WEBVTT 00:00:00.740 --> 00:00:06.060 If you'd open up your Bibles to Matthew chapter 13, we're just going to be looking at three verses today. 00:00:06.620 --> 00:00:08.880 Three verses that have two parables in them. 00:00:09.640 --> 00:00:12.419 And they're verses 31 through 33. 00:00:13.300 --> 00:00:15.019 And I'm going to read them for you. 00:00:16.660 --> 00:00:18.120 This is the Word of God. 00:00:19.339 --> 00:00:20.820 These are the very words of Jesus. 00:00:22.140 --> 00:00:24.539 He put another parable before them saying, 00:00:24.960 --> 00:00:29.780 The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. 00:00:30.579 --> 00:00:37.140 It's the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown, it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree. 00:00:37.939 --> 00:00:41.060 So that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches. 00:00:42.219 --> 00:00:43.719 He told them another parable. 00:00:44.280 --> 00:00:51.379 The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour till it was all leavened. 00:00:53.140 --> 00:00:54.920 I'll never forget 2003. 00:00:56.019 --> 00:00:57.719 I was a teenager. Just kidding. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:06.560 I'm not that old that I can't hear. 00:01:09.859 --> 00:01:13.819 Well, 2003, if you remember it, the invasion of Iraq. 00:01:13.819 --> 00:01:25.139 And I remember seeing on the news, sortie after sortie of planes and cruise missiles being launched on Baghdad. 00:01:25.140 --> 00:01:40.460 And if you're any way familiar with military doctrine and strategy, that attack, that advance was characterized by what's called shock and awe. 00:01:40.459 --> 00:01:43.399 Give them everything you've got. 00:01:45.059 --> 00:01:47.179 It's also known as overwhelming force. 00:01:47.179 --> 00:01:48.539 It's rapid dominance. 00:01:48.879 --> 00:01:49.959 It's fast. 00:01:50.219 --> 00:01:51.139 It's fierce. 00:01:51.459 --> 00:01:53.439 And it is forceful. 00:01:53.659 --> 00:02:00.899 And the idea behind it is you give them everything they've got so that they think you're invincible and you just wilt them. 00:02:04.000 --> 00:02:04.899 Shock and awe. 00:02:04.900 --> 00:02:13.780 There were a group of Jews in Jesus' day who, when they heard about the Messiah coming, they thought they would come. 00:02:13.879 --> 00:02:16.319 He would come with shock and awe. 00:02:17.319 --> 00:02:21.420 He would establish a new kingdom in Israel with power. 00:02:22.700 --> 00:02:24.020 Exercising dominion. 00:02:24.740 --> 00:02:25.879 Taken over. 00:02:25.879 --> 00:02:34.139 But what we learn from the Gospel of Matthew in the first four chapters is that Jesus is anything but shock and awe. 00:02:34.259 --> 00:02:39.560 He was born in a manger in Bethlehem out of Nazareth. 00:02:39.900 --> 00:02:41.379 What good comes out of Nazareth? 00:02:43.159 --> 00:02:50.819 And then in his inauguration speech, his kingdom manifesto in the Sermon on the Mount, do you remember the first beatitude? 00:02:51.900 --> 00:02:55.180 Blessed are the poor in spirit. 00:02:55.879 --> 00:02:57.639 How's that for shock and awe? 00:03:00.379 --> 00:03:03.659 And then Jesus demonstrates his authority in chapters 8 and 9. 00:03:04.000 --> 00:03:07.479 He doesn't show his authority by regime change. 00:03:08.159 --> 00:03:09.400 Kicking out the Romans. 00:03:10.299 --> 00:03:11.819 Setting up a new economic system. 00:03:13.019 --> 00:03:16.280 He exercises authority to deliver people from the power of sin. 00:03:16.280 --> 00:03:24.340 To establish a kingdom of gathering people by his grace from darkness into the kingdom of the beloved Son. 00:03:25.879 --> 00:03:29.299 He sends out his disciples in chapter 12. 00:03:29.639 --> 00:03:31.000 Or excuse me, chapter 12. 00:03:31.079 --> 00:03:31.400 That's right. 00:03:31.539 --> 00:03:36.539 And then we also see in 11-12 this rising tension. 00:03:38.199 --> 00:03:40.500 Actually sent out his disciples in chapter 10. 00:03:42.159 --> 00:03:44.680 But in 11 and 12 there's these rising tensions. 00:03:44.680 --> 00:03:49.460 John the Baptist even is asking, are you the one, the Messiah? 00:03:50.379 --> 00:03:53.379 And then the Pharisees push back on him. 00:03:53.379 --> 00:03:55.240 And there's at least four conflicts. 00:03:55.740 --> 00:03:59.540 And tensions are on the rise. 00:04:00.319 --> 00:04:03.420 Jesus isn't playing according to the rules of the religious establishment. 00:04:03.420 --> 00:04:04.379 And they don't like it. 00:04:04.379 --> 00:04:07.919 And a point of conflict is this. 00:04:07.979 --> 00:04:09.840 He's claiming to be the Son of Man. 00:04:10.979 --> 00:04:12.659 That's Messiah language. 00:04:14.479 --> 00:04:23.000 But the kingdom that he's talking about is in sharp contrast to the kingdom that many Jews were expecting. 00:04:24.459 --> 00:04:26.939 He didn't come in shock and awe the first time. 00:04:26.939 --> 00:04:32.259 His was not a shock and awe campaign. 00:04:32.360 --> 00:04:35.439 It's more like a sow and grow campaign. 00:04:36.980 --> 00:04:41.420 More like a hide and knead through the flower campaign. 00:04:42.699 --> 00:04:44.779 In the two parables we're looking at this morning, 00:04:44.779 --> 00:04:48.540 he doesn't liken the spread of the kingdom to a military advance. 00:04:48.899 --> 00:04:51.240 He likens it to gardening and baking. 00:04:51.240 --> 00:04:59.840 Now, he came as a suffering servant. 00:05:01.800 --> 00:05:04.540 And when a suffering servant sets up a kingdom, 00:05:05.400 --> 00:05:09.860 it's going to be characterized by him. 00:05:12.060 --> 00:05:15.420 This morning, I want to ask you this question. 00:05:15.420 --> 00:05:20.720 How do you expect the saving reign of God? 00:05:21.080 --> 00:05:23.180 The active saving reign? 00:05:23.680 --> 00:05:27.960 God's current working to draw sinners to himself. 00:05:28.480 --> 00:05:33.040 How do you expect the active reign of God to spread? 00:05:33.939 --> 00:05:34.920 To advance? 00:05:36.460 --> 00:05:37.980 Are you thinking shock and awe? 00:05:38.759 --> 00:05:41.639 Or are you thinking sow and grow? 00:05:41.639 --> 00:05:47.479 Jesus definitely clarifies this for us. 00:05:49.560 --> 00:05:55.560 Instead of a fast, fierce, enforceful, rapid dominance of the kingdom, 00:05:56.519 --> 00:06:06.879 Jesus is an advocate of a slow, gentle, sacrificial, gradual growth of the kingdom. 00:06:07.979 --> 00:06:10.000 That's what we see in these two parables. 00:06:11.639 --> 00:06:13.399 We're going to look at these two parables this morning. 00:06:13.519 --> 00:06:15.879 I'm just going to walk us through each one. 00:06:16.699 --> 00:06:20.639 And then we're going to look to what Jesus is actually saying. 