The Hidden Kingdom - Pt. 13: “A Little Leaven”

In today’s sermon, we wrap up this series by considering Jesus' parable of God's Kingdom being like leaven. Let’s consider what truly has a ruling influence in our lives - is it Jesus’ kingdom or something else? May we discover how to be aware of what is truly influencing our lives, and have the ability to see clearly enough to help others bound by the false kingdoms of this world. Discussion Questions: 1. What does it mean for a “kingdom” to work as leaven in your life? How does Jesus' kingdom work as leaven to spread into every area of our lives? How can we co-operate with that process? Can you remember a time in your life when you were “oblivious" to what kingdom was primarily influencing the way you thought and lived? Does that ever happen to you now? How can we be more aware of the influence of kingdoms other than Jesus that are permeating our lives? Can you give an example in the world around us of an “obvious” kingdom mindset that is in opposition to Jesus' kingdom? Can you think of an example of that within the church? How should we handle each of these situations? How can you navigate that with specific people you know and love? Can you think of a time when Jesus revealed a spot to you where His kingdom was being “obscured” by the influence of another kingdom in your life? How did you come to see this? How did Jesus help you remove the log? Have you asked him recently to reveal any potential logs? What can we learn from the parable of the plank & speck about helping others to see the false kingdoms that are influencing their lives? Is this something you have walked out with someone before? Is there a current opportunity in your life for that now? How can you co-operate with Jesus to help remove the speck from your brother’s eye?