In Ernest Hemingway's 1926 novel, The Sun Also Rises. One character asks the other, how did you go bankrupt? Two ways, the man replied, gradually, then suddenly. Gradually, then suddenly is how you go bankrupt. But it's also how you get out of debt, get in shape, start a business, and 1000 other things. Breakthrough rarely arrives overnight. It comes through countless small steps of faith, discipline, and obedience that accumulate until the moment God moves powerfully. The same rhythm also defines revival, healing, and answered prayer. We give up too quickly in the slow work of faith, but Scripture reminds us that patience and perseverance is the soil where God plants miracles. The question is not whether or not God will act, it's whether we'll keep trusting Him long enough to see this suddenly unfold. We're sharing a message in the sacred space between Christmas and New Year's, a natural pause where we reflect on what God has done and look ahead to what God might do next. As I think on this past year here at Mission Grove Church, my heart is filled with gratitude for the growth we've seen across our ministries. We launched a third service, we created a rhythm of regular next step and membership classes, and today there are Bible studies available and meaningful community opportunities for every age and stage of life. In many ways, Mission Grove has followed the very pattern we're talking about today, gradually and then suddenly. Nearly tripling in size over the past 2 years feels very sudden and exciting. But it only makes sense when you remember how the story actually began and the story behind it. You see, 7 years ago, this group began with a small group of committed believers united around a simple vision to help every man, woman, and child experience Jesus. That group weathered a pandemic just one year after launch. We pivoted and we moved around to 8 different gathering locations, and we consistently chose to share our resources with others in the area and to serve our community wherever and however we could. Gradually, then suddenly we are witnessing God continue to work in and through the lives of the people of this very church, and I am deeply humbled and honored to serve alongside such faithful, courageous, and incredible people. As we step into 2026, I'm convinced that God is far from finished. He's just getting started. The future impact of this church will be shaped by the seeds of faith that we choose to plant right now. Let me ask you, what seed is God calling you to sow for your life, for your family, and for God's mission? This question leads me to our big idea for today. Every life, family, and church is shaped by what it consistently sows. Let me say that again. Every life, family, and church is shaped by what it consistently sows. You see, the harvest you hope for tomorrow depends on the seeds that you're planting today. Spiritual growth doesn't come from our intensity alone, but from our consistency. And what often feels slow to us is actually strategic to God. Small acts of faith repeated over time will produce exponential impact. A 1983 study by physicist Lorne Whitehead proved that a simple and single domino can topple another domino 1.5 times its size, creating a chain reaction that grows exponentially. If you follow that same progression, by the time you get to the 26th domino, you could theoretically knock down the tallest building in the world. So as you look ahead to the coming year, don't ask what kind of fruit do you want to see, but instead ask the deeper question, what seeds do I need to start planting right now? 2000 years ago, Jesus taught the same principle to His disciples and a gathered crowd of people when he said in Matthew chapter 13 verse 31 and 32. The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it is grown, it is larger than all of the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches. This parable is part of Jesus' broader teaching on the kingdom of God, and here he makes this powerful point. God's kingdom often begins in places that look insignificant, but grows into something irresistible and of eternal significance. The mustard seed was one of the smallest seeds commonly used by farmers in 1st century Palestine, but it could grow up to 10 to 12 ft and to really become a full scale tree, larger than any of the garden plants and far larger than anyone would expect from such a small seed and small beginning. That idea challenged the way and the expectations of many believers in those early days who were wanting and waiting for a sudden political takeover of the Messiah and overthrow of Rome. Instead, Jesus shows us that God works differently. He starts small and grows something unstoppable, and from that tiny beginning came the greatest movement in world history known as the church. You see, today when we pray your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is on heaven, we are praying the same pattern forward. From the Christmas story to the Easter story to the launch of the church, God has repeatedly used small acts of obedience to produce miracles that changed the world. We are praying for and living out God's kingdom coming down as opposed to living culture up. In Matthew chapter 13, Jesus teaches us that the kingdom of God grows. But in Galatians chapter 6, Paul teaches us how long does that spiritual growth actually take? Paul writes in Galatians chapter 6, verses 7 to 10, Do not be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that he will reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will then also from his flesh reap corruption. But for the one who sows to the Spirit, from the Spirit, he will reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone and especially to those who are of the household of faith. For those of us who follow Jesus, we don't need to lose heart in the waiting because God always works on a schedule that's labeled in due season. Now, if I'm being honest, I wish I knew exactly how long due season was, but here's what I do know, obedience and seed planting are my responsibility, and the timing and results are God's responsibility. You see, the book of Galatians reminds us why this all matters. Paul was writing to a group