Everyone loves a good story and a good storyteller.

But there is no storyteller like the Lord Jesus, and there are no greater stories told than the ones Jesus shared.

In this study, spiritual stories, we consider the parables Jesus told

and their application to us. These are truly the greatest stories ever told, and the Lord

has something He wants to say to you through them. Let's join Scott Pauley now.

Typically, we think of growth as being a very healthy thing, but I want to remind you today that all growth is not healthy.

There is such a thing as unhealthy growth. If you have ever added a few extra unnecessary pounds, you know exactly what I'm talking about. Just because you're growing doesn't

mean you're healthy. In fact, it could mean the exact opposite. In our modern mindset, our culture

today, we have this idea that if something's bigger,

it must be better.

But that is not always true.

I'll remind you in scripture that God often works in the very small and seemingly insignificant ways and places and people,

and that the devil knows how to get a crowd.

In fact, false religion and error abounds on every hand.

It is the multitude that are walking the broad way to destruction and few that find the

narrow way.

So what does it mean when we say that something is growing but it's unhealthy growth?

That is the point of today's parable in Matthew chapter number 13. It's two verses, verse 31 and verse 32. And if you're interested,

you can find the parallel to this parable in Mark chapter 4 and Luke chapter number 13. Let's

read it together. Matthew's account, Matthew 13, verse 31, says another parable

put forth unto them saying, the kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed,

which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all seeds. But when it is

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