Slideshow image

Read Mark 4:26-34.

Today is the 3rd Sunday of Pentecost.  Pentecost is a long season of the church year that starts now and goes all the way through the summer and into the fall.  The color of the Sundays after Pentecost is green.  Green reminds us of growth.  Throughout this season, we have the opportunity to grow.  We can grow closer to Jesus.  We can grow closer to our families.  We can grow closer to our friends.

This week, in our reading from the gospel of Mark, Jesus talks about a mustard seed.  Mustard seeds are teeny tiny seeds, yet they grow into really big and sturdy bushes.  In fact, they get so big that birds can make nests in them.

Let’s watch this video together to hear more about what Jesus had to say about mustard seeds:

Jesus told the crowd about a mustard seed.  He used the mustard seed to show what the family of God is like.  A mustard seed is a teeny, tiny seed, but it grows into an enormous bush so big and sturdy that birds can make their nests in it.  Jesus is teaching us that even with a little bit of faith, we, especially when we are joined together with other Christians and with God’s help, are able to do things bigger than we can even imagine.

Sometimes the most important thing we can do is to plant seeds of God’s love in other people’s lives and leave it to God to make them grow.  What does that mean?  It means that sometimes when we share God’s love in a small way with someone, it is like planting a seed, and God makes the seed grow in that person’s life and it can grow into something much bigger.  Sometimes, for example, we can share what we have with someone.  They can then share what they have with someone else.  As that continues to happen, the small thing that started out continues to grow and get bigger.  That’s how God’s love works.  When we give it away, we don’t end up with less, we actually end up with more…and so does everyone else.  That’s one of the amazing things about God and about being part of God’s family.

Discuss

  • What are some things that you can think of that start out small and get bigger?
  • What helps you grow tall and strong?
  • How can your faith grow?

Song

Faith as Small as a Mustard Seed Duggie Dug Dug.

Activity

As the weather is nicer, why not go on a nature walk and take along a cellphone.  Take pictures of seeds, trees, shrubs, or birds that you see – anything that reminds you of today’s story.  Look especially for things that might be small at the start of the summer that you know will grow and get larger by the end of the summer.  When you return home, look at the pictures you took and talk about today’s story.

Activity

Why not grill some hotdogs and eat them with mustard?  Read Mark 4:26-34 as you eat your hotdogs and remember Jesus’ parable of the mustard seed.

Closing Prayer

Holy God, we thank you for the faith you give us through the Holy Spirit.  Help us see that even small things can make a big difference with your help.  Help us see where we can plant seeds of your love.  We pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

 

Pastor Dan Fugate, Assistant to the Bishop for Discipleship in the Indiana-Kentucky Synod, ELCA, put this lesson together for Sunday School @ Home.  There will be a new one for each Sunday while we are unable to gather together physically in our congregational buildings.  Contact him at dfugate@iksynod.org.