Hidden & Mixed In

Fellowship – Snacks or a Meal (10 minutes with snacks; longer, obviously, if there is a meal).

Gathering Time (5-10 minutes). In pairs or groups of three, have participants answer, “Have you had an experience where something was hidden, and later you found it?”

Group Dialogue (Approximately 30 minutes). Read Genesis 29:15-28 and Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52.

When Jacob woke up after the wedding, who was his first wife? [It was Rachel’s sister, Leah]. Why did Laban do that? [‘Laban said, "This is not done in our country--giving the younger before the firstborn.’”] What did Jacob need to do to marry Rachel? [Jacob served another seven years.] What is your reaction to the story? Which character do you associate with? (Jacob, Leah, Rachel, Laban, or others?)

Pick one or two parables from the Matthew reading and discuss them in the group. (If you have time, please feel free to discuss then all.)

• The Parable of the Mustard Seed and Yeast: Discuss the symbolism of the mustard seed and yeast representing the hidden and small beginnings of the kingdom. [The kingdom starts small but expands and encompasses many people from various backgrounds. It shows the transformative power and growth of God's kingdom.] Where do you see a small beginning (like a mustard seed) having great potential to grow in your church and community for the kingdom of God?
• The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl of Great Value: Explore the significance of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great value. [They teach us that encountering and embracing the kingdom is important and worth giving up everything else to obtain it.] What might you do to seek the kingdom in a hidden place? What might you give up for God this week to better pursue the kingdom?
• The Parable of the Fishing Net: Discuss the idea of the fishing net gathering both good and bad fish. [The separation of the good fish from the bad fish in the fishing net represents the final judgment when God will separate the righteous from the wicked. It teaches us the importance of discernment and accountability for our actions.] What might you do this week to be accountable for God’s guidance? Only God does the work of separation. Our role is to help get people into the net. What might you do to gather people into the net this week?

“Our invitation, then, is to find the treasure in the midst of the ordinary. We can look for glimpses of the kingdom alongside or even within the mundane, everyday struggles of living life in a complicated and sometimes broken world.” (From the Preaching Note.) What action might you plan this week to find glimpses of the kingdom? What might you do to see something as small as a mustard seed grow a big tree in your home, church, and community? What signs of the kingdom do we see in our community? What might it look like if we did see signs of the kingdom in our community?

Prayer (10 minutes). Share prayer requests and respond appropriately.

Sending Forth (2 minutes). End with the following prayer, a similar prayer, or the Lord’s Prayer:

Creator God, this is Your world! May we be reminded of the power of small beginnings and humble acts of faith, knowing that even the tiniest seed can grow into a mighty tree, and a pinch of yeast can transform a whole batch of dough. Teach us to recognize the hidden treasures of your kingdom and to value them above all else, understanding that true joy and fulfillment are found in seeking and embracing your divine presence. Grant us wisdom to discern your teachings and share them with others, becoming faithful stewards of your word. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

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We at Discipleship Ministries invite each congregation and worshiping community to develop an intentional discipleship plan in their local context. There are resources and mentors that you can access on our website to help you develop and implement your plan. Please call upon us to help you if you have not already begun such a journey (https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/discipleship-system-example).

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Rev. Motoe Yamada Foor, Director of Adult Discipleship, served in local churches for twenty years. She is passionate about moving churches toward a more missional and spiritual focus so that they can make more disciples of Jesus Christ. She has a wealth of experience at a variety of organizational levels of The United Methodist Church as well as in ecumenical organizations such as the World Council of Churches (WCC). She also enjoys serving as a coach to help people grow as disciples.