00:06:20.719 --> 00:06:22.240 I'm going to try to explain what they mean. 00:06:22.240 --> 00:06:30.120 And I'm going to bring them to bear in the 21st century for us right now living in the city of Kenosha. 00:06:30.120 --> 00:06:38.000 So what I want you to see is that the kingdom of heaven, this active saving grace of God, 00:06:38.139 --> 00:06:43.899 of drawing people from every tribe and nation, it's not a shock and awe growth. 00:06:44.720 --> 00:06:45.660 It's gradual. 00:06:46.579 --> 00:06:47.639 It's pervasive. 00:06:47.639 --> 00:06:55.039 And so now let's look at the first parable, the parable of the mustard seed in verses 31 and 32. 00:06:55.159 --> 00:07:00.500 Now just to clarify, in just a little while in Matthew, he's going to compare a mustard seed to faith. 00:07:00.939 --> 00:07:03.579 But that's not what he's making the comparison in this parable. 00:07:03.919 --> 00:07:07.620 In this parable, he's comparing a mustard seed to the people of God, 00:07:07.779 --> 00:07:11.139 the new people of God who's been brought into the kingdom by God's grace. 00:07:11.139 --> 00:07:19.180 And so in the mustard seed, this parable, Jesus likens the active saving reign of God, 00:07:19.279 --> 00:07:23.659 this drawing in by God's grace of people into under his reign. 00:07:23.779 --> 00:07:30.199 He compares it to a guy that takes a mustard seed and drops it into the ground in his field. 00:07:31.659 --> 00:07:35.819 And so again, it's a comparison of gardening. 00:07:35.819 --> 00:07:45.620 And if you want to look quickly at verse 24, the start in verse 31 rings of verse 24. 00:07:45.759 --> 00:07:50.699 The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. 00:07:50.839 --> 00:07:57.360 And then verse 31, the kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. 00:07:57.659 --> 00:07:58.480 Very similar. 00:07:58.680 --> 00:08:00.259 A lot of sowing going on. 00:08:00.259 --> 00:08:07.019 Even the first parable is a parable about sowing, about a seed being hidden in the ground. 00:08:14.539 --> 00:08:21.659 In verse 32, Jesus begins to bring out the unique contribution of this particular parable. 00:08:21.879 --> 00:08:26.939 He's wanting to emphasize something about the growing saving reign of God. 00:08:26.939 --> 00:08:32.980 He starts by saying in verse 32, it's the smallest of all seeds. 00:08:33.200 --> 00:08:38.799 He's comparing the start of the kingdom to this mustard seed. 00:08:39.240 --> 00:08:44.000 And I'm not sure if you've ever seen any kind of things written about a mustard seed before. 00:08:44.259 --> 00:08:45.700 We've actually got a picture of it. 00:08:46.039 --> 00:08:46.919 Randy, are you back there? 00:08:46.980 --> 00:08:47.860 You want to throw that? 00:08:48.019 --> 00:08:48.320 Oh, Andy? 00:08:49.899 --> 00:08:50.779 There it is. 00:08:51.360 --> 00:08:52.460 That's a mustard seed. 00:08:53.039 --> 00:08:55.399 It's about one or two millimeters wide. 00:08:55.399 --> 00:08:57.039 It's the size of a pinhead. 00:08:57.519 --> 00:09:00.360 And so Jesus is picking that mustard seed for a reason. 00:09:00.519 --> 00:09:04.740 He wants you to be thinking it starts really small. 00:09:07.019 --> 00:09:07.899 It's tiny. 00:09:08.799 --> 00:09:15.579 And so he's likening the start of the kingdom to this little mustard seed dropped into a hole in the field of a guy. 00:09:16.539 --> 00:09:18.639 And then in verse 32, it goes on. 00:09:18.639 --> 00:09:22.500 We see the word but, which signals some contrast. 00:09:23.759 --> 00:09:27.779 But when it has grown, it is bigger than all the garden plants. 00:09:29.080 --> 00:09:33.399 Now, when you hear that word garden plant, you're like, well, what is he talking about? 00:09:34.159 --> 00:09:38.480 Well, that word garden plant comes from a Greek word that actually means to dig. 00:09:38.480 --> 00:09:45.159 And so the idea here is it's a plant that needs to be digging in order to plant it. 00:09:45.700 --> 00:09:52.539 And so for us, it would be equivalent of saying like a potted plant that you take home from steins or loaves and you've got to dig a hole and drop it in. 00:09:52.740 --> 00:09:54.420 That's the kind of plants he's talking about. 00:09:54.460 --> 00:09:57.379 So we're talking about a cultivated field or garden. 00:09:57.379 --> 00:10:11.779 And Jesus is saying that this mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds, the size of a pinhead, when it grows, it grows larger than all the garden plants. 00:10:13.179 --> 00:10:14.539 It gets big. 00:10:17.840 --> 00:10:21.559 It's the smallest of all that grows to be the largest of all. 00:10:22.919 --> 00:10:23.440 Emphasis. 00:10:24.440 --> 00:10:25.600 Jesus is making a point. 00:10:25.600 --> 00:10:31.840 He's helping you get the scale of the growth of this seed. 00:10:32.060 --> 00:10:34.720 And he goes on to say that it becomes a tree. 00:10:35.580 --> 00:10:40.379 Technically, a mustard seed would grow into a tree that's about 8 to 12 feet. 00:10:40.420 --> 00:10:42.019 I think we got a picture of one, Andy. 00:10:42.500 --> 00:10:47.180 And this tree, this mustard seed tree is probably about, do we have a picture of that? 00:10:48.360 --> 00:10:49.159 There we go. 00:10:50.540 --> 00:10:52.580 And that one's about 20 feet. 00:10:52.580 --> 00:10:57.900 But what you need to understand is a mustard tree, it's kind of a bushy tree. 00:10:58.360 --> 00:11:03.980 And so if it's 8 to 12 feet tall, it's also 8 to 12 feet wide. 00:11:04.259 --> 00:11:05.620 It's big. 00:11:06.080 --> 00:11:07.080 It's prominent. 00:11:07.580 --> 00:11:11.040 And so what Jesus is saying here is he's making a comparison. 00:11:11.220 --> 00:11:14.040 He's drawing out scale over time. 00:11:14.039 --> 00:11:21.480 He says it starts like a pinhead and results in this plant that's 8 to 12 feet high and 8 to 12 feet wide. 00:11:21.639 --> 00:11:22.980 It's extraordinary. 00:11:25.059 --> 00:11:35.539 And so the comparison he's making, he's saying the kingdom of heaven is like this little seed that grows over time into this big tree. 00:11:35.539 --> 00:11:40.019 And he's comparing it to the saving reign of God. 00:11:41.219 --> 00:11:43.659 This is not shock and awe. 00:11:44.939 --> 00:11:46.539 This is gardening over time. 00:11:47.980 --> 00:11:49.039 This is cultivation. 00:11:51.240 --> 00:11:52.740 It's not shock and awe. 00:11:53.099 --> 00:11:56.299 It's sow and grow. 00:11:56.299 --> 00:12:01.539 And so the emphasis of the parable is on extraordinary growth of the kingdom. 00:12:04.199 --> 00:12:06.519 Now let's move to the parable of the leaven. 00:12:07.679 --> 00:12:15.339 Oh, and by the way, this kind of parable about the kingdom, for those people who would be expecting messianic shock and awe, 00:12:15.459 --> 00:12:16.859 they'd be like, huh, what, huh? 00:12:17.759 --> 00:12:18.120 Seriously? 00:12:19.979 --> 00:12:21.120 Now let's look at the leaven. 