Mark 4:30-34 Christ's Church and the Mustard Seed
Gospel of Mark • Sermon • Submitted
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Joel and Mary Nadel, Covenant Church
Joel and Mary Nadel, Covenant Church
From J.C. Ryle’s “Expository Comments on the Gospels - Mark”
From J.C. Ryle’s “Expository Comments on the Gospels - Mark”
Pray
House Rules: Phones, Respect, Stay on the Text
House Rules: Phones, Respect, Stay on the Text
Mark 4:30-34
Mark 4:30-34
Mark 4:30-34
And He said, “How shall we picture the kingdom of God, or by what parable shall we present it? “It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the soil, though it is smaller than all the seeds that are upon the soil, yet when it is sown, it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and forms large branches; so that the birds of the air can nest under its shade.” With many such parables He was speaking the word to them, so far as they were able to hear it; and He did not speak to them without a parable; but He was explaining everything privately to His own disciples.
Introduction and Review:
Introduction and Review:
The beginning of Jesus Ministry
The Gospel message
His healing and teaching ministries
Building the kingdom of God
The parable of the mustard seed
A glimpse of the future of Christ’s church
The last two parables are about how God works in the heart of a Christian
This parable is about how Christ’s church will develop
These parables help us understand God’s plan for His church and His people
It helps us understand where we fit
Universal church, local church, Christians - building blocks
Mark 4:30-31
And He said, “How shall we picture the kingdom of God, or by what parable shall we present it? “It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the soil, though it is smaller than all the seeds that are upon the soil,
It started small
It started small
The Jews thought a grain of mustard was small and insignificant
The Lord also uses the mustard seed as an example of weak faith Matt 17:20 And He *said to them, “Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.
New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (Mt 17:20). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
It is hard to think of something that provides a better example of the history of Christ’s church, than this mustard seed
The church was tiny and appeared weak in the beginning
How did its leader, Christ, come into the world?
Who were the apostles (fishermen, tax collectors, rebels)? Unlearned persons
What was the last thing its leader did? (Crucifixion, between thieves, betrayed by two apostles)
Did it teach a popular doctrine?
stumbling block to Jews, foolishness to gentiles
Head died on a cross to offer life to the world
In the eyes of men, the beginning of the church was humiliating, demonstrating weakness.
Grain of mustard was a good example
Many unbelievers are distracted by this humble beginning
Mark 4:32
yet when it is sown, it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and forms large branches; so that the birds of the air can nest under its shade.”
Christ’s Church would grow greatly
Christ’s Church would grow greatly
The church, once it was planted, would grow greatly in size
“it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants”
It is amazing that the grain of mustard grows into such a large plant.
Tiny as it was, the mustard seed is a striking example of how the church would grow in the world
Started to grow on the day of Pentecost, a few weeks after Christ’s crucifixion
It grew quickly - 3000 on Pentecost, 400,000 a few weeks later, spread to Africa, to Antioch, to Turkey, to Greece and Italy, 300 years later became the official faith of the Roman empire. This weak, shamed humble religion spread to every continent of the world
Christ predicted all this, in the parable we are now studying
The Church is not yet done growing
This parable and prophecy continues - a day shall come when when the Lord Jesus, as head of His church, will take power and rule, and put every enemy under His feet
One day, everyone will know about the Lord God
Satan will be bound and imprisoned
Many unbelievers, all over the world, will come to Jesus - they are his inheritance
Then this parable will be complete - the seed will be a great tree, and fill the world.
This is the glorious future for all of us, who are members of Christ’s church
Bad news for those who do not turn to Christ
Bringing it home
Bringing it home
Lets remember this - we should never underestimate the power of Christ, in building His church
Church started small
Baby in a manger in Bethlehem
Name known all over the world now
The little seed that sprouted in Bethlehem is now a great tree, and growing
Remember, never look down on the day of small things. (Zech 4:10)
One child - a school
One saved - a church
One word - a great Christian project (Hudson Taylor)
One seed - a rich harvest of saved souls
Prayer
Discussion
Discussion