A Small Seed That Transforms-- The Kingdom in Action: Mark 4:1-20

Good morning.

Buenos días.

Oh, that is good.

I've been working uh this past week on the passage on Mark chapter four.

And today uh I've been praying for for this day, and I know uh other people other uh here have been praying too, and thank you for that.

So uh let uh let's read in um in Mark chapter 4, verses uh 1 to 13.

Mark 4 · chapter mention

Again he began to teach beside the sea, and a very large crowd gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat in it on the sea.

And the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land, and he was teaching them many things and parables, and in his teaching he said to them, Listen, behold a sower went out to sow, and as he sowed some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it, and other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no dead or soil, and when the sun rose it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away.

Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and shook it, and it yielded no grain, and other seed fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and hundredfold.

And he said, He who has ears to hear, let him to hear.

And when he has alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about parables, and he said to them, To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, so that they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven.

And he said to them, Do you not understand this parable?

How then will you understand all the parables?

This is the word of God.

Let's pray.

Lord Jesus, I pray that this morning you will use your word under the direction of the power of your Holy Spirit.

Move in our midst and continue making profound changes, open our minds, and where necessary, bring comfort, freedom, and a deeper understanding of who you are.

I ask this in Jesus' name.

Amen.

Let me start with a brief uh story from Pastor Daniel Doriani.

Two monks crafted basket to sell at the market.

They agreed to meet after selling.

One returned on time, but the other one was missing for days, actually, three days.

When he finally arrived, he was broken.

He had wasted the money and fallen into sin.

With compassion, the first monk said, If I had stayed with you, this wouldn't happen have happened to you.

Let's return together and share the blame.

Is this a good parable?

Not quite.

First, it encouraged deception.

Second, diminished personal responsibility and offers grace without true repentance.

Parables use illustrations to make lessons clear and engaging with the spiritual lessons.

Jesus used trees, sea, birds to illustrate spiritual truths.

The parable of the sour is among his most well-known.

But before getting into the topic, let's briefly look at some of the context.

In chapter 3, we see growing opposition to Jesus' ministry.

Jesus faced rejection from his closest family members.

They said he was crazy.

Likewise, the religious leaders accused him to expelling demons in the name of Satan.

This context prepares the way for Mark 4, where Jesus used parables to share the message of the God's kingdom with those open to listening, while keeping the hidden from those who refuse to hear.

Trying to picture Jesus on the Galilean shore surrounded by the crowd.

So Jesus got into a boat and used it as a pulpit and began to teach.

And Jesus said, listen, listen.

So this this word, this is an imperative, and highlight the importance to paying attention, to concentrating and focusing.

Jesus is trying to call the attention.

And she says later in verse 9, repeated, the same thing.

He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

So he's highlighting the importance of being attentive.

The exhortation repeated in Matthew and Luke and also in Revelation shows the consequences of not heeding his message.

And verse 3 continues: the sower went out to sow.

It is clear that the sower is Jesus.

In those days, the farmer put the seed in a bag that he carried and scattered in the air and spread around.

And farming was uh quite common in those days, and according to one commentator, it is likely that Jesus, while in the boat, saw a sour and he began to tell this parable.

Maybe so, probably.

But Jesus' ministry, despite its power and miracle, had few sincere followers.

Many rejected him and accused him of not following the religious rules, while others followed him but only for personal interest.

It should not surprise us that out of four places where the seed landed, only one bore fruit.

Just only one.

One out of four.

Should it discourage us from sowing the seed of the gospel?

Not really.

I think God wants to today let us know and encourage us to keep doing what we have been doing as a church.

Spreading the gospel.

Enduring through through those who embrace his message.

The message is clear.

Don't be discouraged, keep sowing.

So the parable of a sower describes four types of soil that represent different attitudes of heart.

So let's look at the three closed hearts.

The first seed represents the heart, an unyielding heart.

And verse 4 tells us that the seed fell along the path.

At that time, in those days, the land had paths where farmers walked, and established paths for pedestrians.

And they were hard paths due to so much use.

So the seed fell there, and because of the hardness of the soil, it did not germinate.

And soon the birds ate the seed.

So according to verse 15, Satan confused some and preventing them from understanding God's message, as it falls on the heart, too hardened to receive it.

How dramatic and how sad it is to stand before Jesus, the Son of God, hearing his word, yet understanding nothing.

Why?

Why?

Because of pride, selfishness, and rebellion.

Unbelievers cannot understand the truth.

The religious people in those days of the time were those who did not want to listen, even Jesus' biological brothers.

They didn't.

They didn't understand.

So what is the problem?

Why do many people not understand?

So interesting, Paul, Apostle Paul, gave us an interesting answer in 2 Corinthians chapter 4, verse 4.

2 Corinthians 4:4

The God of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel.

Satan, the God of this world, blinds unbelievers through deception, blocking the gospel light.

So we need to pray.

We need to pray that God can open their hearts and keep praying.

James Boy says, I heard of a man who said, I believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that He died for sinners.