00:12:21.120 --> 00:12:28.899 Verse 33, the kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour till it was leavened. 00:12:29.060 --> 00:12:29.600 All leavened. 00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:35.560 Okay, confession, I am a fan of the great British baking show. 00:12:36.360 --> 00:12:37.039 I am. 00:12:37.139 --> 00:12:37.700 I watch it. 00:12:39.560 --> 00:12:44.700 Last night, Jenny and I watched Paul, this pretty impressive dude. 00:12:45.779 --> 00:12:47.180 He made chiabata bread. 00:12:47.179 --> 00:12:55.019 And part of making the chiabata bread is he took some leaven, which is this dry additive, and he had someone drop it in. 00:12:55.319 --> 00:12:56.239 And then they mixed it up. 00:12:56.500 --> 00:12:57.019 And then it grew. 00:12:58.539 --> 00:13:03.620 But the leaven that Jesus is talking about is not a dry additive. 00:13:04.659 --> 00:13:09.659 The leaven that Jesus is talking about is more like Amish friendship bread. 00:13:10.599 --> 00:13:12.799 Has anybody received Amish friendship bread? 00:13:12.799 --> 00:13:14.279 We get it. 00:13:14.359 --> 00:13:19.579 And basically what somebody does is they hand you a zip block bag with like this gooey stuff in it. 00:13:20.299 --> 00:13:21.939 And it like squishes. 00:13:22.719 --> 00:13:29.979 And if you look at it, it's kind of doughy, wet, with bubbles forming in it because this dough is already fermenting. 00:13:30.059 --> 00:13:32.259 There's already a chemical reaction going on. 00:13:32.259 --> 00:13:39.659 And so what you do with Amish friendship bread is you get the bag and then you throw it down and you add stuff to it. 00:13:39.740 --> 00:13:41.000 And you mix it all up. 00:13:41.039 --> 00:13:48.080 And then you take a little remnant off that and put it in a zip lock bag for the next batch of Amish friendship bread you make. 00:13:48.159 --> 00:13:49.659 And then you put that in the oven and you grow it. 00:13:49.879 --> 00:13:52.259 It rises and you eat it. 00:13:52.539 --> 00:13:54.259 And then you have another bag for the next week. 00:13:56.399 --> 00:13:57.399 That's what's happening here. 00:13:57.399 --> 00:14:08.779 And so the leaven that's being worked through the dough, it's actually a fermenting remnant of the dough the week before. 00:14:09.259 --> 00:14:10.779 And it would have been a small piece. 00:14:12.159 --> 00:14:22.679 And so what Jesus is saying here is that the kingdom, this people that God is drawing in by His grace and gospel into His reign, 00:14:22.679 --> 00:14:30.559 it starts as this fermenting remnant of dough from last week's bake. 00:14:34.039 --> 00:14:42.239 And then what He does is this woman takes that small remnant and she hides it in the dough 00:14:42.239 --> 00:14:49.439 and then she works it through three measures of flour till it is all leavened. 00:14:49.440 --> 00:14:54.860 Now, when you read three measures of flour, I'm guessing you're like thinking, 00:14:54.980 --> 00:14:57.300 oh yeah, three cups, that would be very interesting. 00:14:58.060 --> 00:15:01.600 But you've got to understand that word measure for three measures of flour, 00:15:02.380 --> 00:15:08.240 that word measure is talking about a Hebrew measuring unit called a seah. 00:15:09.180 --> 00:15:13.840 And what that is is the equivalent of eight quarts or two gallons. 00:15:13.840 --> 00:15:20.420 And so three seahs of flour equals six gallons of flour. 00:15:21.240 --> 00:15:23.160 Twenty-four quarts of flour. 00:15:23.379 --> 00:15:25.240 That still doesn't make sense to me. 00:15:25.560 --> 00:15:27.399 Because when I hear gallon, I think of gasoline. 00:15:27.620 --> 00:15:28.639 I don't think of flour. 00:15:28.980 --> 00:15:32.740 But I do get a five-pound bag of flour. 00:15:32.860 --> 00:15:33.800 Do you know what I'm talking about? 00:15:34.160 --> 00:15:35.700 Those five-pound packages? 00:15:36.620 --> 00:15:38.519 You can use them as weights to exercise. 00:15:38.519 --> 00:15:41.960 So basically, here's the equivalent. 00:15:42.100 --> 00:15:43.079 Here's what Jesus is saying. 00:15:44.340 --> 00:15:50.079 These three measures, it's the equivalent of five five-pound bags of flour. 00:15:50.419 --> 00:15:53.199 In other words, it's 25 pounds of flour. 00:15:53.980 --> 00:15:55.539 Now, I'm not a baker. 00:15:55.939 --> 00:15:57.279 I watch baking on TV. 00:15:58.019 --> 00:16:00.100 I know that's a lot of flour. 00:16:00.100 --> 00:16:07.120 I know that's a lot of kneading through leaven to make the whole thing leavened. 00:16:07.340 --> 00:16:08.600 I even know that. 00:16:08.920 --> 00:16:13.019 And what Jesus is again doing here is He's showing extraordinary scale. 00:16:14.399 --> 00:16:25.259 That this little leaven, this little fragment, this little fermenting dough gets worked through all 25 pounds of flour. 00:16:27.940 --> 00:16:29.639 There's another word that you need to see. 00:16:29.639 --> 00:16:31.120 Did you catch that? 00:16:31.439 --> 00:16:38.559 The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour. 00:16:39.019 --> 00:16:42.799 All throughout these parables, there is a hiddenness theme of the kingdom. 00:16:43.840 --> 00:16:47.740 It's implied in the dropping of seeds into ground and covering it over. 00:16:48.139 --> 00:16:49.240 We see it here. 00:16:50.580 --> 00:16:53.919 We will also see it in the hidden treasure next week. 00:16:53.919 --> 00:16:59.299 We're going to see in the pearl of great price, which you don't see, discover until you find it. 00:16:59.299 --> 00:17:06.000 It's going to show up in the treasure that is unseen but brought out by the master of the house for all to see. 00:17:07.200 --> 00:17:08.539 There's a hiddenness theme. 00:17:08.539 --> 00:17:13.279 Back to the leaven. 00:17:13.279 --> 00:17:14.639 She hid it. 00:17:14.700 --> 00:17:16.659 She placed it in it so you couldn't see it. 00:17:18.220 --> 00:17:22.500 And she leavened the whole dough until it was all leavened. 00:17:22.500 --> 00:17:35.359 Jesus is saying this parable is this story is of this woman who works it all the way through the 25 pounds of flour. 00:17:35.359 --> 00:17:39.939 So the parable of the mustard seed is about extraordinary growth. 00:17:40.579 --> 00:17:47.139 The parable of the leaven is about extraordinary permeation, pervasiveness. 00:17:48.099 --> 00:17:49.959 Similar but different. 00:17:51.000 --> 00:17:58.819 So the kingdom of heaven is about extraordinary growth and extraordinary pervasiveness in the world. 00:17:58.819 --> 00:18:06.759 Now let's move towards asking what all this stuff means. 00:18:08.519 --> 00:18:10.759 Well, both parables have a few things in common. 00:18:12.919 --> 00:18:15.419 And that's why Jesus coupled these. 00:18:15.420 --> 00:18:21.480 But what you need to know is he doesn't give an explanation for these two. 00:18:22.140 --> 00:18:24.539 He gave an explanation for the parable of the soils. 