Mustard Seed
OK, I have a name suggestion. I'm holding on to this loosely, so if you guys don't like it, you won't hurt my feelings. Give it a taste, swish it around, let it soak in and then give your thoughts. Cool? Here goes...
Mustard Seed Church: A transformational, missional community of Christ followers
Or, it could just be Mustard Seed...without the church. Check out Matthew 13:31 and Matthew 17:20 to understand some of the symbolism that I feel is fitting. I welcome your thoughts.
-Ryan
[10/3/06]
posted by The Well at 4:22 PM
5 Comments:
the ol' mustard seed parable......
Matthew 13:31 (NIV)
"He told them another parable: 'The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field.'"
Matthew 13:31 (MSG)
"Another story. 'God's kingdom is like a pine nut that a farmer plants. It is quite small as seeds go, but in the course of years it grows into a huge pine tree, and eagles build nests in it.'"
What do you suppose Eugene Peterson was thinking with the Message variation of that passage? I think there's a pretty big difference! I'm not going to spread pine sap on my bratwurst. And, I'm not hanging ornaments from any mustard plants in December.
That said, I like the name "Mustard Seed." My concern is that some might think we have a gardening center or could come to ask Micah how to keep rabbits out of their landscaping. "Mustard Seed Church" could eliminate some of that line of questioning. I do know that I have never even seen a mustard seed. I just know they're really small, which is the point of the parable. I do like the symbolism in reference to size...our capacity vs God's (keeps us humble)...our capacity to move mountains (empowering)....totally thinking out loud right now and I'm going to stop.
The main thing I have been asking myself is: "What identity embodies what we're doing, pays tribute to Christ and leaves enough mystery for post-moderns to want to ask questions and feel safe doing so?" We might already have the answer. We might not. I might not even be asking myself the right question.
-Amos
[10/4/06]
4:25 PM
http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=Mustard+Seed&qs_version=31 ‘Mustard Seed’ in the bible
http://www.herbalextractsplus.com/mustard-seed.cfm?gclid=CLKXibjs34cCFRZXWAodeiqHAg Herbal Benefits of Mustard Seeds
http://www.msainfo.org/clop.asp Another Christian group with a similar direction to ours
http://www.ccel.org/contrib/exec_outlines/pa/pa_05.htm Mustard Seed Outline
http://www.mustardseed.ie/ Where we should have our annual holiday dinner
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mustard_seed Mustard Seed info
http://www.culinarycafe.com/Spices_Herbs/Mustard_Seed%20.html Culinary info on Mustard Seeds
http://www.mustardseed.ca/ Another Mustard Seed Church
http://www.mustardseed.org/ International outreach
http://www.mustard.ab.ca/index.php?c=2 Another Mustard Seed Fellowship
http://www.mustardseedgroup.org/ Alcoholics Anonymous
http://www.centeringprayer.com/kingdom/kingdom05.htm More information on the Parable of the Mustard Seed
http://www.viableherbalsolutions.com/singles/herbs/s866.htm More information on the Mustard Seed
This should give us a little more info on the Mustard Seed and who else is using the name.
-micah
[10/4/06]
4:26 PM
Something did strike me this a.m. Some of it I'm still sorting through in my mind before I share. The other is this..."How can we expect a church name to sound appealing to a generation clouded by misconceptions of Life with Christ if it sounds like something 'Christian.'"
-Amos
[10/10/06]
4:28 PM
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