God Works Big Things Through Small Things

Text:  Mark 4: 30 And he said, "With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it?  31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth,  32 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." INTRODUCTION:  My dear friends in Christ, it was the week before Father's Day and some children were looking for a gift for their dad. As they strolled through the men's section of a department store their eyes spotted the perfect gift at the same moment. It was a bright, splashy Hawaiian style shirt with matching shorts. They giggled as they purchased it because their father is a pretty conservative dresser. As they were handing the money to the woman at the cash register, One daughter asked another of the daughters, "But, do you think he will actually wear it?" She shrugged her shoulders and said, "It's anybody's guess."         That phrase, "It's anybody's guess," keeps coming up. We don't have to read far in the newspaper these days before we see it. Despite the advanced science of weather forecasting, the final path of a hurricane is “anybody's guess.” The direction of the housing market in our area is “anybody's guess”. Next year's property taxes are “anybody's guess.” The results of next fall’s elections are anybody’s guess.  Some things really are “anybody's guess,” like whether a certain book will sell well or a new Broadway play will make it to a second season.
I. But, there are some other things in the moral and spiritual realm that are not a guess at all. The kingdom of God is one.
	A.   Jesus' disciples were feeling discouraged.
		1. Sure, crowds were gathering to hear their teacher, but there was little evidence of progress and a lot of evidence of resistance.
				a. The upper classes were rejecting Jesus and the capitol city acted as though he didn't exist. b. The Roman conquerors paid no attention at all. c. If someone had asked the disciples what they thought about the future of the kingdom Jesus was speaking about, they may well have responded, "It's anybody's guess."
		2. Jesus has been talking about the Kingdom of God, the time when God's reign will be manifest upon the earth.
				a. It was apparent that it wasn't happening then--At least not in the way they all expected. b. It would be even more difficult at the conclusion of Jesus' ministry for his disciples to believe that the Kingdom of God had come any closer to being a reality. They would be a small, discouraged group of fugitives without a leader.
	B. Part of the reason they got discouraged and we get discouraged is that we are victims of bigness.
		1.Cities vie with each other to claim the greatest growth and the fanciest entertainments. Corporations are proud when their company occupies the tallest building in the city. Every day we read in our newspapers about famous people doing famous things. We have megamalls, megachurches, and megastorms. 2. Another reason we get discouraged is we want to be swept off our feet.  Over twenty years ago little DeAndra Anrig of Mountain View, California was literally swept off her feet. According to the Associated Press DeAndra and her parents, were picnicking with friends at a park about 30 miles south of San Francisco and about two miles from the Palo Alto Airport. They were taking turns flying a glider type kite with a 12 foot wingspan. While it was DeAndra's turn, a plane descending for the airport snagged line to Andrea's kite. DeAndra’s mother said "She said it was just a big jerk that lifted her into the air. It carried her right over my husband's head. I'm just thankful she let go." She let go after travelling about 100 feet and fell about 10 feet to the ground, leaving her with several bruises. Obviously that was a scary experience for little DeAndra. But there is something exciting about it, too. Who among us would not like to be lifted off of the ground to big experiences and new excitement by God Himself.
II. Jesus had determined that Now was the time to provide the disciples with a message that would give them hope in times of discouragement and sustain them in the face of future persecution. But His words have a message, not only for his original disciples, but for us as well.
	A. Obviously Jesus doesn't agree that it is anybody’s guess whether the Kingdom of God is coming.
			1. He says firmly that the kingdom of God has already begun. Then to dispel the disciples' doubts and doldrums, he tells them a story.
				a. There was a farmer who reached into a seed bag and tried to pull out one Super Grade A Golden Mustard Seed. It was quite a trick to get just one because they were so tiny. You need your bifocals to see one seed. A small handful looks like a little finely ground pepper. It's amazing that such a tiny seed grows into such a large bush. A fat sparrow, who has to pick hundreds of the tiny seeds just for its breakfast, can sit comfortably on its sturdy branches. Best of all, when the farmer has put the seeds into the ground, he can go home and take a long nap because the seed will grow whether he worries or not. That's how the kingdom of God works. b. In the Midwest, they plant more corn than mustard seed. One variety of corn is called Golden Bantam. Apparently, all the Golden Bantam corn in this country came from one stalk discovered on a Vermont hillside. How it got there is “anybody's guess.” But appreciating its special qualities, the person who discovered it carefully preserved its seed and planted it year after year. Now it is available to the whole world. That's how the kingdom of God works.
					2. There are some things that are certain. Jesus says the kingdom of God is one of them. It’s not anybody’s guess.  With very small things, God can do some very big things. And that’s just opposite of how we normally think.
				a.  A small baby born in a manger in a small town is the center of all God wanted to do for us.  This baby grew up in a small town in Galilee.  He was from a small backwater corner of the Roman Empire. They He walked everywhere he went, except into Jerusalem that last time.  He was executed – a small notation in Roman historical records.  From a world history stand point it would have been barely noticed.  But on that cross God did big things.  He won salvation for the world through the blood of His Son.  Jesus had a small funeral – a few men and women took him from the cross and carried him to a tomb.  And even the resurrection as momentous as it was, is small from the perspective of the world stage.  b. God is still bringing in the kingdom through small things.  Jesus spoke of the importance of small things: a mustard seed, a cup of cold water, a widow's mite, a kindness done to the least of these.