00:18:25.080 --> 00:18:27.300 He gave an explanation for the parable of the weeds. 00:18:27.620 --> 00:18:29.539 But here he doesn't give an explanation. 00:18:30.060 --> 00:18:33.320 And so we need to tread on careful ground here. 00:18:33.820 --> 00:18:36.200 We don't want to force a meaning on this. 00:18:36.200 --> 00:18:43.759 But there are some significant clues from the context that should give us confidence in making some connections. 00:18:44.039 --> 00:18:46.440 And the first connection I want you to see is this. 00:18:47.160 --> 00:18:53.759 Did you notice that both in the parable of the mustard seed and the parable of the leaven, 00:18:54.080 --> 00:18:57.960 that there's one actor, there's one person, 00:18:58.960 --> 00:19:05.420 the man who sows the mustard seed and the woman who takes the leaven and works it through? 00:19:06.200 --> 00:19:09.120 If you look back at verse 24, 00:19:09.240 --> 00:19:12.660 the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. 00:19:12.799 --> 00:19:14.140 That's the parable of the weeds. 00:19:14.240 --> 00:19:16.539 And when Jesus explains it in verse 37, he says, 00:19:17.019 --> 00:19:20.400 the one who sows the good seed is the son of man. 00:19:21.279 --> 00:19:22.240 It's a big clue. 00:19:23.240 --> 00:19:25.640 And then we read in verse 34 and 35, 00:19:25.819 --> 00:19:31.840 and this is that part of these eight parables in which Jesus is making sense of it all. 00:19:32.539 --> 00:19:33.819 Or Matthew is, he says, 00:19:33.819 --> 00:19:35.919 all these things Jesus said to the crowds in parables. 00:19:36.039 --> 00:19:37.879 Indeed, he said nothing to them without a parable. 00:19:38.539 --> 00:19:41.039 Thus was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet. 00:19:41.139 --> 00:19:42.399 I will open my mouth in parables. 00:19:42.539 --> 00:19:45.619 I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world. 00:19:45.740 --> 00:19:47.879 It's a fulfillment of Psalm 78 too. 00:19:47.980 --> 00:19:48.619 That's the quote. 00:19:49.200 --> 00:19:54.019 And what we're learning here is that Jesus' proclamation of the kingdom in parables 00:19:54.019 --> 00:19:56.180 was him throwing out seed. 00:19:56.180 --> 00:20:00.579 And those who responded to that, they're the mustard seed. 00:20:01.519 --> 00:20:02.720 They're the leaven. 00:20:04.299 --> 00:20:09.980 And so what I'm suggesting is that the one sowing the mustard seed, 00:20:10.819 --> 00:20:13.379 even the woman working the dough, 00:20:14.680 --> 00:20:16.879 it's pointing to the son of man, 00:20:17.460 --> 00:20:19.259 the Lord of the harvest, 00:20:19.259 --> 00:20:23.819 the baker of the worldwide kingdom. 00:20:26.640 --> 00:20:29.180 But it's not just a primary actor we see here. 00:20:30.559 --> 00:20:33.359 There's this emphasis on smallness and hiddenness. 00:20:35.039 --> 00:20:38.099 That mustard seed is one to two millimeters. 00:20:38.099 --> 00:20:45.480 And that remnant of fermenting dough was small. 00:20:46.240 --> 00:20:48.919 And so the emphasis is on smallness, 00:20:49.019 --> 00:20:51.159 starting small and hidden. 00:20:52.519 --> 00:20:55.839 That mustard seed was hidden in the ground. 00:20:56.980 --> 00:21:02.519 And that remnant of dough was hidden in the flour, that leaven. 00:21:03.480 --> 00:21:06.319 And so there's emphasis on both smallness and hiddenness. 00:21:06.319 --> 00:21:10.819 And Jesus is saying the kingdom, the saving reign of God, 00:21:11.399 --> 00:21:12.980 as I have inaugurated, 00:21:13.639 --> 00:21:15.919 it starts small and hidden. 00:21:16.839 --> 00:21:18.059 That's the way of the kingdom. 00:21:19.460 --> 00:21:20.919 And not only do we see that, 00:21:21.099 --> 00:21:24.139 it's transformational over time. 00:21:24.220 --> 00:21:27.220 We have a one to two millimeter seed becoming a tree 00:21:27.220 --> 00:21:29.299 that's eight to twelve feet tall and wide. 00:21:29.299 --> 00:21:34.299 We have this small fermenting piece of dough 00:21:34.299 --> 00:21:38.480 that is worked through 25 pounds of flour. 00:21:39.480 --> 00:21:43.879 There's transformation that takes place over time. 00:21:44.579 --> 00:21:46.899 So it starts small, it starts hidden, 00:21:47.180 --> 00:21:49.460 and it grows and it spreads, 00:21:49.879 --> 00:21:52.299 and it becomes something extraordinary. 00:21:52.299 --> 00:21:58.639 The smallest of all seeds grows to be the largest of all plants. 00:21:58.980 --> 00:22:01.059 It's gloriously prominent. 00:22:02.759 --> 00:22:08.940 The littlest of leaven gets through all 25 pounds of flour. 00:22:09.619 --> 00:22:11.039 It's pervasive. 00:22:11.039 --> 00:22:15.119 And so what Jesus is saying here is that 00:22:15.119 --> 00:22:17.700 He is causing His people, 00:22:18.460 --> 00:22:20.539 those who are brought into the kingdom 00:22:20.539 --> 00:22:21.759 from the very beginning, 00:22:21.859 --> 00:22:23.379 which started small and hidden, 00:22:24.139 --> 00:22:28.720 He is growing it and working it through the world. 00:22:29.319 --> 00:22:31.700 So that it's growing and growing and growing 00:22:31.700 --> 00:22:33.019 and it can become like a tree. 00:22:33.359 --> 00:22:35.200 And it's spreading and spreading and spreading 00:22:35.200 --> 00:22:36.819 all the way through the flour 00:22:36.819 --> 00:22:38.839 of every tribe, tongue, and nation. 00:22:42.919 --> 00:22:46.039 The parable is not about shock and awe. 00:22:46.779 --> 00:22:49.379 These parables are about sowing and growing. 00:22:50.539 --> 00:22:51.339 They're about baking. 00:22:53.179 --> 00:22:56.480 The active, saving reign of God 00:22:56.480 --> 00:23:00.879 starts small and grows big. 00:23:04.099 --> 00:23:05.399 This is a correction 00:23:05.400 --> 00:23:07.100 for those who are expecting 00:23:07.100 --> 00:23:08.540 a shock and awe Messiah. 00:23:10.140 --> 00:23:11.640 He's saying, I don't roll that way. 00:23:13.720 --> 00:23:16.980 My way is not fast but slow. 00:23:17.800 --> 00:23:20.960 My way is not fierce but gentle. 00:23:21.700 --> 00:23:26.200 My way is not forceful but sacrificial. 00:23:27.100 --> 00:23:30.100 He gave His life as a ransom for many. 00:23:30.099 --> 00:23:35.199 It gives us a sense of direction 00:23:35.199 --> 00:23:36.819 in our own ministry here, 00:23:37.199 --> 00:23:38.179 Christ the King Church. 00:23:38.379 --> 00:23:40.539 It informs the way that we do things. 00:23:40.899 --> 00:23:43.179 It informs kind of like the time frame we're on. 00:23:43.279 --> 00:23:45.219 It informs in terms of our expectations. 00:23:45.879 --> 00:23:47.359 It informs too, it's like, 00:23:47.639 --> 00:23:49.159 how do we think about our city? 00:23:52.079 --> 00:23:53.559 Now to bring this to bear, 00:23:53.939 --> 00:23:55.059 historically speaking, 00:23:55.059 --> 00:23:58.759 the kingdom started really small. 