Mark 4:31-32

TITLE: The Mustard Seed TEXT: Mark 4:30-32 PROPOSITION: God intends for the Kingdom to grow. QUESTION: How? KEY WORD: Applications SCRIPTURE READING: Same INTRODUCTION:

1. This short parable is an important one.

2. Today I want to focus on the meaning and application.

Background

1. Small seed - used to measure things that were tiny

2. Grew to 12 - 15 feet - strong branches

3. Not a tree (Maple or Oak) but large enough for birds to rest

4. Matthew 17:20 - Used to describe the size of faith

Meaning of the parable

1. Kingdom will have a small beginning

2. It would grow rapidly

3. It will be beneficial to the world

4. How can we, as a church, grow like the mustard?

5. Here are 9 requirements for growth.

Attitude - "Desire"

1. There must be a desire to be a great church

2. Must be willing to pay the price

Vision - "see beyond"

1. We must be able to see beyond next Sunday

2. At Kadesh-Barnea the 10 spies had no vision

3. Vision is more important that location, money, talent

4. Fisherman, keeping only the small fish, threw all the larger ones back, asked why, said, "I only have a 7" frying pan."

5. Many churches have a 7" limitation on vision

Atmosphere

1. Mood-setters = song leader, preacher, announcements

2. Most churches are friendly to each other

3. We must decide to either:

DO IT! DELEGATE IT! OR DITCH IT! Bible - centered

1. Sermons, classes

2. Spend time in study of the word

3. Church will never be bigger than its Sunday school

Action - oriented

1. We must put people to work

2. Put deacons in charge and turn loose

3. Involvement is the key to keeping them

Unity

1. Acts 4:32

2. Tradition is holding us back

3. Do you want the church to function?

Specific goals

1. The survey tells us where we are

2. A goal tell where we are headed - our aim

3. We need to establish:

1. A GOAL for the church

2. Several goals that are specific (countable)

3. Set time tables and limits for them

4. Post, announce, and publicize them

Praise and encouragement

1. Barnabas = his nickname, what others called him

2. What if we were called as perceived?

3. Discouragement is a major problem in church growth

Persistence

1. Hang in there.

2. Keep on keeping on.