of people who were drifting towards a works-based faith. They were trying to earn what could only be received by grace. So he says things like in Galatians chapter 2 verse 20, I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And as Christians, we don't live by our own strength, but rather, we live by the power of Christ through the Holy Spirit who lives inside of us. That's why Paul writes in Galatians chapter 5 verse 13. It says that we are called to freedom, but that we are not called to use our freedom to indulge in the flesh, but we are called to use this freedom to serve one another in love. Paul then goes on to describe what it looks like and what kind of spirit-led life can produce. It's the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. That's the kind of fruit that God grows in due season. You see, when we keep planting the right seeds, God will produce the fruit when he's called us to. We don't graduate from grace, but rather we grow deeper into God's grace, and that is how he transforms our lives day by day, year over year. Gradually and then suddenly. This is how spiritual growth works. Remember, every life, family, and church is shaped by what it consistently sows. So what seeds do you want to sow here in the new year? Malcolm Gladwell popularized the idea that many of us have heard and called the 10,000 hour rule. The basic concept is simple that people don't drift into excellence, that they actually grow into it through sustained practice over time. But what's often missed is where this idea actually came from. You see, it traces back to psychologist Anders Ericsson, who spent decades studying elite performers. He looked at musicians and athletes and surgeons and even chess masters. Eriksson discovered that mastery doesn't just simply come from talent alone or just raw effort, that he actually identified three essential ingredients to growth. It's clear goals, feedback loops, and then near maximal effort sustained over time. In other words, growth requires intentional direction, honest correction, and consistent engagement day after day and year after year. Now here's where this becomes deeply spiritual. The same pattern describes how God actually forms us. Spiritual maturity doesn't happen because we have one emotional worship experience or one bold decision at a retreat or summer camp. It actually happens when we repeatedly place ourselves before God with clarity, humility, and obedience. You see, as Christians, we're called to set clear goals. I, I wanna grow in prayer or scripture, generosity or, or in patience. Then we invite feedback through scripture, the Holy Spirit, and the trusted community that surrounds us. And then we show up with real effort, not perfection, but with faithfulness. That's why the Christian life is often described as a walk or a race or a training process. You don't wake up one morning and suddenly find yourself Christ-like. You become a Christian gradually. And then suddenly, one day you will look back and realize just how much God has actually transformed and changed your life, more than you could have ever imagined. And that transformation actually expands exponentially onto the lives of the people around you. Spiritual growth isn't instant, it's intentional. And when you stay faithful to the process, God brings breakthrough in due season. Did you know that not all seeds are created equal? I recently learned that botanists talk about two broad categories for seeds. There are orthodox seeds, and then there's unorthodox seeds. An orthodox seed is incredibly resilient. It can survive being dried out or stored for long periods of time, buried in the ground or even exposed to harsh weather conditions. And when the environment is finally right, it springs to life. Farmers rely on orthodox seeds because they understand something important. Delay doesn't mean death. It just means that nothing is happening on the surface doesn't mean that there's actually not a lot happening under the surface at all. You see, an unorthodox seed, on the other hand, is really fragile. It requires very specific conditions in just the right moisture with just the right temperature and just the right timing. If those conditions aren't met quickly, the seed loses its viability. It looks promising at first, but then ultimately it doesn't last. Now here's the connection to our spiritual lives. Some of us want our faith to work like an unorthodox seed. We want quick results. We want ideal conditions, and then we want the immediate benefits and the payoff. But that's not how God grows in God's kingdom. Faith is an orthodox seat. Faith can survive seasons of waiting, seasons of disappointment, seasons of obscurity, and even seasons of stress and pressure. Faith can sit underground for longer than we expected and still come to life exactly at the right time and the right moment. When God asks you to plant a faith seed of obedience, generosity, prayer, or forgiveness, he's not promising instant results. He's forming something durable, something that can endure hardship and delay, something that doesn't quit just because growth isn't visible yet. Faith is an orthodox seed built for the tough times. It grows gradually and then suddenly. The Bible is filled with men and women who were formed in long seasons of waiting before they ever stepped into their defining moment of their lives. For example, Noah spent over 100 years faithfully building the ark before he ever saw the rainfall. David fought lions and bears in obscurity long before he faced Goliath on a public battlefield. Elisha was plowing fields when God actually called him into prophetic ministry. Peter was casting nets as a fisherman before Jesus called him to become a fisher of men. I don't know what season you're in right now, but what I do know is this no season is wasted when you choose to honor and obey God in the process. God uses the hidden years to prepare us for the visible ones. Like musicians in their rehearsals of scales and athletes in their practices and the repetition of drills, we are shaped by the routines that we regularly commit to. You can't fake spiritual maturity. You can't shortcut spiritual formation. You can only train for it. James