00:24:01.139 --> 00:24:03.440 Jesus, His disciples, 00:24:03.639 --> 00:24:04.940 maybe 120 altogether, 00:24:06.259 --> 00:24:09.139 in a podunk town around Galilee, 00:24:10.339 --> 00:24:13.000 small, concentrated, 00:24:13.839 --> 00:24:16.059 and over two millennia, 00:24:16.059 --> 00:24:18.919 the kingdom has grown 00:24:18.919 --> 00:24:21.139 and grown 00:24:21.139 --> 00:24:23.399 and grown. 00:24:24.700 --> 00:24:25.759 And so today, 00:24:26.000 --> 00:24:26.559 Christianity 00:24:26.559 --> 00:24:30.179 has the largest number of adherents worldwide. 00:24:30.359 --> 00:24:31.700 Now, we can debate 00:24:31.700 --> 00:24:34.159 whether all people claiming to be Christians 00:24:34.159 --> 00:24:35.259 are actually Christians. 00:24:35.519 --> 00:24:36.359 We can debate that. 00:24:37.319 --> 00:24:39.240 But I just want to point to the fact that 00:24:39.240 --> 00:24:41.679 this parable is somehow prophetic. 00:24:41.680 --> 00:24:47.180 In 2012, there was 2.2 billion people 00:24:47.180 --> 00:24:47.980 on the planet 00:24:47.980 --> 00:24:50.420 that claimed to be a follower of Jesus. 00:24:51.920 --> 00:24:53.680 Now that's extraordinary growth 00:24:54.340 --> 00:24:55.320 over two millennia. 00:24:56.360 --> 00:24:59.519 From 120 to 2.2 billion, 00:25:01.019 --> 00:25:03.279 Jesus knew what He was talking about. 00:25:04.480 --> 00:25:05.900 And what that points to is, 00:25:07.259 --> 00:25:08.200 He's right on time. 00:25:08.200 --> 00:25:11.420 He's bringing about His purposes 00:25:11.420 --> 00:25:12.680 as He said He would. 00:25:13.940 --> 00:25:15.000 He's grown the kingdom 00:25:15.000 --> 00:25:16.380 just like He said He would. 00:25:18.940 --> 00:25:20.860 And what this means for us is this. 00:25:21.279 --> 00:25:24.640 We live at a specific time 00:25:24.640 --> 00:25:26.819 of His global harvest. 00:25:29.380 --> 00:25:31.480 We're not on our time. 00:25:31.559 --> 00:25:32.980 We're on His time. 00:25:34.200 --> 00:25:35.660 Now, if you're here 00:25:35.660 --> 00:25:36.680 and you're realizing 00:25:36.680 --> 00:25:38.160 that you're not in the kingdom, 00:25:38.840 --> 00:25:41.200 that you haven't bowed your knee 00:25:41.200 --> 00:25:41.980 to King Jesus 00:25:41.980 --> 00:25:45.440 and by grace received the salvation 00:25:45.440 --> 00:25:46.580 He alone offers, 00:25:47.460 --> 00:25:48.880 today is the day of salvation. 00:25:50.680 --> 00:25:52.960 The time for you is to repent 00:25:52.960 --> 00:25:54.740 and believe 00:25:54.740 --> 00:25:57.519 and come join us 00:25:57.519 --> 00:25:58.600 in the kingdom of heaven. 00:25:59.940 --> 00:26:01.840 But let's say you're a follower of Jesus 00:26:01.840 --> 00:26:02.759 and you're realizing, 00:26:02.920 --> 00:26:03.340 you know what? 00:26:03.339 --> 00:26:05.659 I'm not living on His time. 00:26:05.740 --> 00:26:06.819 I'm living on my time. 00:26:07.619 --> 00:26:09.179 The call to you is 00:26:09.179 --> 00:26:11.500 move on to His time. 00:26:12.500 --> 00:26:13.919 Be thinking about harvest. 00:26:15.259 --> 00:26:17.480 Be thinking about spread 00:26:17.480 --> 00:26:18.859 in the city. 00:26:19.619 --> 00:26:19.980 Leaven. 00:26:21.579 --> 00:26:22.519 Here's what will happen. 00:26:23.720 --> 00:26:24.939 It will change your priorities. 00:26:26.599 --> 00:26:28.259 You'll see people differently. 00:26:29.459 --> 00:26:30.559 You'll want to use your money 00:26:30.559 --> 00:26:31.480 in different ways. 00:26:32.419 --> 00:26:33.799 You'll want to spend your time 00:26:33.799 --> 00:26:36.319 in ways that are advancing kingdom 00:26:36.319 --> 00:26:38.119 according to the King. 00:26:40.279 --> 00:26:41.859 Now, there are some of you in here 00:26:41.859 --> 00:26:45.339 that have been laboring hard. 00:26:47.460 --> 00:26:48.799 You've been sharing your faith. 00:26:49.179 --> 00:26:50.220 You've been knocking on doors. 00:26:50.480 --> 00:26:51.839 You've been initiating with people. 00:26:52.399 --> 00:26:53.279 You've been putting out 00:26:53.279 --> 00:26:54.379 a lot of effort 00:26:54.379 --> 00:26:56.379 out of a wonderful desire 00:26:56.379 --> 00:26:57.740 to see people come to Christ, 00:26:58.099 --> 00:27:00.039 to see people brought into our church, 00:27:00.039 --> 00:27:01.200 and you may be thinking, 00:27:01.319 --> 00:27:01.680 you know what? 00:27:01.779 --> 00:27:03.000 We're three and a half years old 00:27:03.000 --> 00:27:03.500 as a church. 00:27:03.680 --> 00:27:04.619 I thought we would have 00:27:04.619 --> 00:27:06.220 700 converts by this time. 00:27:06.279 --> 00:27:06.879 What's going on? 00:27:06.920 --> 00:27:07.859 Why isn't this thing happening? 00:27:08.980 --> 00:27:10.180 Why aren't we this 00:27:10.180 --> 00:27:11.819 mixed ethnically church 00:27:11.819 --> 00:27:13.159 that we're so wanting to be? 00:27:13.940 --> 00:27:15.159 Why isn't this happening? 00:27:17.619 --> 00:27:18.879 Well, the answer is 00:27:18.879 --> 00:27:20.980 Jesus is right on time. 00:27:22.220 --> 00:27:23.759 He's expanding His kingdom. 00:27:25.819 --> 00:27:27.099 Ministry's slow. 00:27:27.099 --> 00:27:30.980 People changing is hard. 00:27:31.379 --> 00:27:32.159 It takes time. 00:27:32.859 --> 00:27:34.179 Just over the last couple weeks, 00:27:34.259 --> 00:27:35.240 I've talked to two people 00:27:35.240 --> 00:27:36.619 who've become Christians 00:27:36.619 --> 00:27:37.699 in the last year, 00:27:37.980 --> 00:27:40.399 but it was a longer process. 00:27:41.359 --> 00:27:42.699 It takes time. 00:27:44.279 --> 00:27:45.439 And so the question is, 00:27:45.879 --> 00:27:47.419 are we on His time? 00:27:48.339 --> 00:27:49.879 Are we trusting Him? 00:27:49.880 --> 00:27:52.380 Now, we pray for outpourings 00:27:52.380 --> 00:27:53.000 of the Spirit 00:27:53.000 --> 00:27:54.720 in phenomenal works, 00:27:55.100 --> 00:27:56.420 but His typical MO 00:27:56.420 --> 00:27:59.420 is slow, gentle, 00:27:59.900 --> 00:28:00.780 and sacrificial. 00:28:02.880 --> 00:28:04.280 But we're on His time. 00:28:06.200 --> 00:28:08.240 Now, that should ring a bell 00:28:08.240 --> 00:28:08.900 in you as well. 00:28:12.040 --> 00:28:13.380 If the kingdom is spreading 00:28:13.380 --> 00:28:14.640 like I'm suggesting it is, 00:28:15.680 --> 00:28:16.920 we're in a different place now 00:28:16.920 --> 00:28:17.580 than when we were 00:28:17.580 --> 00:28:18.540 2,000 years ago, 00:28:18.539 --> 00:28:20.539 do you know what that means? 00:28:21.960 --> 00:28:22.960 We're getting closer 00:28:22.960 --> 00:28:23.659 to His return. 00:28:24.899 --> 00:28:25.940 He's coming back. 00:28:27.519 --> 00:28:28.680 We're one day closer. 00:28:29.519 --> 00:28:30.559 Not one day farther. 