"THE ULTIMATE REALITY ACCORDING TO JESUS" | MARK 4:21-34
WARM-UP
What realities direct your day-to-day life? (e.g. gravity, job, relationships, etc.) What would happen if you lived as if they didn’t exist?!
WORD
BIG IDEA
READ
Mark 4:21-34
21 And he said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand? 22 For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light. 23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” 24 And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. 25 For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”
26 And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. 27 He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. 28 The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. 29 But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”
30 And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? 31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, 32 yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”
33 With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it. 34 He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.
What realities direct your day-to-day life? (e.g. gravity, job, relationships, etc.) What would happen if you lived as if they didn’t exist?!
WORD
BIG IDEA
- The Kingdom of God is the ultimate reality.
- Believing this and living in light of this takes perception and discernment because other things get far more publicity in our world and feel weightier.
- But, evident to those who have ears to hear, the Kingdom of God is growing all over the world and will one day be visible to all.
- The more you put into it, the more you’ll have in it when it comes.
READ
Mark 4:21-34
21 And he said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand? 22 For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light. 23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” 24 And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. 25 For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”
26 And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. 27 He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. 28 The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. 29 But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”
30 And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? 31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, 32 yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”
33 With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it. 34 He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.
WATCH/LISTEN
OLD SELF
NEW SELF
WORLD
PRAYER
Father God, we thank you for Jesus’ declaration that the Kingdom of God is at hand. With this comes the need to repent and believe in the gospel. Please help us to do this and to live with a kingdom mentality. Please help us orient our lives in a way that furthers your kingdom and have joy in doing this. Amen.
- What realities do you currently devote your life to?
- What about your devotion to these things is good and what about these realities prevent you from giving without measure to the Kingdom of God?
NEW SELF
- Given that the Kingdom of God is the ultimate reality, how could you let a kingdom mentality further shape the other realities that you are living in light of?
- What can you do practically to give without measure to the kingdom? What does it look like practically to orient your life toward the kingdom of God?
WORLD
- Hunter mentioned the global reach of the gospel over the millennia since Jesus came to earth. How does this fuel our confidence in sharing the gospel with family, friends, and coworkers?
- “God uses ordinary things as the avenues of discipleship.” How can you shape the ordinary rhythms of your life to facilitate the discipleship of Christians and those who have not yet believed in the gospel?
PRAYER
Father God, we thank you for Jesus’ declaration that the Kingdom of God is at hand. With this comes the need to repent and believe in the gospel. Please help us to do this and to live with a kingdom mentality. Please help us orient our lives in a way that furthers your kingdom and have joy in doing this. Amen.