Hearing & Understanding Mark 4:1-35 pp Sunday October 14, 2012

Introduction Our focus: Jesus’ teaching and preaching Parables – What are they? – Something that conveys meaning indirectly by using analogy, allegory, comparison, etc – “Something that is placed alongside something else for the purpose of clarification” (J.R. Edwards) – Can also be confusing, opaque, puzzling, and requiring an explanation – Communicate layers of meaning – depending upon the listener’s background knowledge i.e. political cartoons

Introduction Our focus: Jesus’ teaching and preaching Parables – What are they? – Something that conveys meaning indirectly by using analogy, allegory, comparison, etc – “Something that is placed alongside something else for the purpose of clarification” (J.R. Edwards) – Can also be confusing, opaque, puzzling, and requiring an explanation – Communicate layers of meaning – depending upon the listener’s background knowledge i.e. political cartoons – Not just cognitive Often include a call to respond by changing attitudes or actions

Introduction What do the parables teach us? – The nature of God – The nature of humankind (us!) – The nature of the kingdom of God Examined through three elements of the parables: – The sowers – The seeds – The soil Finally, will learn about some uncomfortable verses in today’s passage

The Sowers Parable of the Sower (4:3-20) Seed is sown all over the place, on different types of soil What does this tell us about the sower? – The sower is generous – V14 “the farmer sows the word”  God is the farmer/sower – God’s call is universal, for everyone

The Sowers con’t The Parable of the Growing Seed (vv26-29) We are the sowers The seeds are still the word of God We are responsible for sowing the seed Example – my friend’s mom We are responsible for sowing the seed We are not solely responsible for the outcome – V27 “whether he [the sower] sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how.” This parable teaches us to trust God – trust His provision and His sovereign ability to act.

The Mustard Seed The seeds: – In the Parables of the Sower & Growing Seed – word of God – In Parable of the Mustard Seed – kingdom of God Parable of the Mustard Seed (vv30-32) What do you picture when you hear the word “seed”? – Me: tiny, small, dirty, dusty What do you picture when you hear the word “kingdom”? – Me: castles, knights, gold, vast lands Jesus turns this imagery upside-down!

The Mustard Seed con’t Vv30-32 “the kingdom of God… is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds… yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest…”

The Mustard Seed con’t Vv30-31 “the kingdom of God… is like a mustard seed, which the smallest of all seeds” What does this teach us about the kingdom of God? – It is surprising! – Not like anything we expect – It starts small… like a baby born in a stable – It grows large! The kingdom of God is very different from the kingdoms of this world!

The Soil Parable of the Sower (vv3-20) Four types of soil – First three yield nothing – Fourth type yields huge harvest (30-, 60-, 100-fold!)  We are the soil – We can tell what type of soil we are by the fruit of our lives – This requires insight & compels us to reflect on the health of our souls – What kind of soil has the word of God found in you?

The Soil con’t What kind of soil has the word of God found in you? Pathway – Has doubt stolen the word of God? – Will you consider it again? Rocky soil – Do you believe only if it doesn’t bother anyone? – Do you believe only if you don’t have to change your life? Thorn-filled soil – Preoccupied with the ‘worries of life’? – Has the deceitfulness of wealth choked God’s call on your finances and lifestyle? Good soil – Are you trying to know God more and follow him in faith? – Do you see God at work in your life?

Hearing & Understanding ‘Hard’ verses: – V10-12 “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that, ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!” – Vv24-25 “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you – and even more. Those who have will be given more; as for those who do not have, even what they have will be taken from them.”  Descriptive not prescriptive statements

Hearing & Understanding  Descriptive not prescriptive statements (con’t) – Descriptive – reflect reality, describe it – Prescriptive – indicate how things should be – “Jesus’ parables confirm the states of peoples’ hearts” (J.R. Edwards) Two types of people: 1. Those who are open or willing to explore and believe These have been given the secret of the kingdom of God (v11) 2. Casual observers or opponents of Jesus who choose not to believe These people see but do not perceive, hear but do not understand (v12)

Hearing & Understanding Thankfully, this is not the end of the story!! There is hope! – Bad soil can change to good soil – No understanding can become understanding – How? Ask to be in relationship with Jesus When in relationship with Jesus, we change!  We hear & understand!