September 3, 2025 • 15 mins
Jesus reveals himself as a master storyteller, using parables to convey complex spiritual principles about the Kingdom of God while teaching his disciples to apply these truths in real-life situations.
• Jesus teaches the Parable of the Sower to illustrate how people receive God's Word differently
• Parables are intentionally designed to reveal wisdom to those truly seeking understanding
• Understanding God's Word operates on a principle where those who apply what they know receive more
• Jesus demonstrates his authority by calming a fierce storm with just his words
• The disciples' fear during the storm reveals the gap between intellectual knowledge and active faith
• The "gospel in motion" means taking God's Word beyond quiet times into daily challenges
• Jesus doesn't promise a stormless life but his presence through every storm
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The More We Dig. The More We Find.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, everybody, welcome back to the Bible
Breakdown Podcast with your host, pastor Brandon, today, mark,
chapter 4, and today's title isParables Reveal Wisdom Parables
Reveal Wisdom.
There's a lot of titles thatJesus has, but one of the titles
maybe we've never heard beforeis a master storyteller, and he
(00:21):
definitely was, but his storiesalways had a reason to be told.
We'll get into all that in justa moment, but you know what to
do while you're getting yourBible out, while you're getting
your your you know, uh, coffees,what I was trying to say out.
Make sure you take just amoment to like, share and
subscribe to the YouTube channeland the podcast.
Make sure you leave us afive-star review on the podcast
it really does help and makesure you're going to the Bible
(00:42):
Breakdown discussion on Facebook.
You can get links to all ofthat and more at
thebiblebreakdowncom.
Well, he's been with us overthe past couple of days.
Now we're going through thebook of Mark and we have said
that the best way to describethe book of Mark is the gospel
in motion.
And that makes sense, becausewe know that Mark got his
(01:02):
stories, got the narrative fromPeter, and so I just have this
picture in my head of Petergoing out and maybe getting on
the steps of one of thebeautiful buildings in Rome and
he's telling the story aboutthis, that or the other, and
then at the end of the night,mark is writing it down and just
slowly developing what this was.
(01:22):
Or maybe this was the narrativethat Peter would tell, because
if you were to read Mark frombeginning to end, it would only
take you maybe 90 minutessomething like that to do, and
if you're sitting there andyou're listening, you could hear
the whole story at one time.
And so it's amazing to thinkthat this might have been what
(01:43):
Peter would tell over and overagain.
And so we see that he justjumps right in to think that
this might have been what Peterwould tell over and over again.
And so we see that he justjumps right in, which makes
sense because that's probablyPeter's personality and he is
grabbing the attention of thosewho would have heard him.
And so in chapter one, he jumpsright in and we talked about
how, over 40 different times, heuses some word that's close to
the word immediately, justconstantly moving, and he's
(02:04):
talking about how Jesus isalways with his people, and
we're going to see that in whathe talks about today in Mark,
chapter four, and how he is amaster storyteller.
And this reminds me of speakingof stories.
Right when I was growing up as ateenager, there was a gentleman
who lived in the community andhe went to the church my dad
pastored and he was just afarmer, and I say just a farmer
(02:28):
as in like that.
That was his life, as in just afarmer was like.
He only did the one thing andhe was wonderfully intelligent,
very street smart, very justsavvy, like that.
But he would say I have a hardtime getting a hold of things
sometimes.
This is deep south Alabama,right, I have a hard time
getting a hold of thingssometimes.
This is deep South Alabama,right, I have a hard time
getting a hold of thingssometimes.
And so I have to put things instory.
So I got them and he would getup and he would preach sometime
(02:51):
for my dad and he would say Idon't really preach, I just tell
parables.
But he was from the deep SouthAlabama, so he didn't say
parable, he said parable.
Now you work on that one, seeif you can say that and if you
go to real life church next timeyou see me, I want you to say
the word parable.
Parable, I don't preach, I justtell parables.
And what he would do is hewould tell stories, because he
(03:12):
realized, just like Jesus did,that if I tell you a story, it
can relay a point.
And that's what a parable or,as my friend would have said,
parable is a complex story, or astory rather relating a complex
spiritual principle.
Jesus is trying to tell us aneternal spiritual principle and
(03:35):
he's wrapping it in a story tohelp us get our minds around it.
So that's what we're gonna seeis, jesus was a master
storyteller and he was finding away to take complex spiritual
principles and put them in a waythat we all could grab a hold
of.
