Mark 4

Mark 4:1-20

Title: Sowing the Seed Text: Mark 4:1-20 Proposition: We are to scatter the seed, The soil determines the results. Question: How? Key Word: Factors Scripture Reading: Mark 4:1-9 Introduction:

1. Jesus taught many parables.
2. Parable = a comparison of the known with the unknown.
3. Jesus took common material things to explain spiritual truths.

Here Jesus teaches us that when we scatter seed it can fall in 4 types of soil. Notice with each soil what it produces and the application lessons

PathwayProduces: Birdseed Application: Hard, closed mind, never grow, Satan takes away seed

StonyProduces: Beginning, springs up, wither away Application: No depth, can’t take the heat, receive with gladness

ThornsProduces: Grew up (mature), no fruit Application: Looks alive, not productive, cares of world choke out

GoodProduces: Grew, increased, 30, 60, 100 fold Application: Productive, reproductive, hear, accept, and obey

Lessons to Learn:1. Our job is to scatter seed - everywhere, to all 2. Don’t judge the soil. This is not your job. 3. The power to grow is in the seed. 4. How and if it develops is in the soil.

Mark 4:21-25

TITLE: Audio, Visual or Kinetic

TEXT: Mark 4:21-25: We have three primary ways to learn and receive information.

How? KEY WORD: Methods READING: Same :

1. Have you noticed - people learn in different ways
2. To communicate the gospel - we must teach in three ways. People are:1. Audio (hearing) - hear a lecture & understand
3. Visual (seeing) - see a demonstration & understand
4. Kinetic (touching)- hands on, actual doing it & understand
5. Illustration of repairing my car - read manual, see photos, under the hood How to tell which you are:1. Terms - “ I see” - “ I hear you” - “ I get it”
6. Questions - Do you hear? Do you see what I am saying? Got a handle on it?
7. We are a mixture - but usually one will be dominant In my sermons:1. Talk - lecture, explain
8. Body language, motion, walk, wave arms, facial expressions
9. Action - turn to passage, look up, nod your head In our text:1. Audio - (23-24a) - How you hear [Luke 8:18 - What you hear]
10. Visual - (21-22) - Candle under a basket
11. Kinetic - (24b-25) - physical, material (he that has, has not, taken from him) In Jesus ministry:1. Audio - preaching, teaching, sermons
12. Visual - parables - painted pictures of sound and motion
13. Kinetic - miracles touched lives, touched, sat child on lap, baptized In our homes (training our children):1. Tell, talk, lecture
14. Show, set example, let them see
15. Do - guide them step by step In Evangelism:1. Audio - Talk, study, tape of a sermon
16. Visual - Show them your life, example
17. Kinetic - Take them Application:1. Audio - We must TELL people about Jesus
18. Visual - We must let them SEE Jesus in us
19. Kinetic - We must allow them to Jesus in their life

Mark 4:26-30

TITLE: How does your garden grow?

TEXT: Mark 4:26-30: We are involved but can’t explain the process of growth.

How? KEY WORD: Evidences READING: Same :

1. Farmers and gardeners - work, till soil, plant seeds and harvest
2. Jesus said the kingdom of God (the church) is similar
3. From nature we see the evidence of how the church grows We must begin the process (26)1. The seed is in a bag - doing nothing - dead
4. It will not do anything until we act.
5. The earth will not grow until we plant the seed.
6. We must scatter, sow, and plant the seeds. We watch (27a)1. We sleep, get up, look at it
7. We rise early in morning, next day, in afternoon
8. 3-4 days - I see something, new sprout, it is alive We do not know how (27b)1. With all our knowledge - much we do not understand
9. How does a bird migrate and return to same tree? Salmon return?
10. How does a goose eat corn and grow feathers, a pig eats corn, grows hair?
11. Why are your fingerprints different than mine?
12. There is more we don’t know - than we do know.
13. We observe it. We repeat the process with same results. Can’t explain how?
14. God’s response to Job - Job 38:1-411. Were you present when the earth was formed - 38:4
15. Command the sun to rise - 38:12
16. Have you been under the earth - water, oil, gas - 38:16
17. Can you control the path of a lightning bolt - 38:25
18. Can you make it rain - 38:26
19. Did you group the stars - 38:31
20. Job’s response - Job 42:1-3 Plants grow in an orderly fashion (28)1. First blade - small shoot
21. Then ear begins to develop
22. The corn (grain) in the ear
23. Then ripe, full grain - ready for harvest We gather the harvest (30)1. We see it is ready
24. We get the tools - sickle
25. We harvest the grain
26. Then boast - Look what I grew! Applications1. Evangelism - We start the process - plant the seed
27. Let God take over - don’t push, pressure, let the Word germinate
28. Let the process progress in an orderly way
29. We gather the harvest - baptize them.
30. We must plant - watch - and harvest.
31. We cannot make it grow and develop.

Mark 4:31-32

TITLE: The Mustard Seed

TEXT: Mark 4:30-32: God intends for the Kingdom to grow.

