Mustard & Yeast

Big Things Start Small: Finding Your Faith in the Mustard Seed

Have you ever felt… small? Insignificant? Like the little bit you have to offer couldn’t possibly make a real difference?

It’s a common feeling. We look at the world’s huge problems or even the big goals in our own lives, and we can feel like a tiny drop in a massive ocean. If you’ve ever felt that way, you’re in good company. In fact, Jesus told a couple of stories specifically for people who feel like they’re starting with next to nothing.

We’re in a series looking at the parables of Jesus, and this week we land on two short but powerful ones from Matthew 13: the Parable of the Mustard Seed and the Parable of the Leaven. Jesus used these simple, everyday images to let us in on one of the most exciting secrets of His Kingdom: God’s biggest projects always have the humblest beginnings.

From Tiny Seed to Towering Tree

Jesus starts with a familiar image for his listeners: a mustard seed.

“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It’s the smallest of all the seeds, but when grown, it’s taller than the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the sky come and nest in its branches.” (Matthew 13:31-32)

In Jesus’ day, the mustard seed was the proverbial smallest seed. It was tiny, easy to overlook, and seemingly worthless on its own. But hidden inside that tiny speck was incredible potential. When planted, it didn’t just grow—it exploded into a massive, 10-foot-tall shrub, big enough for birds to build their nests in.

This is a picture of the church. It started with just 12 regular guys following a carpenter from a backwater town. It seemed insignificant. But God planted that seed, and it grew into a worldwide movement that has changed history.

It’s also a picture of you. Your faith might feel small some days. The first step you take toward God might feel like just a whisper. But God sees the potential in that tiny seed of faith. He knows that with His nourishment, it can grow into something strong, sturdy, and life-giving—a source of shelter and comfort for others.

Never underestimate the power of a small start when God is the one doing the planting.

The Sneaky Power of Yeast

Next, Jesus uses a different, more subtle image.

“The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and mixed into fifty pounds of flour until all of it was leavened.” (Matthew 13:33)

If you’ve ever baked bread, you know how yeast (leaven) works. You only need a little bit, and at first, it seems to disappear into the massive bowl of flour. You can’t see it working. There’s no noise, no fanfare. But slowly, silently, and from the inside out, it transforms the entire lump of dough, making it rise.

And notice the amount of flour Jesus mentions—fifty pounds! That’s enough to bake bread for a huge party. The point is clear: the influence of God’s Kingdom, though often quiet and hidden, is incredibly powerful and pervasive.

This is how God so often works in our lives and in our world. It’s not always a lightning bolt from the sky. More often, it's a quiet change of heart. It's an internal shift in attitude. It’s a value that takes root and slowly transforms how we think, how we love, and how we live. It’s the "leaven" of grace and truth working its way through us, changing us from the inside out.

What This Means for You This Week

The message from these two parables is one of incredible hope.

1. Embrace Your Small Beginning. Stop waiting until you feel "big enough" or "ready enough" to make a difference for God. Your small act of kindness, your quiet prayer, your tiny step of faith—that’s exactly what God uses to build His Kingdom. He rejoices to see the work begin, no matter how small.

2. Trust the Hidden Process. Don't be discouraged if you don't see immediate, dramatic results in your spiritual life or in the world around you. God is like the leaven, working silently and thoroughly. Trust that He is active, even when you can’t see it. He who started a good work in you will carry it to completion (Philippians 1:6).

So this week, where can you plant a mustard seed? Where can you be the leaven? Maybe it's offering a word of encouragement to a coworker, starting a simple prayer habit, or extending grace to a family member.

It may feel small. But in the hands of our great God, the smallest seeds grow into mighty trees, and the quietest influence can change everything.