Commentary: Yeast, Bread, and Growing the Kingdom of God

 


By Douglas Hoy, Disaster Response Coordinator

Recently, my wife and I spent a weekend camping at Greene Hills Family Campground & RV Park. It was a relaxing time and we enjoyed experiencing the sights, sounds, and smells of God’s creation. The colorful foliage, the sound of the nearby river, and the smell of cooking over a camp fire brought back fond childhood memories. We ended our weekend by attending the worship service. Vance Hart, the chaplain, shared a message of the importance of yeast. He spelled out how it is used to make bread and ferment grapes. As he spoke, I began to think about the aroma of freshly baked bread and the process of making it.

Assemble the ingredients. Dissolve the yeast. Mix in the remainder of the ingredients. Knead the dough and allow it to rest and rise. Then, bake it and serve it. As these thoughts ran through my head on the drive home, I was reminded of the scriptural significance of bread and yeast. 

Bread is not just something that satisfies our physical need for sustenance. It provides spiritual nourishment. It sustains the body and reminds us of the generosity of and blessings from God.

In the parable of the yeast, Jesus shared “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 (Matthew 13:33). 


When just a small spoonful of yeast is added, it doubles the size of the dough. It takes time for the yeast to work. But, the results are obvious. The same is true of our work in ministry and mission.

The Disaster Response Ministry assembles teams of volunteers who have been blessed with the skills and desire to serve. We mix in some training to prepare for the tasks those teams will be required to perform. And, when the time comes, we send them out to serve those in need. That service starts small as we provide a caring, Christian presence for those who have suffered as a result of disaster. During our work, we meet their physical needs and feed them spiritually by sharing the love of God. And, as we do, the “yeast” is kneaded into their lives and, over time, the kingdom has an opportunity to “rise” and grow.

Like yeast changes the dough, when someone accepts Christ, they begin to grow and change from the inside. As you serve those in need, take some bread with you. Feed their physical needs and nourish them spiritually. Share the blessings God has given you. And, in the process, transform and grow God’s Kingdom.

Email Doug at drc@susumc.org


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