Jesus' parable from Mark 4.26-34 is hardly the story most folks in the Church Growth Movement latch onto when they're envisioning their vocation as congregations.
Jesus never said that the Kingdom of God comes through magnificent institutions which have spectacular results. He doesn't say to the Church: "You're a great army marching out into the world". Nowhere were we encouraged to be "God's loudspeaker at the mall" that shouts the Gospel to every passer-by. And forget your notions of "awe inspiring" worship. Instead, Jesus used the smallest of the seeds -- a mustard seed -- to explore how the Kingdom comes in the world.
Jesus' own ministry was never measured by its high-impact. No fireworks, no big advertising campaign, no spectacular youth rallies. Instead, Jesus healed one life at a time. He taught and gave hope person to person. The one time he went big -- feeding the 5000 (as in Mark 6.30-44) -- the people tried to seize him and make him a king.
Jesus often retreated into the wilderness to get away from the large crowds. He knew -- as did some of those who followed him -- that it would be easy to use power to increase his numbers. People respond to the showy. But the showy isn't the same as the Good News.
Just when the powerful of the world built up enough power to neutralize his political treat, and crucified him, Jesus refused to exercise the same power (with the sword) and instead chose the way of the small -- of forgiveness.
Why?
Because that's the way God works.
The small, the weak, the insignificant, the ordinary, the overlooked, the poor, the foolish, the humble, the broken, the powerless.
That is how God works.
Think about it. In this parable, he uses a mustard seed to teach the lesson of the Kingdom.
Churches, then, so fixated on getting bigger and better, are really missing the point.
The small, the humble, the poor, the weak -- those have a greater chance of walking with God.
I also know that the smaller, the humble, the poor, the weak, when they're used by God, have a greater likelihood of pointing to God than the powerful and the magnificent. Forget your marketing plan, your strategic planning, your location or even all your wealthy members. While we hope those point to God -- and sometimes they do -- those are not the ordinary routes which God will take in the world. That very mustard seed will grow so large that even the birds can nest in it.
It's through the small and humble -- simple things like bread and wine, water, books, hymns, prayers, serving others, forgiving and being forgiven -- that we see God.