WEBVTT 00:00:00.220 --> 00:00:04.459 Well, good morning, everyone. How lovely to see you. My name's Graham. I'm the pastor 00:00:04.459 --> 00:00:09.800 here at the church. So lovely to meet so many new faces this morning. You're so welcome 00:00:09.800 --> 00:00:14.359 with us. Probably thinking what I'm thinking. We know if the two in the baptism tank who 00:00:14.359 --> 00:00:18.960 were doing the baptisms, who has the better eyesight? Note to self for next time we do 00:00:18.960 --> 00:00:23.740 this bigger font on what we put at the front. Wonderful to see you this morning. If you 00:00:23.740 --> 00:00:28.859 have a Bible, please come with me to Mark chapter four. If you don't have a Bible, don't 00:00:28.859 --> 00:00:32.320 worry about it. You can get it on your phone. You can grab a Bible in the pew in front of 00:00:32.320 --> 00:00:37.119 you. It's just going to be really helpful. We're going to look at two verses this morning. 00:00:37.259 --> 00:00:41.140 As we're doing that, let me just say to Stuart and Rachel, I don't know if they're back in 00:00:41.140 --> 00:00:46.780 yet. Not yet? Okay, let's say it in front of you. You can pass it on. Number one, know 00:00:46.780 --> 00:00:52.140 how dearly loved they are. Just love having them as part of this church family. And number 00:00:52.140 --> 00:00:56.980 two, know how encouraged we are to hear how the Lord has been at work in their life. 00:00:56.979 --> 00:01:01.599 So you can all pass that on, on behalf of this church family to them when they come 00:01:01.599 --> 00:01:06.700 back through. So picture the scene. An older couple. Okay, they've been married. I'm trying 00:01:06.700 --> 00:01:12.420 not to look at anyone. They've been married for 40 years. They know each other inside out. 00:01:12.679 --> 00:01:19.819 She is his yin to yang. He is to her, the aunt to deck. They know each other inside out. 00:01:19.939 --> 00:01:25.799 And they're getting ready for bed one evening. And the man walks into the bathroom and he lets 00:01:25.799 --> 00:01:33.519 out an almighty groan. And the voice comes from the bedroom. What's the problem, sweetheart? 00:01:34.159 --> 00:01:40.120 To which the man replies, you remember those days when we were young and we were active? 00:01:40.319 --> 00:01:45.179 We used to go on adventures. We were full of energy. You remember those days? Well, now 00:01:45.179 --> 00:01:50.959 I look in the mirror and what I see, what do I see? My tummy's getting bigger. My face has 00:01:50.959 --> 00:01:56.759 wrinkles everywhere. My back is hunched. What's happened to us? And the lady shouts from next 00:01:56.759 --> 00:02:02.119 door. She says, well, look on the bright side, dear. At least nothing's wrong with your eyesight. 00:02:04.519 --> 00:02:08.519 Now, as we come to Mark chapter four, here's what I want to do for the next 15 or so minutes, 00:02:08.639 --> 00:02:14.780 15, 20 minutes. One is to see in this passage that the disciples are struggling to get their 00:02:14.780 --> 00:02:20.680 head around a new reality. That's where we are in Mark chapter four. And Jesus is helping them 00:02:20.680 --> 00:02:31.120 understand what it is to be one of his disciples and what it means to live for him and what it is 00:02:31.120 --> 00:02:37.520 his kingdom is like. What is his kingdom like? He's helping them understand it in this passage. 00:02:37.780 --> 00:02:43.060 It's a reality that if you're here today and you wouldn't call yourself a follower of Jesus, 00:02:43.060 --> 00:02:49.000 and we just love that you're here, you'll maybe find this hugely surprising as Jesus tells us what 00:02:49.000 --> 00:02:54.599 his kingdom is like. And a reality that if you are a Christian here today, hopefully you're going to 00:02:54.599 --> 00:03:03.500 find this hugely strengthening on this special Sunday as Jesus helps his disciples understand 00:03:03.500 --> 00:03:10.099 the reality of how his kingdom works. So here are the 12 disciples in this passage. 