	B.   Jesus knows what we too often forget: God works big things through small things.
			1. When it comes to the seed of the kingdom of God, Jesus speaks of the Word – the good news of what He has done.  And He speaks with an unshakable confidence, as though he held the future - and the seed, and you - in the palm of his hand
				a. In an effort to stimulate their thoughts about the nature of God, one pastor invited a group of teenagers to join him in watching the movie, Oh, God!  In the course of the movie, God, in the person of George Burns, has prevailed on Jerry, the assistant manager of a supermarket, played by John Denver, to carry God's message to the world. Toward the end of the film, Jerry is lamenting to God that nobody seems to be listening to the message. He tells God that he thinks that they have failed. But God doesn't see it that way. "Oh, I don't think so," God says. "You never know; a seed here, a seed there, something will catch hold and grow." Jesus called the mustard seed the tiniest seed on earth, but when it grows up, it is taller than any of the other plants in the garden with branches so large that the birds of the air can make their nests in its shade.  It is not anybody’s guess if anything will catch hold and grow.  Jesus knows what will grow. b. For me, one of the classic interpretations of this Biblical passage about the seed growing automatically (Mark 4:26) was written by Martin Luther when he said about this text:  “After I preach my sermon on Sunday, when I return home, I drink my little glass of Wittenberg beer and I just let the gospel run its course.” Luther said that after he pounded on the pulpit and expounded the gospel, he would go home and enjoy the afternoon. Luther knew that the power of his sermon was not based on the power of his preaching. He knew that the power of his sermon was not based on his eloquence or his abilities. He knew that the power of the sermon would have no effect whatsoever unless the very Word of God got into a person’s heart. Luther knew that he couldn’t do that. It was the Holy Spirit who did that. Luther keenly understood the power of the Word.
			2.  There is something inside the word that changes us. It is Jesus inside the Word that gets through to us. Jesus grows in you, just as seeds grow mysteriously and miraculously.
				a. This does not mean that automatically we are going to be Christians. That does not mean that automatically we are going to grow to be a large church.  But what it does mean is that there is power in His Word. b. As we pick up the Bible and hold it in our hands, we realize that His Word is not passive. There is something in there. When we  partake of this Word, it grows in us. That is what Jesus was talking about in this text.
CONCLUSION:     This is a parable of hope. Jesus is saying that the kingdom  is growing and will continue to grow, night and day, year in and year out, century in and century out, through thick and thin, God’s kingly rule is going to grow.  It is not anybody’s guess whether it will grow – it’s a certainty.  God’s kingdom has grown and will continue to grow all based on the power of that little seed – His Word.  Amen.

Free tickets for Third Class

Text: John 15:26 "When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. 27 And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning….   INTRODUCTION:  My dear friends in Christ, back when the West was being settled the major means of transportation was the stagecoach. We have seen persons riding in stagecoaches in western movies. What we might not know is that the stagecoach had three different kinds of tickets: first class, second class, and third class. If you had a first class ticket, that meant you could remain seated during the entire trip no matter what happened. If the stagecoach got stuck in the mud, or had trouble making it up a steep hill, or even if a wheel fell off, you could remain seated because you had a first class ticket. If you had a second class ticket you also could remain seated "until there was a problem.” In case of a problem, second-class ticket holders would have to get off until the problem was resolved. You could stand off to the side and watch as other people worked. You didn't have to get your hands dirty. But second-class ticket holders were not allowed to stay on board. When the stagecoach was unstuck you would get back on and take your seat. If you had a third-class ticket, you would definitely have to get off if there was a problem.  Why? Because it was your responsibility to help solve the problem. You had to get out and push or help lift to fix a broken wheel or whatever was needed because you only had a third class ticket.1  Fortunately, the stagecoach is no longer a major means of transportation. Few today would like this system. In a way you can apply this to Jesus.  It seems that Jesus had a third class ticket
A.  You could say he got off the stagecoach of heaven because there was a problem here on earth.  You might expect the King of heaven to have a first class ticket.  But not this King.
	1.  His work began in a stable.  There probably were no draft horses there, but He was probably familiar with other animals.
			a.  He got his hands dirty working as a carpenter.  I’m sure He could fix a broken stagecoach wheel if necessary. He did fix a broken humanity. b. Part of His work was to keep God’s law for us.  That’s one thing it took to fix us.  And His work included His teaching people how to live, how to repent, how to forgive, and how to love and care for others.  c. Seldom did He ride--certainly no stagecoaches anyway.  The only record of Him riding was that time he rode a donkey on Palm Sunday. There was no first class ticket here.
