Kingdom Treasure: God Grows Things 3-17-24

Kingdom Treasure: God Grows Things 3-17-24

 

INTRODUCTION

 

The Kingdom of God is like buried treasure.

The Kingdom of God is like tiny yeast.

 

POTTED PLANT

 

Illustration: On stage with me today I have this plant. It is a pretty impressive plant, actually. Vibrant green leaves. It is hard to believe that this plant began as a small seed placed in the ground. Before it had roots, a stem, branches, leaves, and fruit, it was nothing more than a tiny seed. It takes a lot of time and patience to see this kind of growth take place. It takes the right kind of soil and conditions to become a mature plant.

 

The scripture we visit today has a lot to do with this plant that you see with me on stage. Our next Kingdom treasure is found in a parable, or story, that Jesus tells a group of people.

 

”He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”“

        Matthew 13:31-32 NIV

 

    A.  Mustard seed

                      1.  1-2 millimeters

                    2.  Could become a plant over 6 feet tall.

                     3.  Birds could perch on the branches.

 

I.  THE KINGDOM IS A SEED

 

There is actually another passage of scripture where Jesus tells another story about seeds of the Kingdom.

 

”Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.”“

        Matthew 13:3-9 NIV

 

        A.  Seeds begin small.

 

Story: The first church I served, Northside Christian Church, started with 35 people.  It grew into a small church and remained small for about 10 years.  I was blessed to serve there while the church grew some more, about 600 people worshipped there each Lord’s Day by 1996.  Today they number well over 1000 on any given Sunday.  They are what they are today because of that seed of 35 people over 40 years ago.

 

         B.  Seeds have potential.

 

         C.  Seeds only reproduce what they are.

 

        D.  Seeds require the proper soil.

                      1.  The hard path is not the proper soil.

                      2.  The rocky places are not the proper soil.

                      3.  The thorns are not the proper soil.

                    4.  Good soil is the proper soil.

                                 a.  100 times yield

                                 b.  60 times yield

                                 c.  30 times yield

 

II.  THE SEED IS THE GOSPEL SOWN INTO PEOPLE’S HEARTS

 

”“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”“

        Matthew 13:18-23 NIV

 

BEAN

 

                      A.  The seed must be sown to grow.

                      B.  The soil must accept the seed to grow.

                    C.  Seeds grow where they can.

 

Story: The back of our yard was once a dog run under a bunch of pine trees.  Grass would not grow back there.  Many years ago we put about 6 inches of wood chips back there.  Now we have every type of weed that is looking for good soil growing there.  The wood decayed and created a rich soil that seeds readily grow in.

 

III.  IT’S NOT A PROBLEM WITH THE SEED; IT’S A PROBLEM WITH THE SOIL

 

           A.  The hard soil of the hard heart.

 

Story: Several years back, my dad developed a sore on his foot because he could not feel his feet.  He is 6 foot 8 inches tall and does not fit well into a hospital bed.  Because of his length, his feet rested on the foot board.  Due to his neuropathy, he could not feel the sore developing on his foot.  The lack of sensation kept him from perceiving the reality of his situation.

 

           B.  The rocky soil of the superficial heart.

 

Story: Paula and I have the remnants of a pool deck in our back yard.  The previous owners planted large shrubs on the back side of the deck.  Pavers and rocks were put around the shrubs to keep weeds from growing.  When we cut the shrubs down, we had to get all the pavers and rocks out of the area so we could put in a new garden.

 

           C.  The thorny soil of the distracted heart.

 

Story: We have wild black raspberries on our property.  I believe they are a remnant of berries on our land from before it was developed.  We have pulled them.  We have moved them.  We have given them away.  They are a problem because where they grow you cannot easily grow anything else.  They will stick you.  They will entangle you.  They will make you spend your time on them instead of what you really want to grow.  

 

           D.  The good soil of the receptive heart.

                1.  Healthy plants

                    2.  Good yield

                  3.  Future reproduction

 

Story: The majority of my grandfather’s time farming was spent making sure the soil was ready to receive the seed. It was spent making sure the ground was fertile. Each year he would take the tractor and plow and disc and pull it through the fields to break up the ground and turn it over to expose the fresh soil before they would plant.

 

CONCLUSION

 

As we close, I want you to reflect on two questions: First, what is the condition of the soil in your life? Second, are you ready to turn to Jesus and let Him do the necessary work in your life to help you position yourself in a place where the Gospel seed can grow?

 

The Kingdom is a seed.  The seed is the gospel sown into people’s lives.  When seeds do not grow, it is a problem of the soil, not the seed.

 

INVITATION

 

It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word.  You may want to follow Jesus.  You may want to proclaim your faith.  You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things).  Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Possibly, if you have already responded to God’s call in these ways, you would like to become a member of Kenwood Church.  If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, you can come forward now.  If you would like, I would be honored to speak with you following the service about what God is doing in your life.