Before we attempt to assimilate others from the outside in to our churches, we must first be transformed from the inside out. Jesus addressed this in The Parable of the Yeast: “He told them still another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough'” (Matthew 13:33).

Assimilation is permeation and transformation. In essence, it is mixing throughout in order to change. Jesus painted the picture of a woman kneading yeast, or leaven, into the dough. After the yeast was mixed throughout the dough, the fermenting process could not be stopped. Jesus likened the earthly truth of the yeast to the spiritual truth of His kingdom. Once Jesus had inaugurated His kingdom on earth by coming inside it as a man, its transformation could not be stopped.

Is God prompting you to start a new ministry to advance His kingdom in you, in your community, and in your culture? Work inside out in authentic kingdom assimilation. Communion kingdom growth with God starts in your heart and works inside out in your life (see Matthew 23:25-26). Community kingdom growth starts inside relationships and then works its way out (see Matthew 28:18-20; Colossians 4:5-6). Culture kingdom growth starts inside a culture, often with the least of these, and then works its way out (see Matthew 25:40, 45).

Would you like to see authentic kingdom growth in your communion, community, and culture? Start small and work inside out.

Episode 243: Parable of the Mustard Seed and Yeast from mitchkrusetv on Vimeo.