June 26 – July 2, 2022

Compiled by Dr. "Joey" Alan Le, Ph.D.

The Parable of the Sower (vv1-9)

What is the best metaphor or illustration you’ve ever heard about describing God and how God works?

v2 He began to teach them many things in parables

Parables are comparisons that draw upon common experience in order to teach the realities of God’s kingdom. These metaphors or analogies are often presented in story form; they draw upon the known to explain the unknown (Coleman 2019, 1600).

v3 “Listen! A sower went out to sow.

The sower represents Jesus, and the sowing represents his mission to enter our world to sow the seeds of the Kingdom of God (Hooker 1991, 123).

How exactly did Jesus go about “sowing the seed” of the kingdom of God? What did he say and do?

v4 And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up.

In ancient Palestine, farmers did not use machines to plant their crops in neat rows like farmers do today. The fields were intersected by long, narrow, serpentine paths that were beaten hard by feet, hooves, and wheels (Hughes 1989, 105). The farmer would hold the seeds in his apron or bag in one hand, and scatter fistfuls of seeds into the field.

Why do you think the farmer allows for such wastefulness?

5 Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and it sprang up quickly, since it had no depth of soil.

In that area and time, there could be patches of soil that was only 2-3 inches deep. Just below the surface was limestone bedrock (Hughes 1989, 107).

What pattern or progression do you see in these three soils?

v9 And he said, “Let anyone with ears to hear listen!”

Jesus started and ended his parable with a command to “listen!” What does it mean to hear and listen to God? How would hearing change your beliefs and behaviors? What Jesus been saying to you lately?

A Lamp Under a Bushel Basket (vv21-25)

v21 He said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under the bushel basket, or under the bed, and not on the lampstand?

Jesus employs a parable that is gender-inclusive because women would be very familiar with this indoor task of lighting a home. Why is it important to observe that Jesus taught in such a way that women could learn from him?

Placing a basket over a small clay lamp would certainly extinguish the flame. A lamp is pointless if it can’t shed light. The ‘light’ of God’s kingdom needs to shine and be seen (Keener 1993, Mk 4:21–23). In what ways have we hidden God’s kingdom in our everyday lives? Conversely, in what ways can we shine it?

v24 And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear; the measure you give will be the measure you get, and still more will be given you.

Jesus wants us to listen careful, because the care expended in understanding and responding to his parables will be proportionately rewarded. What you get out of them depends on what you put in (France 2009, 211).

In everyday life, we observe that if you exercise, you will be physically fit. If you exercise your mind, your mind will be sharp. If you use it, you’ll get more of it. But if you don’t use it, you lose it. What you put in is what you get out. What exactly can disciples do to understand Jesus’ teachings better?

v25 For to those who have, more will be given; and from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.”

As the saying goes, the poor get poorer and the rich get richer. Those who hear well will receive more explanation of God’s purposes. Those who do not hear well will become more ignorant (Garland 1996, 175).

Why is it that an openness to God affects our understanding of who God is and what God wants? How does the heart affect the mind? Is your relationship with God guided by your heart or your mind or both?

The Parable of the Mustard Seed (vv30-32)

v30 He also said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it?

Jesus’ vision of God’s reign is so drastically different from what people in his day imagined that he spent much of his time in the Gospels using vivid, thought-provoking imagery to explain what the kingdom of God is like (Garland 1996, 181). People in Jesus’ day likely assumed that the Kingdom of God would arrive politically and militaristically. But Jesus taught that the Kingdom would not come as an obvious, triumphal conquest. Rather, it will come through weakness, vulnerability, and suffering. List out some ways worldly kingdoms operate. Compare and contrast that with God’s kingdom.

v31 It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth;

The parable of the four kinds of soils, and this parable of the small mustard seed, both illustrate how humble and vulnerable the Kingdom is. It is subject to adversity, rejection, delays, and loss. It takes place gradually and not instantly. It does not work like a massive, unstoppable juggernaut; it works through uncertain methods like divine grace and gift, free human will, chance, coincidence, divine intervention, and individuals choosing to trust and forgive and love when it’s hard (Garland 1996, 183). Why do you think God chooses weakness and vulnerability over strength and coercion?

v32 yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”

The Kingdom will emerge from hiddenness. We may want something huge and glamorous...but we’ll be disappointed. Success and achievement are things the world looks for. Most of the time, faithful ministry will appear unsuccessful and insignificant. But we must trust Jesus, even through suffering. God will be found among the weak, vulnerable, and hurting (Garland 1996, 183). Where is it written in Scripture that God is found among the weak, vulnerable, and hurting? How does that guide your own ministry?

Do you have a testimony of a time when the kingdom of God appeared in your life?

Jesus Stills a Storm (vv35-41)

v37 A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped.

The lake of Galilee is subject to sudden, violent storms. Fishing boats had low sides which made them vulnerable to high waves (Manning 2004). Water was filling the boat to the point that it was in danger of sinking immediately (France 2009, 223).

Why didn’t the disciples ask Jesus for help sooner?

It’s easy to be in control when everything goes as planned. What do you do when your plans don’t work out? What do you do when life’s waves beat at you and your boat sinks? Do you feel like you’re drowning?

v38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”

Do you ever wonder if God sees you struggling? Does God feel absent?

The waves didn’t keep Jesus up. Jesus was not plagued by fear and worry. He was able to rest when it was time to rest. He was unperturbed by interruptions or things not going according to plan. When do you feel at peace and restful?

v39 He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm.

What storms are you hoping for Jesus to calm?

v40 He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?”

The disciples in the Gospel of Mark fail repeatedly. Do you feel like you’re one of them? Do you lack faith in one area of your life or another? How do you think God builds up our faith?

v41 And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

How should we respond to adversity?

What keeps you in awe of God?