But I guess I just don't want to give my life to Him.

I want to make my own decisions.

Have you heard that?

Probably so.

There is always hope in Christ.

Only He can free them from that deception.

Just Jesus.

If you have trouble to understanding this morning, pray to God to open your ears so that you may hear what He's trying to tell you.

So how do I care for the seed in my heart?

The seed is here today for us.

First, let me suggest a couple of ideas.

First, prepare your heart to come to the worship service every week.

Pastor Tom was encouraging us today about that.

Reflect on the teaching.

Take notes.

Look up the text.

Shoe on them.

Not just to hear the sermon and that's all.

Shoe on them.

Come closer to Christ.

Put your eyes on Him and not on the circumstances.

Ask God, not allow you to lose your capacity to be amazed at who He is.

Don't take everything for granted.

Probably we are we aware that we can smell see.

Walk, hear, and taste food.

Thank God for that.

Thank God for that.

What about salvation?

What about salvation?

This is the most amazing miracle God has done in our life.

And this should amaze us every day and make us grateful to Him.

Praise the Lord for our salvation.

But also, God wants to bring that salvation to other people.

Let us cultivate a heart of gratitude, always recognizing and appreciating the abundant blessing and beauty of who He is and what He has done for us.

So the first seed fell on hard soil.

The second seed fell on a shallow heart.

Verse 5 says, Some seed fell in rocky places places where it did not have much soil.

In Galilee, the land is rocky and with a light layer of soil.

So seed on thin soil, other rock sprouted quickly.

But lacking deep roots soon withered.

There are many who are attracted by the Christianity.

Many.

But the truth does not penetrate too depth.

Where the person can come to understand the truth.

This person received the word with joy, but is not profound.

When trials come, he turns away.

In verse 6, and Mark says, but when the Son had risen, that is to say, the problems, according to the interpretation of verse 6 from reading verse 16 and 17, the reality is that he has little spiritual strength.

Pressures in adverse circumstances make him turn back.

And maybe this person misunderstood the message.

Maybe some someone told him, hey, if you follow Jesus, everything is going to be okay.

And you and myself, we know it's not exactly like that.

The truth is, genuine faith is strengthened in trials while shallow faith fades under pressure.

So the second seed fell into shallow soil.

The first seed is a heart that is choked.

Verse 7 says, Other seed fell among ferns.

In Israel, although the fields looked clean, underground the ferns were waiting to blossom.

So isn't it true that weeds grow by themselves?

I'm dealing with this for many years in my backyard, in my garden.

Oh my goodness.

There is no take, no need to take care of them.

Just grow.

At that time, fields were not ploughed properly, and the tools we have today were lacking.

Therefore, the ferns would strangle the seed.

As Jesus explained in verse 18 and 19, the worries of the life, the misleading nature of wealth, and the desires for other things choke the world.

Life can easily become filled with many distractions, that there is no time left for Christ.

Jim Boy says, a rich man went away from Jesus sad because he would not sell everything and give to the poor.

This is even more true today.

It's our materialistic culture filled with wealth, property, and technology.

The superficial heaters walk away when difficulties appear.

However, the overwhelmed heaters are trapped by success, worries, and anxiety.

As a result, God's war gets lost amid their priorities, preventing them from bearing fruit.

Love for Christ, brothers and sisters, love for Christ and love for the world are fully opposed.

One will always overpower the other.

This warning from the three soils calls us to reflect on what controls our heart.

Only those who value the word and depend on God can experience true and fruitful spiritual growth.

Know that these souls bore fruit.

This is dramatic, sad, and painful.

The question for us is: are you bearing fruit for the King of Kings?

So far, everything seems very depressing or negative, maybe.

However, some of the seed fell on good soil and produced fruit.

And verse 8 says, Other seed fell on good soil and came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying 30, some 60, and some hundred times.

So Jesus' listen listeners knew not all seed bear fruit.

So this message was surprising for them.

He told them that good soil will yield an unusual, abundant harvest.

At first glance, the sour appears to fell on the first three soils, but the productivity of good soil exceeds all expectation.

The Holy Spirit, who inspired the writers, is telling us today that it is one of the parables to pay attention to.

This is the one.

And one of the focuses is to remind us that the church exists to fulfill the Great Commission, to make disciples of all nations.

It is not about politics or morality.

About proclaiming the it's about proclaiming the gospel, recognizing that the response of our effort will differ.

God always has people ready to receive the seed and bear fruit.

Always.

In addition, APC is working with 12 evangelical ministries in Alexandria, and the plan is to strengthen these alliances and impact their communities, our community.

We also support 16 agencies and missionaries around the world.

Many send directly from our church.

And we want this relationship to continue to grow.

Why should we bear fruit?

This is what God expects.

He's expecting this.

And also it's a sign of repentance.

Also, fruit is a sign of discipleship.

Jesus said in John 15, verse 5, if you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit.

John 15:5

Apart from me, you can do nothing.

We need Jesus.