So if you're ready, mark,chapter 4, verse 1, says this
Once again, jesus began teachingby the lakeshore.
A very large crowd soon gatheredaround him so that he got into
(03:57):
a boat.
Then he sat in the boat whileall the people remained on the
shore.
He taught them by telling themmany stories in the form of
parables, or parables such asthis one Listen, a farmer went
out to plant some seeds.
As he scattered it across thisfield, some of the seed fell on
the footpath and the birds cameand ate it.
(04:19):
Other seed fell on shallowground with underlying rocks.
The seed sprouted quicklybecause of the soil and it was
shallow, but the plant soonwithered under the hot sun and
since it didn't have deep roots,it died.
Other seed fell among thornsthat grew up and choked out the
tender plants, so they producedno grain.
(04:40):
Still other seeds fell onfertile soil and they sprouted,
they grew and they produced acrop some 30, some 60, and some
even a hundred times as much ashad been planted.
Then he said anyone who has earsto hear should listen and
understand.
Now pause, what is this ears tohear thing?
So basically, what he's sayingis those who understand
(05:03):
understand.
So if you're trying tounderstand, then pay attention.
So there's so many differenttypes of people in his audience
that he's talking to, and sohe's saying those who have ears
to hear, in other words thosewho are paying attention, notice
what I'm saying.
He's kind of winking at them tosay this isn't just some story
about a farmer, but I'm tellingyou something deep, so pay
(05:25):
attention to see if you can pickit out.
As a teacher, jesus is alsotrying to help them understand,
but he's also drawing them intocritical thinking.
So he's saying pay attention,I'm saying more than you think I
am.
Verse 10, later, when Jesus wasalone, the 12 disciples, with
others who gathered around,asked him what the parable meant
.
And he replied you arepermitted to understand the
(05:47):
secret of the kingdom of God,but I use parables for
everything I say to outsiders sothe scripture might be
fulfilled.
When they see what I do, theywill learn nothing.
When they hear what I say, theywill not understand.
Otherwise they will turn to meand be forgiven.
And then Jesus said if youcan't understand the meaning of
this par, otherwise they willturn to me and be forgiven.
And then Jesus said if youcan't understand the meaning of
this parable, how will youunderstand the other parables?
(06:10):
The farmer plants seed by takingGod's word to others.
The seed that fell on thefootpath represents those who
hear the message only to haveSatan come at once and take it
away.
The seed that fell on the rockysoil represents those who hear
the message and immediatelyreceive it with joy, but since
they don't have deep roots, theydon't last long.
They fall away as soon as theyhave problems or are persecuted
(06:33):
for believing God's word.
The seed that fell among thethorns represents those who hear
God's word, but all too quicklythe message is crowded out by
the worries of this life and thelure of wealth and the desire
for other things.
So no fruit is produced, andthe seed that fell on good soil
represents those who hear andaccept God's word, and they
produce 30, 60, or even 100times as much as had been
(06:57):
planted.
Now pause Now.
First of all, notice how Jesustold them.
He said I am doing this thatway.
They have to think about it alittle bit.
He's saying that the scripturewas going to say that I was
going to teach and they weren'tgoing to get it.
In other words, I'm going toteach, but you've got to think
to get it.
That's one of the things I loveabout God.
God wants to develop us as wewalk through this life, and so
(07:20):
he's saying I'm teaching them,I'm trying to get that critical
thinking going on there.
But then also can I tell youthat this is a wonderful way to
then realize he's saying foreverything I'm saying there is a
deeper understanding, and ifyou've been a Christian for very
long, you can definitelyidentify with this passage.
You ever been around somebody Ican't tell you how many times
I've seen this happen where Iwould have somebody who would
(07:41):
send me a YouTube video of asermon they heard.
They'd be like oh, pastor, youhave to listen to this message,
it's so good, it's so great.
They just they talk it up, youknow so much.
And then I go and I listen toit.
I'm like, well, I mean it'sgreat and all, but I mean I
don't know if I'd call it thatgreat, but for them it was.
And then same thing the otherway around.
I will take, I'll listen to amessage and I'll be like, oh, my
goodness, that is so good,that's amazing.
(08:02):
I'm just so thankful to haveheard that you know.
And then I pass it off tosomebody else and they're like
well, it was a message, wasn'tit?
You know?
And that we react to God's wordin different ways, based on,
according to what we just read,seasons of life, willingness to
receive and so many otherfactors.
And so he's giving them acomplex spiritual principle,
(08:24):
that is, that God's word isreceived differently by
different people, for differentreasons.
