only to ourselves but to all who come near.”
Let’s be a church where people find a home in the shade of God’s love.
How Do We Plant Mustard Seeds?
So, how do we plant mustard seeds in our lives and in our church?
- Trust God in Small Things
Don’t wait for big opportunities. Serve God right where you are. Pray for your neighbor. Invite someone to church. Share a kind word. These are mustard seeds. - Be Patient
Growth takes time. The mustard seed doesn’t become a tree overnight. Trust that God is working, even when you can’t see it. - Stay Rooted in the Word
The seed grows because it’s planted in good soil. Stay rooted in Scripture. Read your Bible. Pray. Worship. That’s how faith grows. - Welcome Others
Be a branch where others can find rest. Open your heart and your home. Let God’s love flow through you.
Encouragement from Christian History
The early church fathers, reformers, and puritans all saw the mustard seed as a picture of hope. They lived in times of persecution, hardship, and uncertainty. Yet, they trusted that God would grow His kingdom.
Ignatius of Antioch, writing to the church in Rome, said, “Where there is faith, even the smallest, there is the power of God.”
John Bunyan, author of Pilgrim’s Progress, wrote, “Though your beginnings be small, your latter end shall greatly increase.”
Let’s take heart from their example. God is faithful. He will finish what He started in us.
Jesus’ Promise and the Psalmist’s Praise
Let’s close with the words of Jesus and the psalms.
Jesus said:
“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5, ESV)
The Psalmist wrote:
“The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the LORD; they flourish in the courts of our God.” (Psalm 92:12-13, ESV)
