"Super Sized"

EPISODE 111

Start Small and Grow Big

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Throughout the decades, Hollywood has captivated audiences with larger than life characters — giant gorillas, supersized superheroes, and even towering toddlers. Wouldn't it be great to suddenly find yourself bigger than you are?

Jesus talks about the exploding growth of his kingdom in Luke 13, starting with a simple question: "What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it?" (Luke 13:18). And compared to the kingdom, he points to a mustard seed and a little leaven.

Small Beginnings

"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" (Luke 13:19).

Matthew refers to mustard seeds as "the smallest of all seeds" (Matt. 13:32). And the kingdom started the same way — small. A "grassroots" movement lead by a lowly carpenter's son, a handful of disciples, and a minority of devoted followers would eventually change the world (but more on that later)!

And most of us don't start out serving the King in "big" ways, and that's okay. Like a seed, it takes time to establish roots before we can begin bearing fruit. Don't get discouraged by where you start from, as long as you're always taking steps towards growth.

Almost Forgotten

"It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened" (Luke 13:21).

Jesus says the man buried the seed in the ground, and the woman hid the leaven in the dough. Out of sight, out of mind? In addition to starting small, there'd be a period early on where many would forget about the kingdom. Think about the fear and sorrow those faithful disciples felt when it seemed they wasted their time after Christ died (John 20:19). And how many Jews probably went back to "business as usual" before they heard Peter at Pentecost?

We all go through periods where we don't feel like we're making enough progress in our faith. But don't give up! Keep your eyes on Jesus and be patient.

Big Impact

"... If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you" (Luke 17:6).

In time, the mustard seed and leaven massively multiplied in size and impact. And so did the kingdom! You might say that it "turned the world upside down" (Acts 17:6). And the gospel of Jesus still has the power to change hearts, almost 2,000 years later.

Through faith in Christ, you can have a massive impact on the world too! With his word in your heart, you're thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Tim. 3:16-17)!

So, don't get discouraged. Keep pushing, growing, and doing your part as you serve the King today!