00:28:31.740 --> 00:28:32.819 He's coming back. 00:28:34.899 --> 00:28:37.019 Now, presently speaking, 00:28:38.019 --> 00:28:39.399 all throughout the globe, 00:28:39.819 --> 00:28:41.379 God is at work. 00:28:41.380 --> 00:28:43.760 His active, 00:28:43.760 --> 00:28:43.800 His active, 00:28:44.080 --> 00:28:45.180 saving reign 00:28:45.180 --> 00:28:47.080 is reaching 00:28:47.080 --> 00:28:49.360 into different people groups 00:28:49.360 --> 00:28:51.100 all along the planet. 00:28:51.520 --> 00:28:52.500 Now, if you're taking notes, 00:28:52.600 --> 00:28:53.980 I want you to jot down this. 00:28:54.520 --> 00:28:55.760 The Joshua Project. 00:28:56.580 --> 00:28:57.740 When you get home today 00:28:57.740 --> 00:28:58.740 or early this week, 00:28:59.060 --> 00:28:59.420 Google 00:28:59.420 --> 00:29:01.320 the Joshua Project. 00:29:01.860 --> 00:29:03.600 What the Joshua Project does 00:29:03.600 --> 00:29:04.860 is it tracks 00:29:04.860 --> 00:29:05.680 the progress 00:29:05.680 --> 00:29:07.600 of world evangelization. 00:29:07.599 --> 00:29:09.139 And it tracks it 00:29:09.139 --> 00:29:10.299 along two lines. 00:29:10.859 --> 00:29:12.019 Just the number 00:29:12.019 --> 00:29:12.559 of people 00:29:12.559 --> 00:29:13.179 who've been reached 00:29:13.179 --> 00:29:13.819 with the gospel 00:29:13.819 --> 00:29:15.159 as well as 00:29:15.159 --> 00:29:16.959 the number of people groups 00:29:16.959 --> 00:29:17.959 that have been reached 00:29:17.959 --> 00:29:18.619 with the gospel. 00:29:19.079 --> 00:29:19.980 And a people group 00:29:19.980 --> 00:29:21.219 is a distinct group 00:29:21.219 --> 00:29:21.779 of people 00:29:21.779 --> 00:29:23.139 by language, 00:29:23.359 --> 00:29:23.799 ethnicity, 00:29:23.980 --> 00:29:24.599 and culture. 00:29:25.639 --> 00:29:25.899 But, 00:29:26.019 --> 00:29:27.079 here's what you need 00:29:27.079 --> 00:29:27.399 to know. 00:29:27.819 --> 00:29:28.219 According to 00:29:28.219 --> 00:29:29.219 the Joshua Project, 00:29:29.819 --> 00:29:31.559 42% of the world's 00:29:31.559 --> 00:29:32.159 population, 00:29:32.339 --> 00:29:33.519 which is 3.11 00:29:33.519 --> 00:29:34.879 billion people, 00:29:34.880 --> 00:29:37.840 have not been reached 00:29:37.840 --> 00:29:39.000 with the gospel. 00:29:40.040 --> 00:29:40.580 And so, 00:29:40.660 --> 00:29:41.520 is the kingdom spreading? 00:29:42.460 --> 00:29:43.020 Yes. 00:29:44.020 --> 00:29:45.160 Has everybody been reached? 00:29:45.800 --> 00:29:46.440 No. 00:29:48.840 --> 00:29:50.020 The Joshua Project 00:29:50.020 --> 00:29:51.580 says that there are 00:29:51.580 --> 00:29:54.700 16,584 different 00:29:54.700 --> 00:29:55.600 people groups 00:29:55.600 --> 00:29:56.660 around the planet. 00:29:57.280 --> 00:29:59.220 Distinct people groups. 00:30:00.220 --> 00:30:01.220 And it says that 00:30:01.220 --> 00:30:04.080 6,733 are presently 00:30:04.079 --> 00:30:05.059 unreached. 00:30:06.139 --> 00:30:06.839 And what they mean 00:30:06.839 --> 00:30:07.500 by unreached 00:30:07.500 --> 00:30:07.939 is that 00:30:07.939 --> 00:30:09.659 an unreached people group 00:30:09.659 --> 00:30:11.079 is dependent 00:30:11.079 --> 00:30:12.079 on someone 00:30:12.079 --> 00:30:12.939 from outside 00:30:12.939 --> 00:30:13.740 of their group 00:30:13.740 --> 00:30:14.919 to come in 00:30:14.919 --> 00:30:16.079 and share the gospel 00:30:16.079 --> 00:30:16.899 of Jesus Christ 00:30:16.899 --> 00:30:17.399 with them. 00:30:18.679 --> 00:30:19.059 And so, 00:30:19.119 --> 00:30:19.659 presently, 00:30:19.799 --> 00:30:21.419 there's 40% 00:30:21.419 --> 00:30:22.220 of the world's 00:30:22.220 --> 00:30:22.799 people groups 00:30:22.799 --> 00:30:23.720 that don't have 00:30:23.720 --> 00:30:25.139 a witness to them. 00:30:27.619 --> 00:30:28.359 They're waiting 00:30:28.359 --> 00:30:29.240 for someone to come 00:30:29.240 --> 00:30:29.759 and tell them 00:30:29.759 --> 00:30:30.699 about the saving reign 00:30:30.699 --> 00:30:31.539 of Jesus Christ, 00:30:31.639 --> 00:30:32.439 about the grace 00:30:32.440 --> 00:30:34.080 of the Almighty God 00:30:34.080 --> 00:30:35.620 who offers them 00:30:35.620 --> 00:30:36.880 their sinners 00:30:36.880 --> 00:30:38.480 in need of salvation. 00:30:40.980 --> 00:30:41.220 You know, 00:30:41.279 --> 00:30:41.779 America 00:30:41.779 --> 00:30:43.340 is actually listed 00:30:43.340 --> 00:30:44.480 on the Joshua Project 00:30:44.480 --> 00:30:45.700 as having its own 00:30:45.700 --> 00:30:47.059 unreached people groups. 00:30:47.160 --> 00:30:48.059 And it's very interesting. 00:30:48.820 --> 00:30:49.860 The unreached people groups 00:30:49.860 --> 00:30:50.380 in America, 00:30:50.940 --> 00:30:51.799 Native Americans, 00:30:52.600 --> 00:30:53.080 immigrants, 00:30:53.519 --> 00:30:54.200 and when you look 00:30:54.200 --> 00:30:54.960 at it on the map, 00:30:55.340 --> 00:30:56.720 the hot spots 00:30:56.720 --> 00:30:58.259 are in big cities 00:30:58.259 --> 00:30:59.460 in our nation. 00:31:05.099 --> 00:31:05.859 This is why 00:31:05.859 --> 00:31:06.779 we have missionaries. 00:31:08.079 --> 00:31:09.160 And this is why, 00:31:09.220 --> 00:31:09.900 one of the big reasons 00:31:09.900 --> 00:31:11.339 why we have mission partners 00:31:11.339 --> 00:31:12.039 as a church. 00:31:12.400 --> 00:31:12.940 This is why 00:31:12.940 --> 00:31:14.019 we want to get 00:31:14.019 --> 00:31:15.160 alongside of 00:31:15.160 --> 00:31:16.500 Josh and Christy Anderson 00:31:16.500 --> 00:31:17.079 and the work 00:31:17.079 --> 00:31:17.599 that they're doing 00:31:17.599 --> 00:31:18.099 in Asia. 00:31:18.460 --> 00:31:19.539 We partner with them 00:31:19.539 --> 00:31:20.259 so that they can 00:31:20.259 --> 00:31:21.920 bring the gospel 00:31:21.920 --> 00:31:23.079 to an unreached 00:31:23.079 --> 00:31:23.920 people group. 00:31:24.420 --> 00:31:25.759 That's why we saddle up 00:31:25.759 --> 00:31:26.779 next to and partner 00:31:26.779 --> 00:31:27.759 with Chelsea Zeman 00:31:27.759 --> 00:31:28.700 so that she can 00:31:28.700 --> 00:31:29.519 go to Nicaragua 00:31:29.519 --> 00:31:30.599 and share the gospel 00:31:30.599 --> 00:31:31.059 with people 00:31:31.059 --> 00:31:31.639 who presently 00:31:31.639 --> 00:31:32.940 don't know about Jesus. 00:31:33.740 --> 00:31:34.279 And that's why 00:31:34.279 --> 00:31:35.259 we partner up 00:31:35.259 --> 00:31:36.220 with Kyle Zeman 00:31:36.220 --> 00:31:37.440 who's working 00:31:37.440 --> 00:31:38.779 at Bradley University 00:31:38.779 --> 00:31:39.259 in Illinois. 00:31:39.379 --> 00:31:39.579 You might, 00:31:39.660 --> 00:31:40.359 Bradley University, 00:31:40.519 --> 00:31:41.019 that's in America. 