Kingdom Parables: Mustard Seed
The Kingdom of God Starts Small: A Call to Faithfulness
In this powerful message, Pastor Josh continues the Kingdom Parables series by diving into Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 13. The Kingdom of God, he says, doesn’t arrive with smoke machines or laser lights. It starts small—like a mustard seed—and grows slowly but surely over time. Through honest reflection, real-life stories, and a passionate call to action, Pastor Josh shows us what it really means to follow Jesus in this season of abiding in the King and advancing His Kingdom.
The Kingdom Isn’t Always What We Expect
“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a grain of mustard seed… the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown, it becomes a tree.”
When we think of a kingdom, we think of something spectacular—crowds, power, success. But Jesus flips that image on its head. He says the Kingdom begins like a tiny seed. Small. Unimpressive. Hidden.
Pastor Josh shared about preaching in Korea to thousands of people, lights flashing, a giant crowd cheering. “I felt like a pop star,” he joked. But even there, he began by challenging the crowd: “Just because you have a big church doesn’t mean you’re a good Christian.” The size of the crowd doesn’t always reflect the work of the Kingdom.
“The Gospel didn’t come down with an army. It came in a manger, as a baby. That’s how God works.”
Time and Faith: The Way the Kingdom Grows
“Time is one of the most powerful currencies we have.”
Pastor Josh reminded us that God works over time. Like a seed growing underground, the Kingdom of God often grows in ways we don’t see. It takes patience and faith.
He reflected on how his own heart has changed over the years—how what he once thought was important has shifted. That growth didn’t happen overnight. It happened over time. The same is true for our church, our families, our friends, and even our own hearts.
“Why are you impatient? Because you’re trying to control something that’s not in your control.”
Faith means trusting God to do what only He can do. We sleep. We wait. He grows the seed.
God Sees the Small Things
“You have been faithful with a little; I will set you over much.” —Matthew 25:23
The world values big moments, big achievements, and fast results. But God values faithfulness in the small things.
Pastor Josh admitted that he used to struggle with this. “Small things are boring,” he said. “I wanted a stage. I wanted applause.” But when Heartbeat Church began in a lounge room with just a few people, something powerful started to grow. Not because of hype—but because of obedience.
“Do small things with great passion.”
Whether it’s stacking chairs, running a house church, or greeting someone on a Sunday, God sees it. It matters.
A Simple “Hi” Can Change Everything
Pastor Josh shared a story about his wife spotting her Year 8 science teacher at a restaurant. She hesitated to say hello, but he encouraged her. When she finally approached the teacher, her face lit up. That simple greeting brought joy.
“Sometimes your ‘hi’ is not just a hi. It can be the mustard seed in someone’s heart.”
It’s a reminder that God can use even the smallest gesture. A hello. A question. An invitation. These are the seeds the Kingdom grows from.
Pastor Josh gave a real example of how the Kingdom has grown in our own church. Jenny brought Xavier. Xavier brought PM. PM brought his parents. That one invitation led to an entire family being part of the church.
This isn’t a strategy. It’s what happens when people do the small thing God puts in front of them. One life at a time.
Don’t Do Nothing
“The worst thing is not doing the wrong thing. It’s doing nothing.”
He warned that the servant who buried his talent didn’t fail because he lost it—he failed because he did nothing. Fear, comfort, and impatience often keep us from acting. But doing nothing is not neutral. It’s disobedience.
Pastor Josh reminded us that the Kingdom doesn’t grow like a business. It grows through faithfulness, through prayer, through simple acts of love and obedience.
A Word to the Church: Be Faithful Where You Are
He encouraged those who serve quietly week after week. The media team. The praise team. Those who show up early, who stay late. He mentioned the city campus, where things aren’t as glamorous as before, but people remain faithful.
“Keep showing up. Even when it’s not exciting. Even when no one notices. Because the gospel is worth it.”
He also pointed to the children in the room. “They don’t offer much now,” he said honestly, “but 10 or 15 years from now, they’ll be the ones setting up chairs, running the media, leading worship.” The Kingdom grows across generations.
Sow the Seed. Let God Do the Rest.
As the year continues under the theme Abide and Advance, this message was a clear call: sow the seed of the gospel. Don’t wait for the perfect moment. Don’t be discouraged when results don’t come quickly. Do what God has put in front of you—no matter how small it seems.
“You may not be the reaper, but someone has to sow the seed.”
Let’s be a church that sows. A church that trusts. A church that doesn’t just talk about the Kingdom—but lives it out, one faithful step at a time.