	2.  Another part of His work involved being taken by hate-filled men and being beaten and mocked. And then He was taken to a cross and nailed upon it.
			a.  He shed his blood for us.  God punished Him for our sin.  He paid the infinite price for our almost infinite amount of sin.  He died.  b.  He did this all for us.  He took responsibility for the problem of sin and conquered it out of love for us.  He certainly had a third class ticket and did His work. c.  He did His work so well that God commended Him by raising Him from the dead on that first Easter.
B.  The disciples of Jesus had third-class tickets, too--although it took them a while to realize it.
	1.  They were the ones who were charged with the responsibility of telling others the good news of Christ.
			a. And there were some things Christ needed them to see.   The apostles watched as Jesus was taken up to heaven in a cloud. b. They stood there looking up amazed at what had taken place. Suddenly two men in bright white robes stood before them. They asked the apostles, "Why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven, will return in the same way...."
	2. Notice what happened next. The apostles returned to Jerusalem with great joy. They met daily for prayer.
			a. They began to prepare themselves for what lay ahead.  Then they were given the Spirit.  Now they began to understand that they were on third class tickets, too.  And they went to work preaching and teaching about Jesus. And through them the news of what Jesus had done spread throughout the world.  b. What Jesus and the Spirit did was more significant than this: And in that way the Spirit gave birth to the Church, which is like a stagecoach whose job it was to bring people to it and to make third class travelers, who also carry the news of Jesus throughout the world.
II. Now he comes to us in Word and Sacrament and gives us the blessings He won.  We are given forgiveness, salvation and life.  These are given to us freely for no cost.
A.  We are changed.  He makes us new creatures.  He begins to make us like Him.
		1.  He makes us part of His church – and that puts us on the stagecoach headed for the ultimate destination, heaven.  2. And He moves us to see that we have third class tickets, because we are like Him.  And people with third class tickets work just like Jesus did.  I know our work is not as large scale as Jesus’ was but we all have our parts.  Not as large scale as the disciples but are called to do His work too.
B.   But today we often forget that we are made to be like him.  We are made to have third class tickets.
		1.  It seems that one of the problems the church is facing today is that too many people think they have first-class tickets.
			a.  Such people just sit and expect to be catered to, waited on, and, of course, pampered. These people expect everything to go their way, and when things don't, they get upset. b. A pastor was talking with a man who was about to join his church. The man said, "I want to join the church because I want to be fed." The pastor replied, "Well, that's fine, but we all would be better off if you would take off your bib and put on an apron!"2   Obviously this pastor was getting tired of having members content with sitting in the first-class section. This is not being like the Jesus who saved us.
		2.  We also have a few who think they have second class tickets, too. These folks ride along until there is a problem. Then they become detached spectators. They attend church on a regular basis, but you can’t ask persons with second class tickets to get more than nominally involved, because they will not.
			a. Second class travelers are often like this: A wealthy family from Massachusetts used to take a month’s vacation every summer to the coast of Maine, taking their maid with them. The maid had an annual ritual at the beach. She wore an old-fashioned bathing suit, complete with a little white hat, and carried enough paraphernalia to stock Wal-Mart. She would settle herself on the beach, cover every inch of her exposed flesh and journey down to the water’s edge. There she would hesitate while taking deep breaths and working up her courage to enter the icy-cold water. Finally, she would daintily extend one foot and lower it slowly into the water until she barely had her big toe submerged. Then she repeated the act with the other foot. Then, having satisfied her minimal urge for a swim, she would retreat to her chair and umbrella and spend the remainder of the vacation curled around a book. b. I’m afraid that may be a parable of a second class ticket passenger.
		3. Thankfully we have a few folks left in the church willing to travel with a third-class ticket. There are always some who are willing to get out and push when the going gets tough.
			a. And the going will get tough.  It was tough for Jesus.  It was tough for the disciples. It will be tough for us as we ride on our stagecoach, the church. When those stagecoaches went through the West there was always rough terrain, that might break wheels or axles.  [Video]  John Wayne is definitely a third class passenger.  It’s the same today for the church.  There’s always leaky roofs and difficult people who give the church rough times. b. There were enemies then.  In the movies the enemies were the Indians.  [Video]  But today there are those working for the devil against the movement of the Church.  But Jesus has defeated this enemy as we have seen.  c. And so often the third class passengers get tired, they get burned out.  It would be better if more and more were on third class tickets. The more who are involved the easier the tasks and more will get done.  And fewer will get burned out.  The easier the rough patches would be overcome. d. Jesus is counting on you and you and you and me to all be third class passengers. And the good news is, we are not alone. The Holy Spirit is here to mold us, fill us, and use us.
CONCLUSION:  Yes the church is a bit like being on a stagecoach.  We’ve been put on the coach by Jesus, and given a free ticket.  And third class tickets call us to work for Him, not to get heaven, but because we’ve been given heaven and are made to be like Jesus.   And as we travel He gives us all the gifts we need to overcome the rough patches that come before us and to do the work He desires.  Amen.    [1]  Yes, Lord, I Have Sinned. James W. Moore. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1991, pp. 45-46. [2]  Ibid., p. 51.