00:03:10.099 --> 00:03:18.900 Now you have to say, what a bunch. This eclectic first century Middle Eastern dozen, right? We snapshot 00:03:18.900 --> 00:03:24.879 of the 12. You got in there, you get guys who've left behind the security of the family fishing business 00:03:24.879 --> 00:03:32.280 to come and follow Jesus. You've got a man in there who's left behind his cushy, lucrative, dishonest, 00:03:32.319 --> 00:03:38.780 because you're working for the Romans tax collector lifestyle in that 12. You've also got a man 00:03:38.780 --> 00:03:45.520 who's left behind his former life where he used to live for nothing else than to kill Romans. 00:03:46.300 --> 00:03:51.539 And as a side, it's fascinating to think about those two individuals right at the end there. 00:03:51.680 --> 00:03:57.639 One guy who works for the Romans, he's a Jew who's began to work for the Romans. Other guy who is a Jew 00:03:57.639 --> 00:04:04.080 who lives to kill the Romans. And all of a sudden, Jesus has these two in his 12 followers. I'd love to 00:04:04.080 --> 00:04:08.680 be a fly on the wall when Jesus introduced those two for the first time. Would you not? 00:04:11.160 --> 00:04:19.220 Enemy me, enemy? Nah, that's so pre-me. How about in me, we make it brother meet brother, 00:04:19.759 --> 00:04:29.639 as you were, and leaves the room. In our world that seems so to be ever daily more increasingly 00:04:29.639 --> 00:04:38.860 polarized and divided as time goes on. What Jesus does in not only getting these two individuals 00:04:38.860 --> 00:04:45.819 in the same room together, but getting these two individuals to love one another. Whoever you are 00:04:45.819 --> 00:04:50.199 here today, whatever you think about the Christian faith, I'd say that's something worth sitting up 00:04:50.199 --> 00:04:57.339 and taking notice of. How on earth has Jesus of Nazareth done that? And you look around at a church today, 00:04:57.339 --> 00:05:01.539 I do this every Sunday when I'm up here. I look out and I thought, what a random bunch of people. 00:05:02.939 --> 00:05:09.560 What would bring us together? It's not age, it's not geography, it's not interest. There's one person 00:05:09.560 --> 00:05:15.939 that's brought us together, not to play happy families, but he's made us one. And that person is 00:05:15.939 --> 00:05:25.159 Jesus of Nazareth. And he's done it with these 12, this eclectic bunch of people. And if you'd asked 00:05:25.160 --> 00:05:31.240 these men to give their stories as to why they've given it all up to follow this former carpenter 00:05:31.240 --> 00:05:37.220 and now penniless preacher from this backwater town of Nazareth, well, they would have started 00:05:37.220 --> 00:05:43.340 telling you about the healings they witnessed him do, the likes of which they'd never seen anything 00:05:43.340 --> 00:05:48.900 like that before. And he would have started telling you about the teaching that they listened to 00:05:48.899 --> 00:05:54.959 in Toucan, the likes of which them and the people from their community had never heard before. 00:05:55.159 --> 00:06:04.000 And this man, Jesus, burst into their lives. And he said those four simple words, come and follow me. 00:06:04.120 --> 00:06:11.599 And they did. And they did. And that's all great so far. And yet here in the immediate context of Mark 00:06:11.600 --> 00:06:18.500 chapter 3, if you've got it, the disciples have begun to see that not everybody shares that same 00:06:18.500 --> 00:06:24.760 opinion of Jesus. Right? If you've got it there, track with me. The religious leaders of the day at 00:06:24.760 --> 00:06:34.740 verse 22, they think he's demon possessed. His own family think, verse 21, that he's out of his mind. 00:06:34.740 --> 00:06:43.079 Chapter 3. Jesus himself has just told this parable, this heavenly story, about what people's reactions 00:06:43.079 --> 00:06:48.500 to his message and to this word will be like. And he's gone for what? He's gone for it's like a farmer 00:06:48.500 --> 00:06:57.180 sowing the seed. And that parable is all about percentages. 