Sermon Tone Analysis

Seed

When you think of seed, what do you think of, scriptually?

Today we will see a shift from seed being the word of God (Mk4:1-20) to the kingdom of God (Mk4:21-34) but how they link together, one making way for the other to grow.

Jesus spoke in many parables, the parable of growing seed is only found in Gospel of Mark (Mk4:26-29)

I know putting the scripture in this early, in intro is out of the ordinary but:

What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?

The setting of these parables

Parable of sower (soils); with explanation - Mk4:1-25

Parable of growing seed - Mk4:26-29

Parable of mustard seed - Mk4:30-34

They are all in same setting, same place (Mk4:1)

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You can see the flow, the setting of the parables by looking at Mk4:1-25 (Parable of soils); then Mk4:26-29 (Parable of growing seed) and then Mk4:30-34 (Parable of mustard seed) - the setting is still the same place, same time (see Mk4:1)

Seed is the Word (Mk4:14)

Seed is the Kingdom (Mk4:26)

Seed is a picture regarding the kingdom (Mk4:30-31)

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Seed is the Word (Mk4:14)

Seed is the Kingdom (Mk4:26)

Seed is a picture, an illustration regarding Kingdom (Mk4:30-31)

In our parables today, I am coming from the place that Jesus is clearly talking, teaching about the kingdom of God in which the word is planted so the kingdom may grow.

To back it up you can look at kingdom as related in (Mk4:11, 26 and 30)

In the first parable we see the mystery, we cannot make the seed grow, we don’t even fully understand how the seed grows.

We just have to believe it will grow and then watch it grow and one day to be harvested.

As a farmer has to have great faith, and a great deal of patience, we too need to have it too.

The scattered seed falls in many places and we don’t know what will stick or not, that’s the mystery, our call, our job is to plant seed (the Word) so the seed (kingdom) will grow.

We don’t cause the growth God does!

The Growing Seed

The growing seed produces a crop to be harvested.

The growing seed is a mystery that we may not fully understand, and that is OK.

We already did the first look at this passage so now we need to get deeper into it.

What is the seed (v.26)?

What is the crop (v.27-28)?

What is the result (v.29)?

There are two mysteries about the kingdom of God that we see in these view verses.

The kingdom grows beyond man’s knowledge

The kingdom grows beyond man’s control

The mystery of knowledge: As the farmer does not know, understand how the seed grows, we do not know, comprehend the mystery of life.

The more science tries to figure it out the less they find out they know.

Maybe the fact is that we are not to know, we are not to understand, we are to believe and have faith, and patience like the farmer.

The mystery of control: We cannot cause the seed to grow (kingdom) it will yield the crop itself (Mk4:28).

We can plant the seed (the word: v.14) we can water the seed, but we cannot cause the seed to grow.

Now if we are honest, if I’m honest, I want to water, cultivate and cause the seed to grow (kingdom of God) but in reality I cannot do that, I need to plant seed (word); water it (with the word) and pray and wait patiently (sometimes not so much) for the seed (kingdom) to grow.

The seed (kingdom) grows over time (v.28) it is not an event, it is a process!

David McKenna in speaking of this passage says:

“As a part of His advanced teaching by parable, Jesus makes it clear that the sprouting, growing, ripening of the gospel is a supernatural process beyond the prediction and control of man.”

He goes on to say:

“Our task is to scatter the seed, nourish the plans and reap the harvest.”

Now in looking at the second parable the disciples are given an encouragement.

From very small beginnings (kingdom) would grow in size and in influence.

From small beginnings

From very small beginnings, the kingdom of God is going to grow and Jesus is teaching about the growth.

Mk4:

What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?

What does Jesus compare the kingdom of God to (v.30-31)?

A mustard seed

What is being sown upon the soil (v.31)?

The kingdom

What is the promise (v.32)?

It will grow, become large

The kingdom (mustard seed) started off small, 12 apostles

The kingdom grew to be 500 believers (1Cor15:6)

The kingdom grew to be 3000 on Pentecost (Act2:41)

The kingdom grew to be 3000 on Pentecost (Act2:41)

The kingdom continued to grow (Act4:4; Act5:14)

The kingdom continued to grow (Act4:4; Act5:14; Act6:1)

then

In spite of the sins, the weaknesses of the church the kingdom continued to grow to other nations, other people and the fulfillment of the promise to Abraham “all nations” is fulfilled.

And one day every nation will worship before His throne.

The birds in the previous section we have looked at were called to be Satan

In the earthly kingdom there is still opportunity for satan to try to steal away the kingdom from the people.

Like Judus (Mt14)

Like Ananias and Saphira (Act5)

Even Simon Magus (Act8)

Satan’s ministers infiltration is see also in 2Cor11:13-15

There is another view regarding the birds.

The birds in this passage can represent the nations of the world, including the gentiles and heathen.

May we remember this simple parable the kingdom starts small and continues to grow.

Our portion of the kingdom is small but when we are faithful to our part and continue to sow (word) and water (word) and cultivate the soil (word) then it will grow by faith.

We do our part, God does His part supernaturally, we cannot cause it to grow, we just have to believe, like the farmer does, that it will grow.

Leading us to our last part today, some application.

Personal Application

Mark shows us the full scope of Jesus method of teaching.

What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?

In Mark4 we have seen several parables as mentioned before

Parable of sower (soils)

Parable of growing seed

Parable of mustard seed

Jesus and His method

Told the parables

Told the purpose

Preparing the people for the kingdom of God.

Explained the meaning and purpose

To encourage the disciples that even though the kingdom has small beginning don’t get discouraged, have faith it will grow.

The principles are advanced

Not everyone could understand (hence why spoken in parables) the mystery was to be revealed to the Apostles (Mk4:11); but only as they were able to hear it (Mk4:33)

Just as with us, we learn a little at a time, we don’t learn at the same rate, we don’t grow at the same speed.

Jesus would teach them as they were able to accept the truth.

Jesus used patience with them, and we too need to follow the example we see here today.

plant the seed

Have faith that the seed will grow the kingdom

We cannot grow the kingdom, God does