Two Parables - Seeds and Hearing

Mark 4: 26-34

From August 23

The Kingdom of God is like ... what did the people expect? Not to be too hard on them, what do we expect for the Kingdom of God?

The first parable is about the seed (remember the soil, remember the light which is the Word.)
One of the parables we looked at was the parable of the farmer sowing seed. Often we are afraid and think that we are all alone when it comes to harvesting the seed. We have to remember that it is God who prepares the seed for harvest and we only need to tell God "we''re available" to bring in the harvest. God says in His Word that the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. What harvest is God asking you to be apart of today?
Some passages that we looked at today I Corinthians 3: 5-9, Matthew 9: 35-38, John 4: 34-38, and Galatians 6: 7-10. Remember, we all sow, the question is what do we sow?

Blessings

Tim and Caroline

The Parable of the Light

Mark 4: 21-25
From August 16

Yesterday we were a small group of five but we worshiped the Lord with all our heart. We talked about not hiding a lamp under a bowl but putting it on a stand from Mark 4:21-25. Jesus is the light that lives in each of us and we need to let that light shine. We often tend to hide the Jesus that lives inside of us and even turning off that light. We decide to live in darkness and forget about the light that lives inside of us. Choices we make can keep us walking in the dark and stumbling through life. We need to decide to walk in the light. John 12:35 says "the man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going." John 12:36 says to "Put your trust in the light while you have it, sot that you may become sons of light." I was reading yesterday in Joyce Meyer's book "Pursuit of Peace" that many people who call themselves Christians are not really "sons of God" but still "children of God". She said "sons of God" means being mature in Christ. So as I look at this passage of John 12:36 I ask us all are we "sons of the light?" Do we really put our trust in the light in everything we do? What do you need to give over to God so you can continue to walk in his light? Would you rather walk in darkness the rest of your life? I prefer the light. Use the light of Jesus Christ today to help you make the right choices. Matt 5:15,16 says "... Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowel. Instead they put it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. Walk with Jesus today. Let your light give joy to everyone!

Blessings

Caroline

Parable of the Sower

Mark 4: 1-20, also Matt. 13: 1-23 & Luke 8: 4-15
From August 2

Background. This parable comes immediately after the previous chapter - Jesus was meeting in a house and in a synagogue. And He had to deal with constant questions from the religious leaders of the day.

Now the location has switched to the open air by the sea. Why? He was reaching another group of people and more of them. People who were maybe less religious but more receptive to His message of the kingdom. And there were more of them, so many that He had to get into a boat to be able to teach them better. The message also switched to a parable, the first one in Mark. This story is about everyday experiences; agriculture and dusty paths; weeds, fields and crops; work. All things that the people had experienced and seen and been a part of on their way to Him.
After Jesus told this parable the people close to Him asked for an explanation. Do you? Do I? Is our belief based on traditions or opinions? How does the Word of God answer our questions? What does Jesus say?

The farmer sows the Word, or seed, which lands on the soil of hearts. How the hearts are prepared determine how the seed will grow. What training did the farmer have? I doubt that he went to Ag College, or even to the Skill Center. He probably learned from his father, or another mentor. He was a blue collar guy like most of us. Sowing the Word does not depend exclusively on a minister. We all can sow, and we all do. We even sow the Word into our own lives. This seed was scattered everywhere, extravagantly even wastefully. Wow!

Path - the seed is removed as soon as it lands by Satan. But what about the choices we make that make our hearts like a path? What do we use as excuses for not hearing the Word? Galatians 6: 7-10 says that a man reaps what he sows.

Soil Over Rock - warms quickly and cools off quickly; persecution takes it away. What persecution do you face? How much of it is self-induced because we don't want to give anything up?

Weeds - grow up and choke it out. Worries of life (the poor), deceitfulness of wealth, desires for other things (everyone else!) make it unfruitful. This is the opposite result of living the Jesus Creed - Love God, Love Others.

Good Soil - Extravagant seeding, extravagant results! Beyond imagining.

More Application - What is involved in raising a bumper crop of anything?

1. Seed - the Word
2. Care - Plants do not grow in darkness they need light and water and nutrients to grow. So do we! What choices are you going to make?
3. Harvest - the result is fruit.

What is the condition of your heart right now? Has it ever been a stony path? Are there parts of your life that you have given to the light? Are there any parts that are still in the darkness?
Where is Gods' Kingdom trying to take root right now in your life, in AC Church, in Allendale?
How do we improve the soil of our hearts?

Tim