In the church’s garden of human hearts, we need a big patch of mustard seeds growing all the time. Though it is the smallest see the Jews cultivated, it grew to be the largest of their harvested plants. Society has taught us to think that bigger is better. People want a bigger house, a bigger car, and a larger salary. Sometimes churches think that small projects are not really worth the effort. If we cannot do something big, we just will not do anything.

But the little things that church members do really make a difference.

The intent of this parable (Matthew 13:31–32; Mark 4:30–32) is to show that the beginnings of the gospel would be small, but that its latter end would greatly increase. In this way, the church as the kingdom of God among us would be set up in the world; in this way, the work of grace in the heart, the kingdom of God within us, would be carried on by individuals.