4.7 Mustard and Yeast

This week we’ve looked intently at two parables of God’s Kingdom.

Notice the similarities.

Both of these parables show us that God’s Kingdom starts small and grows to immense proportions.

The mustard seed is tiny but full of life. When planted in soil, it grows steadily and gradually and ultimately becomes a blessing to those around it.
Likewise, a little bit of leaven when worked into the dough steadily causes the entirety of the dough to be changed.

The Kingdom of God is like leaven and mustard seeds. It is full of life. It changes radically as it grows and becomes a huge blessing to everyone it touches.

Notice the differences.

One parable speaks of a seed which can be seen. Once planted, it becomes a plant and grows – becoming fruitful and a blessing to others. It’s like a picture of the church, growing and impacting the world. So when I pray about the Kingdom from a mustard seed perspective, I pray for the growth and strength of God’s people in the world.The parable of the leaven speaks of a life-force that causes changes from the inside out. It’s like a picture of the heart which is changed by God Himself. So when I pray about leaven, I ask the Lord to make changes from within; changes in the heart. As my heart is changed, or the hearts of His children are changed, or the hearts of unbelievers are changed, then actions change.

Prayer prompts and discussion starters:

• Mustard seed: Pray for the work of God’s people in the world. Plead with God to use us to love others.
• Mustard seed: Ask Him to give us a passion for holiness and a love for the lost.
• Leaven: Ask God to renew your heart and make it fully His.
• Leaven: Plead with God to knead His grace and mercy into the church, that we will be transformed by His love.
• Leaven: Plead with God to knead His grace and mercy into the hearts of people you know that don’t know Him. Ask Him to bring them to life and transform them from within.
• Other insights: