1. Mark 4:26 – 34

2. 26 Jesus went on to say, “The Kingdom of God is like this. A man scatters seed in his field. 27 He sleeps at night, is up and about during the day, and all the while the seeds are sprouting and growing. Yet he does not know how it happens. 28 The soil itself makes the plants grow and bear fruit; first the tender stalk appears, then the head, and finally the head full of grain.

3. Mark 4:26 – 34 29 When the grain is ripe, the man starts cutting it with his sickle, because harvest time has come. 30 “What shall we say the Kingdom of God is like?” asked Jesus. “What parable shall we use to explain it? 31 It is like this. A man takes a mustard seed, the smallest seed in the world, and plants it in the ground.

4. Mark 4:26 – 34 32 After a while it grows up and becomes the biggest of all plants. It puts out such large branches that the birds come and make their nests in its shade.” 33 Jesus preached his message to the people, using many other parables like these; he told them as much as they could understand.

5. Mark 4:26 – 34 34 He would not speak to them without using parables, but when he was alone with his disciples, he would explain everything to them.

6. Mark 4:26 – 34

7. Mark’s gospel

8. Mark 4:26 – 34 Mark’s gospel crowd from Galilee followed him (3:7)

9. Mark 4:26 – 34 Mark’s gospel crowd from Galilee followed him (3:7) people came to him from Judea, Jerusalem......(3:8)

10. Mark 4:26 – 34 Mark’s gospel crowd from Galilee followed him (3:7) people came to him from Judea, Jerusalem......(3:8) BUT others say "He’s out of his mind“ 3:21

11. Mark 4:26 – 34 Parables

12. Mark 4:26 – 34 Parables Calls for a change in attitude, will and action.

13. Mark 4:26 – 34 The Kingdom (rule) of God

14. Mark 4:26 – 34 The Kingdom (rule) of God 26...“The Kingdom of God is like this. A man scatters seed...

15. Mark 4:26 – 34 The Kingdom (rule) of God 1.Starts small 26...“The Kingdom of God is like this. A man scatters seed...

16. Mark 4:26 – 34 The Kingdom (rule) of God 1.Starts small We don’t have to be ‘big’, holy & perfect 26...“The Kingdom of God is like this. A man scatters seed...

17. Mark 4:26 – 34 The Kingdom (rule) of God 1.Starts small We don’t have to be ‘big’, holy & perfect 31b A man takes a mustard seed,...and plants it in the ground.

18. Mark 4:26 – 34 The Kingdom (rule) of God 1.Starts small We don’t have to be ‘big’, holy & perfect 31b A man takes a mustard seed,...and plants it in the ground. 32 After a while it grows up and becomes the biggest of all plants

19. Mark 4:26 – 34 The Kingdom (rule) of God 1.Starts small How do we scatter/sow the seed?

20. Mark 4:26 – 34 The Kingdom (rule) of God 1.Starts small How do we scatter/sow the seed? -Share the truth about God’s love

21. Mark 4:26 – 34 The Kingdom (rule) of God 1.Starts small How do we scatter/sow the seed? -Share the truth about God’s love 26...“The Kingdom of God is like this. A man scatters seed in his field.

22. Mark 4:26 – 34 The Kingdom (rule) of God 1.Starts small How do we scatter/sow the seed? -Share the truth about God’s love -In the fields he’s allocated to us 26...“The Kingdom of God is like this. A man scatters seed in his field.

23. Mark 4:26 – 34 The Kingdom (rule) of God 1.Starts small How do we scatter/sow the seed? -Share the truth about God’s love -In the fields he’s allocated to us -Because we all need God 26...“The Kingdom of God is like this. A man scatters seed in his field.

24. Mark 4:26 – 34 The Kingdom (rule) of God 1.Starts small

25. Mark 4:26 – 34 The Kingdom (rule) of God 1.Starts small 27 He sleeps at night, is up and about during the day, and all the while the seeds are sprouting and growing. Yet he does not know how it happens.

26. Mark 4:26 – 34 The Kingdom (rule) of God 1.Starts small 2.Grows without human effort 27 He sleeps at night, is up and about during the day, and all the while the seeds are sprouting and growing. Yet he does not know how it happens.

27. Mark 4:26 – 34 The Kingdom (rule) of God 1.Starts small 2.Grows without human effort "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth" (1 Cor 3:6-7).

28. Mark 4:26 – 34 The Kingdom (rule) of God 1.Starts small 2.Grows without human effort - We sow, water and weed - God will bring growth "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth" (1 Cor 3:6-7).

29. Mark 4:26 – 34 The Kingdom (rule) of God 1.Starts small 2.Grows without human effort

30. Mark 4:26 – 34 The Kingdom (rule) of God 1.Starts small 2.Grows without human effort V28 The soil itself makes the plants grow and bear fruit.

31. Mark 4:26 – 34 The Kingdom (rule) of God 1.Starts small 2.Grows without human effort 3.Leads us to bear fruit V28 The soil itself makes the plants grow and bear fruit.

32. Mark 4:26 – 34 The Kingdom (rule) of God 1.Starts small 2.Grows without human effort 3.Leads us to bear fruit Soil = the heart V28 The soil itself makes the plants grow and bear fruit.

33. Mark 4:26 – 34 The Kingdom (rule) of God 1.Starts small 2.Grows without human effort 3.Leads us to bear fruit Soil = the heart Concern: what may hinder fruits that would come naturally? V28 The soil itself makes the plants grow and bear fruit.

34. Mark 4:26 – 34 The Kingdom (rule) of God 1.Starts small 2.Grows without human effort 3.Leads us to bear fruit

35. Mark 4:26 – 34 The Kingdom (rule) of God 1.Starts small 2.Grows without human effort 3.Leads us to bear fruit V29 When the grain is ripe, the man starts cutting it with his sickle, because harvest time has come.

36. Mark 4:26 – 34 The Kingdom (rule) of God 1.Starts small 2.Grows without human effort 3.Leads us to bear fruit 4.There will be a harvest V29 When the grain is ripe, the man starts cutting it with his sickle, because harvest time has come.

37. Mark 4:26 – 34 The Kingdom (rule) of God 1.Starts small 2.Grows without human effort 3.Leads us to bear fruit 4.There will be a harvest Kingdom rules V29 When the grain is ripe, the man starts cutting it with his sickle, because harvest time has come.

38. Mark 4:26 – 34 The Kingdom (rule) of God 1.Starts small 2.Grows without human effort 3.Leads us to bear fruit 4.There will be a harvest Kingdom rules = authority of a ruler V29 When the grain is ripe, the man starts cutting it with his sickle, because harvest time has come.

39. Mark 4:26 – 34 The Kingdom (rule) of God 1.Starts small 2.Grows without human effort 3.Leads us to bear fruit 4.There will be a harvest Kingdom rules = authority of a ruler No democracy, no negotiations V29 When the grain is ripe, the man starts cutting it with his sickle, because harvest time has come.

40. Mark 4:26 – 34 The Kingdom (rule) of God 1.Starts small 2.Grows without human effort 3.Leads us to bear fruit 4.There will be a harvest

41. Mark 4:26 – 34 The Kingdom (rule) of God 1.Starts small 2.Grows without human effort 3.Leads us to bear fruit 4.There will be a harvest Communion We participate as people who submit to God’s rule