July 24, 2005

The Kingdom of God is Like

Feeling Small, Walking Tall

Matthew 13:31-32

Opening Words: There came a point in Jesus’ ministry when he was no longer welcomed in the synagogues. The leaders of the orthodox faith were now in open opposition against him. The Master found himself leaving the sanctuary of synagogue and using the sanctuary of the seashore. It was in this setting that Jesus really develops his use of parables. It is at the seashore that we find Jesus today. In the thirteenth chapter of Matthew we find seven parables. Six of those seven parables begin with the phrase “the kingdom of heaven is like.” Hence, we find the sermon series title. Each one of these parables answers a basic question about the kingdom of heaven. Today Jesus answers the question, why is the Kingdom of God so insignificant? So this is my question for you today, are you a person of significance?

Jesus said the Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed. Proverbially speaking the mustard seed was the smallest of all the seeds in the garden. However, no one knows it ends. Many mustard plants grow to the size of tree. Verse 32 tells us that birds would come to that tree to eat the seeds and enjoy the shade. The disciples understood the symbolism. In the Old Testament, Ezekiel 31:6, for example, great empires were compared to great trees, providing food and protection for weaker nations. That was some good new to those disciples. In comparison to the pagan religions and Judaism this new faith seemed very small. Jesus tells them and us to hold on! The Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed. Let us hear this parable together.

Introduction

This is my question for you today, are you a person of significance?

How many of you know the name Albert Boegner? Many years ago he traveled to Africa and saw the suffering first hand. He was so moved by the sadness on the Dark Continent that he wrote an article that highlighted the need of medical missionaries in Africa. One of the people who read that article was a young music student. He was so inspired by Boegner’s article that he left music school and enrolled in medical school. That medical student went on to be the most famous medical missionary in history. How many of you know the name Albert Schweitzer? Without Albert Boegner, you would have never have known the name Albert Schweitzer. I tell you that story for one reason. Don’t ever underestimate the power of one person! Let me ask you the question again. Are you a person of significance? Do you feel small?

There was a man in the 1030s by the name of Herbert. He was an usher at his local church. It was his job to make sure all the worshippers had a seat during the annual revival. That was not such an easy thing. Everyone went to revivals in those days. One evening, the sanctuary was full! It did not appear that a single seat was left. The last worshippers to arrive were two teenage boys. They walked into the church. They looked for a seat but they couldn’t find a seat. They turned to walk away, when Herbert stopped them. He squeezed them into the last two seats, down in the front row. They were right in front of the evangelist. They heard every word! When the service was over the evangelist gave an altar call. Both of those young men went forward and accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. One of those young men was Billy Graham. He left that altar and went on to preach the gospel around the world. Does anyone here today not know the name Billy Graham? However, you may have never had heard the name Billy Graham if it were not for Herbert, the usher for that evening service. Never underestimate the power of one person. Are you a person of significance? Do you feel small? Jesus understood the power of one person. Can you say the same?

Body

 

Jesus said the Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed. That was some good news to the disciples. In comparison to massive edifice of pagan religion, and the old splendor of Judaism, the new faith of Christianity looked small and insignificant. The disciples were part of the Master’s inner-circle. That sounds impressive to us but they were God’s holy no-bodies in their world. Jesus tells them to hold on. They are like a mustard seed. At the present time you may be small and insignificant but in the future you are going to be people of significance.

This is my question for you today. Are you a person of significance? In a world that is filled with all kinds of problems do you feel insignificant? Has the president called you to get your opinion about Supreme Court nominee John Roberts? Does anyone here know how to bring peace to Iraq or how to stop global warming? Will someone here please explain to me the details of stem cell research or the need for the Electoral College? Does anyone here feel ignored at home around your own dinner table? Do you feel insignificant in your life? Jesus says you are like mustard seeds too. You may feel small and insignificant but you are really people of significance. Never underestimate the power of one person. Are you a person of significance?

If you would ask Tom Tewell the Senior Minister of the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City, Are you a person of significance? He was say, “Yes!” He says that all disciples of Jesus Christ are people of significance. We are people of significance not because of who we are but because of whose we are. We belong to the Master! Tewell says we exist for only two reasons. First, we exist to know God. Second, we exist to be conduits of God’s love. As our society becomes more secular your witness becomes more important. You may be the only Bible someone will ever see. If that is the case then what you think, how you live and where you take a stand suddenly takes on a new meaning.

