PARABLE OF THE

YEAST IN THE BREAD

Jesus also used this example to explain the Kingdom of God

"The Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a woman making bread. She takes a measure of flour and mixes in the yeast until it permeates every part of the dough.

The Lesson
Have you ever seen someone make bread? Have you ever made bread?

First you take some flour and add water to it. Then you work it with your hands to make a dough. There is a special ingrediant that makes the dough rise and puff up into a nice loaf of bread. It is called yeast. It only takes a small amount of yeast to make the bread rise, but without it the bread tastes and looks like a flat cracker. Yeast makes the dough taste better than before, it is the secret ingrediant to making a great bread. One of the reasons you knead the dough with your hands is to make sure the yeast is spread throughout all the bread dough.

When Jesus told this parable, He was telling the people about God's love in our heart. If our heart is soft and pliable like the dough, then God's Word and Love can be kneaded into our heart, like the Yeast is kneaded into the dough. Then God's Love can really take hold of our hearts and grow and grow.

The apostles, by their preaching, went out and preached to a few people. The Word of God continued to grow by Christians continuing to share the Good News with others. The Kingdom of God, which started small, is still powerfully at work and it will continue to grow to permeate the entire world.

CLASS ACTIVITY

Make bread at the beginning of the class so that the students can watch the yeast cause the dough to rise throughout the class time. If you do not have enough time (1 to 2 hours) you can start the bread earlier so that it is in a pan ready to start rising. At home I like to have my children help me make Challah, which is a Jewish Bread, that is popular for Holidays or Sabboth's. HERE is a Recipe that I like to Bake. You can leave out the raisins if you prefer.

THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY
Spreading the Kingdom of God can begin with one person. One missionary can convert an entire village to Christianity. The Kingdom of Heaven began with one person, Jesus Christ, and a handful of disciples. It has grown like the mustard seed providing shelter for many people. It has permeated the world reaching amazing dimensions like the yeast. Each of us can make a difference in our home, school and world by being an example of God's Love and sharing Jesus with othes.

SONG

"It Only Takes a Spark."

It only takes a spark to get a fire going
And soon all those around can warm up in the glowing.
That's how it is with God's love
Once you've experienced it,
You spread His love to everyone
You want to pass it on.

What a wondrous time is spring when all the trees are budding
The birds begin to sing the flowers start their blooming.
That's how it is with God's love
Once you've experienced it,
You want to sing it's fresh like spring.
You want to pass it on.

I wish for you my friend this happiness that I've found
You can depend on Him, It matters not where you're bound
I'll shout it from the mountain tops
I want the world to know
The Lord of love has come to me
I want to pass it on.

CLICK HERE to listen to the melody

CLICK HERE for a site that has the music chords to the Song

PRAYER

Dear Father God,
Thank You for including us in Your Kingdom of Heaven. Help us to grow in Your Love, like the mustard seed and yeast, spreading Your Word to others.
In Jesus' Name, amen.