A Message to Transform the World

Opening Prayer (Thanksgiving & Petition)

Read Mark 4:30-34

Mark 4:30–34 LSB

30 And He was saying, “How shall we compare the kingdom of God, or by what parable shall we present it? 31 “It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the soil, though it is smallest of all the seeds that are upon the soil, 32 yet when it is sown, it grows up and becomes largest of all the garden plants and forms large branches; so that the birds of the air can nest under its shade.” 33 And with many such parables He was speaking the word to them, as they were able to hear it; 34 and He was not speaking to them without a parable; but He was explaining everything privately to His own disciples.

Am I clear on living by and proclaiming the Message of the Kingdom?

The mustard seed's potential teaches us to look beyond what is visible. When planting a seed, we cannot see the growth happening under the soil. Similarly, in our faith journey, we may not see immediate results or changes around us. Yet, we are assured that with God, the growth process is happening, and our faith can yield a bountiful harvest in time.

I. Strive to Make the Message Clear. (v. 30)

Jesus Christ, our Master and Savior, makes it clear, that His work is to make it clear for people who are led by the Holy Spirit to hear and understand the mystery of the Gospel and God’s rule in the hearts of the redeemed.

Jesus is living out what Theology’s handmaiden, Wisdom is pictured doing in Proverbs 1:20-23.

Proverbs 1:20–23 LSB

20 Wisdom shouts in the street, She gives forth her voice in the square; 21 At the head of the noisy streets she calls out; At the entrance of the gates in the city she utters her sayings: 22 “How long, O simple ones, will you love simplicity? And scoffers delight in scoffing And fools hate knowledge? 23 “Turn to my reproof, Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.

3. If we hold to a biblical understanding for our lives, we will see that in Jesus Christ we have the clarity of the Gospel made manifest for disciples to grow into His likeness that we may attain maturity in Christ.

Many spiritual experiences are possible which do not in and of themselves produce maturity. Rather, it is our response to experiences which will determine our progress in maturity.

Sinclair Buchanan Ferguson

II. The Kingdom’s Message will Deliver Good. (v.31-32)

The key to the history of the world is the kingdom of God.

David Martyn Lloyd-Jones (Welsh Preacher and Writer)

The small mustard seed is insignificant in size, yet once the seed gives way to the tree in its fullest potential, it becomes a behemoth for far greater good.

The vastness of the Kingdom, the realm of God, is far beyond the comprehension of man, even as to the effect of his rule over the nature of the world, for good.

Mark, inspired of the Holy Spirit goes on to recall aspects of the Old Testament to make the point of God’s providence for humanity.

Ezekiel 17:23 LSB

23 “On the high mountain of Israel I will plant it, that it may lift up boughs and yield fruit and become a majestic cedar. And birds of every kind will dwell under it; they will dwell in the shade of its branches.

Psalm 104:12 LSB

12 Above them the birds of the heavens dwell; They give forth their voices among the branches.

Ezekiel 31:6 LSB

6 ‘All the birds of the sky nested in its boughs, And under its branches all the beasts of the field gave birth, And all great nations lived under its shade.

Daniel 4:12 LSB

12 ‘Its foliage was beautiful and its fruit abundant, And in it was food for all. The beasts of the field found shade under it, And the birds of the sky inhabited its branches, And all flesh fed itself from it.

God in His sovereignty uses His Bride to give rest and reprieve to the world while she is in the world. All nations will be affected by the Gospel message and God’s messenger—The Church.

Parables Teach and Divide the Crowds. (v.33-34)

The parables are a means to deliver the wisdom of God to a people who are in darkness. Here the wisdom of God leads to new birth.

The hearing of the wisdom leading to Salvation is given to them by the power of the Holy Spirit. It is granted to us by God Himself.

The teaching in parables leads to the division between those who seek to understand truth; those who would receive it lightly and superficially; and those who would outright reject it.

Be not only attentive in hearing, but retentive after hearing.

Thomas Watson

Am I clear on living by and proclaiming the Message of the Kingdom?

We Must Respond.

We must grow in the grace of God by and through obedience.

We must strive and wrestle out against our flesh to reach the world.

We set our minds on all things holy, pure, beautiful and good.

We must remember to live on mission for the one who planted the tree as a seed.

Closing Prayer (Intercession and Petition)