Today's passage shares a glimpse of the nature of the kingdom of God. At this point in Luke, there was certainly groundswell interest in Jesus. Some misunderstood or refused to understand He was God, the Messiah. A relatively small number believed in Him as Lord God. Jesus captures this picture in a couple of similes.

He likened the burgeoning church to a seed and leavening, demonstrating both how small and unassuming its current state, and foretelling what it would become. While there are certainly many more believers now than then, demonstrating the veracity of Jesus' claims, the forward-looking nature of these verses remain true. The Church is still growing, and people still can easily undervalue what it is by what they initially perceive. It can be easy to miss the growth when taking a quick glance at the Church, but we are yet growing in profound and substantial ways. Jesus continues to encourage us by teaching us that His mission of redemption, of calling others to Himself, is still underway.

May the word of God fill us with hope and vision for where He is leading us, and motivate us to join God in His mission to bring that vision into present reality by spreading His Good News and following His commands in love.

[Luke 13.18-21]

18 He said therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? 19 It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.” 20 And again he said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? 21 It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.”

[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?

+ What is the kingdom of God, referenced in v. 18?

+ How is the kingdom of God like a mustard seed? [v. 19]

+ Who are the "birds of the air" indicating in v. 19?

+ How is the kingdom of God like leaven? [v. 21]

+ While the nature of the seed and leaven is to grow, did they do this automatically, or was there effort involved? [vv. 19 + 21]

[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?

+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?

+ How is the current Church, and Downtown Hope specifically, fulfilling these examples of God's kingdom? How are we not? What can you do to support the Church's effort to glorify God in participating in His mission?

[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?

+ What is my next step?

+ How are you working out and growing in your own faith and supporting and encouraging others to grow in their faith?