The Kingdom of Heaven — Week 4
Matthew 13.31-35 – Growth
Discussion notes based on the sermon preached the morning of 27 March 2022 am
STUDY MATERIAL
Read the passage again and don’t forget to start your meeting in prayer.
Particularly ask that the Holy Spirit would guide your discussion and help you to apply what is said in Scripture to your lives today. Sermons are available on the St John’s website or YouTube channel.
Sermon points:
The parable of the mustard seed (vv. 31-32)
Do not despise small beginnings
Outward explosive growth
The parable of the yeast (v 33)
Hidden permeation
Inner growth/transformation
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
- Describe in your own words what it means for the kingdom to be like ‘mustard seed’ and ‘yeast’?
- Why should we not ‘despise small beginnings’ when it comes to God’s Kingdom? Think of some biblical examples to illustrate this.
- Who causes the growth of the kingdom? What is our role in this?
- The kingdom growth was foretold (read Isaiah 9.7), has arrived (read Matthew 4.12-17), and is to come (read Revelation 11.15). How should this encourage us as we seek to live in the kingdom now?
- What areas of our lives does the ‘yeast’ of God’s kingdom need to permeate? How does Philippians 1.6 comfort us?
- Read verses 34-35 again, if you were in the crowd listening to these parables what would you have learnt about the kingdom and how would you think you would have responded?
PRAYER
Adapted from ‘Welcome Lord Jesus’ by Pam Weaver:
‘Lord Jesus, what a wonderful surprise Lord!’
I flung open the door wide greeting him, ‘Come in, come in…’
As he walked down the hall he passed my mobile and I recalled my frequent gossipy conversations. I blushed as he saw my face, but he didn’t say anything!
‘Come through to the living room.’ I quickly move on… but then I realise all the things I’d seen on the TV I shouldn’t have… so instead I brought him to the kitchen.
‘I’ll make us some tea.’ I said.
As he sat there, I realised how few people I had shown hospitality too. I always meant to but there was always something better to do! He didn’t say a word; I avoid eye contact.
He looked out the window at the car parked outside, ‘The Lord’s car’, I blurted out proudly. Then realised how stupid that sounded!
I showed him my quiet room where I like to think and be by myself… I didn’t invite him in to my shame:
‘Everything is to cluttered Lord, I’m not ready for you yet, can you come back when I’ve tidied up and put thinks in order?’
He put his hand gently on my shoulder, smiled and said, ‘Shall we do this together child?’
…..
Pray for each other, about the areas in your life where the kingdom growth has small beginnings and where it needs to permeate to bring deeper transformation.
