[wpvideo kLtMMjlT]
The Mustard Seed Complex
“He continued, ‘What is a good image for God’s kingdom? What parable can I use to explain it? Consider a mustard seed. When scattered on the ground, its the smallest of all the seeds of the earth; but when its planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all vegetable plants. It produces such large branches that the birds in the sky are able to nest in its shade.” (Mark 4:30-32 CEB)
God has a mustard seed complex. For some reason he likes things smaller than we do.
My first experience in youth ministry as an adult leader was at First United Methodist Church in Mansfield, TX. I was the unofficial intern which translates to “Super Volunteer.” As a “Super V” I helped Johnny Brower when I could on Sunday and Wednesday nights, but every Sunday morning I team taught the 7th grade Sunday School class with my co-teacher, Tiffany Jordan.
The class that we taught usually averaged around 20 7th graders.
That’s bigger than some youth groups.
And that’s only one grade.
Needless to say numbers is not something that we were really concerned with.
When I went to Edge Park United Methodist Church as the Director of Student Ministries I went from teaching 20 7th graders on a sunday morning to have an entire youth ministry of 4.
It was quite humbling and honestly for quite a while I questioned whether God was calling me to this mostly because of one thing.
Numbers.
In Craig Groeschel’s book, “What’s God Really Like” there is this story shared about how we approach church from the point of view of a pastor by the name of Dino Rizzo. Here is an excerpt.
We want to do a lot of good things in our churches, but Jesus wants to do better things. We have armies of people – paid staff and volunteers – to make sure the sound system is set at the right level, the Powerpoint slides are in the right order, the musicians are ready, the greeters are at their places, and the lighting is just right. Everything is coordinated, orchestrated, choreographed, and planned for a great outcome, and that’s good. God has given us all these wonderful tools and talented people for a purpose, and I know he uses them for his glory. But what if sometimes his agenda is different from the one we have planned? What if he wants to do something really wild, unlike anything he’s ever done before?
Sometimes I feel like we are so concerned with bigger and bigger. More people every week. In fact when Rob Bell says that his first sunday at Mars Hill 1,000 people showed up we are in awe at that. I have to ask why? Because countless times God seems to make plans that are smaller, because bigger is not better sometimes.
Some of my favorite moments in ministry are at Edge Park. This is not surprising because that’s where most of my ministry has been, but its more than that. Every year on CTCYM Mission Trip we have NEVER taken more than 5 kids. The first year we took 1.
Those trips were although very intimate and revolutionary. The first mission trip at Edge Park I took one youth to senior high and one youth to junior high. At the end of those trips both of youth that went on those trips said to me,
“Now, I see a part of you Brad that I didn’t see before. I feel that I know you more.”
I might add that they were implying that this was a good thing.
Was there a massive conversion experience? No, but there was an experience that meant something.
In response to the Mustard Seed Complex maybe we should change how we view success?
How do you define a successful ministry experience?
What things have to happen for you to feel that it was a success?
From Scarcity to Abundance
Today’s lenten devotional title caught my attention: “From Scarcity to Abundance.” The attention that was reeled in to read today’s deco was even more probed when I read a particular statement near the end of the devotional.
So often, if you are like me, we focus on what we do not have instead of what the Lord has already given to us. We look at problems (only 2 fish?) instead of seeing the Promise. No wonder the word scarcity sounds so much like scared, and the word abundance reminds us so much of dance!
Today’s devotional talks about how the disciples were skeptical that only 2 loaves of bread and 5 fish could feed all the people listening to Jesus that day, which traditionally we have been taught has been around 5,000 people. It’s reasonable to show some skepticism at a moment like this, but Jesus remains confident that the food amount will be sufficient. In the devotional the author asks a question that I will pass along to you to reflect on.
“Is your concern in life right now to have what you love or to love what you have?”
I confess that I too have had times where there were things that I wanted really really bad and would also think at times that I didn’t have much to be excited about, but I do have lots of things. Lately I’ve noticed that when a church member asks me how I am doing I have responded by saying: “Well, I woke up this morning breathing.”
