10.06.19 "Something Small and Hidden"

 

Second Presbyterian Church + Portsmouth, OH 

"Something Small and Hidden" 

 

Prayer of Illumination 

Old Testament reading  1 Kings 17:8-16 

Epistle reading  Acts 2:37-47 

Gospel reading  Matthew 13:31-34 

 

Sermon "Something Small and Hidden" 

 

Sermon excerpt: 

" ... we realize that mustard seeds and yeast are in fact the oddest of choices as ways of describing the kingdom of heaven.

First of all, a mustard plant is actually classified as an invasive weed, so if it shows up in your yard, it behooves you to get rid of it ASAP because it will take over all your other plants.

And second of all, in biblical times they didn’t actually use yeast as we know it today; instead it something called “leaven” which is described as a “rotting, molding lump of bread” used to start a new loaf of bread, kind of like a sourdough starter.

You know what that means, right? Jesus is saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like an invasive weed and moldy bread.” And that can only lead us to ask the question, “What in the world was Jesus thinking?”