The Seed And The Soil Series

Text: Mark 4:26-29 Title: The Seed and the Soil

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.”

Introduction

This parable about the kingdom of God takes up 4 sentences. It’s a parable which may have taken Jesus about a minute to tell. Think about it Jesus explains how the kingdom of God works in only four sentences and tells it in about one minute.

If the term “Kingdom of God” is a new one for you…The Kingdom of God is God’s rule or God’s purpose coming to pass here on earth.

Here is the outline I want us to use from this parable:

The kingdom of God has

•A Beginning,

•A Middle

•A End.

We are going to look today at this parable about the kingdom of God starting from the end and working back to the beginning

So what can we say about the end of the kingdom of God from this parable?

1.The kingdom of God has a successful end. (v29)

“But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

Whenever Jesus uses a farming analogy to explain what the kingdom of God is like - then the kingdom of God is like a farmer who ends up with a successful harvest

And whenever Jesus uses a fishing analogy to explain what the kingdom of God is like –then the kingdom of God is like a fisherman who ends up with a successful catch

In every case the kingdom of God always ends up being successful!

That’s why we are told in Galatians 6:3

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

In Philippians 1:6 we are told

“being confident of this that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

The phrase “carry it on to completion” means to achieve a goal or accomplish a purpose

Read the end of the Bible: The kingdom of God wins!!

I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day…and not to me only, but to all who have loved His appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:7-8)

The kingdom of God always ends up being successful

Those who hope in the Lord will never be put to shame

Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him and are called for his purpose

2.Then the Kingdom of God has this middle part. (v27-28)

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

So what can we say about the kingdom of God from reading these middle verses?

We can say that the Kingdom of God has this growing middle

But notice where the growth happens in the Kingdom of God

1.Where is the growth happening in verse 27?

he sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how.

In verse 27: In the Kingdom of God the seed does the growing

In fact the sower doesn’t know how the seed grows but it does.

And it doesn’t matter if he is sleeping or if he gets up- the seed is always growing

2.Where is the growth happening in verse 28?

28 “The earth produces by itself; first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear

Niv All by itself the soil produces grain-first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head

In V28 In the Kingdom of God The earth (soil) does the growing

All by itself the soil produces grain

All by itself = automatically

In the kingdom of God it is the seed and the soil that do the growing

The seed can’t grow without the soil and the soil can’t grow without the seed

The seed transforms the soil and the soil transforms the seed

The seed gives life to the soil and the soil gives life to the seed