Planting Seeds of Faith Through Kindness and Compassion
Summary
The sermon begins with the pastor emphasizing the importance of sharing the message of Jesus Christ, not only through words but also through acts of kindness and compassion. The pastor encourages the congregation to plant seeds of the Kingdom both within the church and in the community, responding to the needs of the world. The pastor shares the results of a survey conducted to identify the challenges faced by the community, with spiritual hunger, confusion, loneliness, and mental health being the most common needs expressed. The pastor believes that the church can address these needs and help lead people to find spiritual fulfillment and healing.
The pastor then reads a scripture from the Gospel of Matthew, emphasizing the importance of making disciples of all nations and teaching them to obey God's commandments. The pastor shares a story about a registered nurse named Leah Curtain, who heard it from a doctor named Frank Mayfield. The story takes place at Tberry Mental Hospital in Massachusetts, where Dr. Mayfield had an encounter with an elderly maid who expressed her sympathy for a little girl named Annie, who was deemed deranged and wild.
The pastor addresses the topic of church growth, emphasizing that growth should not be solely focused on numbers or the physical institution, but rather on the depth of spiritual growth within the church community. The pastor acknowledges the fears and concerns associated with church growth, such as the potential focus on money, ego, and power. They assure the congregation that church growth should not be driven by these negative motives. The pastor emphasizes that while growth is not the ultimate goal, it is not their place to put a cap on it. They mention the example of Peter's sermon at Pentecost, where 3,000 people joined the church and were welcomed without any rejection.
The pastor emphasizes the importance of welcoming and including others in the community. The pastor encourages the congregation to share the good news and plant seeds of the Kingdom, as we never know what God may grow them into. The pastor shares the inspiring story of Anne Sullivan, who became the teacher of Helen Keller, a young girl who was considered deranged and unable to see, hear, or speak. Through Anne's dedication and love, Helen went on to achieve great things, including attending Harvard and being nominated for Nobel Peace prizes.
The pastor concludes the sermon by sharing a personal story about baking brownies for a woman named Annie. The pastor relates this story to Jesus' command to go into the world and make disciples, emphasizing the importance of acts of kindness, mercy, and justice. The pastor encourages the congregation to share their faith in a joyful way, as they possess a gift that others desire, even if they may not realize it. The pastor discusses the importance of understanding and meeting the needs of the community, and encourages the congregation to start thinking and praying about how they can contribute to serving others in the community.
Key Takeaways:
- The pastor emphasizes the importance of sharing the message of Jesus Christ through acts of kindness and compassion, not just words. This is a reminder that our actions often speak louder than our words, and that we can demonstrate the love of Christ through our deeds. ([12:45])
- The pastor shares a story about a little girl named Annie, who was deemed deranged and wild. This story serves as a reminder that everyone has a story and that we should approach others with compassion and understanding, rather than judgment. ([23:30])
- The pastor addresses the topic of church growth, emphasizing that growth should not be solely focused on numbers, but rather on the depth of spiritual growth within the church community. This is a reminder that the true measure of a church's success is not in its size, but in the spiritual growth and transformation of its members. ([34:15])
- The pastor shares the inspiring story of Anne Sullivan and Helen Keller, reminding us that with dedication and love, we can help others achieve great things. This serves as a reminder that we should never underestimate the potential of others, and that we should always strive to uplift and empower those around us. ([45:50])
- The pastor encourages the congregation to share their faith in a joyful way, emphasizing the importance of acts of kindness, mercy, and justice. This is a reminder that our faith is a gift that others desire, and that we should share it joyfully and generously. ([56:20])
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 28:19-20: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
2. Mark 4:26-29: "And he said, 'The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.'"
Observation Questions:
1. What are the specific instructions given in Matthew 28:19-20, and who is expected to carry them out?
2. In Mark 4:26-29, what does the process of the seed growing symbolize?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the command in Matthew 28:19-20 relate to the concept of sharing the message of Jesus Christ through acts of kindness and compassion?
2. How can the parable of the seed in Mark 4:26-29 be understood in the context of planting seeds of the Kingdom within the church and the community?
Application Questions:
1. What is one specific act of kindness or compassion you can perform this week as a way of sharing the message of Jesus Christ?