75% of the people who hear this word 00:06:57.180 --> 00:07:04.579 won't accept it and it won't grow in their lives. And so the reality, that is the reality, 00:07:04.579 --> 00:07:10.099 that the disciples are seeing in front of them. They think Jesus is incredible. And yet not everyone 00:07:10.099 --> 00:07:15.819 is sharing that opinion of him and they don't understand. Not everybody gets him. More than that, 00:07:15.979 --> 00:07:23.479 not everyone wants him. And now it would seem in Mark's gospel, a pretty good time for Jesus to teach 00:07:23.479 --> 00:07:34.319 them about how his kingdom grows, how his kingdom works. And so they must have been hugely relieved to 00:07:34.319 --> 00:07:42.399 hear Jesus say at verse 30. He says, the kingdom of heaven, what shall we compare it to? Do you see 00:07:42.399 --> 00:07:47.560 that? He's going for the simile. What shall we compare it to? You can imagine the disciples thinking 00:07:47.560 --> 00:07:52.300 to themselves, that a boy, Jesus, that's exactly what we kind of need right now because we're kind 00:07:52.300 --> 00:07:58.379 of flagging. We're tapping out here. That's exactly what we need, a comparison. Let's go for the power 00:07:58.379 --> 00:08:04.899 image. Let's go for the strong and mighty. Is it like, if we're talking similes, is it like a mighty 00:08:04.899 --> 00:08:12.000 mountain? Is that what your kingdom is like? Is it like an impenetrable advancing army? Is that what 00:08:12.000 --> 00:08:17.759 your kingdom is like? Remember in this day, the expectation is that when the Messiah came, he would 00:08:17.759 --> 00:08:25.699 blitz out the Romans. Go on, Jesus, give us it both barrels. What is your kingdom like? What can we 00:08:25.699 --> 00:08:34.340 compare it to? And see Jesus thunder in and say, well, my kingdom is like a mustard seed? 00:08:37.539 --> 00:08:44.819 And no, I didn't see that one coming. You can hear them say, I didn't go for that one. You mean the 00:08:44.819 --> 00:08:51.039 smallest and most unimpressive looking thing that we can possibly imagine? That's what your kingdom's like? 00:08:51.039 --> 00:08:58.719 A mustard seed. Now you can't see that pitch getting much traction on Dragon's Den, can you? 00:08:59.799 --> 00:09:05.019 Can you imagine Peter Jones' face when he hears that? But make no mistake, that's precisely the 00:09:05.019 --> 00:09:12.240 image Jesus uses. And in so doing, he delivers two timeless truths about how his kingdom works. 00:09:13.539 --> 00:09:19.659 Really quickly, first of all, it will be small and unnoticeable in this day. 00:09:21.039 --> 00:09:27.539 His is a kingdom where the success of it is less about pie charts and it's more about the 00:09:27.539 --> 00:09:34.419 transformation of your character. A kingdom where the shape of it is less about you and I asserting 00:09:34.419 --> 00:09:41.679 our rights and it's more about you and I loving our enemies. A kingdom where the foundation of it is 00:09:41.679 --> 00:09:49.019 less about our wisdom and ability to fathom our way through life and much more about leaning our life, 00:09:49.019 --> 00:09:55.159 trusting ourselves on the word of God, the Bible. And those things, if we're honest, 00:09:55.819 --> 00:10:01.460 are things that when we see them happen, the world is not going to even bat an eyelid at them. 00:10:02.439 --> 00:10:07.679 Right? You ain't going to get the six o'clock news team sending around a camera crew to grab an 00:10:07.679 --> 00:10:12.779 exclusive interview with the young Christian worker who chose to stay sober on her night out. 00:10:12.779 --> 00:10:20.039 Right? That's just not going to happen. Netflix aren't going to do their next biopic about the 00:10:20.039 --> 00:10:25.299 Christian who chose the path of forgiveness rather than the path of bitterness when it came to that 00:10:25.299 --> 00:10:32.459 friend to deeply hurt them. It's just not going to happen. And yet, make no mistake, those with eyes to 00:10:32.460 --> 00:10:43.240 see it and see what's going on there, that is the unmistakable mark of King Jesus climbing into the 00:10:43.240 --> 00:10:50.220 driver's seat of someone's life and taking full control of the wheel. He's like the new owner who's 00:10:50.220 --> 00:10:55.960 just bought himself a doer-upper that is our lives and he's