Growth Happens

Growth Happens

Mark 4: 1-20

Intro: Growing in your walk with Jesus is not optional. Learning to live as a Christian is incredibly easy, and frustratingly difficult. However, there are a few spiritual disciplines that can make our walk with Him a little easier. The spiritual disciplines are not a means of salvation only a means of drawing closer to and becoming more like Christ.

God wants you growing

The whole purpose the sower casts seed is to see growth, to reap a harvest

God gave us the Gospel and the Word so that we might receive, grown, and thrive in this journey of faith and discipleship

Seed is meant to grow

In the parable, only one location yielded no growth because it was eaten by birds. However…

There is a basic principle in nature: if it is healthy, it grows

times, sizes, shapes, what “growth” looks like may change from species to species, but growth it part of life

the see is good seed

The message is not the problem

What surrounds you shapes you

the path & birds, rocky ground, thorns, and good soil all impacted the development of the seed

Only one could develop roots; roots produce fruit

When nothing seems to be working, it may be time to examine what is interfering with the seed.

Hearing does not guarantee change

In the parable, the seed scattered in multiple directions, but only destination yielded permanent growth

roots need time, nourishment, and depth to develop

In v.15 they hear, but…

In v. 16 they hear, but…

In v. 19 they hear, but…

In v. 20 they hear and accept it, yielding fruit

accept means

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 31.52 ἀποδέχομαι; ἀποδοχή, ῆς; παραδέχομαι

31.52 ἀποδέχομαιb; ἀποδοχή, ῆς f; παραδέχομαιa:

They don’t merely hear the Word, they act on it.

Spiritual maturity does not come from collecting information. It comes from obedience

Conclusion

The message is not the problem; our response is.

How will we respond?