31. Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:

32. Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.”

SettingSea of Galilee

Mustard SeedOne of smallestLargest of herbs

Kingdom compared to grain of mustard seed “upon this rock I will build my church” Mt. 16:18

Church had a small beginning ……. …….but it would grow into something great !

Jesus: Born of humble parents Grew up in the town of Nazareth Began ministry at age 30 Few converts - poor and uneducated Crucified - buried - resurrected - ascended 10 days later his church started - Pentecost

Great Commission - Go into all the worldActs - Missionary Journeys of Paul

Col. 1:23 “If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;”

Acts 1:8 “…and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

Acts 8:4. “Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.”

Only one kind of seed produces a mustard tree

Only one kind of seed will produce a Christian

One grain -- not assorted kinds

Eph. 4:4 “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;”

Eph. 1:22-23 “the church, which is his body”

Unity of the Church

“A man took, and sowed in his field”Planting precedes growth

Must teach the gospelMark 16:15-16We plant - sow and water and God gives increase

1 COR 3:6-9 “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase”

The Seed must be Planted

Grow in NumberActs 2:47 - 3,000 first dayActs 4:4 - 5,000 men

Grow SpirituallyNew convert is to grow2 Pet. 2:2 “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:”Eph. 4:14 “be no more children”2 Pet. 3:18 “But grow in grace, and in knowledge”

The Church is to Grow

Spiritual foodRead and study the BibleAttend services - hear and study

Godly exerciseExercise thyself to godliness1 Tim. 4:8 “For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having

promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.”

Growth requires 2 things

It is greater than any company

Greater than any sports organization

It is the greatest thing in the worldIt is for all people - every creature

The Church is Great

“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15

Salvation - “that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus” 2 Tim. 2:10

Fellowship - “have obtained like precious faith with us” 2 Pet. 1:1

Encouragement - “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” Gal. 6:2

Love to offer to others - 1 Cor. 13:13 “greatest”

The Church has something to offer

To the Church

To individual Christians

To each congregation

Lessons:

Unity of Church - one seed produces same

Seed must be planted - teach others

Church is to Grow - number and spiritually

Growth requires - spiritual food & Godly exercise

Church is Great - greater than anything elseChurch has something to offer - salvation, fellowship,

encouragement, love for others

Sermon by Arthur Pigman

Evans Church of Christ

515 Gibbs Road

Evans, Ga. 30809

706-855-1249

arthurpigman@bellsouth.netarthurpigman@bellsouth.net

www.evansgachurchofchrist.orgwww.evansgachurchofchrist.org

Sunday Evening April 7, 2013