Jesus’ final instruction to His disciples is to go and make disciples. Matthew 28: 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of …
The power of parables is their ability to use something familiar to explain a deep spiritual truth. Chapter 4 of Mark tells of several of the parables Jesus used to teach. It includes the Parable of the Sower, the Parable of the Lamp, the Parable of the Growing Seed, and the Parable of the Mustard …
The parable of the mustard seed illustrates how small beginnings can lead to significant growth. This underscores the unexpected nature of God’s Kingdom. In this story, Jesus explains how it starts with tiny acts of faith and grows into a large, impactful reality. Mark 4:30 Jesus said, “How can I describe the Kingdom of God? What story …
The Parable of the Growing Seed tells of God’s hidden work in our lives. Mark 4: 26 Jesus also said, “The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, while he’s asleep or awake, the seed sprouts and grows, but he does not understand how it happens. 28 The …
Seeking wisdom from God is like water to a thirsty soul, because no one else can provide such guidance. Today, you may be in a situation or have been in the past where God’s guidance was essential. James 1:5If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will …
The Lamp of Truth, mentioned in Mark 4:21-23, illuminates our perception of God’s Kingdom and our role in it. It is often the darkness of falsehood that leads people astray and away from God. Jesus asks, Mark 4:21 Then Jesus asked them, “Would anyone light a lamp and then put it under a basket or under …
The soils of the heart in Jesus’ parable of the Sower (Mark 4:13-20) reveal how receptive people are to God’s Word, which affects our earthly life and eternity. A parable is a story that uses imagery to help Jesus teach spiritual lessons, both past and present. In many ways, the soils reflect our own lives, …
As Jesus taught the Parable of the Sower, He explained that some of the listeners were ever hearing but never understanding. The disciples wanted to understand the meaning of this parable. Mark 4: 10 Later, when Jesus was alone with the twelve disciples and with the others who were gathered around, they asked him what the …
In this week’s story, Jesus will enable the fishermen to begin fishing for people. Luke 5:10b Jesus replied to Simon, “Don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll be fishing for people!”[1] Scripture records this story in all three synoptic gospels: Matthew, Mark, and Luke. But each gives their unique take on the story. Jesus’ Call …
Faith is trust in God and not figuring everything out. In our age, some people try to understand faith from a scientific perspective, but it does not work that way. Hebrews 11:1 Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.[1] Jesus made an interesting comparison between …