Matthew 13:31-33
October 27, 2024 • Kevin Maloney • Matthew 13:31–35
Sermon Discussion Questions:
1) Expectations vs. Reality: The people of Jesus' time anticipated a dramatic, immediate arrival of God's kingdom. In what ways do we sometimes expect God to work dramatically in our lives? How does this influence our faith when we don’t see immediate change?
2) Understanding God’s Kingdom: The mustard seed and leaven grow slowly and almost imperceptibly at first. How does this picture of slow growth challenge our understanding of God’s work in the world and in our lives?
3) Personal Growth: Jesus’ parable suggests that growth in God’s kingdom—and within ourselves—may not be instant. Where have you seen small, gradual changes in your life or faith that later resulted in big growth?
4) Living in the “Already, Not Yet”: Jesus says the kingdom is already here but not yet fully realized. How does this affect our hope and patience as we pray, “Thy kingdom come,” both in the world and in our hearts?
5) Patience in Ordinary Faithfulness: In a fast-paced world, we often look for quick solutions to spiritual growth. How can we learn to embrace the "ordinary means of grace" (e.g., Scripture, prayer, worship) as essential to our growth in Christ?