But instead of saying it likethat, he puts it in a parable so
we can understand it layer bylayer.
Here we go, verse 21.
Then Jesus asked them wouldanyone light a lamp and then put
it under a parable?
So we can understand it?
Layer by layer, here we go,verse 21.
Then Jesus asked them Wouldanyone light a lamp and then put
it under a basket or under abed?
Of course not.
A lamp is placed on a stand,where it will shine, for
(08:44):
everything that is hidden willeventually be brought out into
the open and every secret willbe brought to the light.
Anyone who has ears to hearshould listen and understand.
And then he added Pay closeattention to what you hear.
The closer you listen, the moreunderstanding you will be given
and you will receive even more.
To those who listen to myteaching, more understanding
(09:06):
will be given.
But for those who are notlistening, even what little they
have will be taken away fromthem.
(09:29):
Jesus also said the heads ofthe wheat are formed.
Finally, the grain ripens.
As soon as the grain is ready,the farmer comes and harvests it
with a sickle, for the harvesttime has come.
Jesus said another parable.
How can I describe the kingdomof God?
What story parable should I useto illustrate it?
It is like a mustard seedplanted in the ground.
It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of
(09:52):
all garden plants and it growslong branches and birds can make
their nests in its shade.
Jesus used many similar storiesand illustrations to teach the
people as much as they couldunderstand.
In fact, in his public ministryhe never taught without using
parables, but afterward, when hewas alone with his disciples,
he explained everything to them.
(10:15):
And then the evening came.
As evening came, jesus said tohis disciples let's cross over
to the other side of the lake.
So they took Jesus in a boatand started out, leaving the
crowds behind, although otherboats followed.
But soon a fierce storm came up.
High waves were breaking intothe boat and it began to fill
with water.
(10:35):
Jesus was sleeping in the backof the boat with his head on a
cushion and his disciples wokehim up and shouting teacher,
don't you care that we're goingto drown.
And when Jesus woke up, herebuked the wind and said to the
waves silence be still.
Suddenly the wind stopped andthere was a great calm.
Suddenly the wind stopped andthere was a great calm.
Then he asked them why are youafraid?
(10:56):
Do you still have no faith?
And the disciples wereabsolutely terrified.
Who is this man?
They asked each other.
Even the winds and the wavesobey him.
Wow, what we see is that Jesuswas interested in healing the
people, but he also wanted toshare with people the kingdom of
(11:17):
God, that he wanted them tounderstand the kingdom of God,
and so he would teach them.
But then you also see, at theend of the chapter, he also
wants to help them, to show themhow to live in the kingdom of
God, and that's one of thethings I love about God's word
is my deepest hope for all of usis that every day we would come
together and we would readGod's word, is my deepest hope
for all of us is that every daywe would come together and we
would read God's word.
(11:37):
But here's the thing A discipleof Christ is someone who lives
their life in motion, the gospelin motion, and that is.
We hear God's word, we listento it, we read it, we underline
it, we soap through it and doall these different things, and
then at some point we have toclose our Bible and we go to
work, we go do whatever it iswe've got to do that day, and
(12:00):
that becomes the moment when weget to put God's Word into
action, one of the things I loveabout doing life together as
the community of Christfollowers is.
The gospel doesn't end when weclose our Bibles.
The gospel is always in motionand we see that in this chapter
where for a little while theywere listening to him tell
(12:21):
parables.
And then they got to see it inmotion To the point where Jesus
is saying did you not listen toeverything I said?
Notice, he rebuked the winds andthe waves and he said why in
the world were you afraid?
Do you still have no faith?
In other words, were you notlistening to all the stuff I
just said?
If I still have no faith, inother words, you're not
listening All the stuff I justsaid, if I'm going to be with
you, then wherever I am is whereyou want to be, because I bring
(12:43):
the kingdom of God.
And can I tell you in life somany times, if we're not careful
, what we do is we'll read God'sword, we'll take really good
notes, we'll pray really goodprayers, but then it's almost as
though we leave God in ourquiet time and then we try to go
slay the dragon all by ourself,and then we come in the next
day with our hair on firebecause it didn't go so well and
(13:07):
we do it over and over and overagain.
And if you do that, guess whatthat means.
You're normal.
We all struggle with that fromtime to time.
But the beautiful thing is Godwants us to take his word hide.
But the beautiful thing is isGod wants us to take his word,
hide it in our heart and then gointo our life with joy, saying
I know I'm going to face storms.
