The Kingdom of Heaven is Like… Seeds and Yeast

The Kingdom of Heaven…

• starts small
• is always growing:
  • it grows numerically
  • it grows in our hearts
• will make the world a better place

Since the kingdom of heaven has come…

• pray for opportunities to share your faith
• step out in faith
• give your life to it

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Start reading.

Matthew 13:31-32

Here is another illustration Jesus used: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. 32 It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches.”

Matthew 13:33

33 Jesus also used this illustration: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.”

Luke 17:20-21

20 One day the Pharisees asked Jesus, “When will the Kingdom of God come?”  Jesus replied, “The Kingdom of God can’t be detected by visible signs. 21 You won’t be able to say, ‘Here it is!’ or ‘It’s over there!’ For the Kingdom of God is already among you.

Acts 2:41 

Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.

2 Corinthians 3:16-18

16 But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

Mark 7:37 They were completely amazed and said again and again, “Everything he does is wonderful. He even makes the deaf to hear and gives speech to those who cannot speak.”

Start talking. Find a conversation starter for your group.

• Did you or someone you know go through the naturalization process to become a citizen of the United States? What were some of the requirements to become a US citizen?

Start thinking. Ask a question to get your group thinking.

• When did the kingdom of heaven begin on this earth? What’s the difference between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven?
• How do you become a citizen of God’s kingdom? If you consider yourself a citizen of God’s kingdom, what have you done to declare your citizenship? 
• Read Matthew 13:31-32.  What’s the point of Jesus’ parable? Have you experienced this kind of mustard seed growth in your life? Explain. 
• Read Matthew 13:33. Troy said that the kingdom of heaven grows and spreads like yeast. Have you witnessed this in a family, a church, or a business? What happened?  

Start sharing. Choose a question to create openness.

• In the message, Troy explained that the Kingdom is like the snowball that starts an avalanche, starting small but growing exponentially as it rolls down the hill. How can we ensure that the momentum to spread the love of Jesus that we’ve built in our community continues? 
• Read 2 Corinthians 3:16-18.  Have you experienced the transforming power of God’s kingdom in your life? How? What’s God been teaching you lately?
• Plants that need full sun won’t grow in the shade. Crops die without the proper amount of water. The Kingdom of God cannot grow unless you create the right conditions for it to flourish. What steps do you take to cultivate the Kingdom in both your heart and your community?
• Families, businesses, and nations that welcome the kingdom of heaven are blessed because of it.  Why do so many families, businesses, and nations reject God’s kingdom and are even antagonistic toward it? What can we do as individuals to bring the kingdom of heaven to our families and our nation?

Start doing. Commit to a step and live it out this week.

• Commit to taking a step this week to further the kingdom of God in your life and community.

Start praying. Be bold and pray with power.

• God, we thank you for who you are. Help us to learn to be confident when stepping out to share our faith in You with others. Give us boldness to further Your kingdom here on earth. Amen!

Start digging. For further study.

• Read this Got Questions article, “What is the meaning of the Parable of the Leaven (yeast)?”.

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