Embracing Growth: The Hidden Treasures of Faith

Devotional

Day 1: Small Beginnings, Great Impact

The Kingdom of God often starts with small, seemingly insignificant beginnings, much like a seed that grows into a fruitful plant. This principle encourages us to value and nurture the small steps and beginnings in our spiritual journey, trusting that God will bring growth and fruitfulness in His time. The parables of the mustard seed and the yeast in Matthew 13 illustrate this truth, showing how the Kingdom of God manifests in diverse and unique ways across different churches and ministries. This diversity is celebrated as it reflects the multifaceted nature of God's creation. [06:25]

"For who has despised the day of small things? These seven are the eyes of the Lord, which range through the whole earth." (Zechariah 4:10, ESV)

Reflection: What small step can you take today to nurture your spiritual growth, trusting that God will bring about His purpose in His time?

Day 2: Trusting Through Uncertainty

Seasons of uncertainty and free-falling are part of God's divine cycle of growth. These times, though challenging, are opportunities for us to trust God more deeply, knowing that He is leading us to a larger, more expansive place in our lives. Just as a seed must be buried in the ground before it can grow, we too must sometimes endure periods of darkness and uncertainty before we can see the fruit of God's work in our lives. [10:25]

"Though he slay me, I will hope in him; yet I will argue my ways to his face." (Job 13:15, ESV)

Reflection: In what area of your life are you experiencing uncertainty? How can you actively choose to trust God in this season?

Day 3: Hidden Work, Revealed Glory

The parable of the hidden treasure illustrates how God often works in hidden ways before revealing His plans. This encourages us to trust in God's timing and His ability to bring things to light at the right moment. Just as the treasure was hidden and then revealed, God is at work in our lives, often in ways we cannot see, preparing us for the moment when His plans will be unveiled. [17:45]

"It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out." (Proverbs 25:2, ESV)

Reflection: Can you identify a time when God worked in your life in a hidden way? How can this memory encourage you to trust Him with current unknowns?

Day 4: The Church as a Precious Pearl

The pearl of great price can be seen as a representation of the church, which Jesus purchased with His sacrifice. This perspective reminds us of our value and uniqueness as part of God's most treasured possession, calling us to live with purpose and gratitude. As members of the church, we are called to reflect the beauty and worth of the pearl, living lives that honor the sacrifice Jesus made for us. [28:48]

"Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it." (1 Corinthians 12:27, ESV)

Reflection: How can you contribute to the beauty and mission of the church today, recognizing your unique role in the body of Christ?

Day 5: Shaped and Refined by Experience

Our lives, like pearls, are shaped and refined through various experiences, making us unique and precious in God's eyes. This understanding encourages us to embrace our journey, knowing that we are deeply loved and valued by our Creator. Each experience, whether joyful or challenging, contributes to the formation of our character and our faith, shaping us into the people God has called us to be. [32:23]

"In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 1:6-7, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a recent experience that has shaped you. How can you see God's hand in refining you through this experience?

Sermon Summary

In today's gathering, we embarked on a new series exploring the profound teachings of Jesus through the parables in Matthew 13. These parables, including the parable of the sower, the mustard seed, and the yeast, illustrate the nature of the Kingdom of God, emphasizing that it often begins with small, seemingly insignificant beginnings. Just as a seed starts small and grows into something substantial, so does the Kingdom of God, manifesting in diverse and unique ways across different churches and ministries. This diversity is not only expected but celebrated, as it reflects the multifaceted nature of God's creation.

Reflecting on personal experiences, I shared how God often leads us through seasons of uncertainty, akin to free-falling, only to land us in a larger, more expansive place. This process of being poured from one vessel to another is a divine cycle that stretches and grows us, whether it be in our personal lives, careers, or spiritual journeys. It is a reminder that God is always at work, even when we feel unsettled.

We delved into the parable of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price, drawing parallels between these stories and the journey of faith. The treasure, representing Israel, was hidden and then revealed, much like how God works in our lives, often in hidden ways, before bringing things to light. The pearl of great price, traditionally seen as a representation of Jesus, can also be viewed as the church itself—a precious, unique creation that Jesus purchased with His sacrifice.

As we navigate our lives, it's crucial to remember that we are part of this pearl of great price, the church, which is God's most valuable possession. Our lives, like pearls, are shaped and refined through various experiences, making us unique and precious in God's eyes. This understanding calls us to live with purpose, knowing that we are deeply loved and valued by our Creator.

Key Takeaways

1. falling are part of God's divine cycle of growth. These times, though challenging, are opportunities for us to trust God more deeply, knowing that He is leading us to a larger, more expansive place in our lives. [10:25]
3. The parable of the hidden treasure illustrates how God often works in hidden ways before revealing His plans. This encourages us to trust in God's timing and His ability to bring things to light at the right moment.

4. The pearl of great price can be seen as a representation of the church, which Jesus purchased with His sacrifice. This perspective reminds us of our value and uniqueness as part of God's most treasured possession, calling us to live with purpose and gratitude.

5. Our lives, like pearls, are shaped and refined through various experiences, making us unique and precious in God's eyes. This understanding encourages us to embrace our journey, knowing that we are deeply loved and valued by our Creator.

