Sermons on San Mateo 13:33:

Little Seed - Big Tree Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Aug 19, 2007

Why did the farmer in this parable plant the mustard seed? Jesus doesn’t stress the harvest from this tree... only the fact that birds come and settle in its branches. Why?

OPEN: There’s a story about a student from MIT who spent an entire summer going to the Harvard football field every day wearing a black and white striped shirt walking up and down the field for ten or fifteen minutes throwing birdseed and blowing a whistle. Then he would walk off the field. At ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:31-35

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Sleeping Giant Series

Contributed by Matthew Stoll on Aug 23, 2007

The Kingdom of Heaven is present and is growing here on earth, and we are God’s vessel for expanding the kingdom.

Last week we looked at one of Jesus’ favorite teachings, the kingdom of God. We discovered the kingdom of God isn’t just something which will happen in the future when Jesus returns, but God is already in the process of building his kingdom, his perfect reign on earth right now. Jesus said “the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:31-33

Denomination: Methodist

An Unfamiliar Kingdom

Contributed by Jon Lipka on Jul 27, 2014

While we all have preconceptions about what the kingdom of heaven is and isn't, Jesus uses parables to force us to rethink what the kingdom is.

What is it that the Gospel message presents? I don’t simply mean today’s Gospel lesson, but the capital-G “Gospel.” The Gospel is not merely, “Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.” The proper name for them is the Gospel according to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:31-49

Denomination: Anglican

Evil In The Kingdom Series

Contributed by Pat Damiani on Aug 21, 2014

Second in a series. The Parable of the Weeds helps us understand why there is evil in the midst of God's kingdom.

Do you ever wonder why it’s often so hard to be a follower of Jesus? Perhaps like me, you once had some well meaning, but naïve person tell you that if you would just give your life to Jesus all your problems would go away, only to find out that is far from reality. I look around this room ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:24-43

Denomination: Baptist

Separating The Wheat From The Weeds

Contributed by Craig Condon on Apr 8, 2015

While the forces of good and evil will be sorted out some day, there is still time for change until that day comes. It is a story about grace, patience and hope. Don’t we often look back on our own mistakes and become thankful that we had time to change?

When I worked at a local lumber mill several years ago, part of my duties included grading lumber. By that I mean separating lumber according to its qualities as determined by both the National Lumber Grading Authority rules and common sense. In other words, I was separating good lumber from bad ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:24-43

Denomination: Anglican

Parábolas Del Reino: La Semilla De Mostaza Y La Levadura

Contributed by Wilbur Madera Rivas on Jan 10, 2021

El Reino tienen un crecimiento progresivo y un impacto intensivo

Cuando nuestros hijos eran pequeños y mi esposa y yo teníamos que hablar de algún tema privado delante de ellos, desarrollamos la técnica del cambio de idioma. Es decir, como ambos hablamos un poco de inglés, (ella muchísimo más que yo), comenzábamos a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:31-33

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

What Is The Kingdom Like?

Contributed by Reuben Bredenhof on Feb 2, 2021

Beyond the self-denial of following Christ, beyond the daily discipline, beyond the cross to be carried, lies the most precious thing, a thing of supreme and unsurpassed beauty: life in the Kingdom, under God and for God and with God!

When you open the gospel accounts of Matthew, Mark and Luke, it seems that more often that not, Jesus is speaking in some parable. With colourful language, Jesus places things “side by side,” comparing and contrasting, and drawing out from the picture he paints some truth or teaching. Sometimes the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:24-52, Matthew 13:44-46

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Problem Of Weeds

Contributed by Jim Keegan on Oct 14, 2020

This parable may very well be one of the most important teachings for the church to hear in helping us to understand the nature of our witness for good in the world.

The Problem of Weeds Read Matthew 13:24-30 Everyone who has ever farmed or gardened, or taken care of a lawn, is only too familiar with the vexing reality of weeds. Weeds are essentially a mundane example of the fall of Creation and the presence of sin in the world. The dictionary defines them ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:24-43

God's Power Toward Us Who Believe

Contributed by Mike Bryant on Mar 3, 2021

Man has always sought unlimited power. God has given believers just that. What is this power that God has given us, and how do we avoid squandering it?

I) The search for unlimited power has been constant theme of history. A) Politically, we see this in attempts throughout history to rule the world. For example, Alexander the Great ruled Greece at the age of sixteen and soon set out on a conquest that saw him ruling most of the known Western ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:19, Ephesians 3:20-21, Matthew 19:26, Genesis 18:14, Matthew 13:30-50, 2 Corinthians 5:9-10, Matthew 6:19-21, Romans 2:7  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Compost Pile Or Heap Of Rotten Garbage? Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jul 24, 2021

The Christian heart needs frequent airing out and turning, even after conversion and sacramental grace.

Monday of 17th Week in Course Ss Anne and Joachim When someone says the word “parable” to most Christians, I think they immediately recall the parables of Jesus, like the one we heard today: the tiny mustard seed grows into a huge bush, the yeast mixed up with wheat, if properly mixed, causes the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:31-35, Jeremiah 13:1-11, Matthew 13:16-17, Deuteronomy 32:18-31

Denomination: Catholic

Small Things

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Dec 21, 2021

Parables are illustrations that compare something earthly with something that is spiritual.

The PARABLE OF THE MUSTARD SEED is mentioned three times. We find it in: • Matthew 13:31-35 • Mark 4:30-32 • Luke 13:18 The Lord must have considered this parable to be important to allow it to be mentioned three different times in the Scriptures. We want to look at Matt. 13:31-35, we read, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:31-35

Denomination: Baptist

Consider Your Influence

Contributed by John Dobbs on Feb 16, 2019

In the spring of 2004, 10-year-old Austin Gutwein watched a video that showed children who had lost their parents to AIDS in Africa. He realized these kids weren’t any different from him. ...

Consider Your Influence Matthew 13:31-35 Introduction In the spring of 2004, 10-year-old Austin Gutwein watched a ideo that showed children who had lost their parents to AIDS in Africa. He realized these kids weren’t any different from him. He decided to shoot free throws and on World AIDS Day, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:31-35

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Parable Of The Wheat And The Tares. Series

Contributed by Claude Alexander on Sep 20, 2019

The Parable of the wheat and the tares or Satan in the Kingdom.” This parable comes just after the parable of the sower.

Tares among the wheat The Parable of the wheat and the tares or Satan in the Kingdom.” Matt. 13:24-30; 36-43. Christ gave this parable immediately following the parable of the sower. Notice what He said: “Another parable He put forth to them, saying: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a man who ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:24-30, Matthew 13:33-43

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Kingdom Is Like...mustard Seeds And Yeast Series

Contributed by Brady Boyd on May 13, 2019

Both a mustard seed and yeast are small and seemingly insignificant.

The Kingdom Is Like … Mustard Seeds and Yeast May 12, 2019 Matthew 13:31-33 NIV He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:31-33, Philippians 3:8-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Wheat And The Tares; Hypocrisy And Strength Through Humility.

Contributed by Gordon Mcculloch on Jul 23, 2017

The parable of the wheat and the tares is not all about hypocrisy; it is also a gospel reading of atonement, full of strength through humility.

This sermon was delivered to Holy Trinity in Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland on the 20th July 2014 (a Scottish Episcopal Church in the Dioceses of Glasgow and Dumfries). (This is a modification of a previous sermon for a larger congregation). Today's readings: Isaiah 44:6-8, Psalm 139: 1-11, 22-23, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:24-43

Denomination: Episcopal