gone in there committed to transforming it 00:10:55.960 --> 00:11:03.200 from the inside out. And now that Stuart and Rachel are back in the building, guys, can I encourage you 00:11:03.200 --> 00:11:10.840 that we see this in you? We see the kingdom growing in unspectacular yet undeniable ways. 00:11:11.800 --> 00:11:17.139 It might not make the headlines on the national news, but make no mistake, it's the cause of much 00:11:17.139 --> 00:11:25.200 celebration on the news feed of heaven. Because this is how his kingdom works. It is small and 00:11:25.200 --> 00:11:32.300 unnoticeable, almost undetectable in this day. And yet, mark my words, says Jesus, as he carries on 00:11:32.300 --> 00:11:39.020 this parable, it will be large and unmissable in that day. Because what happens to that mustard seed, 00:11:39.020 --> 00:11:49.960 you see verse 32, over time it grows. Think about it, as Jesus delivers this thought, it's just him and 00:11:49.960 --> 00:11:56.560 the 12. Right? That's barely enough for a start and a living, but not enough even to fill the subs bench. 00:11:57.920 --> 00:12:03.320 And yet, some 2,000 years later, well, there's a few more followers of Jesus than that. 00:12:04.320 --> 00:12:09.240 Right? You look up, you Google it, you'll find that almost a third of the world follow this man now. 00:12:09.240 --> 00:12:17.320 And you've got to say, that's rather impressive. To quote Christian writer Glenn Scrivener, 00:12:17.820 --> 00:12:22.600 who provocatively and invitingly puts it like this about Jesus, 00:12:23.440 --> 00:12:30.460 he was butchered as a blasphemer in his 30s, yet today he commands more allegiance than any human 00:12:30.460 --> 00:12:36.299 has or could. Billions call him Lord. Not bad for a kid born in a shed. 00:12:36.299 --> 00:12:45.659 And that is what we are seeing and celebrating today, is a snapshot of the truth of that growth. 00:12:46.459 --> 00:12:53.240 As two people have publicly put up their hands and said, we're all in with this crucified man. 00:12:55.019 --> 00:13:01.000 And as they do that, we've got to understand, the seed's growing. It's growing. 00:13:01.000 --> 00:13:08.700 To something larger, to see Jesus describe it, than all the garden plants with branches everywhere 00:13:08.700 --> 00:13:11.600 and all sorts of birds coming to make their nest there. 00:13:11.659 --> 00:13:15.620 Just take that, that's the peoples of the world flooding in and saying, we're with him. 00:13:16.960 --> 00:13:22.980 And one day, what was unnoticeable, well now, on that day, you cannot miss it. 00:13:22.980 --> 00:13:26.440 Which is a big claim, really, when you think about it. 00:13:28.240 --> 00:13:33.060 I mean, if that came out of the contestant on The Apprentice, you wouldn't be surprised, would you? 00:13:33.240 --> 00:13:35.800 Oh, I'm going to be great in that day. Oh, I'm going to be great. 00:13:37.000 --> 00:13:39.180 And so you've got to ask yourself, what is Jesus saying here? 00:13:39.779 --> 00:13:40.920 How can he claim that? 00:13:43.180 --> 00:13:46.139 Well, it's because these are the words of the mustard seed king himself. 00:13:46.139 --> 00:13:52.059 Right, his birth in Jesus, God takes on flesh. 00:13:52.500 --> 00:13:53.879 His birth in a stable. 00:13:54.860 --> 00:13:56.559 His birth born into poverty. 00:13:57.519 --> 00:14:02.679 A refugee forced to flee from his country of birth at an early age with his parents. 00:14:03.039 --> 00:14:04.100 Nothing to see here. 00:14:05.419 --> 00:14:09.819 His life hanging out with tax collectors and sinners. 00:14:10.019 --> 00:14:14.360 It was almost a label that Jesus in his life, you could never get away from. 00:14:14.360 --> 00:14:16.340 The people that you hang out with. 00:14:17.960 --> 00:14:19.800 Despised by the religious elites. 00:14:19.940 --> 00:14:21.259 Nowhere to lay his head. 00:14:21.580 --> 00:14:22.620 Nothing to see here. 00:14:23.779 --> 00:14:30.240 His death unjust, unaccompanied, undignified on the cross as he dies. 00:14:30.779 --> 00:14:37.899 In our place, bearing in his body the anger of God against our sin. 00:14:40.480 --> 00:14:44.120 I cannot think of anything less impressive looking than that. 00:14:44.360 --> 00:14:50.039 And yet on the third day, his resurrection. 