1. Lesson 8: The Parable of the Growing Seed

2. The Parable of the Growing Seed: The Narrative “The kingdom of heaven…”“The kingdom of heaven…” –The kingdom, and specifically the growth of the kingdom, is the focus of this parable. –The idea of the kingdom of God has its root in the Old Testament. God was King over His people in the OT (cf. Judg. 8:23; 1 Sam. 8:7; Psa. 103:19).God was King over His people in the OT (cf. Judg. 8:23; 1 Sam. 8:7; Psa. 103:19). Through the prophets, God promised He would establish a kingdom and reaffirm His kingly reign (Dan. 2:44; Isa. 9:6-7; Jer. 30:9).Through the prophets, God promised He would establish a kingdom and reaffirm His kingly reign (Dan. 2:44; Isa. 9:6-7; Jer. 30:9). John the Baptist came preparing for the kingdom.John the Baptist came preparing for the kingdom. Mark 4:26-29

3. The Parable of the Growing Seed: The Narrative “The kingdom of heaven…”“The kingdom of heaven…” –The kingdom, and specifically the growth of the kingdom, is the focus of this parable. –The idea of the kingdom of God has its root in the Old Testament. –Jesus came preaching the kingdom is at hand (Mark 1:15). –The kingdom was established in Acts 2. –The kingdom was a present reality in the first century (cf. Col. 1:13; Heb. 12:28). Mark 4:26-29

4. The Parable of the Growing Seed: The Narrative “The kingdom of heaven is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground”“The kingdom of heaven is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground” –This parable is about how the kingdom grows. –The kingdom cannot and will not grow separate from the seed (i.e., the Word of God, Lk. 8:11). Mark 4:26-29

5. The Parable of the Growing Seed: The Narrative “And [the sower] should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how”“And [the sower] should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how” –The growth of the kingdom IS FROM GOD. –The seed is sown & then left to work its power. –Natural or acquired talents of the sower will not substitute for the power that is in the seed/word. God has placed life in the seed (cf. John 6:63); it “germinates” when sown in good soil. –When sown, the seed works regardless of the awareness or lack of it on the part of the sower. Mark 4:26-29

6. The Parable of the Growing Seed: The Narrative “And [the sower] should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how”“And [the sower] should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how” –The growth of the kingdom IS FROM GOD. –No one can explain how things grow. Man does not understand how a seed has life within it, or how it germinates and grows in good soil. –Man certainly has responsibilities—prepare the soil, fertilize it, weed it, plant the seed, etc. –But this parable emphasizes that man cannot make the seed grow. Only God can do that! Mark 4:26-29

7. The Parable of the Growing Seed: The Narrative “…sleep…rise…sprout and grow…the blade…the head…the full grain in the head”“…sleep…rise…sprout and grow…the blade…the head…the full grain in the head” –The growth of the kingdom IS GRADUAL. –The kingdom, a convert or a mature Christian did not and do not spring up in a moment. –One cannot rush the growth of the seed. –While one can detect the result of growth, the process of growth is imperceptible. It is gradual! A scientist is not made in a day. A language is not learned overnight. Even more true of divine things.A scientist is not made in a day. A language is not learned overnight. Even more true of divine things. –This is a lesson on patience. Mark 4:26-29

8. The Parable of the Growing Seed: The Narrative “…sleep…rise…sprout and grow…the blade…the head…the full grain in the head”“…sleep…rise…sprout and grow…the blade…the head…the full grain in the head” –The growth of the kingdom IS GRADUAL. –Conversion to Christ is a gradual process. The seed must be planted.The seed must be planted. The seed must be watered.The seed must be watered. The seed must be given time to germinate.The seed must be given time to germinate. The conversion process cannot be rushed.The conversion process cannot be rushed. Someone else may see the harvest of the seed you sow. You may see the harvest of the seed someone else sowed. Important: No room for boasting on our part! Only God gets the credit!Someone else may see the harvest of the seed you sow. You may see the harvest of the seed someone else sowed. Important: No room for boasting on our part! Only God gets the credit! Mark 4:26-29

9. The Parable of the Growing Seed: The Narrative “…sleep…rise…sprout and grow…the blade…the head…the full grain in the head”“…sleep…rise…sprout and grow…the blade…the head…the full grain in the head” –The growth of the kingdom IS GRADUAL. –Conversion to Christ is a gradual process. –God can! God knows! “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11).“So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11). –Thus, we must sow and water continually. And, we must be patient! (cf. 2 Tim. 4:2) Mark 4:26-29