The Little Things

Life Group Study By Amanda Saenz

The little things we do, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to impact others will eventually bring bigger transformation and change. All the way through the scriptures, Jesus often refers to the Kingdom of God being like small things that then grow, expand and multiply.

The Kingdom of God is marked by peace, joy, healing, justice, deliverance, salvation, and the presence of God. Jesus is the first man who brought the Kingdom power and demonstrated it to mankind. He started off with a very humble beginning. He was born as a baby in a manger, grew up just like any ordinary child and started off His ministry in a small town amongst a very poor and marginalised Jewish community. He chose 12 ordinary people of low status to be His followers whom He empowered by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God mightily used them in the City of Jerusalem and the surrounding regions of Israel. Within 30 years, Christianity spread from Jerusalem to Rome. Within the first 300 years, Christianity became the religion of the Roman Empire. This small band of ordinary followers of Jesus now expanded and filled the earth. Now, Christians are almost found in every continent and in every country of the world but God is not yet finished. There are still more people to hear about the life and hope Jesus offers including those we meet, know, our family or friends.
  
Matthew 13:33 - "He told them still another parable: 'The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.'"

*Remember that this parable is when Jesus addresses the multitudes who couldn’t understand, and who might have dismissed the Jesus’ ministry as insignificant. This makes the parable Jesus shares particularly interesting. There are also a total of eight kingdom parables in Matthew 13 all of which provide a fascinating look into ‘what the kingdom of heaven is like’ if you wanted to do further study.

More scriptures you could read together or send to your group during the week to read and reflect on:
• Matthew 13:18-19 – Mustard seed
• Matthew 5:13-14 – Salt and Light
• Matthew 12:28; Romans 14:17
• Matthew 24:14
• Mark 1:14-15
• Matthew 13
• Daniel 7:27
• Matthew 6:10
• Matthew 6:33
• John 3:3
• Psalm 145:12-13

Discussion Questions
1. What does the parable of the yeast in Matthew 13:33 teach us about the Kingdom of God?
2. How do the little things we do, empowered by the Holy Spirit, contribute to bigger transformations in our lives and communities?
3. What are some examples of small acts that have led to significant changes in your life or the lives of others?
4. What role does the Holy Spirit play in enabling us to impact others and spread the Kingdom message?
5. In what ways can we mirror Jesus' humble beginnings and ministry in our own lives?
6. How do you stay motivated and consistent in doing small acts of kindness or Kingdom work amidst challenges and distractions?
7. In what ways can we encourage and support one another in our journey of living out the Kingdom values in our daily lives?

Application and Prayer: 
Reflect on one small action you can take this week to demonstrate the Kingdom of God's values in your sphere of influence.

Close the study with a prayer for the Holy Spirit to empower you to carry out these actions and for a greater understanding of the Kingdom's impact in your life as you go!