Small Stuff Matters - The Parable Series

Small Stuff Matters - The Parable Series

Small Stuff Matters - The Parable Series

Many people search for something bigger than themselves, a community rooted in truth and love, a place to worship. In this teaching, Matthew Vander Els from Founded in Truth Fellowship explores the idea that small things matter, using parables to illustrate how the Kingdom of Heaven manifests in unexpected, subtle ways.

The Significance of Small Beginnings

Yeshua's parables often use unremarkable examples like a mustard seed to describe the grand scope of God's work. These parables are meant for those with open hearts, eager to understand God's will. However, those with hardened hearts, focused solely on their own agendas, may find that these parables further harden their hearts. The message is clear: little things hold immense significance.

The Kite and the Bridge

In 1848, a 16-year-old named Holman Walsh flew a kite across the Niagara River as part of a competition. This seemingly insignificant act led to the construction of a suspension bridge connecting the U.S. and Canada. Politicians wanted to promote trade between the two countries, but they needed a way to establish a connection across the river. Initially, ideas like using a rocket or a cannon to carry a rope across were considered, but an engineer suggested a kite-flying contest inspired by Benjamin Franklin's experiments.

Walsh's successful kite flight allowed engineers to attach progressively larger strings, ropes, and cables until they could build a bridge capable of supporting a train and pedestrians. This bridge, completed in 1855 by John Augustus after Mr. Ellett Jr. resigned, stands as a testament to how small actions can lead to significant outcomes. If someone had seen the kite flying, they probably wouldn't have thought anything of it.

The Inklings

In Oxford, England, a pub known as the Eagle and Child (or Bird and Baby) has been a place of commerce since the 1600s. In the 20th century, it became a meeting place for Oxford professors known as the Inklings. Every Tuesday, they would gather to share and critique their literary works and ideas. Among them were John, who loved fantasy, and Clive, who studied medieval cultures and fairy tales.

These men, rivals and friends, are better known as J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, the authors of "Lord of the Rings" and "The Chronicles of Narnia." Both devout Christians, they impacted millions through their stories. To be a fly on the wall to hear Tolkien speak to Lewis about his character, a hobbit with big, hairy feet, named Frodo, or to hear Lewis speak passionately about Aslan, the Jesus-like lion, who would overcome death, become resurrected, and proclaim victory over evil, sin, and death in the land of Narnia. Their simple meetings, filled with discussions and debates, demonstrate how small, consistent actions can result in extraordinary creations. Someone walking by would not have thought anything of a bunch of professors sitting in a corner.

The Parables of the Mustard Seed and Leaven

Yeshua's parables in Matthew 13 carry profound messages about God's work in the world. These stories, though not literal, reveal the nature of the Kingdom of Heaven, or the Kingdom of God, which is about God arriving to do what the prophets said He was going to do. The Kingdom is not far off in time or place but is among us now, where God's will is done.

The Mustard Seed

The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed that someone plants in a field. Though tiny and easily overlooked, it grows into a large shrub where birds can nest. The parable emphasizes that the Kingdom starts small but has the potential for significant growth and impact on creation.

The Leaven

The Kingdom of Heaven is also like yeast that a woman mixes into a large amount of flour (around 50-60 pounds). The yeast, hidden within the dough, leavens the whole batch. The Greek word for "mixed" is "crypto", meaning to hide. This suggests that the Kingdom is not only small but also hidden, working subtly to transform everything.

The Kingdom's Unremarkable Manifestation

Yeshua told these parables because many Judeans expected God's kingdom to arrive with a dramatic revolt against the Romans. Instead, Yeshua describes a kingdom that manifests in itty-bitty and hidden ways. Those focused on outward signs may miss the subtle arrival of God's kingdom.

It is not our job to judge and condemn others but to offer hope and a kingdom invitation. If we are not looking for these mustard seed moments, we will miss them. The kingdom of God is not always a dramatic manifestation but can be a simple moment of connection, a phone call to a friend in need.

Yeshua's Example

Yeshua himself came from Nazareth, a small, insignificant town. Nathanael even asked, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" The biblical authors had to add, "a town in Galilee," because people wouldn't know where Nazareth was.

Yeshua chose fishermen, not religious elites, to be his first disciples. He then called Matthew, a tax collector despised by his own people for working with the Roman government. By eating with tax collectors and sinners, Yeshua challenged the Pharisees' notion of holiness. The Pharisees believed the table to be like the altar at the temple.

Yeshua's actions were revolutionary, proclaiming the arrival of God's kingdom and associating with misfits. He offered hope, not condemnation, and showed that the Kingdom of God can manifest in a meal at a kitchen table with a tax collector.

Living in the Kingdom Now

In the first century, rabbis would interpret the Torah, offering their disciples a "yoke" to follow. Yeshua's yoke is easy, redefining how we live out the scriptures. He showed what it looks like to bring the new creation into the old, to be ambassadors of the King.

Despite Yeshua's triumphant entry into Jerusalem, he was tried, beaten, and crucified. Yet, three days later, he was resurrected, demonstrating that God's kingdom does not always come with fireworks but through small, transformative acts.

Application for Everyday Life

• Be Open to Small Moments: Recognize that significant opportunities for the Kingdom can arise in everyday situations.
• Offer Hope, Not Condemnation: Like Yeshua, extend hope and mercy to those trapped in sin, rather than simply condemning them.
• Live Out Kingdom Values Now: Practice forgiveness, reconciliation, and love, even when it's difficult, in anticipation of God's new creation.
• Look for the Hidden Kingdom: Be aware that God's work may not always be obvious or dramatic but can be found in subtle, transformative acts.
• Embrace Unlikely People: Follow Yeshua's example by associating with and offering opportunities to those whom society overlooks or despises.
• Question with Purpose: Like biblical figures, question God with the intention of understanding His will and aligning with His kingdom.
• Wear Mustard Seed Lenses: When you have a random conversation with a stranger, ask yourself, "Is this insignificant, or is it a mustard seed?"

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