3. Parables & Their Meaning Significant Events We’ll Examine: Jesus Teaches In Parables Jesus Explains A Parable The Shining Lamp Gospel of St Mark Pt 1 – Lesson 06
4. Parables & Their Meaning Significant Events We’ll Examine: The Secretly Growing Seed The Mustard Seed Gospel of St Mark Pt 1 – Lesson 06
5. Parables & Their Meaning Jesus Teaches In Parables (4:1-2) Parables were not something new with Jesus (see v. 34) Parables are just as relevant today as when Jesus told them. Gospel of St Mark Pt 1 – Lesson 06
6. Parables & Their Meaning Parable = a brief story told by way of comparison to teach some lesson or central truth Gospel of St Mark Pt 1 – Lesson 06
7. Parables & Their Meaning Questions to ask to get to the meaning of a parable: What is the lesson or lessons the speaker wished the hearers to receive? Gospel of St Mark Pt 1 – Lesson 06
8. Parables & Their Meaning Questions to ask to get to the meaning of a parable: How does the parable bring out these lessons? Gospel of St Mark Pt 1 – Lesson 06
9. Parables & Their Meaning Questions to ask to get to the meaning of a parable: What application can I make of these truths in my life? Gospel of St Mark Pt 1 – Lesson 06
10. Parables & Their Meaning Jesus Explains A Parable (4:3-20) The seed is _______________ The sower is ________________ Gospel of St Mark Pt 1 – Lesson 06
11. Parables & Their Meaning Jesus Explains A Parable (4:3-20) The Hard Ground Hear the Word but don’t receive it Gospel of St Mark Pt 1 – Lesson 06
12. Parables & Their Meaning Jesus Explains A Parable (4:3-20) The Stony Ground Hear the Word, receive it but it doesn’t take root Gospel of St Mark Pt 1 – Lesson 06
13. Parables & Their Meaning Jesus Explains A Parable (4:3-20) The Thorny Ground Word is choked off by the cares of the world Gospel of St Mark Pt 1 – Lesson 06
14. Parables & Their Meaning Jesus Explains A Parable (4:3-20) The Good Ground Word is planted, grows and matures to a bountiful harvest Gospel of St Mark Pt 1 – Lesson 06
15. Parables & Their Meaning The Shining Lamp (4:21-25) We have an obligation to share the good news. You never know how your life will impact someone watching you. Gospel of St Mark Pt 1 – Lesson 06
16. Parables & Their Meaning The Secretly Growing Seed (4:26-29) Imperceptible Constant Inevitable Gospel of St Mark Pt 1 – Lesson 06
17. Parables & Their Meaning The Mustard Seed (4:30-34) Kingdom started out small Kingdom will ultimately be very large Gospel of St Mark Pt 1 – Lesson 06
18. Next Week – Lesson 7 Jesus’ PowerAs The Son OF God(Mark 4:35-5:43)
Editor's Notes
Tonight we’ll turn from the healing ministry and the confrontations with the Scribes to Jesus teaching ministry.
A parable is meant to convey one or two central truths. Don’t overspiritualize the stories and have them say more than what’s in front of you. Jesus used the everyday experiences of life to teach some great lessons.
In order to respond to this question, you have to take a look at the parable itself and understand the story. The context of the story is good
Any parable is given so that the truths can be put into practice. Jesus didn’t tell jokes to entertain. He came to promote the kingdom of God and its righteousness.
Seed is the gospel or good newsSower is the preacher or proclaimer. These two elements of the story are constant across the different types of soil.
Why don’t they receive the Word? The devil (the birds in the story) snatches it away before it can take root. We have to be careful in our worship service that we don’t do things which give the devil a chance to snatch the truths set forth in the sermon. If that can be done, we lose and the devil wins.
These folks acknowledge that what they’ve heard is true but don’t want to make the commitment to reorient their way of living. This seed goes into the soil but when the challenges of life arise, there is no depth of growth to sustain a life. These are people who initially make a commitment to Jesus in the heat and passion of a worship service but when it comes to living out their faith in the world, they fold. Demas may have been one of these folks in 2 Tim 4.
This soil represents those who hear the Word but are distracted or burdened down with the things and cares of the World. Our debt situation can greatly impact our testimony and ability to do things for the kingdom. When you have a large car payments or big bills to pay, those are resources that can’t be used to go on a mission trip or to help a child in a distant land through a monthly contribution.
No undercover Christians. The resources of the kingdom are given to those who make use of what they have already been given. If you sit on the sidelines with your talent, don’t be surprised to get up one day looking to use it and find yourself like Samson after losing his strength.
Can’t always see the kingdom growing. Our job is to be obedient and do what God has asked us to do even if we don’t always see the results right away. Growing is constantly happening though. Growth is in God’s realm. The parable talks about the soil here and not the Word.It’s growth and ultimate maturity is inevitable; just read Revelation.
Small: started with Adam and Eve and Abraham in Genesis 12Large: Look at Revelation 7
