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BenchMARK
1 Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge. 2 He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: 3 “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.” 9 Then Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” 10 When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. 11 He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables 12 so that,
“‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’” 13 Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? 14 The farmer sows the word. 15 Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. 16 Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 18 Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. 20 Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.” Mark 4:1-20 (NIV)
Jesus tells this parable at the stage (following Mark 3) where there is polarization - some love him, others hate him.
This is a Benchmark of responsiveness to Jesus and the message of the Kingdom
The Farmer (God) Sows the word (Logos)
There are three Greek words used for our English 'word'. Graphe (written), Rhema (spoken), and Logos ("The substance of the interior reality of the speaker is in the words". - Mike Masa) It is the personal wisdom and power in union with God
Even Jesus preaching was not 100% effective (Michael Eaton). Only 1 in 4 soil types produced a harvest! But this is not a shotgun approach, hoping some seed finds good soil, but an abundance of a generous sower. The word of God is always 100% accurate with the potential to be 100% effective. The variable is the human heart and how each heart chooses to respond to the Word (Jesus)
The four heart benchmarks are:
Resistant (pathway)
Immature (rocky ground with a little soil)
Disordered (overtaken by thorns)
Accepting (good soil that produces a harvest)
The opposition:
Birds of the air - Satan
Sun - troubles and persecution)
Thorns - worries, distractions, and temptations in life
Resistant Heart - Reinhardt
Unforgiving / Offended / Bitter
Unbelieving
Pride
Self-righteous
Self-reliant
Selfish
Prejudiced
Unrepentant
Says "I don't need Jesus" or "My will be done"
Immature Heart - Inatjie
All in / all out
Superficial
Easy swayed
Impatient
Give's up easily
Avoids suffering - pursues happiness
Doubtful
Says "Jesus, don't you care?"
Disordered Heart - Dylan
Disordered priorities
Distorted desires
Driven (comfort, power, approval)
Anxious / Worried / Overwhelmed
Says "Jesus must fit into my world"
Accepting Heart - Andile
Hears, accepts, and produces a harvest
Obedience
More and more like Jesus
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control. (Gal 5:22-23)
Says "Your will be done"
WHY DOES THIS MATTER?
Our hearts are seedbeds for revival. Stories from churches around the country are that many are coming and responding to the word. Here at Free Church, as we turn 3, there has been a 150% growth in attendance since year 1.
Is this a short-lived seed sprouting, or could it be the start of revival?
Our city needs Jesus! Seeing the change that we desire begins in our heart's response to the Gospel.
The will of God is that by the Spirit of God, through the Word of God, the people of God look increasingly like the Son Of God ~ Oom Les
They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated;they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations. Isa 61:3-4 (NIV)
Cultivating Good Soil (Invitations) takes some work!
Guard your heart [Prov 4:23]
Slow down [Matt 11:28]
Repentance [Ps 51:10, Rom 12:1-12]
Name your sin before God and others (James 5:16, 1 John 1:9-10)
Reprioritize - Kingdom first [Matt 6:33]
Read/listen to the Bible (slowly & out loud) [Rom 10:17] the spoken word
Grow in Community (e.g. Life Group) [Ephesians 4:11-13]
Practice Humility by Serving (join the Dream Team) [Gal 5:13]
Practice Generosity (give of your time, finances, and abilities) (2 Cor 9:6-12)
Practice Gratitude (1 Thes 5:18)
Worship (lifestyle, the gathered Church)
Be quick to forgive (give up your right to be right) Col 3:13
Read stories/biographies of those who have gone before (Ps 107:2)
Prayer (use Matt 6:9-13)
LIFE GROUP GUIDE
Like last week, set aside time to break bread at the table.
As we break bread; our dining tables become sacred spaces of celebration and remembrance of our hope in Jesus. In order to facilitate a deeper conversation with your group members, consider using the SOAP.
Use the SOAP framework on Mark Chapter 4
Scripture - Read the chapter of scripture out loud (you can share the reading, a few verses each)
Observation - Have each person share an observation; something in the Scripture that stands out to them
Application - Discuss how you can apply what has been shared in your own life
Prayer - Pray with your group about what you have learned or how you can apply what you have learned in your life
Additional questions to discuss
Where is your heart on this Benchmark?
What will you do to cultivate good soil?
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