Charles Purgeon emphasized that union with Christ is essential.

Believers cannot produce anything of true spiritual value without Jesus.

We need Jesus.

It's impossible to overlook such a tiny yet powerful seed that yields miracles fruit.

Tim Keller says, Campbell Morgan tells an interesting story.

Let me read it for you.

In Italy, there is an ancient tomb covered by a heavy marble slab.

Centuries ago, a small acorn fell on it, found a crack, and began to crow.

Began to grow.

Over time it became a mighty tree, breaking through and shattering the marble.

Something too so small and weak.

That is the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The seed.

Jesus compared the gospel to a seed, which seems weak, but has a transforming Although a seed can be easily destroyed, it also has the potential to grow and multiply in an unstoppable way, which illustrates the paradox of the gospel.

What seems weak carries a power that transforms lives.

This is not just a parable of how people respond to the word, but of how people respond to Jesus.

Tim Keller said, Jesus did not come as a hammer or sword.

He did not come to judge, but to be judged.

Not to be strong, but to be weak and die.

Because seeds only release their power if they fall to the ground and die.

If Jesus had come as a sword or a hammer, we will all be dead for sure.

But Jesus came as the seed and he himself said in John 12, 24, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and died, it remains alone.

But if it dies, it produced much grain and yields a harvest.

Where is the seed falling today?

On the hardened heart?

Shallow heart?

Or a heart suffocated by the worries and distraction of life?

Or a furten heart?

This parable is calling us to examine our ways.

He is calling us to reflection.

In verse 3 and 9, Jesus exhorts his listeners, are you listening?

Are you listening?

Like Paul's teaching in 2 Timothy 2, 7, the verse says, reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.

This is an invitation, brothers and sisters, to contemplate his beauty.

His message requires attention and spiritual discernment.

The farmer does his job, but the result depends on nature from the ground on which the seed falls.

The seed that was scattered fell in various places.

The sower knew for sure that many seed would fall in places where they would not germinate.

But he sowed anyways.

Therefore, do not be discouraged.

Keep sowing.

Keep sowing.

God will give the growth as a church.

So the message emphasized two fundamental truths.

God is sovereign and man is responsible.

Although God is in his sovereignty transformed, hardened heart through the seed, the means he used to do so is the preaching of his word.

Therefore, each person has the responsibility to listen carefully because this is a matter of life or death.

This is a very, very important brothers and sisters.

The gospel does not change our life mechanically, but organically.

He does organically.

By receiving the word of God, we do not become busier with religious activity, but we experience a deep, natural and internal growth.

Just as seed grows into a flower, spiritual life grows within us, making us more generous and humble, developing a true transformation.

Jesus clearly preached the gospel message.

Believe in me.

Whatever our condition is this morning, this word comes to us gently, like a seed, which is quite easy to ignore or crush.

It comes as a whisper, not as a shout, sword, or hammer or imposition.

It wants to grow in you and make you like a tree planted by a stream of water, a solid tree that yields fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither.

Are you facing challenges that don't make sense today?

Let the seed of Christ take deeper root and surrender to its transforming power.

Let the seed keep working in your heart.

Let go of stubbornness, empty distractions, and shallow desires.

All these attitudes only produce fear and anxiety in us.

Listen to your father's words that comfort you today.

In Isaiah 41:10.

Isaiah 41:10

So do not fear, for I am with you.

Do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you.

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

This is the word of God for us.

If you have not yet surrendered your heart to Jesus today, it's a day of salvation.

Today is the day of salvation.

Maybe you have been listening for a long time and it is still turning over in your mind.

Jesus is planting the seed in you this morning, and the powerful Holy Spirit is speaking to your heart.

He asks you, What kind of ground are you?

Are you listening to what Jesus says today?

Stop fighting with that sin that has you trapped.

There is no one but Christ who can free you.

He said powerful word in John 8, you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

You can be free from slavery, free from being shocked out by the cares of these days.

If you have not surrendered to Jesus yet, I invite you to pray with me this morning.

And also to those who are watching this video or are gonna watch this sermon by YouTube, I ask you to pray with me this morning.

You can pray quietly if you want, so please let's pray together.

Today is the day of salvation.

Jesus, I admit that I am struggling with my sin.

I recognize that I have not wanted to give my life to you yet.

Please change me.

Transform me as you desire.

I really don't know how to do it.

I have tried too much.

I'm exhausted.

My strength cannot longer resist.

I surrender to you.

Give my sin and I repent from the bottom of my heart.

And I invite you to be part of my life from now on.

Do something new in my life.

Let the seed of your power grow in me.

In Jesus' name.

Amen.

Oh Lord, I thank you that the seed of your work continue to work in hearts.

Holy Spirit, please continue to work in the life of those present here and those who follow us on YouTube.

Make our hearts soft and receptive.

Help us to bear abundant fruit for the extension of your kingdom.

Do not allow us to become discouraged or to leave aside the call to the Great Commission.

In Jesus' name I pray.

Amen.

Amen.