Let's Go: "Kingdom Growth"
Isaiah 55:10–11 ESV
“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
2 Timothy 3:16 ESV
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
John 6:63 ESV
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
I. God’s Kingdom works in unknown ways (Mark 4:26-27)
John 3:8 ESV
The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
Psalm 145:3 ESV
Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.
1 Corinthians 2:9 ESV
But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—
II. God’s Kingdom Grows Independent of Man (Mark 4:28)
James 5:7 ESV
Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains.
III. God’s Kingdom Takes Time (Mark 4:28)
2 Peter 3:18 ESV
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
Ecclesiastes 9:4 ESV
But he who is joined with all the living has hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion.
IV. God’s Kingdom Produces at the Right Time (Mark 4:29)
Luke 10:2 ESV
And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.
Psalm 104:12 ESV
Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell; they sing among the branches.
Ezekiel 17:23 ESV
On the mountain height of Israel will I plant it, that it may bear branches and produce fruit and become a noble cedar. And under it will dwell every kind of bird; in the shade of its branches birds of every sort will nest.
Ezekiel 31:6 ESV
All the birds of the heavens made their nests in its boughs; under its branches all the beasts of the field gave birth to their young, and under its shadow lived all great nations.
Philippians 1:6 ESV
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
V. God’s Kingdom Changes how we View Importance (Mark 4:30-32)
VI. How to HEAR at ECC
Faith Sheet Questions
1. Read Mark 4:26-34 and review the sermon with a friend.
2. How would you describe the kingdom of God to someone who has never heard of it? What can we learn from these verses about God’s kingdom? (Mark 4:26-29)
3. Why is it reassuring to know that God intends the kingdom to grow automatically as well as slowly but surely?
4. Does your understanding of biology, botany, ecology and agriculture diminish or enhance the parables of the seeds and the mustard seed? Why?
5. How is the parable of the mustard seed encouraging for those who work and pray for the expansion of the kingdom of God?
6. What is the argument in favor of the birds in the branches of the mustard plant representing the nations? If this is the case why is it encouraging?