** [10:25]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[06:25] - Small Beginnings in the Kingdom
[10:25] - Seasons of Uncertainty
[14:25] - The Journey of Church for the Harvest
[17:45] - The Hidden Treasure
[22:37] - Jesus' Sacrifice and the World
[28:48] - The Pearl of Great Price
[32:23] - The Unique Value of Pearls
[35:31] - Prayer and Invitation

Bible Study Guide

**Bible Study Discussion Guide**

**Bible Reading:**

Matthew 13:31-33
Matthew 13:44-46
1 Peter 2:9

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**Observation Questions:**

In the parable of the sower, mustard seed, and yeast, what common theme is presented about the Kingdom of God? [06:25]
How does the sermon describe the process of being "poured from one vessel to another," and what does this signify in a believer's life? [10:25]
What is the significance of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price in the context of the sermon? [17:45]
How does the sermon interpret the pearl of great price in relation to the church? [28:48]

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**Interpretation Questions:**

How does the concept of small beginnings in the Kingdom of God challenge or encourage our understanding of spiritual growth and ministry development? [06:25]
What might be the purpose of God leading believers through seasons of uncertainty, as described in the sermon? How does this relate to personal growth? [10:25]
In what ways does the parable of the hidden treasure illustrate God's hidden work in our lives, and how can this understanding impact our faith journey? [17:45]
How does viewing the church as the pearl of great price alter our perception of its value and our role within it? [28:48]

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**Application Questions:**

Reflect on a time when you experienced a "small beginning" in your spiritual journey. How did it grow, and what steps can you take to nurture small beginnings in your current life? [06:25]
Consider a season of uncertainty you are currently facing. How can you trust God more deeply during this time, and what practical steps can you take to embrace this season as part of God's divine cycle of growth? [10:25]
Identify an area in your life where you feel God is working in hidden ways. How can you practice patience and trust in God's timing to reveal His plans? [17:45]
How can you contribute to the church, knowing it is the pearl of great price? What specific actions can you take to live with purpose and gratitude as part of God's treasured possession? [28:48]
Reflect on your personal experiences that have shaped and refined you, much like a pearl. How can you embrace these experiences to understand your unique value in God's eyes? [32:23]
How can you actively participate in the diversity and uniqueness of the church, celebrating its multifaceted nature while staying centered on Christ? [06:25]
What steps can you take this week to live with the awareness that you are deeply loved and valued by your Creator? How does this understanding influence your daily actions and decisions? [32:23]

Sermon Clips

"And so the theme of those three parables is that the kingdom of God will start with a small beginning. Can we just say that? Say small beginnings. That's how the kingdom of God started and continues to start as new churches spring up and new ministries spring up. And God always starts with small beginnings." [00:06:25] (23 seconds)

"But how many of you know, just like a seed when it starts off small, depending on that type of seed, we see the fruit of that is it grows and produces great results. I love when the seed exchange was here and there was all tables set up with so many different types of seeds and, and each one produces of its kind." [00:06:48] (24 seconds)

"And he said, that's what happens. It happens to all believers. There's always a cycle where God pours you and presses you into something deeper. It's not necessarily leaving one church to start a church and to birth the church and all that. I'm not saying that. But it may be a job from one position to another or a leadership role or whatever." [00:11:21] (20 seconds)

"And it all happened by small steps. We met in our living room in the fall of 1999 with a handful of people. And then we launched at the technical college in 2000. We did that for a few years. And then we launched again to Discovery Middle School, all small steps for us." [00:12:49] (18 seconds)

"And so what am I trying to say? That the church starts with small beginnings, but don't despise the day of small beginnings. God can do marvelous things. So I said a lot of that right there, just I want to get into here. These parables also followed by two others." [00:15:07] (23 seconds)

"And there's a very, an alarming word in there that says, Lord, Lord, did we not preach in your name and teach in your name and cast out devils? Didn't we do, didn't we do the works? And not just, the Lord will say, depart from me, you workers of iniquity. I never knew you. And that word known in the Greek actually means intimate fellowship." [00:15:31] (21 seconds)

"And I want to talk about that this morning here, just begin to by way of introduction. And I believe these two short parables, one of the finding of a treasure in a field and the other of finding the pearl of great price, we'll just hopefully just get into they're especially timely, I believe, for our day and age and significant for us, and they provide insight into God's design for us today." [00:16:19] (24 seconds)

"And so there's other interpretations, but I believe this man in this context was the Lord Jesus and here's why. The treasure he found was the nation of Israel and the field he purchased was the entire world. How many know that Jesus, this is interesting, paid for the sins of the whole world?" [00:20:31] (21 seconds)

"And after discovering us, his creation, he sold all by going to the cross, dying for our sins. He did not do this for himself, but for you and me. What great love, what tremendous love Jesus has for you and I. You are the pearl of great price." [00:30:44] (20 seconds)

"How many of you know that the church is the Lord's most valuable possession? It is his pearl of great price. Can you say amen? That actually word in the Greek, church, ekklesia, it means called out ones. And it's used 119 times in the New Testament. It means a gathering of people." [00:31:37] (21 seconds)

"Well, in the same way, you and I, we are unique and very precious and valuable to the Lord Jesus Christ, the church of God. But nothing like it has ever existed before. 1 Peter 2 .9 said, Peter calls the church a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar, unique people." [00:32:42] (25 seconds)

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