Growth in God’s Kingdom
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Speaker: Mark Estes
Scripture: Mark 4:26-29
February 16, 2025
Sermon Notes
Mark 4:26-29, NIV: “He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain — first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”
Mark 4:26-29, NLT: “Jesus also said, The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, while he’s asleep or awake, the seed sprouts and grows, but he does not understand how it happens. The earth produces the crops on its own. First a leaf blade pushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed, and finally the grain ripens. And as soon as the grain is ready, the former comes and harvests it with a sickle, for the harvest has come.”
Outline:
1. Introduction: Parables as allegory
E.g. Pilgrim’s Progress
Prodigal son
Some church fathers took it too far
Hyper-allegorical
Avoid over-allegorizing and de-allegorizing
E.g. Wicked Tenants
Pharisees knew Jesus was talking about them
2. Why are parables hard to understand?
Key: Mark 4:10-12
Jesus’ two-fold purpose in telling parables
Reveal the truth to his disciples
Conceal the truth from the Pharisees
Why do this?
Parables were a form of judgment on Israel
3. The parable of the growing seed
Symbolism
Four principles
In both the growth of corn and the work of grace, there must be a sower
In both the growth of grain and grace, much is outside our understanding or control
True life shows itself gradually
Grain isn’t harvested until it is ripe
4. Applications
