Lesson Overview - December 27, 2009

Mark 4:14-32

Growing the Kingdom of God




Christmas was two days ago, so perfect time to talk about growing the Kingdom of God, which was ushered in by Jesus (Mark 1:15). What began with humble beginnings (first Abraham, and then Jesus) now covers the globe.



Recap of Mark:

-Based on Peter’s memories
-oldest Gospel
-shortest Gospel
-includes action of Christ, not many parables, which we will discuss today.



The parable of the Sower:

Read 4:3-8

Break into 4 groups and answer the following questions for each group (Jesus gave us the answer, which did not happen much for parables)


a. What is your reaction to the Word?

b. How do you feel about it after a few years?

c. What caused this to happen?



1) The Path (v. 15) – well traveled ground – People with hard hearts who believe they do not need God.

a. No reaction/disbelief/antagonistic

b. rebellion

c. easily influenced by man/humanism/hard heart/satan



2) Rocky places (v. 16-17) – no depth and will not pass test of faith

a. Joy!

b. apathetic, the religious “high” has wore off

c. too hard to be obedient, not willing to make sacrifice



3) Thorns (v. 18-19) – no spiritual growth due to “rat race”

a. Hopeful

b. distant and hopeless; no connection to God

c. take over by worldly possessions – stuck in the rat race



4) Good Soil (v. 20) – willing to hear

a. Acceptance, repentance

b. Growing and producing

c. Willing to submit to God.



Central message of parable:
Make sure you are part of the good soil!

Share the gospel widely

Some seed is wasted

Not everyone will positively respond, can’t control response

People who respond positively will then share, then they share, etc.





Read 4:21-25
No secret agent Christians – if you claim to be his then you are to be a light to the world.

We are not lawyers, teachers, doctors, mechanics, mothers, we are God’s agents infiltrating the world.

v.23
-Dual meaning: 1)Everyone has ears, so they should hear.

2)To those who submit to God, they hear, meditate and understand. Those unwilling to submit to God do not have “ears to hear” and are unable to understand (see v. 12, a quote from Isaiah)



v. 24

IMPORTANT – God’s word has eternal consequences, so do not take it lightly. If you believe hell is real, why do we live like it is not? If we believe Jesus is God, why do we not obey his commands? If we believe the Bible is God’s word, why do we pick the parts we like, or not read it at all? If we believe God is real why do we assume he is so powerless?

Don’t cheat at solitaire.

v. 25

The person with “ears to hear” will submit to God and be given more. The person without “ears to hear” will lose his soul due to his ignorance.


Read 4:26-32

Anyone want to attempt to translate v. 26-29?



Scatters seed – shares faith

Whether he sleeps or gets up – God is still at work even when we are not

Seed sprouts and grows – the word causes a reaction: it develops

Does not know how – God is growing the kingdom, we are just his laborers; he does things on his term.

Soil produces grain – fruit is made



v. 30-32

small seed becomes a large plant.