Sometimes that can be interpreted as well, I am here and that’s about it, but that is not my point in saying that.
Each morning I wake up breathing with even the slightest amount of decent health, with a roof over my head, a car to drive at my disposal thats a great day! Some would say that I am in the top percentage of wealthiest people in the world. They would probably have a very solid argument with that point as well.
So, back to our original question.
“Is your concern in life right now to have what you love or to love what you have?”
Be thankful for what you have, because :
Some of the best things in life are not things.
-Author Unknown
Recognize the Lord’s Teaching
“When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. The more I called them, the further they went from me; they kept sacrificing to the Baals, and they burned incense to idols. Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk; I took them up in my arms, but they did not know that I healed them. I led them with bands of human kindness, with cords of love. I treated them like those who lift infants to their cheeks; I bent down to them and fed them.”
Hosea 11:1-4
Throughout the Old Testament the Israelite community continually walks away from God and does the opposite of what He commands them to do. As I read these stories I find myself thinking: “What the world are you thinking Israelites? How stubborn can you be? Just repent and follow the Lord!”
Then I remember who I am.
Then the stories of the Israelites stubbornness become personal and more raw and real.
This passage from Hosea really speaks to me.
It speaks to me because I think about all that God has taught me over the years of my life and I think about all that he has taught me this week and even this day.
Where would I be if God hadn’t lifted me up to his cheek and fed me with His love and grace?
I shudder to think. I am so overwhelmed and humbled by this thought that the spirit has given me tonight. So I encourage you to think about all the Lord has done for you and continues to do for all of us.
Praise be to God! That even though He doesn’t need us, HE STILL WANTS US!
May the people that read and hear God’s word be blessed and live!
The Hunger Games
“I’m not sure that this is just “a book about kids killing kids.” I know that many commentators have made that suggestion and I even had someone describe it that way to me. There are things much deeper going on here.” – Walt Mueller –
If you haven’t heard about the Hunger Games Phenomenon then you have to be under a rock. The Hunger Games are everywhere and it seems everyday I find someone new that is reading the books, or I should say “inhaling the books.” The Hunger Games trilogy is a very gripping, suspenseful story and one that you will find yourself idenitfying with.
I like Walt Mueller’s statement about the story. It’s not just a story about kids killing kids. It’s not even really about the Hunger Games. There is a lot of brokenness, sin, and desperation for hope in this story. Which is why the underdog character of Katniss is someone that you find yourself cheering for and even defending at times.
I’ve read the books and I loved them. My sister and I read them this past christmas and it was really to do this with someone in my family because we had an ongoing conversation like that kinda went like this:
“Did you just read what just happened!?”
“No! Shut up I am not where you are!”
It wasn’t always like that, but the gripping story really reels you in and you really do become a part of it, but we can relate to katniss, prim, peeta, haymitch, and even gale sometimes. These characters in this story show us a personality that we see in our world today. Throughout all these characters there is this desperation for hope.
Praise God that you know that story of hope!
It’s in 2 Corinthians 5:14-15
“The love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: one died for the sake of all; therefore, all died. He died for the sake of all so that those who are alive should live not for themselves but for the one who died for them and was raised.”
I like the way this verse is listed on Bishop Mike Lowry’s blog: The Focused Center
“Our Firm Decision is to work from this Focused Center: One man died for everyone. That puts everyone in the same boat. He included everyone in his death so that everyone could also be included in his life, a resurrection life, a far better life than people ever lived on their own.”
The state of the nation of Panem in the Hunger Games story is a state that which they experience because they have tried to live life on their own, and when we live our lives on our own we sometimes don’t realize the severity of our decisions. Their decisions brought them to having a leader the forces children to kill other children and if they don’t then they will be killed.
This is why our firm decision is work always from the focused center that one man died for all, so that all may have life. This is not just any life. It is a resurrection life. A far better life than we could EVER live on OUR OWN.
Father God,
Help us always to work from this focus. That your son died for our sins so that we may have a true new life in you. Thank you so much Father for your love, your grace, and your peace. Help us always to share this focus with others and to remember that everyone is included in this focus center. In your sons holy and precious name we pray.
Amen