Seed Grows Gradually - Mark 4:26-29

Title: Seed grows gradually
Date: December 8, 2006
Text: Mark 4:26-29

Introduction

- this was written in an agrarian society
- people today think that milk is manufactured in factories, and that bread comes off an assembly line
- in Jesus' day he was speaking to people who were close to the land
- he tells a parable here about seed that is planted and grows and is harvested
- this parable is relevant to all of us because we all want to grow in our spiritual life

1. The seed is the word that was planted in our hearts - v.14

- Mark 4:14 - the sower sows the word
- there comes a day for each of us when our heart is opened to our need for God
- a spiritual emptiness in our soul that can only be filled by Jesus coming into our life
- the word has to be planted
- this places a big responsibility on Christians - go out into all the world and make disciples
- John 6:44 - "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him"
- God prepares the ground and makes people receptive to the gospel
- but we have to go out and give our testimony
- he says to the disciples, follow me and I will make you fishers of men
- 1 Corinthians 3:6 - Paul planted, Apollos watered, God made it to grow
- we all have our role in kingdom work

2. We cannot see what God is doing in a person's heart - v.27

- v.27 - "and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how"
- once the word has been preached or a testimony has been given, the seed has been planted
- just as we can's see initially that anything has happened to the seed, we also don't know what effect the word has had in someone's mind
- but a seed has been planted and the Holy Spirit is now busy with the person, doing a work inside them
- whatever we do for the kingdom is not our work, but the work of God through us
- this is why God seeks humble people to be his witnesses

3. Then we see the blade come up

- this is like when a person comes to Jesus
- we see the seed has had effect
- a new shoot has come
- it is tender and can easily be trampled or choked by weeds
- then the ear develops, we see people develop in the kingdom
- some go great guns, others progress steadily
- others become very fruitful
- then comes a day when the corn kernels are fat and ripe, and ready for harvesting
- that is the day when jesus calls us home, our task is complete

Conclusion

- recognize that our Christian walk is a journey
- a seed is planted and God works in us to bring it to the birth
- a shoot appears, and others see that we have accepted Jesus
- the shoot grows up, becomes a stalk, and produces ears where the kernels grow
- then comes the time of harvest, when Jesus returns