00:14:50.500 --> 00:14:54.820 And it's amazing hearing from Stuart this morning say that it was that that convinced him that Jesus was true. 00:14:55.100 --> 00:14:57.300 If you want to look into that, come and we'll give you some books. 00:14:57.360 --> 00:14:58.519 You can look at it by yourself. 00:14:58.620 --> 00:15:00.139 We'd love to chat that one through. 00:15:00.560 --> 00:15:02.159 Because it's not blind faith. 00:15:02.279 --> 00:15:05.200 Christianity is trust based on evidence. 00:15:05.200 --> 00:15:09.259 The third day he verifiably rose. 00:15:10.340 --> 00:15:13.440 Showing that the price had been paid for our sin. 00:15:13.740 --> 00:15:14.340 Witnessed. 00:15:15.000 --> 00:15:15.600 Undeniable. 00:15:15.600 --> 00:15:20.440 And so what Jesus is talking about here is the day when he returns. 00:15:21.740 --> 00:15:25.040 The end of the age with every knee bowed to him. 00:15:25.580 --> 00:15:28.740 With the eternal destination of every human being. 00:15:29.399 --> 00:15:33.259 Eternal life with him or eternal punishment away from him. 00:15:33.740 --> 00:15:34.759 Down to him. 00:15:34.759 --> 00:15:38.279 Depending on how we've responded to him. 00:15:38.980 --> 00:15:42.200 Jesus will be seen as the king of the cosmos. 00:15:42.399 --> 00:15:45.299 And on that day when God, as it were, he pulls back the curtain. 00:15:46.139 --> 00:15:49.980 To unveil a people from every single generation. 00:15:50.620 --> 00:15:53.639 A people from every single nation around the world. 00:15:53.899 --> 00:15:55.500 Who he has made one. 00:15:55.899 --> 00:15:58.740 Who he has gathered together to worship him. 00:15:59.080 --> 00:16:00.299 And who love him. 00:16:00.299 --> 00:16:06.519 And so to the disciples looking out and struggling to come to terms with reality. 00:16:06.719 --> 00:16:10.459 Jesus says, this is how my kingdom works. 00:16:11.620 --> 00:16:12.899 It's like a mustard seed. 00:16:13.759 --> 00:16:15.039 It's like a mustard seed. 00:16:16.799 --> 00:16:18.959 You know, just as we close, talking of realities. 00:16:20.919 --> 00:16:23.219 Do you want to know what I almost decked it over this week? 00:16:24.219 --> 00:16:25.439 When I was out for a run. 00:16:27.279 --> 00:16:28.259 A Christmas tree. 00:16:30.299 --> 00:16:30.659 Okay. 00:16:31.759 --> 00:16:32.879 Mid to end January. 00:16:33.019 --> 00:16:35.079 Not a good time for Christmas trees. 00:16:35.240 --> 00:16:37.019 As they line the side of our roads. 00:16:37.639 --> 00:16:40.099 Particularly when the storms have been raging over the last few weeks. 00:16:40.179 --> 00:16:42.419 And they're blowing all over the place, aren't they? 00:16:42.679 --> 00:16:44.519 But I often feel sorry for Christmas trees. 00:16:45.859 --> 00:16:47.319 Bought at the beginning of December. 00:16:48.500 --> 00:16:51.479 High hopes and ambitions for what this is going to be. 00:16:52.299 --> 00:16:53.419 By the middle of December. 00:16:53.559 --> 00:16:54.179 There you are. 00:16:54.579 --> 00:16:56.139 Decorated and looking classy. 00:16:56.599 --> 00:16:58.339 People have given you some TLC. 00:16:58.340 --> 00:17:00.519 The days take over. 00:17:00.600 --> 00:17:03.100 And all of a sudden you've got more stuff around you. 00:17:04.220 --> 00:17:05.420 Come Christmas Day. 00:17:05.500 --> 00:17:06.799 It's your time to shine. 00:17:07.620 --> 00:17:07.779 Right? 00:17:07.940 --> 00:17:08.840 Photos everywhere. 00:17:09.220 --> 00:17:10.340 Selfies with you. 00:17:10.440 --> 00:17:11.360 You've hit your peak. 00:17:11.559 --> 00:17:12.279 This is your moment. 00:17:12.960 --> 00:17:13.900 In the starlight. 00:17:14.019 --> 00:17:15.279 Everyone wants some action. 00:17:16.180 --> 00:17:16.980 And Boxing Day. 00:17:17.059 --> 00:17:19.420 You kind of hold some romantic appeal. 00:17:19.420 --> 00:17:22.140 But by the 27th. 00:17:22.140 --> 00:17:25.180 People begin to notice that you're now shedding pine leaves everywhere. 