November 6, 2011
Rev. Jana Krizova,
Guest Preacher from the Czech Republic

Mk 4,26nn
Dear friends,
I am privileged to be here. I come from the Czech Republic, which is quite a remote place for you. But I am grateful for the fact we are also a part of the worldwide Christian family, and what more, a Methodist family.

Do you still remember the changes in Europe and Russia twenty two years ago? The iron curtain fell, communist countries got freedom, people were enthusiastic and many Christians thought that it was almost God’s kingdom coming. Churches were free, nobody spied on pastors any more, Christians could do what they wanted. For example they could print their books freely, they could have their own schools, homes for handicapped persons, they could start projects helping people, they could officially care for homeless, prisoners, drug addicts etc. Churches were very well accepted by the society and by common people. Churches were invited to join the state in various social activities, churches had their voices in various discussions. Simply – almost God’s kingdom on earth.
But soon we discovered new borders. We can issue Christian literature but have not enough money for that and people are not so keen on reading it, anyway. We can have church schools but we do not have enough teachers and parents would not send their children to a church school as much any more. We can run a home for homeless but there is a lack of enthusiastic and reliable people who would do it. And common people in my country do not like church any more and the society does not welcome the influence of the church. The God’s kingdom is not so obvious on earth.

You know, the Methodist church in the Czech Republic is small, we have together about 1000 people in 20 congregations. Lay people serve in the church quite often because of the lack of educated pastors, I mean a proper theological education at a university. Church activities are always fragile, because usually it is one irreplaceable person who does the job. If anything wrong happens to her or him, the work just stops. Yes, it is not so easy with God’s kingdom. I would say it is rather hidden in the Czech Republic.
When you say God’s kingdom, what do you imagine? A paradise on earth? A golden age? Is God’s kingdom something that comes in the future? Or is it here now?

When we say “kingdom”, we usually think of an area. It is a matter of geography. The land. Well, my country has been a republic for ninety years. Your country has never been a kingdom with its own king. But the real meaning of the word in the New Testament is not an area. Rather – kingdom is where people respect the king. God’s kingdom is where people recognize God as their Lord.
There are many parables talking of God’s kingdom in the bible.

Do you like parables? They are like puzzles, aren’t they? We read one of them at the beginning of our text. It says: You people made it complicated. But actually, it is so simple! God’s kingdom is like a seed. You put it in the earth and it grows. By itself. Automatically, the Greek text says. You cannot cause the growth. You have no power to make it grow. You have no influence. You just sow the seed and wait. It is not an advice for lazy people, by no means. You can prepare the soil, you can care for plants, water them, protect them, but you cannot make them grow. You must wait for the right time. Imagine, if you pull seedlings, pull roots or leaves, if you open buds, you damage the plant. You just sow the seed, and it will grow automatically, in the right time. Trust God who created the laws of growth.

Do you know what I am talking of? Of course I am not teaching real farmers or gardeners. God’s word is the seed. We must spread God’s word, it is our task, our Lord has commanded us to do it. We must do what we can. We prepare soil if we can. We sow as much as we can – and we wait. We cannot expect results instantly. We must trust God. He promised that his word would work itself. When we see new Christians, we can care for them, we can teach them, but we cannot make them grow. No matter how sophisticated, how clever strategy we choose, we cannot produce Christians. It is God’s kingdom, not ours. The important things depend on him. The church is his, not ours.

Do you like the idea? The idea that you are not so important? That all your effort is not so important? I like it. It puts all things to the right position. And it brings a relief. You need not be proud and you need not be desperate. I shall explain what I mean. Imagine that you are a successful pastor, your congregation is growing in numbers and spiritually... Or you are a member of a successful church, working on many useful projects... It may easily happen that you begin to think: I am so good, I deserve my reward. We are so good, so efficient, so successful, that we won many people, God blessed us, you can see it! I know attitudes like this from some places at home. But if you realize you are just a servant, there is nothing to be proud of! You did not cause the growth! The new Christians are not a result of your effort!

Or imagine the opposite situation. You belong to a small church. You pray, you work hard, and nothing happens. You can see no response. People around you begin to accuse you that it is your fault, it is a lack of your faith, you are not capable, you are responsible for the bad situation. You can easily become exhausted and desperate. I know some people at home who are tired and hopeless. And, I must admit, I am preaching first to myself. It helped me so much when I realized that I was not the one who was supposed to create God’s kingdom or to convert people or to make people grow. I must do what my Lord wants me to do, that is to follow him, to spread his word, to be his witness. It is a great relief to know that I can rely on my Lord Jesus Christ. It is a great relief for us all to know that we can rely on our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ died on the cross for us and he rose from the death. He creates everything new. He makes his Kingdom grow.

Do you believe it? Can you see it? We have also read the parable of the mustard seed. The kingdom of God is like the smallest seed you plant. Yet, when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants. Do you trust God when he says his kingdom may be almost invisible, and yet it is present and grows like a weed? Yes, it grows from the tiny beginnings. Small groups of Christians scattered in the country seem to be so helpless in comparison with the powers of the world. But they are the beginnings. Sometimes we think we need to protect God’s interests, defend God against those who do not recognize him and promote or even build his kingdom. Actually, the growing kingdom protects us. God’s love is so vulnerable, yet it can do what nothing else can do. It changes a selfish, aggressive person into a loving, humble Christian. Why does God choose the tiny beginnings? We may think that obvious, striking miracles would work better. They would make believers of everyone, instantly. – They do not. The kingdom of God has always been carried by helpless word of Jesus Christ and his witnesses. It grows, but faces resistance and aversion. It usually is not a quick success.
Why has God chosen to be so helpless? The purpose is an appeal to make a decision. Shall we accept the Lord Jesus Christ with his seemingly unsuccessful life and terrible death? Shall we rely on God even if we see the tiny beginnings only? Each of us must decide. Yes or no? “I do not care” is also an answer.

We may not see it at the moment. But we do have a powerful Lord. Let us trust him and live accordingly.
Amen.