My goal this morning is simple. I want you to discover that you are people of significance. You may have walked in this morning feeling small, like a mustard seed but you can walk out of here walking tall, like the mustard tree, the largest of all the garden plants. I am going to do that by looking at three significant words. They are three significant words you should consider, so you can grow in your influence. Each one is illustrated by a historical event. History tells us that one person can make a difference. So if you significant people are ready for these three significant words then say, “Amen!” Are you a person of significance?  

Significant Word Number One: Idea An idea that may change civilization may begin with one person. In the British Empire it was William Wilberforce who was responsible for freeing the slaves. That liberating idea came from a good friend named Pitt, then the Prime Minister. Pitt had received the idea from and exposure written by Thomas Clarkson on the cruelty of the slave trade. Without Clarkson’s original idea, slavery would have gone on in Great Britain for countless years. Never underestimate the power of a single person’s single idea.

You are disciples of Jesus Christ! What big ideas do you have brewing in your mind? I am not talking about a new way to save money at the church. I am talking about a new way improve someone’s life. It may not be an idea that will liberate an entire race of people, but it is an idea that may change your world. It may be an idea that will help the aged in your neighborhood or the young after school. It may be an idea that will bring hope to someone who feels no hope or put a smile on a face. God has given you a bright mind! Use It! You are a person of significance. Now if you think you can use those little gray cells to help someone else, say, “Amen!” 

Significant Word Number Two: Witness A witness must begin with one person. Cecil Northcutt tells about a group of college students who want to spread the gospel to non-Christian parts of the world. They talk about books, propaganda and literature. It was an international student from Africa, who talked about how evangelism worked in her home. She said when we want to spread the gospel to a village we don’t send information. We send people. We send a Christian family to the village to live. The villagers soon see the difference between their lives and the Christians life. They want what the Christian have. A witness can be a powerful thing.

You are a disciple of Jesus Christ! You are a person of significance. You are a witness for Jesus in your world. That is both a privilege and a responsibility. You don’t have to wear a Christian T-shirt or sing Christian songs. People know you are a Christian and they are watching and judging every move. That old song said it best, and they will know we are Christians by our love. What are people learning about Jesus from the way you are living your life? You are a person of significance. If you will admit you are a witness for Jesus in your world, then say, “Amen!”

Significant Word Number Three: Reformation A reformation must begin with one person. One of the great stories of the Christian church is about Telemachus. He was a hermit who lived in the desert studying God. However, something told him to go to Rome. When he got to Rome he saw all the sites, including the gladiators. He was shocked by the gladiator events, the waste of human life. It is said he jumped into the arena to stop a contest and was killed. The thought of a holy man dieing shocked the crowd. Reform took place and soon gladiator fighting stopped.

You are a disciple of Jesus Christ! Where in your life do you draw the line? Where are you going to lead a little revolution that will lead to reformation? When are you going to speak up or stop laughing? In the final scene for the movie The Hunt for Red October Shaun Connery has a great line. He says, “A little revolution is good every once in a while.” Our world needs a whole lot of revolution. Perhaps, you will lead a revolution in your part of the world that will lead to a reform among your peers. You are people of significance. If you will admit our world needs some reforming, say “Amen!”

Conclusion

Let me end with a quick story. Back in May Kathy and I flew out of Pittsburgh on our way to Russia. It was not a non-stop flight Pittsburgh to St. Petersburg, Russia. We actually flew from Pittsburgh to Kennedy Airport in New York to Paris to St. Petersburg. When we were heading to our gate at Kennedy the hall way was filled with people. I didn’t know a single person and to tell you the truth I felt a little insignificant. Everyone was pressing in on me. In that sea of people I felt a little intimidated. I was feeling small. It was at that moment in the middle of that terminal that something quite miraculous happened. Over the Public Address system I heard my name being called. It said, “Will Russell and Kathryn Adams please report to gate 57?” Kathy and I looked at each. We couldn’t believe our ears. We were in the middle of this crowd of people and they were calling for us! Then they made the announcement again, “Will Russell and Kathryn Adams please report to gate 57?” The reason for that announcement was our flight was going to leave a few minutes early and they wanted us to get on. However, when I heard my name in the middle of that crowd I felt like a person of significance. I was walking tall!

I believe that is what God does to us in this world. We are in the middle of the world’s population and God calls us. We may feel insignificant. We may feel small but then God calls your name and everything changes. God calls your name because you are a person of significance. You are the conduit between God and your corner of the world. The idea in your mind my transform your world. Your witness, the way that you live your life may inspire someone else to live a better life. The revolution you lead may lead to a real reformation. The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed. At first, it is small and insignificant. However, in time she will come to dominate her corner of the garden. May the same thing be said about you! You are a person of significance! And, all of God’s people said, “Amen!”