00:31:41.139 --> 00:31:41.660 Well, it's like 00:31:41.660 --> 00:31:42.700 a foreign land 00:31:42.700 --> 00:31:43.480 to us now. 00:31:46.899 --> 00:31:47.759 There's something else 00:31:47.759 --> 00:31:48.660 I want to make you aware of. 00:31:50.660 --> 00:31:51.720 In some countries 00:31:51.720 --> 00:31:52.399 around the world, 00:31:52.940 --> 00:31:53.819 the kingdom of heaven 00:31:53.819 --> 00:31:56.139 is presently small 00:31:56.140 --> 00:31:56.700 and hidden 00:31:56.700 --> 00:31:57.740 because of persecution 00:31:57.740 --> 00:31:58.560 and suffering. 00:31:59.980 --> 00:32:00.360 Recently, 00:32:00.520 --> 00:32:02.060 we received as a family, 00:32:02.180 --> 00:32:03.120 we get Christianity Today 00:32:03.120 --> 00:32:04.400 and part of the latest 00:32:04.400 --> 00:32:05.220 Christianity Today 00:32:05.220 --> 00:32:07.360 was this magazine 00:32:07.360 --> 00:32:08.340 by Open Doors. 00:32:09.320 --> 00:32:09.560 And this, 00:32:10.640 --> 00:32:11.100 Open Doors 00:32:11.100 --> 00:32:12.020 is an organization 00:32:12.020 --> 00:32:13.420 that tracks the persecution 00:32:13.420 --> 00:32:14.500 of the church 00:32:14.500 --> 00:32:15.380 around the world. 00:32:15.740 --> 00:32:16.840 And it shared 00:32:16.840 --> 00:32:18.520 the top 50 countries 00:32:18.520 --> 00:32:19.520 that are persecuting 00:32:19.520 --> 00:32:20.560 Christians around the world. 00:32:20.940 --> 00:32:21.160 Do you know 00:32:21.160 --> 00:32:21.800 what the number one 00:32:21.800 --> 00:32:22.920 country was? 00:32:23.600 --> 00:32:24.200 North Korea. 00:32:24.200 --> 00:32:26.080 And so, 00:32:26.259 --> 00:32:26.900 in this country 00:32:26.900 --> 00:32:27.380 of North Korea, 00:32:27.480 --> 00:32:28.900 there are 24, 00:32:29.279 --> 00:32:31.680 25.4 million people. 00:32:32.620 --> 00:32:35.059 300,000 are Christians. 00:32:36.160 --> 00:32:38.120 That's 1% of the population. 00:32:39.160 --> 00:32:40.420 Now, when you hear me say 00:32:40.420 --> 00:32:41.180 North Korea, 00:32:41.640 --> 00:32:42.740 you might instantly go, 00:32:42.840 --> 00:32:44.340 well, third missile test. 00:32:44.680 --> 00:32:45.580 Are they going to get 00:32:45.580 --> 00:32:46.500 a missile, 00:32:46.960 --> 00:32:49.019 intercontinental ballistic missile 00:32:49.019 --> 00:32:50.440 to bring a warhead 00:32:50.440 --> 00:32:51.460 to the United States? 00:32:51.640 --> 00:32:52.539 Tension's rising. 00:32:52.539 --> 00:32:53.539 China's involved. 00:32:53.700 --> 00:32:54.379 South Korea, 00:32:54.559 --> 00:32:54.839 Japan, 00:32:55.099 --> 00:32:55.759 the United States. 00:32:56.200 --> 00:32:57.779 Saber rattling going on. 00:32:58.039 --> 00:32:59.440 But the reality is, 00:32:59.920 --> 00:33:01.119 there are worshipers 00:33:01.119 --> 00:33:02.200 in North Korea 00:33:02.200 --> 00:33:03.420 that don't have 00:33:03.420 --> 00:33:04.319 a gospel witness. 00:33:04.700 --> 00:33:05.599 And there's 1% 00:33:05.599 --> 00:33:06.359 of the population 00:33:06.359 --> 00:33:08.000 that God has placed there 00:33:08.000 --> 00:33:09.359 and He is going to 00:33:09.359 --> 00:33:11.980 leaven that 100,000 through. 00:33:12.399 --> 00:33:13.180 And it's going to start 00:33:13.180 --> 00:33:14.159 with them showing up 00:33:14.159 --> 00:33:14.879 in prisons 00:33:14.879 --> 00:33:16.460 and sharing with people 00:33:16.460 --> 00:33:17.759 gospel in prisons 00:33:17.759 --> 00:33:19.259 and in outhouses. 00:33:19.259 --> 00:33:21.279 and the gospel's 00:33:21.279 --> 00:33:21.839 going to spread. 00:33:26.339 --> 00:33:27.720 God's doing a global work. 00:33:29.279 --> 00:33:30.980 He's advancing the gospel, 00:33:31.140 --> 00:33:32.379 the saving reign of God 00:33:32.379 --> 00:33:33.759 all over the place. 00:33:34.900 --> 00:33:36.299 It's an active work. 00:33:38.379 --> 00:33:38.859 Locally. 00:33:40.859 --> 00:33:41.960 What about our city? 00:33:41.960 --> 00:33:45.240 What about this little section 00:33:45.240 --> 00:33:46.660 of God's field 00:33:46.660 --> 00:33:47.579 we call Kenosha? 00:33:47.819 --> 00:33:50.079 This little segment 00:33:50.079 --> 00:33:51.039 of the flower? 00:33:54.539 --> 00:33:56.039 Well, for those of us 00:33:56.039 --> 00:33:57.460 who have been, 00:33:58.220 --> 00:33:59.000 by God's grace, 00:33:59.120 --> 00:34:00.079 brought into the kingdom, 00:34:01.400 --> 00:34:02.620 we're leaven 00:34:02.620 --> 00:34:04.279 to the city. 00:34:05.120 --> 00:34:06.019 We're leaven. 00:34:06.019 --> 00:34:08.059 You know, 00:34:08.380 --> 00:34:10.780 leaven has this 00:34:10.780 --> 00:34:14.059 dynamic additive. 00:34:14.739 --> 00:34:16.099 You put leaven 00:34:16.099 --> 00:34:17.420 into flour 00:34:17.420 --> 00:34:18.500 and what happens is 00:34:18.500 --> 00:34:19.679 it brings with it 00:34:19.679 --> 00:34:21.119 a chemical reaction 00:34:21.119 --> 00:34:22.599 that brings about 00:34:22.599 --> 00:34:23.400 a change. 00:34:23.780 --> 00:34:24.920 It gives rise 00:34:24.920 --> 00:34:25.900 to the dome. 00:34:28.400 --> 00:34:29.639 My friends, 00:34:31.199 --> 00:34:32.259 we're God's leaven. 00:34:33.440 --> 00:34:34.840 We have been placed 00:34:34.840 --> 00:34:35.980 in this city 00:34:35.980 --> 00:34:37.120 and we're being 00:34:37.120 --> 00:34:38.160 needed through. 00:34:39.059 --> 00:34:40.820 It's no coincidence. 00:34:41.380 --> 00:34:42.100 You're in the neighborhood 00:34:42.100 --> 00:34:42.600 you're in. 00:34:42.660 --> 00:34:43.280 You're in the school 00:34:43.280 --> 00:34:43.880 you are. 00:34:44.000 --> 00:34:44.940 You're in the organizations 00:34:44.940 --> 00:34:45.800 you're involved with. 00:34:45.840 --> 00:34:46.380 The businesses. 00:34:47.200 --> 00:34:49.019 It's all part of God's plan 00:34:49.019 --> 00:34:50.200 to expand His kingdom. 00:34:53.700 --> 00:34:54.940 Wherever you are, 00:34:56.000 --> 00:34:58.039 the Lord wants to use you. 00:34:59.440 --> 00:35:00.740 He wants to use you 00:35:00.740 --> 00:35:01.360 as leaven. 00:35:01.360 --> 00:35:01.539 Leaven. 00:35:04.840 --> 00:35:05.800 It's not shock and awe. 00:35:07.500 --> 00:35:10.400 It's slow. 00:35:11.420 --> 00:35:12.880 It's gentle. 00:35:13.500 --> 00:35:15.280 It's sacrificial. 00:35:17.980 --> 00:35:19.860 The dynamic that we bring 00:35:19.860 --> 00:35:21.500 with us into our neighborhoods, 00:35:21.980 --> 00:35:23.240 it's not of us. 00:35:23.800 --> 00:35:25.760 We bring in the gospel dynamic. 00:35:27.019 --> 00:35:29.420 It's God's divine change agent. 00:35:29.420 --> 00:35:31.800 And when we share the gospel 00:35:31.800 --> 00:35:32.579 with people, 00:35:33.079 --> 00:35:34.159 this catalyst, 00:35:34.740 --> 00:35:35.619 what happens is 00:35:35.619 --> 00:35:37.079 God raises 00:35:37.079 --> 00:35:38.420 dead people 00:35:38.420 --> 00:35:39.460 to life. 00:35:42.599 --> 00:35:43.639 There are a whole lot 00:35:43.639 --> 00:35:44.320 of dead people 00:35:44.320 --> 00:35:44.940 in this city. 00:35:45.659 --> 00:35:46.519 Spiritually dead. 00:35:47.260 --> 00:35:48.559 And God has spread us 00:35:48.559 --> 00:35:49.320 like a leaven 00:35:49.320 --> 00:35:50.420 and located us 00:35:50.420 --> 00:35:51.320 very specifically. 