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Mission Statement

Seeking to deeply understand, collectively experience and freely extend what the historical Jesus referred to as “the kingdom,” by following his teachings and by drawing inspiration from anywhere that we see the kingdom manifest.

Being In The Kingdom

We believe that entering the kingdom means living in a state in which we rely implicitly on the goodness of God, in which we are free of care and anxiety, and in which we extend love and caring to others unhindered by the usual considerations of deservedness. We believe that once we are truly open to being enveloped in the kingdom, we will encounter one another in a way that reflects the deep, compassionate love that Jesus spoke of. This love, we believe, will draw us into a feeling of carefree, spontaneous giving, genuine hopefulness, and true forgiveness of other people. We seek to know each other as God knows us, which means valuing and celebrating each person’s worth as a unique, beautiful soul.

A Pre-Christian Approach

We are taking what one might call a pre-Christian approach to Jesus. We are not affiliated with any church, practice no rituals, and hold no services. Rather than worshipping Jesus, we attempt to answer the question, “What would it have meant to follow Jesus’ teachings during his lifetime, before Christianity?” We lean on the findings of modern scholarship, which has concluded that Jesus’ authentic teachings were not about himself, but about following a “way.” We focus especially on particular teachings in the gospels which scholars have concluded most likely trace back to Jesus himself. Here, for instance, is a favorite of ours:

Love your enemies and pray for those persecuting you,
so that you may become sons of your Father,
for he raises his sun on bad and good
and rains on the just and unjust.

Our outlook has been particularly influenced by the Jesus Seminar and by scholars such as Marcus Borg, James Robinson, Stephen Patterson, and John Dominic Crossan.

Based on these teachings, we see Jesus as a universal figure. And we derive inspiration from others throughout history, from any religion and from no religion, who have embodied something of the way he taught. These include Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Peace Pilgrim, the Dalai Lama, Martin Luther King, Jr., Ram Dass, and St. Francis. We also find value in the experiences of others that have experienced the kingdom, such as people who have had a near-death experience.

Our Name

The disciples said to Jesus, “Tell us what the heaven’s imperial rule is like.” “It’s like a mustard seed. (It’s) the smallest of all seeds, but when it falls on prepared soil, it produces a large plant and becomes a shelter for birds of the sky.”

Of all the sayings of Jesus, this one most closely describes our calling. We call it a, “venture,” because it is uncharted territory for us, as we try to bring this vision into form.

Activities

We first gathered in January 2004 and currently meet every other week. We study particular teachings of the historical Jesus and attempt to apply those in our lives. We also study examples of other people who have manifested the kingdom in some way, people from the past and present. We will sometimes just have fun nights in which we share food and watch a movie that relates to the themes we study. We place a strong value on service, and try to reach out to others within our larger circle. We do this individually, as private citizens, not under the umbrella of The Mustard Seed Venture. We sometimes hold celebrations in which we honor a person in a way that brings out that person’s essential gift. We also support individual meditation, which, in the spirit of Jesus’ teachings, we practice as an exercise in intimacy with God.

The Mustard Seed Venture is a non-profit organization, and is in the process of applying for tax-exempt status in the state of Arizona.