Don't Underestimate the Power of Little Things | The Gospel of Matthew

·35 min·3 clips

Jesus says God's kingdom is like a mustard seed, not a mountain, overturning our search for spectacle.

This episode features Pastor Fredo teaching from the Gospel of Matthew series at Sandals Church. He examines the parable of the mustard seed from Matthew 13:31-32 to explore how God operates. The message challenges common expectations about divine work and personal significance. Pastor Fredo opens by analyzing the Pixar film *Up* as an analogy for grief and unexpected journeys. He references musicians like Alicia Keys and Kendrick Lamar to illustrate how analogies convey complex truths. Jesus used parables, like the mustard seed, to describe God's kingdom because direct definitions were insufficient. The parable describes the kingdom of heaven as a tiny mustard seed that grows into a large tree where birds nest. Pastor Fredo notes this would have shocked listeners expecting a grand, political messianic kingdom. He connects the imagery to Old Testament visions in Daniel 4 and Ezekiel 17 of a great tree providing shelter. A central insight is that people often look for God in spectacular events rather than in small, everyday moments. The teaching asserts God consistently chooses seemingly insignificant things—like Abraham becoming a father at 99 or David being the overlooked youngest son—to achieve His purposes. Jesus’ own humble birth and ordinary upbringing are presented as examples of this divine pattern. The temptations of Jesus in the wilderness are framed as offers to achieve His mission through spectacle instead of smallness. A surprising claim is that “littleness is powerful” and weakness is a prerequisite for experiencing God’s power. The episode encourages adopting a “mustard seed mentality,” which means offering small, obedient acts like giving a cup of cold water. It cites the story of William Booth, whose small act of preaching outside a pub led to founding the Salvation Army. Listeners are asked to identify areas of life they deem too small or weak, as these may be where God is actively working. The message concludes by linking the death and resurrection of Christ to this principle—Jesus died in weakness but rose in power. The tone is pastoral, conversational, and motivational, blending personal anecdotes with biblical exposition. Pastor Fredo shares his own experience with Invisalign to illustrate the need to “chew” slowly on spiritual truths. The style is educational yet imaginative, aiming to provoke reflection rather than provide simple answers. This episode would appeal to Christians seeking encouragement in mundane or difficult seasons and those interested in biblical teaching on humility and spiritual growth. Listeners preferring theological debate or academic analysis might find it less engaging.

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