Seed to Tree: The Place for Fast and Slow in Movements

I was talking with a friend recently who, in a sudden fit of brutal honesty, shared just how much he cringed at the use of the word “strategy” in Kingdom work. I was caught off guard, but held it together enough to ask a few more clarifying questions. Through the conversation I realized that there has been something going on around me that I was unaware of. It seems that at least some of the time the word strategy is heard only in reference to things man-made - as in our attempts to do work for God in our own strength. That isn’t at all what I mean when I talk about strategy in the Kingdom work.

I ALSO don’t want to join in with man-made strategies for Kingdom growth. But I do believe that our God is intentional and has a strategy to complete the work that He is doing. I also believe that we can see His strategy in Scripture and, with the help of the Spirit, learn to join in His strategy in our current context. This is the effort in problem solving from the Word.

We get some clarity of God’s strategy in Mark 3 through 6. I encourage you to read it for yourself and dig in, but here’s a quick overview and some observations that have been impactful in Kingdom work.

In Mark 3 Jesus appoints the 12. In Mark 6 He sends the 12. Note these bookends.

After Jesus appoints the 12, Mark says they were appointed, “so that they might be with him, and he might send them out to proclaim.” And then we see Jesus rejected by the Scribes and misunderstood by his family. Just before Jesus SENDS the 12, Mark tells us Jesus was rejected in His home town. So, inside the bookends Jesus says, “I'm calling you so that I might send you,” and then there's rejection, and on the other end there's rejection before he says, “I’m sending you.”

Through the direction of the Holy Spirit Mark is laying a foundation for the work that will be revealed in between these bookends. This work is God’s work. He is the one calling and sending. It’s hard work, and it comes with rejection.

It seems to me that Mark is purposefully communicating what God is showing him. I know, that sounds like a really obvious statement. What I mean is that he's not focussed on a chronological sequence of events, but the parables and stories he chooses to share in chapters 4 and 5 aren’t accidental or random. I believe that in this section of Scripture he paints a picture that Jesus is, by His actions and words, preparing the 12 to do what He told them He would send them to do.

I believe Mark 4 & 5 show us God’s strategy to grow the Kingdom that Jesus passed on to His sent ones. He starts with four parables and ends with four stories.

THE PARABLES

Parable 1 - The Four Soils: There is a soil that will produce a crop. If the seed is sown on it, it will grow, expand, and multiply. But there are also soils that will not produce a crop at this time. These soils will not multiply.

Parable 2 - The Lamp Under a Basket: Don't hide the light. It might seem small and unseen now, but it will be revealed. Get it out there.

Parable 3 - The Growing Seed: How the Kingdom grows. Here he gives them what we might call The Four Fields. The kingdom of God is like a man who goes into the field and sows seed. He doesn't know how, but the seed begins to sprout. There's this unseen doer doing the work. You sow the seed - shine the light. The unseen doer does the work. And there's a harvest that comes from the combination of our work and the Holy Spirit’s work.

Again, he's talking about the kingdom of God growing. He's talking about finding the soil where it multiplies many times. He's telling them not to hide the light.

Don't withhold the seed. Bring in the harvest. And then we get this strange little parable whose placement baffled me for so long. Why does the Parable of the Mustard Seed appear here? It seems so random. We’ll come back to this parable in a minute.

THE STORIES

After Mark shares the four parables, he goes on to share four stories that, on the surface, seem like he’s just telling a story. But if we see these stories in their context within the bookends of calling and sending, they carry much more significance.

Story 1 - Jesus Calms the Storm: Jesus has authority over creation.

Story 2 - Jesus Casts out the Demon Legion: Jesus has authority over spirits.

Story 3 - Jesus Heals the Bleeding Woman: Jesus has authority over sickness and disease.

Story 4 - Jesus Raises Jairus’ Daughter: Jesus has authority over life and death.

Each of these stories lays a foundation for the authority of Jesus. He has authority over all things. It’s this authority that he gives the 12 when he sends them. They aren’t going and proclaiming the good news on their own authority. Why can they go without the provisions they need to sustain life? Because they are sent under the authority of the one who has power over all creation. Why can they cast out demons and heal the sick? Because they are sent under the authority of the one who has power over all spirits, sickness, disease, and even death. Why is Mark sharing these stories? Because the sent ones can’t face the rejection and persecution ahead to do the work they are sent to do without faith in the authority that sends them. They must trust the sender, who is the unseen doer.

With this understanding let’s go back to the fourth parable.

PARABLE 4 - THE MUSTARD SEED

The mustard seed, the smallest seed, when it takes root, grows even to a point where the birds can nest in the shade of its branches. I’ve heard many attempts to explain this parable. We could go on and on about questions like, “What should a mustard seed naturally produce? What shouldn't it produce? What does it actually look like?” I don't know those answers, but I do know that when I look at the picture that is clearly being painted here the placement of this parable becomes much more clear and those questions don’t matter anymore.

Through the first three parables we clearly see the pattern of the Gospel sown broadly in new fields with faith that it will bear fruit. We face the reality that the Gospel and the sowers will be rejected more than accepted, but there are people already prepared to receive the good news who will multiply the Gospel in that field. And the fruit is not a result of our own hard work, but a partnership with the Holy Spirit under the authority of Jesus. All of this is in the context of preparing the 12 to go and proclaim the good news.

Right in the middle we find this little parable about a tiny seed that grows into a tree. What if Jesus is helping them see the importance of a gathered group of believers established quickly from a people in a specific place so that those who aren't even part of the kingdom yet can experience its shade and have a chance to come into the kingdom over time. The slower work can happen because this tree grew quickly from that little seed.

This is a work that would truly require trust in the one who has authority over creation, spirits, sickness, and death. There is a place in kingdom work for the Gospel to go forward, looking for the people that God has already prepared to receive it very quickly, to say yes, and to open up the door to their people who will begin to say yes and gather together as church to become that tree, that mustard tree, that will continue to reveal the kingdom to their community over time. It isn’t a work that everyone will do or must do, but it is a work that any disciple of Jesus can do under the authority of the sender, Jesus. It is a work that Jesus has given to his church, together. It is a work that is for the sake of the many.

I encourage you to read Mark 3-6 for yourself and ask God to show you his strategy and your part. If God’s calling you as a sent one, then this is the foundational work. If God’s calling you as a fourth soil person, don’t outsource or stop short of church. If God’s calling you to do the slower work of continually and consistently sharing the Gospel with your community in presence and proclamation, learn how to raise up sent ones to go to the next people and places, proclaim the good news, find the fourth soil people, and establish simple churches that will multiply. The “fast” and “slow” must work together for God’s glory. A seed that becomes a tree produces many more seeds.