How? KEY WORD: Applications READING: Same :

1. This short parable is an important one.
2. Today I want to focus on the meaning and application. Background1. Small seed - used to measure things that were tiny
3. Grew to 12 - 15 feet - strong branches
4. Not a tree (Maple or Oak) but large enough for birds to rest
5. Matthew 17:20 - Used to describe the size of faith Meaning of the parable1. Kingdom will have a small beginning
6. It would grow rapidly
7. It will be beneficial to the world
8. How can we, as a church, grow like the mustard?
9. Here are 9 requirements for growth. Attitude - “Desire”
10. There must be a desire to be a great church
11. Must be willing to pay the price Vision - “see beyond”
12. We must be able to see beyond next Sunday
13. At Kadesh-Barnea the 10 spies had no vision
14. Vision is more important that location, money, talent
15. Fisherman, keeping only the small fish, threw all the larger ones back, asked why, said, “I only have a 7” frying pan."
16. Many churches have a 7" limitation on vision Atmosphere1. Mood-setters = song leader, preacher, announcements
17. Most churches are friendly to each other
18. We must decide to either: DO IT! IT! OR DITCH IT!

Bible-centered1. Sermons, classes 2. Spend time in study of the word 3. Church will never be bigger than its Sunday school Action-oriented1. We must put people to work 2. Put deacons in charge and turn loose 3. Involvement is the key to keeping them Unity1. Acts 4:322. Tradition is holding us back 3. Do you want the church to function? Specific goals1. The survey tells us where we are 2. A goal tell where we are headed - our aim 3. We need to establish:

1. A GOAL for the church
2. Several goals that are specific (countable)
3. Set time tables and limits for them
4. Post, announce, and publicize them Praise and encouragement1. Barnabas = his nickname, what others called him
5. What if we were called as perceived?
6. Discouragement is a major problem in church growth Persistence1. Hang in there.
7. Keep on keeping on.

Mark 4:35-41

SERMON #1 TITLE: Does Jesus Care? TEXT: Mark 4:35-41: : How? KEY WORD: Ways READING: Same :1. In the NT the word “ care” can have several meanings. 2. Song: Does Jesus Care? Oh, yes he cares 3. Here are some thoughts about caring GOOD / BAD. In the sense of anxious, worry, worldly care About earthly things Luke 12:22 - Do not be anxious for your life, eat, put on God’s providential goodness should keep us from Matthew 6:26; Matthew 6:28; Matthew 6:30 - Birds of air are fed, lilies of field, grass on a hill God’s promises should keep us from Hebrews 13:5 - Be content with what you have, I will never leave you 2 Corinthians 1:20 - Promises of God and Yes and Amen Trust in God should free us from Jeremiah 17:7-8 - Trust in the Lord, tree by water not worried in drought Should be cast on God 1 Peter 5:7 - Cast all your care on the Lord Psalms 55:22 - Cast burden on the Lord, He will keep you An obstruction to the Gospel Matthew 13:22 - Seed in thorns = care of world, riches, choke our Word Luke 14:18-20 - Excuses were material, hinder fellowship with Lord Be without Philippians 4:6 - Worry about nothing, pray about everything 1 Corinthians 7:32 - Be without anxiety. Exemplified in Martha Luke 10:41 - You are anxious and troubled about many thingsIn the sense of concern, earnest care Luke 10:34-35 - Samaritan - Take care of him Deuteronomy 11:12 - Land God cares for. Eyes of Jehovah always upon it Philippians 4:10 - Your care of me has flourished Psalms 142:4 - No man cared for my soul Titus 3:8 - Be careful to maintain good works

Conclusion:1. Does Jesus care (worry, anxious about future)? NO!

2. Does Jesus care (show genuine love and concern)? YES!

3. In what way do you care about - God, Jesus, soul, Bible, eternal life, salvation?

SERMON #2

TITLE: Are you afraid?

TEXT: Mark 4:37-41: Fear takes several forms. We must have the right kind of fear.

Which? KEY WORD: Forms READING: Same :

1. We all have fears - storms, bugs, mice, etc.
2. The Bible talks about fear.
3. Several different forms. NOT GOOD KINDS OF FEAR Fear = Phobia1. Fear of storms, bugs, mice, snakes, high places, death, spiders
4. Unfounded - paranoid (out to get me)
5. Study Psalms 91:1-3; Psalms 5:1-12; Psalms 6:1-10; Psalms 7:1-17 (Describes the terrorists of today.) Fear = Lack of courage (coward)1. Kids challenge each other to jump. Are you afraid? Scardy cat!
6. Ride roller coaster; go in haunted house, etc.
7. Revelation 21:8 - Fearful in lake of fire Fear = Fright (loss of life, harm, danger)1. Matthew 10:28 - Can kill your body
8. Mark 4:403. This fear is the opposite of faith. GOOD KINDS OF FEAR Fear = Reverence, respect1. Mark 4:41 - Saw Jesus with a new respect for his power
9. Ephesians 5:21 - Submit to one another out of fear of God
10. Ecclesiastes 12:13 - Whole duty of man - fear God Fear = Concern1. Galatians 4:11 - Fear lest I labored in vain
11. Not worry - Moved to act, do something to help Conclusion:1. Are you afraid?
12. Doe you have trust and confidence in God?
13. Psalms 27:1 - Lord is my salvation: whom shall I fear?