Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
"In Jesus’ context, mustard was known as a weed. It was hardy, hard to control, and once it took hold of a piece of ground, you couldn't easily get it out. There were regulations on where mustard could be planted because of how aggressively it spread. You weren't supposed to sow it near a grain field because it would take over. In modern terms, we'd call mustard an invasive species, a plant that spreads insistently, crowds out what's around it, and can actually change the soil itself so that other things can't grow where it does. Jesus says: the kingdom of God is like that. A persistent weed. Spreading. Refuge-shaped. Changing the ground where it grows. Showing up in unexpected places in an unexpected way. The kingdom of God does not tower over us like a monument to the powerful that makes everyone look up. It is a shelter for the vulnerable. A shrub the height of a person, with branches wide enough to hold what is small and tired and looking for somewhere safe."
Excerpt from All Things New: Seeds, Growth, and Mustard Seeds | May 17, 2026
Full sermon available on our YouTube page.
#inclusivechurch #mustardseeds #washingtondcchurch #kingdomofgod
"In Jesus’ context, mustard was known as a weed. It was hardy, hard to control, and once it took hold of a piece of ground, you couldn't easily get it out. There were regulations on where mustard could be planted because of how aggressively it spread. You weren't supposed to sow it near a grain field because it would take over. In modern terms, we'd call mustard an invasive species, a plant that spreads insistently, crowds out what's around it, and can actually change the soil itself so that other things can't grow where it does. Jesus says: the kingdom of God is like that. A persistent weed. Spreading. Refuge-shaped. Changing the ground where it grows. Showing up in unexpected places in an unexpected way. The kingdom of God does not tower over us like a monument to the powerful that makes everyone look up. It is a shelter for the vulnerable. A shrub the height of a person, with branches wide enough to hold what is small and tired and looking for somewhere safe."
Excerpt from All Things New: Seeds, Growth, and Mustard Seeds | May 17, 2026
Full sermon available on our YouTube page.
#inclusivechurch #mustardseeds #washingtondcchurch #kingdomofgod