2. Can you identify a need within your community that you can respond to, as a way of planting seeds of the Kingdom?
3. Reflecting on the story of Annie and the maid, is there someone in your life who you may have judged too quickly? How can you approach them with more compassion and understanding?
4. Considering the story of Anne Sullivan and Helen Keller, who is someone in your life that you can uplift and empower? What is one specific way you can do this?
5. What is a specific act of kindness, mercy, or justice you can perform this week as a way of sharing your faith in a joyful way?
Devotional
Day 1: Demonstrating Christ's Love Through Action
The message of Jesus Christ is not only shared through words but also through acts of kindness and compassion. It is through these deeds that the love of Christ is truly demonstrated. This is a call to action, to plant seeds of the Kingdom both within the church and in the community, responding to the needs of the world. ([12:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H23kXsouEks&t=750s))
1 John 3:18 - "Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth."
Reflection: How can you demonstrate Christ's love through your actions today? Can you think of a specific act of kindness or compassion you can perform?
Day 2: Compassion Over Judgment
Everyone has a story and deserves compassion and understanding, rather than judgment. This is a reminder to approach others with empathy, recognizing their struggles and offering support. ([23:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H23kXsouEks&t=1395s))
Colossians 3:12 - "Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."
Reflection: Who in your life could use a little more compassion and understanding? How can you show them this today?
Day 3: Spiritual Growth Over Numbers
The true measure of a church's success is not in its size, but in the spiritual growth and transformation of its members. This is a call to focus on deepening our spiritual growth within the church community. ([34:15](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H23kXsouEks&t=2040s))
Ephesians 4:15 - "Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ."
Reflection: How can you contribute to the spiritual growth of your church community? Can you think of a specific way to deepen your own spiritual growth?
Day 4: Empowering Others
With dedication and love, we can help others achieve great things. This is a reminder to uplift and empower those around us, never underestimating their potential. ([45:50](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H23kXsouEks&t=2735s))
1 Thessalonians 5:11 - "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."
Reflection: Who in your life could use some encouragement and empowerment? How can you uplift them today?
Day 5: Sharing Faith Joyfully
Our faith is a gift that others desire, and we should share it joyfully and generously. This is a call to share our faith in a joyful way, emphasizing the importance of acts of kindness, mercy, and justice. ([56:20](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H23kXsouEks&t=3365s))
1 Peter 3:15 - "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect."
Reflection: How can you share your faith in a joyful and generous way today? Can you think of a specific act of kindness, mercy, or justice you can perform to demonstrate your faith?
Quotes
1. "Sometimes we share and it's in the form of information - hey Jesus did this for me, Jesus has done this for others, this is the good work that Christ has done - and sometimes it comes in the form of an act of kindness or compassion like that young girl at tesb did for Annie." [42:35]
2. "Jesus talks about this idea of the kingdom is like planting seeds in Mark 4:26 through 29. Jesus says the kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground and would sleep and rise night and day and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how." [43:20]
3. "If we want to be the best church for the community, it means we are planting seeds. Sometimes they're planted inside these Church walls in Worship, in Sunday School, in small groups, in Bible study. A lot of times, and especially, they're planted outside the church walls in responding to the needs of the world, responding to the needs of the community through our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service, and our witness." [43:56]
4. "When I'm talking about growth, it's not just numbers, it's depth." [49:21]
5. "Jesus never set out to build a mega church... He tells them the hard truth, he tells them the cost of discipleship." [50:03]
6. "Growth isn't the goal or the point, but we all concede it's never our place to put a cap on it." [50:51]
7. "Annie took a bite and ate them and over time she said I started to have conversations with her and even at some point got her to laugh." [38:45]
8. "Jesus is saying go into the world and do acts of kindness, mercy, justice, compassion in my name, be like an unnamed little girl offering brownies to a world that seems deranged and out of control." [41:02]
9. "We can't keep the good news to ourselves, we're called to plant the seeds of the Kingdom because you never know what God may grow them into." [52:11]
10. "We plant seeds because we have no idea what they can turn into. We are called to plant, and when those seeds come to fruition, we make space." [52:58]
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