Got Seed? (Mark 4:1-20)
Gary McManus, 05/16/2021Part of the Life With Jesus is Better series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
May 16, 2021 Got Seed? Mark 4:1-20
Review; Satan, so far
--There is evil in the world.
--Evil is a force in our world and
its purposes are contrary to our Lord God.
--We call that force Satan.
--Satan is a personification of evil,
but evil is perpetrated by human beings.
--Satan would separate us from the Lord God;
whether you are a believer or unbeliever.
--Evil has been (and is) institutionalized at times.
One author called them “super-personal forces of evil.”
--Jesus came (God came to us as Jesus) to take back
the earth(and everything in it)/creation
to fulfill God’s purposes.
Jesus spoke in parables.
Today’s mentions Satan (Mark 4:15, Matthew 13:19; “the evil one”, Luke 8:12; “the devil”.)
This parable is not about Satan/the devil.
It is about the proclamation of the Gospel.
It is not obvious that this story has anything to
do with the Gospel. It looks like a program on
ancient farming.
Jesus used parables:
--to teach tough ideas in a simple way
--to reach people who WANT to be reached
People “leaning in” to hear Jesus will hear him.
This parable: responses to the Gospel message.
Jesus was telling the people about how things are.
Jesus was not explaining WHY things are the way
they are. This is JUST the way it is.
Jesus’ parable is a cautionary tale
to American Christians especially.
America loves big numbers and this farmer
has a 75% failure rate!!
American Christians should not be surprised if our
efforts to proclaim the gospel do not bear fruit.
Jesus told us this 2,000 years ago!
Jesus even warned the disciples (Luke 10-17-20).
This parable should be on once a year, at least.
We are interested in what is trending.
TRUTH does not trend. Jesus is the truth and
Jesus never trends.
We have examples ready to hand. . .
Pastor not suggesting these ministries did not bear fruit. Pastor suggests that we often consider the success of the plant, rather than finding the fruit.
We might even look in the wrong places.
So why keep preaching with a 25% success rate?
1. The yield is not 1 plant = 1 fruit.
2. This is God’s Word. This is God’s mission through Jesus.
Isaiah 55:11 and Jesus commanded it, Matthew 28:18-20.
Jesus’ point of the story? Don’t be discouraged! Don’t quit.
Preach the word in season and out. (2 Timothy 4:2)
Example: the Apostle Paul [See Galatians 5:7, Galatians 3:1]
DCC church website sermon downloads?
Seeds that have hit the ground.
DCC can’t know HOW FRUITFUL those seeds might become.
BUT BY ALL MEANS, keep broadcasting the sermon seeds.
Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” Amen
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