00:17:26.500 --> 00:17:28.279 New year comes and goes. 00:17:29.140 --> 00:17:31.480 And people look at you when they come back from New Year. 00:17:32.019 --> 00:17:34.000 And there's little left of your former glory. 00:17:35.000 --> 00:17:36.019 And come mid-January. 00:17:36.120 --> 00:17:36.800 Your time's up. 00:17:38.000 --> 00:17:39.440 In the words of Frank Sinatra. 00:17:39.539 --> 00:17:40.160 That's life. 00:17:40.460 --> 00:17:41.600 That's what all the people say. 00:17:41.680 --> 00:17:42.720 You're riding high in April. 00:17:42.840 --> 00:17:43.840 You're shot down in May. 00:17:43.839 --> 00:17:48.599 But I looked at that Christmas tree that almost caused me to fall. 00:17:49.799 --> 00:17:52.139 And it reminded me that that is the shape of our lives. 00:17:52.639 --> 00:17:53.379 Is it not? 00:17:54.539 --> 00:17:56.579 That's the shape of our little kingdoms. 00:17:58.179 --> 00:17:59.000 Just like that. 00:18:00.740 --> 00:18:03.419 And it seems to me that what Jesus is saying here. 00:18:03.459 --> 00:18:05.279 And this is the great Christian hope. 00:18:05.839 --> 00:18:09.039 Is that his kingdom is the opposite. 00:18:10.379 --> 00:18:11.299 It's the opposite. 00:18:11.299 --> 00:18:14.539 And so as we find our lives in him. 00:18:15.240 --> 00:18:16.480 Forgiven of our sin. 00:18:16.639 --> 00:18:17.539 Trusting in him. 00:18:18.119 --> 00:18:22.159 And attached to the life-giving vine that is his life. 00:18:23.579 --> 00:18:25.480 That is the shape of our lives too. 00:18:26.639 --> 00:18:29.099 Jesus says to what will we compare the kingdom of God? 00:18:30.359 --> 00:18:31.319 What shall we compare it? 00:18:31.359 --> 00:18:32.539 What simile will we use? 00:18:32.619 --> 00:18:35.099 He says it's like the mustard seed. 00:18:36.519 --> 00:18:37.299 Small and unimpressive. 00:18:39.339 --> 00:18:40.639 Almost unmissable beginnings. 00:18:41.299 --> 00:18:42.539 In this day. 00:18:43.220 --> 00:18:44.019 But in that day. 00:18:45.039 --> 00:18:47.299 Large and unmissable. 00:18:48.599 --> 00:18:50.599 And so the invitation that he makes to all of us today. 00:18:51.099 --> 00:18:53.079 Is to come and find your life in him. 00:18:53.659 --> 00:18:55.319 The forgiveness of your sins. 00:18:55.539 --> 00:18:57.059 All the things that you've done wrong. 00:18:57.440 --> 00:18:59.159 And the promise that in him. 00:18:59.579 --> 00:19:00.619 Is found life. 00:19:01.119 --> 00:19:02.279 And life to the full. 00:19:02.819 --> 00:19:04.019 With the God who made us. 00:19:04.759 --> 00:19:05.539 So let's pray. 00:19:05.539 --> 00:19:08.359 And then we'll stand to sing our last couple of songs. 00:19:08.359 --> 00:19:15.639 Heavenly Father. 00:19:15.719 --> 00:19:18.839 We thank you so much for the words of Jesus. 00:19:20.579 --> 00:19:22.879 All those metaphors. 00:19:23.079 --> 00:19:23.379 Images. 00:19:23.559 --> 00:19:25.099 Truths that we find in the Bible. 00:19:25.240 --> 00:19:27.879 That he uses to describe what he is like. 00:19:28.659 --> 00:19:30.939 He is the bread of life. 00:19:30.940 --> 00:19:35.360 He is the resurrection and the life. 00:19:36.420 --> 00:19:38.259 He is the light of the world. 00:19:38.860 --> 00:19:42.539 Father thank you for these wonderful images that Jesus gives us. 00:19:44.299 --> 00:19:48.960 And so Lord we pray today as we think about the one who said that his kingdom is like the mustard seed. 00:19:48.960 --> 00:19:55.640 Oh Lord help us to have eyes to see how you are at work in this world today. 00:19:56.259 --> 00:19:57.779 And we thank you for this morning. 00:19:57.880 --> 00:20:01.140 And the encouragement of two people putting their hands up and saying. 00:20:02.000 --> 00:20:03.720 I want to give my life to this king. 00:20:04.920 --> 00:20:07.720 And so Father I pray that you would challenge us this morning. 00:20:08.180 --> 00:20:09.720 You would encourage us. 00:20:10.360 --> 00:20:11.720 You would convict us. 00:20:12.799 --> 00:20:14.480 And Father you would greatly strengthen us. 00:20:14.920 --> 00:20:17.640 Because it's in the name of the mustard seed king that we pray. 00:20:17.640 --> 00:20:18.840 Amen. 00:20:18.960 --> 00:20:19.960 Amen.