The Jews were waiting for a physical Kingdom of God to be established in Jerusalem, but that’s not what the Kingdom of God is going to look like in this age. Instead, Jesus says, it’s like a mustard seed quietly planted, or leaven worked into bread. It’s a Kingdom that cannot be seen and that cannot be stopped. A parable is a short story or metaphor, drawn from familiar cultural context and experience, and prompted by Jesus’ need to explain himself and his ministry. Each week this summer we'll explore one of Jesus' parables, asking what it’s meant to teach us about Jesus and the Kingdom of God.