_{^{Sermonette offered at Ordinary Community Church on Sunday, November 23, 2025.}}

This morning, I want to explore the Parable of the Mustard Seed.

A while back, I saw a post on Instagram about the parable of a mustard seed. It gave a new perspective on an old story. I tried to find it again but failed. However, I have not been able to get the message out of my head and ended up following my thoughts – as I often do – down a rabbit trail.

I want to give you a sneak peek into how my brain works and share with you what I discovered. But first, let us read the parable of the mustard seed.

Scripture

Matthew 13:31-32

I find the First Nation’s Version most poetic. It reads:

Creator Sets Free (Jesus) then told them more stories about the good road: “the good road from above is also like a man who plants a single grain of mustard seed, one of the smallest of seeds. But when planted in a garden, it grows larger than all the other plants and takes over the garden. It becomes a great tree with many branches, large enough for the winged ones who soar in the sky to find lodging in its shade.

Me versus We

The Instagram post stated that we often translate this parable with a surface-level and self-centered understanding. In other words, we focus on the smallness of the seed and what I can accomplish with the tiniest bit of MY faith. In fact, most of the commentaries I read offered little more than this basic understanding.

The author of the post challenged the reader to look below the surface, to see what can be accomplished when we consider the network of faith – like a pebble skimming the surface of the water – when we take our offering and multiply it with others (Matthew 25:14-30).

Structure of the Mustard Seed

Before beginning my investigation, I knew nothing about botany. The only living plants I own are those which are nearly impossible to kill. Now, I feel quite proud that I understand the difference between tuber and tap roots.

Mustard seeds rely on a taproot system, consisting of the main central root and smaller branching roots.

The central root grows downward and can reach depths of five feet. Think about it. That’s almost as tall as I am! That’s taller than my mother!

Key Components of the Taproot

Central Root:

• Strong
• Dominant
• Stable
• Anchors the plant
• Absorbs deep waters
• Fleshy and enlarged

Lateral Roots:

• Branch off from the central root
• Smaller
• Closer to the surface to increase water and nutrient absorption

Root Hairs:

• Tiny extensions – also off the central root
• Even smaller than lateral roots
• Even closer to the surface
• Shorter lifespan than lateral roots

This root system helps prevent soil erosion.

The entire plant – leaves and roots – is edible.

Spread and Invasion

Mustard Plants:

Have a Long Life

• mustard plants produce thousands of seeds that can remain viable in the soil for years.

Are Mobile

• the wind easily carries seeds away
• seeds carried by clothing, pets, vehicles, equipment
• carried away by running water

Pesky Problems

Mustard Plants Cause Problems Because:

Are Strong Competition

• They show up early
• Outcompete native plants for light, water, and nutrients

Disrupt the Ecosystem

• Crowd out native plants
• Alter soil chemistry

Tuber Root Systems

Unlike Tap Root Systems, Tuber Root Systems:

• Modified roots – enlarged and fleshy roots to store nutrients (me)
• Primary function is to help the plant survive by storing energy (myself)
• Develop at or near the base of the main stem (I)

Think carrot or potato.

To Be a Tap or a Tube?

Let’s go back and look at how the taproot system is better than a tuber root system.

JESUS is our Central Root:

• Strong – Philippians 4:13

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

• Dominant – Colossians 1:18

Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So, he is first in everything.

• Stable – Hebrews 13:8

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

• Anchors – Ephesians 2:20

Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself.

• Absorbs deep waters – Jeremiah 23:24

“Can anyone hide from me in a secret place? Am I not everywhere in all the heavens and earth?” says the Lord.

• Fleshy and enlarged – 1 Chronicles 29:11

Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things.

WE are Jesus’ Lateral Roots:

John 15:5

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.

Colossians 2:7

Let your roots grow down into him and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

Our Mission/Others are His (and Our) Root Hairs

Mark 16:15

And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.

Matthew 25:34-36

Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.

To Be a Lateral Root

A lateral root helps the central root to:

Prevent Erosion – by creating a network of support:

• Keeps the Gospel from fading
• Keeps individuals from losing hope/faith
• Promotes Christian moral and ethical standards in our secular world. Consider the foundation of hospitals, foster care and adoption agencies, food and shelter programs

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

9 Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. 10 If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. 11 Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? 12 A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

Provide Sustenance – mind, body, and spirit:

• Sustains and nourishes the body of believers
• Invites outsiders into the family of faith

John 21:15-17

15 After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.”

“Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.

16 Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

“Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.”

“Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.

17 A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.

Disrupt the Competition – show the world another way:

• Be the light in an otherwise dark world
• Offer hope and help and love

Matthew 5:14-15

14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Romans 12:21

Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.

John 13:34

Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.

Conclusion

I need you to know that Sunshine and I did not discuss my topic before she selected songs. As I listened to our Ce Ce Winans song for today – Believe For It – I smiled, knowing this was a God-wink.

They say this mountain can’t be moved

They say these chains will never break

But they don’t know You like we do

There is power in Your name.

I have no chance to move a mountain all by myself, not even with my own personal mustard seed amount of faith. But WE can.

When we stay connected to our tap – our source of life – Jesus – and when I combine my faith with yours – and yours – and yours – there is nothing we can’t do.

Move the immovable

Break the unbreakable

From the impossible

We’ll see a miracle

WHY?

Because [Jesus is] the way when there seems to be no way.

Do you Believe For It?

As we prepare to go out into the community today for our 4^th Sunday Community Table, I want to conclude with a quote from William Barclay. In his commentary on the parable of the mustard seed, he reminds readers that all great things always start with small beginnings.

He points out that Jesus’ disciples must have gotten discouraged from time to time. Jesus is saying to them – and to us – that we are not to be discouraged, that we “must serve and witness in [our] own situations, that each one must be the small beginning from which the kingdom grows until the kingdom of earth finally becomes the kingdom of God.”

We have been grafted into the root system, which began with Jesus. We are part of the beautiful underground root system wreaking havoc in the world’s ecosystem.

So, how are we – at OCC – expected to continue growing our roots?

It is really quite simple – LOVE.

When asked which is the most important commandment, Jesus replied:

 “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’[e] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[f] 40 The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:37-40).

We are about to go out into the neighborhood to love on our neighbors – a simple meal kit, a simple prayer, a simple wave hello to passing cars – it all matters.

YOU matter.

WE matter.

Let’s pray.

_{^{Bible references (unless stated otherwise) are from the New Living Translation (NLT).}}