Welcome to this Come to Jesus Daily Devotional as we continue in our Luke, Exploring Who Jesus is series. Today, from Luke 13:20-21, we reflect on the Parable of the Spreading Yeast and how the small and hidden things can be used by God in the extension of His Kingdom.
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‘Again he asked, “What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.”’ (Luke 13:20-21)
Having compared the Kingdom to the growth of a tiny mustard seed, Jesus now compares its growth to yeast working through a batch of dough.
Yeast is a type of fungus that feeds on the sugars in flour. When added to dough, yeast produces carbon dioxide and alcohol through fermentation. As the yeast consumes the sugar, it releases tiny gas bubbles that become trapped in the dough, making it expand and rise. In a typical bread recipe, a small amount of yeast is added. Let’s assume a loaf starts with about 60 billion yeast cells (1 -2 teaspoons of dry yeast). Over the course of fermentation (which could last a few hours), the yeast can multiply exponentially. After 90 minutes: 60 billion cells could double to 120 billion cells. After another 90 minutes: 120 billion cells could double again to 240 billion cells.
Jesus is wanting to teach us that, although quiet and often hidden, the Kingdom of God is growing and spreading. God is working in our lives, in our churches, and in society for His purposes. To those who expected the Kingdom to come with violent power, we read:
‘Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.”’ (Luke 17:20-21)
In bread, the effect of yeast is to cause it to rise; so what is the effect of God’s kingdom?
i. People receiving the King
Firstly, the effects of the ‘yeast’ of the Kingdom are people receiving Jesus as King and so entering the Kingdom through the gospel. This process, rather like the ‘kneading’ process, is normally enacted through God’s people. Christian ‘kneed’ the ‘yeast’ of the gospel into the relationships that God has given to them. However the success and power are in the ‘yeast’ - the gospel - not us!
ii. Transformed lives
Secondly, the effects of the ‘yeast’ of the Kingdom is sanctification as the Spirit works in us to make us more like the King - more like Jesus.
iii. Salt and light
Finally, the effects of the ‘yeast’ of the Kingdom is that Christians become ‘salt and light’. The ‘citizens of the Kingdom’, in the places that God has put them, bring their influence in those places in order restrain evil and promote what is good.
Yeast is powerful for good and evil. We are reminded of the power of ungodly yeast:
‘Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.’ (1 Corinthians 5:6-8)
As we read this, I hope we can see that the little things that we do - good or evil - have great effect and spreads for good or ill in a community.
Response
Be assured that God’s Kingdom is growing all around us and in us. His work may be hidden at times but rest assured that His Kingdom is growing. God has intention to bring many into the Kingdom and He wants to use us to bring the gospel to our community. He wants His ways to be done in all areas of society and we need to be available the ‘salt and light’ that we are called to be. Finally, as this yeast metaphor reminds us, don’t despise the small and hidden things - a word spoken in kindness, a prayer whispered in faith, or a small step of obedience… Because, like yeast, over time, those small actions bring about powerful transformation.
Let’s pray together:
“Lord, thank You for the quiet but powerful way Your Kingdom grows. Help me to trust in Your timing and to be faithful in the small things, knowing that You can use even my smallest acts for Your glory. May my life reflect Your Kingdom, and may I be a source of love and transformation wherever I go. Amen.”
Community Group Notes
1. Notices
It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News.
Please ensure that you and your group are aware and have the details for our week of prayer next week.
2. Icebreaker
How has God been speaking to you from His Word this week and how has this helped you?
3. Worship together
Let’s begin our time together by lifting our eyes and hearts to worship our great God. Perhaps you have readings and songs that you would like to use together. Let’s be open to the gifts that the Spirit wants to give in order to encourage one another.
4. Study and pray together
This week is ’SIV Week’ (Serve, Invest and inVite) and so we will give most of our time to thinking and praying about helping to bring our community to Jesus.
Our message on Sunday, as we restarted our Luke, Exploring Who Jesus Is series, was from Luke 13:10-35. This section, although seemingly separate parts, is joined together by the idea that although many reject Jesus (Luke 13:10-17), nevertheless, the Kingdom is growing (Luke 13:18-21) and, although this is true, it’s not automatic and we need to tell and call people to respond to the gospel (Luke 13:22-30), being fuelled by loving compassion that overcomes fear and rejection (Luke 13:31-35). In summary, we could put it:
Jesus’ Kingdom is growing and we must play our part, fuelled by compassion.
Please read Luke 13:10-35 and discuss:
Did God speak to you about anything from Sunday’s message?
What promises does this text make about the success of the gospel and how are we to respond to this?
What does this text teach Christians about their role in the spreading Kingdom?
SIV - Do we have any stories of how we have ‘Served, Invested, and inVited’ recently?
SIV - Spend some time together talking and praying about who and how you are seeking to bring your community to Jesus.
Let’s pray together: Pray for the Spirit to fill us and move us to be like Christ who mourned over Jerusalem’s current rejection of Him.
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