The Nest
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-Introduction
-There was a time in history when July 4th didn’t carry a great deal of historical significance.
The same could be said of other now-historical dates – Dec. 7 (Pearl Harbor), June 6 (D-Day),
Sept 11 (terrorist attacks). Prior to last year, May 22 did not carry any special significance for
this area. Now it does.
-It is hard to believe this week will mark a year since the tornado!
-Reflecting back on it, there are some things I can remember in detail. (pictures)
At the same time, much of last summer is simply a blur.
-I’m still amazed by many things related to the tornado –survival stories, outpouring of support
(prayers/money/hands-on – context of this congregation and Joplin as a whole). I’m also amazed by
the work that was accomplished.
-Yet, in the grand scale of the tornado and all the amazing sights – I want to tell you about a small little
item that absolutely amazed/amazes me.
-additional pictures – tree uprooted, small tree pinned to the ground, maple tree topped
-There, in that topped maple tree, was a robins’ nest that withstood the storm with no signs of
any movement or damage. Amazing!
-Matthew 13
-context: midst of Galilean Ministry – in the midst of a very long day, Jesus presents His first group of
parables
-parallel passages – Mark 4, Luke 8
-parables given publicly – Sower, Tares, Mustard Seed, Leaven, Seed Growing of Itself
-privately– explained Sower and Tares, presented Hidden Treasure, Goodly Pearl, Net, Householder
-“Kingdom” parables – Matt. 13:11, 19, 24, 31, 33, 44, 45, 47
-In these parables, Jesus was addressing the attributes of the approaching kingdom, His church.
-Parable of the Mustard Seed
-Matt. 13:31-32
-“In Palestine it was common to speak of the mustard seed as the smallest of all seeds. Strictly speaking
it was not, for there are other seeds that are smaller, but the tiny mustard seed was proverbially used
to stand for anything infinitesimally minute…Both Matthew and Mark emphasize that the small mustard
seed becomes the largest of the herbs. The Palestinian mustard plant, because of its size, was not set
out in the garden but in the open field. It was not unusual for it to grow as high as ten or twelve feet. It
was a giant of the shrubs, so large that its branches spread out like a tree. Such a shrub would attract
many birds. This is what happened in the parable. In Jesus’ time birds could often be seen in the
branches of the mustard plant as they fed on the small black seeds of the mustard pods. Thus the
parable presented a familiar scene to the Jews” (Neil R. Lightfoot, Lessons from the Parables,
Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1965, 33).
-Main point: The kingdom would grow exceedingly and would provide a spiritual haven.
-Applications for Us
1. The Lord’s church is where we find spiritual food.
-The world will not feed us spiritually. If we seek food there, we will starve.
-Yet, Lightfoot makes reference to the birds eating in the shrub which grew from the mustard
seed. Now, I want you to think about this. Birds die for various reasons, but I’ve never heard
of birds dying from starvation – Matt. 6:26.
-Matt. 5:6, Luke 6:21, John 6:27, 35
-Ironically, we want to be filled spiritually but we want to remain hungry.
-God will provide our spiritual needs in abundance, but we must continue to hunger for more.
-Matt. 5:6 (above) – hunger is in present tense – ongoing action
-Let’s be filled with what God offers, but let’s remain hungry for more. It’s in the church that we
can be spiritually fed.
2. The Lord’s church is where we are to abide. It’s not just a place to visit.
-The birds didn’t just come, eat and leave. They came and built their nests.
-John 17:15-16, John 15:4-11 – “abide” occurs eight times
-The church is to be our priority (Matt. 6:33). It is to be our focus. Everything and everybody
else is to be subservient to it. It is to be central in our lives. All else should revolve around it. It is our
spiritual haven while on earth.
-Let me just ask you these questions: What priority did Jesus give to the church? Where was it
in His focus? What was He willing to sacrifice for the church?
-Now, these questions: Did Jesus set the perfect example or not? Are we to follow His example
as best as we can? So, what should our view of the church be? Where should it be in our lives?
3. The Lord’s church is a haven in life’s storms.
-Interestingly, the next event in the life of Christ involved the calming of a storm (Matt. 8, Mark 4,
Luke 8).
-Matt. 13:32 – When those birds made their nests in the shrub, it became their safe haven. (makes
me think of that robin’s nest in my front yard)
-This makes me think of the numerous passages in Psalms which reference safety, shelter, refuge…
-Ezek. 17:22-24 – And, Lord has done it.
-Heb. 12:28
-Being in the Lord’s church will not remove life’s storms. But, abiding in the church provides us
with shelter, safety and all that we need to endure whatever comes our way.
