Series: Grow Strong

Sermon: Growing Whom?

Speaker and Writer: Jessyka Albert

Refresh: Start with a prayer. Ask for the Holy Spirit to open your heart to new understanding and for God’s character to be revealed.

Read: Matthew 13:1-43 (RSV). Note 1–3 insights or questions.

Reflect: When Jesus explains the parable of the seed and the weeds, it brings to life a bigger picture. We can talk about our need to be patient in waiting for the small things, but here we are reminded of the role of patience in the history of the world. Those who followed God in Jesus’ times were waiting for a Messiah to conquer Rome and help them regain their power, but instead a common man with fishermen for friends showed up and told them stories about the Kingdom of Heaven, telling them to “wait.”

We find it hard to wait at red lights and in long check-out lines, but here Jesus tells us that we must wait not only in these everyday situations, but also for peace in the context of an evil world. How is is possible to raise or inspire children to Live Wonder, Live Adventure, and Live Purpose in a world where we have to wait in the midst of tragedy and pain? It’s possible because in Jesus there is always hope. Jesus points to the future; He points to a time when the weeds will be removed and those who have waited and grown “will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.”

Hope. 

With hope, waiting turns from impatience to excitement.
With hope, suffering turns into endurance. 
With hope, pain turns into joy.
With hope, weaknesses turn into strength. 

When I was about seven years old, there was a birthday party I was excited about attending. I got up early on the day and waited and waited and waited. The party wasn't until afternoon. It felt like time went by so slowly, but since I knew I was going to that party I wasn’t angry. Instead, I was bouncing off the walls with joy. 

Have you ever told a kid that you’re going to get them ice cream or take them to Disney World? How happy that makes them! How much hope they have as they look forward to the fun. Jesus has told us where we’re going. Jesus gives us a hope that we can look forward to. Our waiting doesn’t have to take place in a state of grumpiness or frustration, but rather in an attitude of joy and enthusiasm. It can be hard to wait with the weeds all around us when all we want to do is rip them out, but when we put our trust in Jesus and focus our energy on hope, the waiting becomes less mundane and more joyful.

Recalibrate: When was the last time you intentionally chose joy in your life?

Respond: Pray for eyes that see hope and not eyes that focus on all of the weeds.

Research: Check out Gretchen Rubin's blog posts on happiness. She also wrote the best-seller The Happiness Project.

Wonder: Talk about how Jesus gives us hope every day. Hope in the little things and hope in the big things. Pray for Jesus to help your child grow in the Wonder of Jesus in this world of weeds.



Adventure: What are the things that you’re most excited for? Christmas? Your birthday? Summer vacation? What are some things you aren’t excited for? The dentist? School to start? What makes them different?



Purpose: What are some current events that cause you to struggle to remain hopeful? Ask God to restore your hope even in the most difficult times.