Sermon 5th October 2025 – 17th Sunday after Pentecost Text - Luke 17:5-10 – A little faith

 Sermon 5^th October 2025 – 17th Sunday after Pentecost

Text - Luke 17:5-10 – A little faith

 

Jesus says, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."  This powerful statement highlights the incredible potential of faith. Notice carefully though what this statement was in response to. The apostles said to Jesus, “Increase our faith! One might have thought Jesus would respond with ways that they could increase their faith but he doesn’t. Instead he explains that it’s not about increasing faith but about using the faith that God has given us. You either have faith or you don’t.

 

How do we measure faith? Do we sometimes have a lot of faith and some days less faith? Faith is a gift from God – given to us by the Holy Spirit that enables us to believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord. As Luther says in his Small Catechism - I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith.  So too - St Paul, in Romans, says - if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. He doesn’t say “if you greatly believe” – but simply believe. Anything more than that leads us into danger of doubt. Not only do we start to judge others about their faith but we can even create doubt in our own faith.

 

We judge others by how often they come to church. We judge others by standards we set. But Jesus comforts us when he says - A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, Instead of judging others by our standards we need to encourage and pray that seeds of faith that have been sown in Baptism may germinate. Paul himself says that in First Corinthians when they were arguing amongst themselves who had the better Baptism. He says - I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.

 

Jesus was teaching His disciples about the importance of faith and humility. The mustard seed, one of the smallest seeds, represents the potential within even the tiniest amount of faith. Faith is trust in God's promises and His power. It is not merely believing that God can do something but trusting that He will do what is best according to His will. When we have faith as small as a mustard seed, we tap into divine power that can accomplish the impossible. When Jesus was trying to explain that salvation was not about our achievements the disciples were quite concerned and said: “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

 

Moving mulberry trees signifies overcoming great difficulties—be it personal struggles, health issues, financial hardships, or spiritual battles. Genuine faith empowers Christians to face these challenges with confidence, knowing that God's power is at work within them. Most Christians probably feel their faith is too weak to make a difference. Jesus assures us that even a tiny amount of faith can produce extraordinary results. The key is sincerity and trust in God's ability and not doubt what God can do through us. I find it interesting when Peter sees Jesus walking on the water asks to be able to do likewise. “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” There we already start to see doubt – Lord if it’s you. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Now we see faith by Peter – Lord, save me. Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and saves him.  And listen to what Jesus says:  You of little faith, why did you doubt?” He didn’t rebuke that Peter had little faith but that with his “little faith” – why did you doubt?

 

It’s not about how much faith we have – but that we have faith. Faith is not passive; it involves action and obedience.

This is James’s argument – faith without deeds is dead. He’s not promoting salvation by good works but if God has gifted us with faith then we should use it for the purposes that God provides it for. When Jesus says to speak to the mulberry tree, it implies taking steps of faith—praying, trusting, and obeying God's Word. A relationship with Jesus is what strengthens our faith.  Regular prayer, reading Scripture, worship and fellowship build our trust in God's promises and His power to move mulberry trees or, as in Mark’s Gospel when he says we can move mountains in our lives. It’s not about increasing our faith but strengthening the faith that God has given us and knows that we need. Through faith we can pray with confidence and persistence:

Continually seeking God's help and trust in His timing. Meditating on God's Word and remembering his promises and faithfulness. Trusting God's Commands  that they are there for our blessing. through obedience and action. Surrounding yourself with other Christians in worship and fellowship, encouraging one another as the book of Hebrews says: Do not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. This encouragement was so we don’t lose our faith.

 

Jesus answer to his disciples request is a rich and encouraging verse that speaks to the power of faith, even when it seems small or fragile.  Jesus disciples were overwhelmed by the demands of forgiveness, humility, and spiritual responsibility and felt they couldn’t do it by themselves – and they were right It was only with faith in God’s help that they could achieve what was called of them. Jesus wants to shift their focus from quantity to quality. From measuring faith to trusting their faith.

The mustard seed is tiny—barely visible between your fingers. But it’s alive. It contains within it the potential for growth, transformation, and fruitfulness as do all of God’s children.

 

Jesus isn’t asking for mountain sized faith but faith that can move a mountain. He’s asking for living faith—faith that trusts, acts, and grows. Even the smallest act of trust in God can unleash divine power.  It’s not about how much faith you have. It’s about where you place it. Mulberry trees were known for their deep, stubborn roots. They were hard to move, hard to kill.  Jesus uses this image deliberately because there are many stubborn roots in our lives. What are the “mulberry trees” in your life? Bitterness? Fear? Anger - situations that feel immovable? Jesus says: even these can be uprooted by faith.  Not because you’re strong—but because God is. To thrown a mulberry tree or mountain into the sea defies logic, nature, and expectation.  But that’s the point of Jesus’ imagery. God’s demands of us may seem absurd, defying logic and our expectations. But nothing is impossible with God.

 

Faith doesn’t just remove obstacles, it redefines what’s possible through faith in God. God’s kingdom isn’t bound by earthly limitations.  God created the world from nothing. God’s Word became flesh. God’s son was born of a virgin. All things that defy logic and explanation – so imagine what he can do with “a little faith”. As the book of Hebrews reminds us - faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.Faith invites us to dream beyond what we can see, and to act even when the outcome seems impossible – for nothing is impossible with God.