The Parable of the Sower Mark 4 The

The Parable of the Sower Mark 4

The Parable of the Sower n n The Passage (4: 1 -9) Why “Parables”? 4: 10 -12 q q q Fulfillment of Old Testament Prophecy Is. 6: 9 ff (see Mt. 13: 13 f) They were rejecting Christ (Mk. 3: 6 f) Spoke in Private Only to Interested Parties (Mk. 4: 11) "Behold, days are coming, " declares the Lord God, "When I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine for bread or a thirst for water, But rather for hearing the words of the Lord. ” Amos 8: 11 (NASB-U)

The Parable of the Sower n n n The Passage (4: 1 -9) Why “Parables”? 4: 10 -12 The Meaning? q q A Foundational Parable: "But if you can't understand this story, how will you understand all the others I am going to tell? ” Mark 4: 13 (NLT) He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secret about the Kingdom of God…” 4: 11 (NLT)

The Kingdom of God n An Irresistible Kingdom (Dan. 7: 13 f) "I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming…” Daniel 7: 13 (NASB-U)

The Kingdom of God n n An Irresistible Kingdom (Dan. 7: 13 f) New Details Unfold q q q n Preceded by an Offer of Clemency. It would grow s-l-o-w-l-y. It was to become the “Church Age” Revealed by the “Word of the Kingdom” (v 14) q For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes— Romans 1: 16 (NLT)

The Four Soils 1. The Unreceptive Hearer v 15 Matthew 13: 12 To those who are open to my Matthew 5: 3 teaching, more understanding will be ”God blesses given, and they will have an those who abundance of knowledge. realize their But to those who are not listening, need for him, for even what they have will be taken The seed that fell on the hard path the Kingdom of away from them. represents those who hear the Heaven is given message, but then Satan comes at to them. ” once and takes it away from them.

The Four Soils 1. 2. The Unreceptive Hearer v 15 The Superficial Hearer v 16 -17 1 Jn. 2: 19 Matthew (NLT) These 5: 3 people left our ”God blesses churches because they those who never really belonged realize their with us; otherwise they need for Him…” would have stayed with us. When they left us, it proved that they do not belong with us. The rocky soil represents those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But like young plants in such soil, their roots don't go very deep. At first they get along fine, but they wilt as soon as they have problems or are persecuted because they believe the word.

The Four Soils 1. 2. 3. The Unreceptive Hearer v 15 The Superficial Hearer v 16 -17 The Preoccupied Hearer v 18 -19 Mark 4: 18 -19 (NLT) The thorny ground represents those who hear and accept the Good News, [19] but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for nice things, so no crop is produced.

The Four Soils 1. 2. 3. 4. The Unreceptive Hearer v 15 The Superficial Hearer v 16 -17 The Preoccupied Hearer v 18 -19 The Hungry Hearer v 20 James 1: 21 James 1: 22(NLT) Mark 4: 20 (NLT) But the good soil Humbly accept the And remember, it is a represents those who hear and accept message God has message to obey, not God's message and produce a huge planted in your just to listen to. If you harvest—thirty, sixty, or even a hundred hearts, for it is don't obey, you are times as much as had been planted. " strong enough to only fooling yourself. save your souls.

Questions? Issues? n n Please remember our financial needs! Please pray for the Deacon’s Ministry Team next weekend…

The Indigo Girls… n n n n n Hey Jesus it's me I don't usually talk to you But if you make my baby stay I'll make it up to you And that's a promise I will keep And I don't really think it's fair You got the power to make us all believe in you And when we call you in our despair You don't come through How come I gotta die to get a chance to talk with you Face to face. . .