Clear, author of the book Atomic Habit, puts it this way. We do not rise to the level of our goals, we fall to the level of our systems. And God often uses those faithful systems, those daily acts of obedience, to prepare us for the moment when he finally looks at us and says, now. As we close, I wanna be very clear. This message is not about simply doing more, trying harder or feeling guilty about what we haven't already done or we should be doing. This isn't a sermon about shame. It's a sermon about sowing and inspiration and, and of hope. God isn't standing over you with a clipboard disappointed in your progress. He's a loving father inviting you to partner with him in what he wants to grow next. So don't hear this message as, oh man, I'm way behind. Instead, hear this message as because of God's grace, I'm gonna choose him this next year. You see, the grace of God means that you don't have to fix your whole life all at one time. You don't have to plant every seed at once. You don't even have to know when or where the harvest is gonna be coming. You, you're simply invited to take responsibility for the seeds that you're planting today, and then trust God with the growth for tomorrow. As you think about this upcoming year here in 2026, resist the urge to overhaul everything all at once. Now, I don't actually know your life story here through the video screen, so maybe you really do need to overhaul everything. You see, if you haven't had that burn the plows moment that Elisha had, or that cast nets aside like Peter had, maybe this is your time to repent and call out Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Jesus truly does change the direction and the intention of your life. But I wanna let those who are watching know, who have already come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior. I want you to understand that healthy relationships take time. A marriage ceremony is a very special moment, but healthy marriages are not made in a day. Lasting and loving relationships are ultimately built through daily decisions with our thoughts, attitude, and actions. The same is true with our relationship with God. In my experience, most spiritual growth happens through small, consistent, and healthy and faithful decisions. So where is one area in your spiritual life that you would like to see some growth in this year? Ask yourself, what is one seed God might be inviting me to plant? Not that I need to do more and do all these things, but rather, what is one area in which I want to see God grow in my life? Maybe it's a seed of prayer or scripture, or generosity, forgiveness, or community or mission, or maybe even rest. Remember, small seeds can produce large trees. And for those of you who have already been listening to this message and, and you've already planted some good seeds, but you're, you're not seeing the results and you, and you still find yourself in a season of waiting, I want you to hear me on this. God's delay does not mean God's denial. Galatians reminds us that the harvest is coming in due season, but not on demand. Your responsibility is faithfulness. God's responsibility is fruitfulness and the results. You, you don't control when the harvest comes, only whether you keep planting and keep cultivating the soil of your soul. We don't plant seeds to earn God's love. We plant seeds because we already have God's love. Growth ultimately flows from grace, not from guilt. And when you miss a day or you feel weary or grace doesn't disqualify you, but rather grace invites you back. Growth isn't about perfection, it's about direction, and over time direction shapes your eternal destiny. Some of you right now are in a waiting season, and I want you to know that God doesn't waste the wait. If you're honoring Him with your life, if you're honoring Him in this season, he is forming you for what he has for you next. You may not see it now. Others may not notice it yet, but God is truly at work in your soul, gradually and then suddenly. I've heard it said that when we are born we look a lot like our parents, but when we die we look a lot like our decisions. Let that sink in and think about that for just a moment. Let's start making healthy decisions today through the power of the Holy Spirit working in you and through you ultimately for the glory of God. Now if this message has resonated with you and you want to go a little bit deeper in this study, I encourage you to pick up a copy of the book gradually then suddenly by pastor and author Mark Patterson. With permission of their ministries, I use the title and a few stories from his book to help in preparation for this message. These truths have been impacting me over the recent weeks, and if they've been impacting and helping me, my prayers that'll be impacting and helping you as you sit between Christmas and New Year's. Let it be a powerful reminder that God does His greatest work over time through small acts of faithful obedience. So as you head into the new year, don't ask, how much do I need to do. Instead, ask, what do I want God to grow? Go ahead, plant the seed, water it with faith, and trust God with the timing for the harvest. One day, when you look back and realize, you're gonna see that God did far more than you could ever imagine. Now, it's not overnight, but rather spiritual growth happens gradually and then suddenly. Let's pray. Dear Heavenly Father, for everybody watching this message right now, I pray that we can put you first as Lord and Savior in our life. And that God, may we trust you for the spiritual growth and harvest in our lives. And may we just take to heart your grace, and from that grace, may we make the commitment to plant the healthy seeds of faith into the soil of our hearts, into the soil of our soul, and may impact How we speak, how we think, and how we treat others into our lives. May we be a community here at Mission Grove Church that consistently sows seeds of faith to see how you can grow and impact the lives for your kingdom and for your glory. I lift up these people watching this message right now, and maybe you just have the glory and build your kingdom in and through our lives. We love you, Jesus. It's in your son's name we pray.