00:35:51.780 --> 00:35:52.800 It's about proximity, 00:35:53.200 --> 00:35:54.220 it's about time, 00:35:54.360 --> 00:35:55.820 and it's about a dynamic. 00:35:55.820 --> 00:35:57.019 And we got the dynamic. 00:35:57.200 --> 00:35:57.880 It's the gospel. 00:35:57.880 --> 00:36:00.340 We get to tell people 00:36:00.340 --> 00:36:00.840 about it. 00:36:03.960 --> 00:36:04.660 This morning, 00:36:04.720 --> 00:36:05.320 I want to ask, 00:36:05.440 --> 00:36:06.160 how do you expect 00:36:06.160 --> 00:36:07.059 the kingdom of heaven, 00:36:07.220 --> 00:36:08.680 the saving reign of Jesus, 00:36:09.380 --> 00:36:10.400 to advance 00:36:10.400 --> 00:36:11.660 around the world 00:36:11.660 --> 00:36:12.660 or in our city? 00:36:13.140 --> 00:36:14.000 Is it shock and awe? 00:36:14.099 --> 00:36:15.079 No, it's not shock and awe. 00:36:16.680 --> 00:36:17.440 It's slow. 00:36:18.380 --> 00:36:19.019 It's gentle. 00:36:19.880 --> 00:36:20.619 It's sacrificial. 00:36:21.640 --> 00:36:23.880 It's so ingrowed. 00:36:23.880 --> 00:36:26.460 Let me urge you 00:36:26.460 --> 00:36:27.640 to do a couple things. 00:36:30.019 --> 00:36:31.119 Start prayer walking. 00:36:33.200 --> 00:36:34.400 It's getting nice out. 00:36:36.039 --> 00:36:37.079 Walk around your neighborhood. 00:36:38.539 --> 00:36:39.519 Start praying for people. 00:36:40.840 --> 00:36:41.880 Start praying for your neighbors. 00:36:42.940 --> 00:36:44.019 God will use it for good 00:36:44.019 --> 00:36:45.940 to help you see as he sees. 00:36:47.220 --> 00:36:47.940 Last week, 00:36:48.119 --> 00:36:49.400 the leadership team, 00:36:49.780 --> 00:36:50.980 we broke into twos 00:36:50.980 --> 00:36:51.780 and we drove around 00:36:51.780 --> 00:36:52.860 the city of Kenosha 00:36:52.860 --> 00:36:53.619 for two hours. 00:36:54.440 --> 00:36:55.800 And we drove around saying, 00:36:56.159 --> 00:36:56.780 who are the people 00:36:56.780 --> 00:36:57.500 that God has brought 00:36:57.500 --> 00:36:58.059 to this city? 00:36:58.460 --> 00:36:59.179 And what does God 00:36:59.179 --> 00:37:00.159 want to do in this city? 00:37:01.440 --> 00:37:02.639 Go out on a date. 00:37:03.639 --> 00:37:04.639 Drive around town. 00:37:05.840 --> 00:37:06.679 See the neighborhoods 00:37:06.679 --> 00:37:07.320 and the people 00:37:07.320 --> 00:37:09.059 waiting. 00:37:09.059 --> 00:37:12.559 The kingdom of heaven 00:37:12.559 --> 00:37:15.059 is not shock and awe. 00:37:16.320 --> 00:37:17.400 It's not fast. 00:37:17.539 --> 00:37:17.960 It's slow. 00:37:18.079 --> 00:37:18.739 It's not fierce. 00:37:18.880 --> 00:37:19.299 It's gentle. 00:37:19.440 --> 00:37:20.420 It's not forceful. 00:37:21.360 --> 00:37:22.500 It's sacrificial. 00:37:22.759 --> 00:37:24.860 Our king is the suffering servant. 00:37:27.079 --> 00:37:28.360 And he's right on time. 00:37:30.659 --> 00:37:31.799 Let's get on his time. 00:37:33.539 --> 00:37:34.380 Will you pray with me? 00:37:34.380 --> 00:37:34.420 Amen. 00:37:34.420 --> 00:37:34.480 Amen. 00:37:39.059 --> 00:37:41.019 Lord Jesus, 00:37:41.139 --> 00:37:42.199 you are the Lord of the harvest. 00:37:43.960 --> 00:37:45.500 We thank you for these parables 00:37:45.500 --> 00:37:46.239 and we thank you 00:37:46.239 --> 00:37:47.219 for what you've been doing 00:37:47.219 --> 00:37:48.079 over the course 00:37:48.079 --> 00:37:49.199 of the last two millennia. 00:37:50.199 --> 00:37:51.559 You are the risen Christ 00:37:51.559 --> 00:37:52.619 who's sovereign over all. 00:37:52.759 --> 00:37:53.799 You're wanting to gather 00:37:53.799 --> 00:37:54.820 for yourself a people 00:37:54.820 --> 00:37:55.599 from every tribe, 00:37:55.719 --> 00:37:56.259 tongue, and nation. 00:37:57.199 --> 00:37:58.259 We pray, Father, 00:37:58.380 --> 00:38:00.759 for your gospel to advance. 00:38:01.159 --> 00:38:02.480 We pray for our brothers 00:38:02.480 --> 00:38:03.779 and sisters in North Korea 00:38:03.779 --> 00:38:05.139 who presently suffer, 00:38:05.480 --> 00:38:06.519 suffer harshly. 00:38:07.440 --> 00:38:08.599 Would you give them strength? 00:38:09.719 --> 00:38:11.719 Would you work them through 00:38:11.719 --> 00:38:13.500 like leaven that country? 00:38:14.699 --> 00:38:15.960 God, would you bring change? 00:38:16.079 --> 00:38:17.139 Would you turn that country 00:38:17.139 --> 00:38:19.960 around from the inside out? 00:38:21.519 --> 00:38:23.719 God, we pray for our city. 00:38:24.659 --> 00:38:25.840 We ask that, God, 00:38:25.940 --> 00:38:27.139 there would be an outpouring 00:38:27.139 --> 00:38:27.980 of your spirit 00:38:27.980 --> 00:38:29.559 that would give us 00:38:29.559 --> 00:38:30.880 the boldness 00:38:30.880 --> 00:38:31.699 and the confidence 00:38:31.699 --> 00:38:34.599 and the perseverance 00:38:34.599 --> 00:38:37.460 to faithfully proclaim 00:38:37.460 --> 00:38:38.760 of what Christ has done 00:38:38.760 --> 00:38:39.400 for sinners. 00:38:40.280 --> 00:38:40.880 That, God, 00:38:40.920 --> 00:38:41.639 would you help us 00:38:41.639 --> 00:38:43.780 to see where we've been located 00:38:43.780 --> 00:38:45.980 not as coincidence, 00:38:46.780 --> 00:38:47.619 but providence. 00:38:48.360 --> 00:38:49.780 And that we would be a people 00:38:49.780 --> 00:38:50.860 that are making the most 00:38:50.860 --> 00:38:51.480 of the time, 00:38:51.599 --> 00:38:52.159 your time. 00:38:53.820 --> 00:38:54.980 Lord, we thank you so much 00:38:54.980 --> 00:38:56.400 for calling us as a church 00:38:56.400 --> 00:38:58.740 to be light in a dark place, 00:38:59.420 --> 00:39:01.760 to be salt in a decaying world, 00:39:01.760 --> 00:39:03.840 and to be leaven 00:39:03.840 --> 00:39:07.140 in this big lump of dough 00:39:07.140 --> 00:39:08.020 called Kenosha. 00:39:09.300 --> 00:39:10.320 God, we would ask 00:39:10.320 --> 00:39:11.300 that you would bring 00:39:11.300 --> 00:39:12.220 men and women, 00:39:12.360 --> 00:39:12.980 boys and girls, 00:39:13.160 --> 00:39:14.640 into our church 00:39:14.640 --> 00:39:16.640 who are just fresh 00:39:16.640 --> 00:39:19.140 in terms of coming to Christ. 00:39:19.920 --> 00:39:20.520 Would you give us 00:39:20.520 --> 00:39:22.160 the privilege of sharing 00:39:22.160 --> 00:39:23.160 the gospel with many 00:39:23.160 --> 00:39:24.700 and seeing many respond? 00:39:25.120 --> 00:39:26.140 Would you build your kingdom, 00:39:26.360 --> 00:39:26.900 Lord, we ask? 00:39:26.900 --> 00:39:29.300 Thank you for your word, 00:39:29.360 --> 00:39:29.780 Lord Jesus, 00:39:29.940 --> 00:39:30.880 and it's your name we pray. 00:39:31.680 --> 00:39:31.980 Amen.