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June 22, 2008AM

Mark 12:41-13:2

COMMUNION – Seeing Beyond Size

 

I can’t really take credit for this morning’s sermon.

 It is one that I borrowed.

  I do have permission from the author to use it today, however.

   The illustration and thoughts were shared in a report read at the SDMI Con.

    The author even lent me the materials used for an illustration.

     So I brought it all with me to Church this morning.

You see in the display several glass containers.

 They are a variety of shapes and sizes.

  They all have different capacities.

   Some of them have large capacities, some have minute capacities.

    As evident as the size of the container is, we need to notice something else.

     It is what is on the inside that counts.

      They all have the same content.

If I were to ask you what the content is what would you say from your perspective?

 Some who are pessimists would say there is nothing in the containers.

  They are all empty.

   All you see is the empty space inside the glass.

    Others who are optimists would say they are all full.

     They are completely full of air.

      But there is a third group of people.

       This group has an eye for detail.

        Is anyone here willing to admit they have an eye for detail?

         Why don’t you come up and tell us what you see inside each container!

          Now tell the rest of us what you see.

           Yes every container big or small contains something identical.

           They all contain a seed.

            Wow!  I’m sure you are all amazed.

Does the container have anything to do with the effectiveness of that seed?

 Will a seed in a bigger jar be more effective than a seed in a smaller jar?

  Let me answer that question for you.

   The answer to the question is “NO”.

    The size of the container has nothing to do with the seed’s effectiveness!

     So what’s the big deal about the container and the seed?

The parable is explained like this:  The container is our church.

 Are all the churches we see around us the same size?  NO!

  Some are large, others are small.

   Do all churches offer the same programs?  NO!

    Some offer one program while another offers a different program.

     Churches come in all shapes and sizes and varying degrees of resources.

      That is all part of the container.

       Some would have us believe that the bigger the container the better it is.

        I ask again, is a bigger jar a more effective environment for the seed?

         The answer hasn’t changed.  NO!

          That explains the container.

The seed is God’s Gospel.

 Or to really bring it home, the seed is God’s activity in your life.

  What makes the seed fruitful?

   It isn’t the size of our church or our Sunday school.

    What makes the seed effective is you!

     The smallest, poorest church in the world can see an abundant harvest.

      All they need is the seed.

       But the seed has to get out of the container.

        And you are the one to do that.

         The Gospel is not part of this building.

          The container does not create the harvest.

           Impressive buildings do not do that.

           It is not dependent on the size of our budget or building.

            It does not dependent on our programs or personnel.

              You are the key to the harvest.

              You take the seed to the world.

               You do; and when you do, you can see fruit or a harvest.

                In Jesus’ own words the harvest may be 100 or 60 or 30 fold.

                 You have what it takes to bring the harvest.

                  You have the seed when God is active in your life.

But we are so slow to learn that the container size is not important.

 Hence our Scripture this morning.  (Read Mark 12:41-44)

  We like verse 41.

   There was a multitude of people in the temple.

    We like big crowds.

     But this isn’t just any big crowd.

      This was a big crowd, a multitude of rich people.

       And we see what they were doing with their riches.

        They were putting large sums of money into the temple treasury.

         We really like the sound of that.

          So we pray “Oh, God just bring us a few rich people giving large sums.”

           “It doesn’t have to be a multitude.

            “Oh Jesus, bring us some rich people.

            “Give us a big container, a big treasury, a big budget.

             “Then we can really start serving You.”

We like verse 41 but Jesus liked verse 42.

 Who did Jesus want the disciples to notice?

  Not the multitudes - He saw a single person.

   Not the rich - He saw a single poor person, a widow.

    Not huge offerings - He saw two tiny copper coins.

     Not exactly the making of a big container.

      But Jesus wanted them to see a heart that was God’s.

       God had her heart.

        How do we know?

         “She put in everything she had, her whole living.”

          You don’t treat God that way if He doesn’t have your heart.

           She was completely surrendered to God.

           She was trusting Him with her life.

And that is the environment in which the seed flourishes.

 Did the disciples get the point?  (Read Mark 13:1-2)

  As they leave the temple one of the disciples speaks to Jesus.

   Look at the size of that container Jesus!

    It is huge, it is beautiful, it is magnificent!

     Jesus must have hung is head in sadness.

      They had just missed the point.

       Those stones weren’t important.

        Jesus never tells us to look at the container.

         Jesus wants us to see something more beautiful and majestic.

          Look at the fields that are ready for harvest.

           That is where real beauty and size and God’s handiwork are seen.

            Each of us has the potential of bringing in the harvest.

             The size of our church is not the issue.

              God at work in your life is the issue.

Now look at our Communion Table.

 The elements are pretty tiny.

  Not much to them!

   Little cup of juice and a little piece of bread.

    Not a terribly impressive meal.

     Friday night Dorothy and I ate at Jean’s Restaurant in Moncton.

      I ordered a salmon burger.

       It was thick and loaded with toppings.

        If it had looked like this, I would not have been impressed.

         I’d have grumbled and complained all the way to the cash register.

          It would be some kind of joke.

           I’d probably never go back.

           These elements are not much to look at.

            They are pretty impoverished.

             But Jesus takes little things and expects a great harvest.

By receiving these elements you are saying something huge.

 “I have Jesus in my heart.”

  “I am following Him no matter what.

   “I am letting Him work through me.

    “I am letting Him speak through me.

     “I am letting Him flow through me.

      “I am letting Him touch through me.

       “I am not worried about the resources I do or do not have.

        “I am going to live for Jesus no matter what.

         “I am going to let Him use me to His glory.

          “I might be no more notable than the poor widow.

           “I might not have much to offer by the world’s standards.

            “But what I have I give to God.”

            These emblems, though small, say God has given everything He is.

When God is active in your life you will look to the fields.

 You won’t look at our church container.

  God’s Kingdom is bigger than our church-container.

   Jesus tells us to look to the fields.

    God has placed fields all around our church.

     That is what Jesus tells His disciples to look at.

      That is the call of communion.

       Look at the fields and see they are white.

        When we look at the fields we see they are ripe for the harvest.

         Receiving Communion this morning prepares us for the fields.

          Size is not what matters.

           The condition of your heart and relationship with Jesus is what matters.