Parable of the Sower - Mark 4:1-20

Darryl focused on the follow:

This is a Foundational parable of Christianity

Spiritual reality ....

- No problem with the hearing .... Everyone hears the same teachings ... 

- The question is what soil was it planted in??

3 truths

i) No Growth

ii) Fruitless Growth

iii) Fruitful Growth

4 heart conditions

i) The Resistant Heart (vv 4, 15)

ii) The Shallow Heart (vv 5, 16-17)

iii) The Crowded Heart (vv 6, 18-19)

iv) The Receptive Heart (vv 8, 20)

Pray that I become good soil .... That I have a receptive heart and that knowing the Word will transform me more and more .....

Read the following from gotquestions.org

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The Parable of the Sower (also known as the Parable of the Four Soils) is found in Matthew 13:3-9; Mark 4:2-9; and Luke 8:4-8. After presenting this parable to the multitude, Jesus interprets it for His disciples in Matthew 13:18-23; Mark 4:13-20; and Luke 8:11-15. 

The Parable of the Sower concerns a sower who scatters seed, which falls on four different types of ground. The hard ground “by the way side” prevents the seed from sprouting at all, and the seed becomes nothing more than bird food. The stony ground provides enough soil for the seeds to germinate and begin to grow, but because there is “no deepness of earth,” the plants do not take root and are soon withered in the sun. The thorny ground allows the seed to grow, but the competing thorns choke the life out of the beneficial plants. The good ground receives the seed and produces much fruit.

Jesus’ explanation of the Parable of the Sower highlights four different responses to the gospel. The seed is “the word of the kingdom.” The hard ground represents someone who is hardened by sin; he hears but does not understand the Word, and Satan plucks the message away, keeping the heart dull and preventing the Word from making an impression. The stony ground pictures a man who professes delight with the Word; however, his heart is not changed, and when trouble arises, his so-called faith quickly disappears. The thorny ground depicts one who seems to receive the Word, but whose heart is full of riches, pleasures, and lusts; the things of this world take his time and attention away from the Word, and he ends up having no time for it. The good ground portrays the one who hears, understands, and receives the Word—and then allows the Word to accomplish its result in his life. The man represented by the “good ground” is the only one of the four who is truly saved, because salvation’s proof is fruit (Matthew 3:7-8; 7:15-20).

To summarize the point of the Parable of the Sower: “A man’s reception of God’s Word is determined by the condition of his heart.” A secondary lesson would be “Salvation is more than a superficial, albeit joyful, hearing of the gospel. Someone who is truly saved will go on to prove it.” May our faith and our lives exemplify the "good soil" in the Parable of the Sower.

Verse Today - God gives us strength

January 22 : Psalm 29:11
11 The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace.

January 23 - Philippians 4:13
13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

BSF Leader's Workshop - Revelation 2016

Returned to BSF for the Leader's Workshop .....

Mark 2:1-12 - Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralytic

Jesus forgives and heals a paralytic, demonstrating His authority from heaven and on earth.

Jesus has complete power to forgive us of our sins.

Mark 2:5, “And Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’”

Choosing Your Life Verse

Saw this article .... never thought of having 1 verse as my "life verse" ... think I will look to see if I can find one that becomes my beacon in my life journey ....

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Have you ever been asked what your “life verse” is? You know, the scripture quote that seems to speak to you directly – the one that holds a personal meaning for you.

The author's choosen verse was Proverbs 3:5

Mark 1:14-15 Jesus Announces the Good News

Mark 1:14-15 NIV

[14] After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. [15] “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

Mark 1:9-11 Jesus' baptism

Mark 1:10-11 NIV

[10] Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. [11] And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

Why did Jesus go thru baptism?

Did it to identify with people who are seeking after God

How dramatic the scene of Jesus's baptism

Trinity present at this event. ..... And God spoke out!!

God last spoke during time of Malachi for more than 400 years ago!!

