Ears to Hear and Hearts to Understand
Series: The Gospel Can't Be Contained
June 06, 2021
Frank Foreman
Jesus often used parables as a teaching tool to both emphasize and illustrate truths about the Kingdom to those who were ready to listen and to confound His critics as they looked for loopholes and opportunities to entrap Him. ---------- This week, Frank uses three such parables from Mark chapter 4, all using a seed as the foundational element of the parable and as the illustration of spiritual growth--the benefits, rewards, and potential for that growth. ---------- We hope that as you join us and hear the Word of God taught, that His Spirit would guide you into an understanding that helps you to grow in wisdom and in truth. ----------
Episode Notes
Romans 10:17, Faith comes by hearing, and hearing through the Word of Christ.
(Journal) Mark 4:1-13
Parable: Short story using familiarity to teach complex spiritual truths.
Big Idea: Jesus taught in parables to conceal truth from the hard-hearted while revealing it to those who believed.
Isaiah 6:9, Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.
(Journal) Mark 4:14-20
- The seed is the Word of God.
- The pathway soil is hard hearts that never give the Word a chance.
- The rocky soil is shallow faith that fails under difficulty.
- The thorny soil is the crowded life that never seems to grow.
- The good soil is the intentionally prepared heart with a desire to grow.
1. Those who have received the light of the Gospel are to shine for others to see.
(Journal) Mark 4:21-23
Matthew 5:14-16, You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in Heaven.
2. Those who faithfully share the Gospel will be rewarded eternally by God.
(Journal) Mark 4:24-25
2nd Timothy 4:8, Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing.
3. Those who wait dependently on God will see results that only He can bring.
(Journal) Mark 4:26-29
Ephesians 2:4-5, But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.
4. Those who are fruitful hearers proclaim the Gospel with great confidence.
(Journal) Mark 4:30-34
Matthew 16:18, And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Next Step: Embrace the statement, “not i but Christ.”
Galatians 2:20, I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
- Teach primarily through large portions of Scripture within their original context.
- Worship with authenticity that encourages participants and discourages spectators.
- Display the extravagant generosity of God with everything that we steward.
- Faithfully trust that God is in control and His ways are foolishness to the world.
- Serve our community in practical ways with an expectation to share the Gospel.
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