Invitation <Return to Sermon Outlines>
-Introduction
-There was a time in history when July 4th didn’t carry a great deal of historical significance.
The same could be said of other now-historical dates – Dec. 7 (Pearl Harbor), June 6 (D-Day),
Sept 11 (terrorist attacks). Prior to last year, May 22 did not carry any special significance for
this area. Now it does.
-It is hard to believe this week will mark a year since the tornado!
-Reflecting back on it, there are some things I can remember in detail. (pictures)
At the same time, much of last summer is simply a blur.
-I’m still amazed by many things related to the tornado –survival stories, outpouring of support
(prayers/money/hands-on – context of this congregation and Joplin as a whole). I’m also amazed by
the work that was accomplished.
-Yet, in the grand scale of the tornado and all the amazing sights – I want to tell you about a small little
item that absolutely amazed/amazes me.
-additional pictures – tree uprooted, small tree pinned to the ground, maple tree topped
-There, in that topped maple tree, was a robins’ nest that withstood the storm with no signs of
any movement or damage. Amazing!
-Matthew 13
-context: midst of Galilean Ministry – in the midst of a very long day, Jesus presents His first group of
parables
-parallel passages – Mark 4, Luke 8
-parables given publicly – Sower, Tares, Mustard Seed, Leaven, Seed Growing of Itself
-privately– explained Sower and Tares, presented Hidden Treasure, Goodly Pearl, Net, Householder
-“Kingdom” parables – Matt. 13:11, 19, 24, 31, 33, 44, 45, 47
-In these parables, Jesus was addressing the attributes of the approaching kingdom, His church.
-Parable of the Mustard Seed
-Matt. 13:31-32
-“In Palestine it was common to speak of the mustard seed as the smallest of all seeds. Strictly speaking
it was not, for there are other seeds that are smaller, but the tiny mustard seed was proverbially used
to stand for anything infinitesimally minute…Both Matthew and Mark emphasize that the small mustard
seed becomes the largest of the herbs. The Palestinian mustard plant, because of its size, was not set
out in the garden but in the open field. It was not unusual for it to grow as high as ten or twelve feet. It
was a giant of the shrubs, so large that its branches spread out like a tree. Such a shrub would attract
many birds. This is what happened in the parable. In Jesus’ time birds could often be seen in the
branches of the mustard plant as they fed on the small black seeds of the mustard pods. Thus the
parable presented a familiar scene to the Jews” (Neil R. Lightfoot, Lessons from the Parables,
Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1965, 33).
-Main point: The kingdom would grow exceedingly and would provide a spiritual haven.
-Applications for Us
1. The Lord’s church is where we find spiritual food.
-The world will not feed us spiritually. If we seek food there, we will starve.
-Yet, Lightfoot makes reference to the birds eating in the shrub which grew from the mustard
seed. Now, I want you to think about this. Birds die for various reasons, but I’ve never heard
of birds dying from starvation – Matt. 6:26.
-Matt. 5:6, Luke 6:21, John 6:27, 35
-Ironically, we want to be filled spiritually but we want to remain hungry.
-God will provide our spiritual needs in abundance, but we must continue to hunger for more.
-Matt. 5:6 (above) – hunger is in present tense – ongoing action
-Let’s be filled with what God offers, but let’s remain hungry for more. It’s in the church that we
can be spiritually fed.
2. The Lord’s church is where we are to abide. It’s not just a place to visit.
-The birds didn’t just come, eat and leave. They came and built their nests.
-John 17:15-16, John 15:4-11 – “abide” occurs eight times
-The church is to be our priority (Matt. 6:33). It is to be our focus. Everything and everybody
else is to be subservient to it. It is to be central in our lives. All else should revolve around it. It is our
spiritual haven while on earth.
-Let me just ask you these questions: What priority did Jesus give to the church? Where was it
in His focus? What was He willing to sacrifice for the church?
-Now, these questions: Did Jesus set the perfect example or not? Are we to follow His example
as best as we can? So, what should our view of the church be? Where should it be in our lives?
3. The Lord’s church is a haven in life’s storms.
-Interestingly, the next event in the life of Christ involved the calming of a storm (Matt. 8, Mark 4,
Luke 8).
-Matt. 13:32 – When those birds made their nests in the shrub, it became their safe haven. (makes
me think of that robin’s nest in my front yard)
-This makes me think of the numerous passages in Psalms which reference safety, shelter, refuge…
-Ezek. 17:22-24 – And, Lord has done it.
-Heb. 12:28
-Being in the Lord’s church will not remove life’s storms. But, abiding in the church provides us
with shelter, safety and all that we need to endure whatever comes our way.
Invitation <Return to Sermon Outlines>