Mark 1:7-8

Mark 1:4 NIV

[4] And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Mark 1:7-8 NIV

[7] And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. [8] I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Verse Today - Psalm 46:1-3

Verse of the Day - January 17

Psalm 46:1-3

1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. "Selah"

Song: Cornerstone

"Cornerstone"

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly trust in Jesus name

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly trust in Jesus name

Christ alone; cornerstone
Weak made strong; in the Saviour's love
Through the storm, He is Lord
Lord of all

When Darkness seems to hide His face
I rest on His unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil
My anchor holds within the veil

Christ alone; cornerstone
Weak made strong; in the Saviour's love
Through the storm, He is Lord
Lord of all
He is Lord
Lord of all

Christ alone
Christ alone; cornerstone
Weak made strong; in the Saviour's love
Through the storm, He is Lord
Lord of all

Christ alone; cornerstone
Weak made strong; in the Saviour's love
Through the storm, He is Lord
Lord of all

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found;
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless stand before the throne.

Verse Today - Ephesians 4:22-24

Verse of the Day: January 11
Ephesians 4:22-24

22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

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Praying that I overcome the temptations that surround me; that the holy spirit walks with me and helps me overcome them daily.

Verse Today : 2 Corinthians 5:17

Verse of the Day : January 9

2 Corinthians 5:17

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

2016 Church Theme

Christ-Centered Relationships & Godly Famlied

Revelation 6 - the Seals

The first four seals are brief:

When the Lamb broke the first seal (6:1) John saw a white horse.  He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer (6:2).

When He broke the second seal a red horse went out.  To him who sat on it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that men would slay one another; and a great sword was given to him. (6:3-4)

When He broke the third seal John saw a black horse.  He who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand.  Then John heard voice in the center of the four living creatures announcing high prices for wheat and barley and scarcity of oil and wine, indicating famine. (6:5-6)

When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, John saw an ashen horse.  The name of the rider was Death; and Hades was following with him.  Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, famine, pestilence and by wild beasts.  The fourth seal therefore seems to overlap in meaning with the bloodshed of the second seal and the famine of the third seals. (6:7-8)

When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, John saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained (6:9).  They cried out with a loud voice:

How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth? (6:10)

In the ancient Jewish temple there were two altars.  The very large altar of burnt offering was outside the temple and the altar of incense was inside.  In the ancient ceremonies the blood of the animals were poured out at the base of the altar of burnt offering (Lev 4:7; 8:15; 9:9).  This becomes a symbol for God’s slain people when they are represented as the souls underneath the altar.  This symbol is also used in 16:6 where it is said that the people of the world “poured out” the blood of God’s people.

The souls under the altar cry out for revenge.  This should not be understood as the request of God’s people, but rather like the blood of Abel that called for revenge (Gen 4:10).  These people are dead—they will come to life when Jesus returns (20:4,5)

In response to their request the souls under the altar were told to wait.  To each of them was given a white robe and they were told:

rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also (6:11)

The “white robes”—a sign of redemption—given to these dead saints, implies a judgment.  It also implies a period of persecution, because they have to wait for the completion of their brethren who were to be killed.

The sixth seal is catastrophic.  When He broke the sixth seal there was a great earthquake; the sun became black as sackcloth; the whole moon became like blood; the stars of the sky fell to the earth; the sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places (6:12-14).  But the people of the world were not scared of these natural disasters, for they hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains and said to the mountains and to the rocks:

Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great dayof their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” (6:15-17)

This is the “great day”—the Judgment Day—the Return of Christ.  The sixth seal shows the people hiding.  But they will be killed at the Return of Christ (14:20 and 19:21).

BSF - Study of Revelation 2016

Received the placement list of 12 men assigned to my Discussion Group.

Praying for strength and wisdom to shepherd these men over the 30 weeks. Looking forward for an engaging time of discussion, sharing and fellowship amongst the men as we study the Book of Revelation ... may we grow closer to God and walk in Christ as we journey and learn from one another.

Message of Revelation: "God is in control - and He wins!"
Our study will be more about the Lord Jesus Christ than events, symbols and timelines. He is the One who rights wrongs and sets things straight. He is the One who consummates all history - and He is returning soon.