Good Reign
Matthew 13:31-32
Abby Odio, Pastor of Teaching and Formation, abbyo@churchbcc.org
In Matthew 13, Jesus clarifies the unique nature of God’s good reign with a series of parables. The parable of the mustard seed confronts the way we typically view power and kingdoms, and invites us to reimagine a different and better way. We explore this essential confrontation by looking at the following three images used by Jesus in this parable:
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Discussion Questions
Before questions, attempt to give the group a bit of a summary of the main points of the sermon and then choose a few questions that fit your group’s needs and style. We don’t intend for you to use all of these. Three to five questions may be a good number.
- How have you seen the Creator working lately in your life, in your community?
- Read Matthew 13:31-32 the parable of the mustard seed as a group.
- Why do you think Jesus uses parables often in his teaching? (ex. parables point beyond themselves)
- With trees historically used as symbols of unshakable power, what do you make of the power Jesus is talking about in naming the mustard bush a mustard “tree”?
- We are reminded to not become formulaic in our understanding of how God’s power manifests.
- How have you been surprised by God’s power this past week by something that doesn’t look the way you think it will or should?
- Where are you reminded that our surprising God exists? (ex. nature, children, test results)
- Trusting that God will make small things grow and bring dead things to life, what is one thing you can entrust to him? (ex. expectations or hopes around marriage, family, racial reconciliation, vocation, the election)
- Without shame in sharing, have there been times either recently or in your past, that you have had to let go of your own ego in wanting to feel significant versus faithfully following Christ?
- How did those actions impact your relationship with Jesus? With other people?
- Given the context Pastor Abby provides about Ruth’s ancestor Lot and his relation to Abraham as well as her role in the lineage of King David and ultimately Jesus, how do we see the small act of Ruth clinging to her mother in law as a small seed with universal implications? In what ways does this impact your own view on the significance of the small things?
- Where might you look to plant seeds that contribute to the eco system of Jesus? (ex. Look at your own sphere to plant a seed: reach out to an estranged relative - to speak justice to power in our workplace - to go the extra mile for a coworker or a student in our classroom)
- Allow for 3 minutes of silence to reflect on the following question:
- What is your calling today, in this season, to share your own resources (i.e. your power, voice, time, money, intellect, etc.) to give, sow and build into others ?
- Share a one sentence answer with the group.