Bible Study - Mk. 4 26-32 A Parable About Seeds

Mark. 4:26-32 : 

Mark. 4:26-32 A Parable about Seeds

Slide 2: 

26 And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed upon the ground, 27 and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he knows not how. 28 The earth produces of itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. 29 But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.” 30 And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? 31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; 32 yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.” The Holy Bible : Revised Standard Version Second Catholic edition (2006), with the ecclesiastical approval of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Thomas Nelson Publishing for Ignatius Press.

Slide 3: 

God has planted the seed of life in you. What kind of soil are you? Man can discover things; he can rearrange them; he can develop them; but he cannot create them. On a ship we can “make water,” but are we really “making water,” or simply filtering out the salt? We did not create the Kingdom of God; God created the Kingdom God. Our position in God’s plan is to be stewards, caretakers and developers of all that He has given us. We need to create situations in our lives and portion of the world where we become His fertile soil, a soil that gives His seeds a greater opportunity to mature more quickly. He plants the seeds, He nourishes and waters them, we need to weed out the thorns and thistles of sin and allow the seeds to grow unhindered.

Spiritual Growth : 

Spiritual Growth Jesus so often uses illustrations from the growth found in nature to describe the coming of the Kingdom of God. Nature’s growth is often undetectable. If we see a plant every day we cannot see its growth taking place. It is only when we don’t see it for a period of time that we notice the difference. Your spiritual life is similar, you start off holding someone’s hand who leads you to church. Years later you become the person holding the hand of another on your way to church. During the time between being held and holding the hand of another, major steps of faith development have taken place. The actual spiritual growth isn’t easily seen but it is surely took place.

Nothing Can Stop God : 

Nothing Can Stop God Nature’s growth is inevitable. There is nothing so powerful as growth. A tree can split a concrete pavement with the power of its growth. A weed can push its green head through an asphalt path. Nothing can stop growth. The same goes for the Kingdom. In spite of man’s rebellion and disobedience, God’s work goes on; and nothing in the end can stop the purposes of God.

There is an Ending : 

There is an Ending Plants grow and mature and then it is time to harvest. Inevitably when the harvest comes two things happen—which are opposite sides of the same coin. The good fruit is gathered in, and the weeds are destroyed. Harvest and judgment go hand in hand. When we think of harvesting three things must happen. 1. In harvesting the plant dies. 2. In dying the good fruit is stored in the barn heaven and 3. the thorns, thistles or weeds are burned in the fires of Hell.

4:30-34 The Mustard Seed : 

4:30-34 The Mustard Seed The kingdom began with Jesus alone and, upon his ascension, was left in the care of the twelve apostles. Jesus compared this beginning to the mustard seed, which was the smallest seed a farmer used at the time. Jesus stressed that the kingdom of God would have a small beginnings.

The Growth of the Church : 

The Growth of the Church This parable speaks of the growth of the church. The mustard seed is the Church. The birds are the different nations of the earth who find shelter in the Church. The church began with an individual, Christ, and His teachings, His word is meant not to be hidden but to be shared throughout the world.