Kingdom work requires diligence and faithfulness.  As we work in our mission field, we should be encouraged by these parables of Jesus.

David Aukerman's sermon comes from Mark 4, and references Ezekiel. 

Listen to the sermon.

Read the sermon text below.

Mark 4:26-34 (New Living Translation)

(Parable of the Growing Seed)
Jesus also said, "The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, while he's asleep or awake, the seed sprouts and grows, but he does not understand how it happens. The earth produces the crops on its own. First a leaf blade pushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed, and finally the grain ripens. And as soon as the grain is ready, the farmer comes and harvests it with a sickle, for the harvest time has come."

(Parable of the Mustard Seed)
Jesus said, "How can I describe the Kingdom of God? What story should I use to illustrate it? It is like a mustard seed planted in the ground. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of all garden plants; it grows long branches, and birds can make nests in its shade."

Jesus used many similar stories and illustrations to teach the people as much as they could understand. In fact, in his public ministry he never taught without using parables; but afterward, when he was alone with his disciples, he explained everything to them.

Ezekiel 31:1-14 (New Living Translation)

(Egypt Compared to Fallen Assyria)
On June 21, during the eleventh year of King Jehoiachin's captivity, this message came to me from the LORD: "Son of man, give this message to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and all his hordes:

"To whom would you compare your greatness?
 You are like mighty Assyria,
  which was once like a cedar of Lebanon,
with beautiful branches that cast deep forest shade
  and with its top high among the clouds.
 Deep springs watered it
  and helped it to grow tall and luxuriant.
The water flowed around it like a river,
  streaming to all the trees nearby.
 This great tree towered high,
  higher than all the other trees around it.
It prospered and grew long thick branches
  because of all the water at its roots.
 The birds nested in its branches,
  and in its shade all the wild animals gave birth.
All the great nations of the world
  lived in its shadow.
 It was strong and beautiful,
  with wide-spreading branches,
for its roots went deep
  into abundant water.
 No other cedar in the garden of God
  could rival it.
No cypress had branches to equal it;
  no plane tree had boughs to compare.
No tree in the garden of God
  came close to it in beauty.
 Because I made this tree so beautiful,
  and gave it such magnificent foliage,
it was the envy of all the other trees of Eden,
  the garden of God.

"Therefore, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: Because Egypt* became proud and arrogant, and because it set itself so high above the others, with its top reaching to the clouds, I will hand it over to a mighty nation that will destroy it as its wickedness deserves. I have already discarded it. A foreign army—the terror of the nations—has cut it down and left it fallen on the ground. Its branches are scattered across the mountains and valleys and ravines of the land. All those who lived in its shadow have gone away and left it lying there.

"The birds roost on its fallen trunk,
  and the wild animals lie among its branches.
 Let the tree of no other nation
  proudly exult in its own prosperity,
though it be higher than the clouds
  and it be watered from the depths.
For all are doomed to die,
  to go down to the depths of the earth.
They will land in the pit
  along with everyone else on earth."