PARABLES OF FAITH (MARK 4:26-41)

These parables should remind us of the Parable of the Sower. The sower sows to the edges of his field, some seed fell upon the path and was snatched up by Satan. Some seed fell upon rocky soil, sprouted quickly with joy, but had shallow roots that could not withstand persecution. Some soil fell among the thorns, and the cares of this world (i.e. pursuit of wealth) chocked the seedlings to death. But some seed fell into good soil, and it yielded thirtyfold, sixty fold, and even hundredfold!

But before we read these parables from Mark, I want to read one of my ‘life verses’ from Hebrews,

“Without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” (11:6).

The reason this is a life/ministry verse is because it reveals the one thing that pleases God, the one thing that He is always working on in our lives—FAITH! I know that whatever season I am in, whatever trial I face, whatever temptation is before me—God is always working on and desires one thing from me—precious faith!

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH THE GOSPEL? PARABLES OF PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY (MARK 4:21-25)

Jesus uses two brief parables to illustrate our personal responsibility to receive and act on the word of God that is spoken to them. These two images carry powerful illustrations on how we should initially receive the truth of God’s word and how we should continue in the word once we have heard it.

WHAT DOES THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER TELL US ABOUT OUR HEARTS? (MARK 4:1-20)

Why do some people some people love the word of God and others ignore it? Is it only a matter of belief or unbelief? Actually, it has more to do with the heart than you might think!

Again he began to teach beside the sea. And a very large crowd gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat in it on the sea, and the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land.  And he was teaching them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them:  “Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it.  Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil.  And when the sun rose, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away.  Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain.  And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.”  And he said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”