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Mark Steve Estes Mark Steve Estes

Jesus and the Children

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Speaker: Steve Estes
Scripture: Mark 10:13-16
May 11, 2025

Sermon Notes

Mark 10:13-16, NIV: “People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.”

Mark 10:13-16, ESV: “And they were bringing little children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.”

Outline:

1. The story

  • The setting is unclear

  • What age were these children?

  • Why were the disciples rebuked?

2. Jesus rebuked disciples who kept children from Him

  • Parents become angry when they think their child has been wronged

  • How might adults today hinder children from coming to Jesus?

  • Jesus praises parents who do the opposite

3. Jesus blessed the children who were brought to Him

  • Consider what it means to bless someone

  • What sort of blessing were the parents seeking?

  • Consider the manner in which Jesus blessed them

  • What exactly was the result?

4. Accepting the kingdom of God like a little child

  • What Jesus doesn’t mean

  • What Jesus does mean

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Mark Mark Estes Mark Mark Estes

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

  1. Some church fathers took it too far

  2. Hyper-allegorical

  • Avoid over-allegorizing and de-allegorizing

  • E.g. Wicked Tenants

  1. 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

  1. Reveal the truth to his disciples

  2. 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

  1. In both the growth of corn and the work of grace, there must be a sower

  2. In both the growth of grain and grace, much is outside our understanding or control

  3. True life shows itself gradually

  4. Grain isn’t harvested until it is ripe

4. Applications

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