The Mustard Seed and the Leaven

This sermon seeks to establish from Scripture that the kingdom of heaven (or the kingdom of God) is not simply the rule of God, but God's visible kindgom in the world, i.e., the church of Jesus Christ. These two parables of the kingdom show 1) The beginnings of this kingdom, which are small and hidden; 2) The growth of this kingdom on earth, which is slow and through many obstacles; and 3) The glorious end of this kingdom in time and history. The meaning of these two parables is clearly shown in equivalent prophecies in both the Old and New Testaments. The parables are not only highly instructive as to the future of the church in history, but also a great encouragement to Christians in these dark days for the church and the world.