The kingdom needs you: the mustard seed
The Kingdom of God being parabolically described as a mustard seed by Jesus in Mark 4 was surprising to his listeners by the shore of the sea, to say the least. And his reference to nesting birds might seem benign enough to us, but to them, the splendid cedar of imperial messianic power (from Ezekiel and Daniel) was supposed to provide birds shelter.
So the image of the mustard plant — found blooming bright yellow all over Los Angeles in springtime, just as it was across Galilee — becomes significant in all sorts of ways: there’s no singular main trunk, but a multitude of stems; it spreads invasively and at an almost unstoppable pace, partly because of how rapidly and abundantly each stem produces seeds; it grows together, and stands together, to produce shade. Even the size of the bloom depends entirely on the winter rains that come beforehand (throughout Scripture, God’s Spirit is poured out like water on dry land.)
Powerful symbolism for Mark’s original community, and a specific word to us as a community today.
By Hannah Flint
The kingdom needs you: the sower.
The Kingdom of God is what life looks like when Jesus is in charge. It has already begun through Jesus, but it’s not yet fully visible; it is present, but hidden, and we as His people are called not just to be in it, but to participate in God’s kingdom work in the world. The Parable of the Sower demonstrates Kingdom people as a quiet resistance force—joining God in pushing back against evil through love, witness, and action-- and teaches us three important principles.
First, sow generously: share the message of Jesus widely without worrying about results—God’s Kingdom is marked by abundance, not efficiency.
Second, recognize different responses: some hearts are hardened by busyness, some are shallow (driven only by emotion or intellect), and others are distracted by worries and wealth.
Third, cultivate good soil: make space for God, engage deeply with His Word, and allow it to shape every part of life. The promise is that, when we respond fully, God produces a multiplied harvest—bringing lasting love, joy, peace, and transformation, even in a broken world.
By Ed Flint