Growth of the Kingdom June 14

Think About It When growing a garden, what is the most prolific thing you planted? When you had too much, how did you get rid of it? Today we study what Jesus says about the prolific growth of the Kingdom of God – in the world – in the life of an individual

Listen for a description of how a seed grows to maturity. Mark 4:26-29 (NIV) He also said, "This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. [27] Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. [28] All by itself the soil produces grain-- first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. [29] As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come."

The Seed of the Word What role did the man in the parable play? What was the growth process like for the seed? What do the man and the seed in the parable represent? The Jews of Jesus’ day expected God’s kingdom to come physically and politically. How does this contrast with the description Jesus gave in this parable?

The Seed of the Word How does it make you feel to know that the message of Christ contains a power in itself? How does the message of this parable help believers evangelize and teach? What should our response be to the fact that one day “the harvest will come”? What can you do in your life, and in the lives of others, to create conditions where the Word of God will grow?

Listen for changes in the seed. Mark 4:30 – 32 (NIV) Again he said, "What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? [31] It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. [32] Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade."

The Kingdom Grows in the World What transformation did the mustard seed make? Why do you think Jesus used the smallest seed known to the Galilean farmers in His audience as the example in this parable? What contrast would Jesus’ listeners have noticed in this parable?

The Kingdom Grows in the World When Jesus talked about the Kingdom of God as starting as a seed, how do you think the hearers might at first have mistakenly thought what he meant? What makes a mustard seed a good illustration of God’s kingdom (today we might say the church)?

The Kingdom Grows in the World Why do you think God chose to introduce His kingdom through a controversial man with a handful of obscure followers? How can you apply the principle of this parable to your situation in life right now?

Listen for another substance or object that starts out small. Luke 13:20 – 21 (NIV) Again he asked, "What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? [21] It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough."

The Kingdom Grows in Individuals What did the yeast do once added to the dough? One internet source suggested that the ratio of yeast to flour is approximately 1: 100 – this small amount of yeast must be well incorporated into the flour and water mixture – then it causes the size of the dough to roughly double

The Kingdom Grows in Individuals What do a mustard seed and yeast have in common? How could the yeast and dough represent a change in the life of an individual? Why is spiritual growth (through the “yeast” of God’s Truth) so important in the life of a Christian?

Application Make a commitment to influence people in your life for the Kingdom of God – Pray for them – Look for divine appointments God gives you to plant the “seed” of the Gospel – Live a life which displays the Fruit of the Spirit … love them, be joyful with them, be patient with them, act in kindness

Application Pray for the influence of the Kingdom of God around the world – Learn the name of some missionary families – pray faithfully for them – Pray for the influence of Christian students and teachers in our schools – Pray for the influence of Christians in government – local, state and national

Application Make a commitment to see spiritual growth produced in your life. – Rid your life of improper influences (bad “yeast”) – Daily expose yourself to the “yeast” of God’s Word – Ask God to help you apply it to your life

Growth of the Kingdom June 14