Notice, they were with Jesusgoing through a storm that was
(13:28):
so bad they were afraid theywere going to die.
So Jesus never promised us astormless life.
He promised us he would alwaysgo with us.
And then we have theopportunity to see the gospel in
motion in everyday life.
So here's my challenge for youToday when you're finished with
this, don't leave it here.
Take it with you and watch whatGod will do.
(13:49):
Let's pray together right now.
God, thank you so much fortoday.
Thank you, lord, that you arewith us and that you want to
show yourself strong in our life.
I'm thankful, lord, that thereis nothing that anyone is going
through.
Nothing is bigger than you that, god.
You have the ability to do morethan we can imagine.
You have many enemies, but norivals.
(14:10):
I pray today, holy Spirit,you'll open our eyes to see that
and to see that you are alltogether, lovely, powerful,
strong and greater than anythingwe'll face.
In Jesus' name we pray, amen,amen.
God's word says in Mark 8,chapter 34, if anyone would come
after me, let him deny himself,take up his cross and follow me
(14:33):
, the gospel in motion.
I love you.
I'll see you tomorrow.
From Mark, chapter 5.
Well, everybody, welcome back to the Bible
Breakdown Podcast with your host, pastor Brandon, today, mark,
chapter 4, and today's title isParables Reveal Wisdom Parables
Reveal Wisdom.
There's a lot of titles thatJesus has, but one of the titles
maybe we've never heard beforeis a master storyteller, and he
(00:21):
definitely was, but his storiesalways had a reason to be told.
We'll get into all that in justa moment, but you know what to
do while you're getting yourBible out, while you're getting
your your you know, uh, coffees,what I was trying to say out.
Make sure you take just amoment to like, share and
subscribe to the YouTube channeland the podcast.
Make sure you leave us afive-star review on the podcast
it really does help and makesure you're going to the Bible
(00:42):
Breakdown discussion on Facebook.
You can get links to all ofthat and more at
thebiblebreakdowncom.
Well, he's been with us overthe past couple of days.
Now we're going through thebook of Mark and we have said
that the best way to describethe book of Mark is the gospel
in motion.
And that makes sense, becausewe know that Mark got his
(01:02):
stories, got the narrative fromPeter, and so I just have this
picture in my head of Petergoing out and maybe getting on
the steps of one of thebeautiful buildings in Rome and
he's telling the story aboutthis, that or the other, and
then at the end of the night,mark is writing it down and just
slowly developing what this was.
(01:22):
Or maybe this was the narrativethat Peter would tell, because
if you were to read Mark frombeginning to end, it would only
take you maybe 90 minutessomething like that to do, and
if you're sitting there andyou're listening, you could hear
the whole story at one time.
And so it's amazing to thinkthat this might have been what
(01:43):
Peter would tell over and overagain.
And so we see that he justjumps right in to think that
this might have been what Peterwould tell over and over again.
And so we see that he justjumps right in, which makes
sense because that's probablyPeter's personality and he is
grabbing the attention of thosewho would have heard him.
And so in chapter one, he jumpsright in and we talked about
how, over 40 different times, heuses some word that's close to
the word immediately, justconstantly moving, and he's
(02:04):
talking about how Jesus isalways with his people, and
we're going to see that in whathe talks about today in Mark,
chapter four, and how he is amaster storyteller.
And this reminds me of speakingof stories.
Right when I was growing up as ateenager, there was a gentleman
who lived in the community andhe went to the church my dad
pastored and he was just afarmer, and I say just a farmer
(02:28):
as in like that.
That was his life, as in just afarmer was like.
He only did the one thing andhe was wonderfully intelligent,
very street smart, very justsavvy, like that.
But he would say I have a hardtime getting a hold of things
sometimes.
This is deep south Alabama,right, I have a hard time
getting a hold of thingssometimes.
This is deep South Alabama,right, I have a hard time
getting a hold of thingssometimes.
And so I have to put things instory.
So I got them and he would getup and he would preach sometime
(02:51):
for my dad and he would say Idon't really preach, I just tell
parables.
But he was from the deep SouthAlabama, so he didn't say
parable, he said parable.
Now you work on that one, seeif you can say that and if you
go to real life church next timeyou see me, I want you to say
the word parable.
Parable, I don't preach, I justtell parables.
And what he would do is hewould tell stories, because he
(03:12):
realized, just like Jesus did,that if I tell you a story, it
can relay a point.
And that's what a parable or,as my friend would have said,
parable is a complex story, or astory rather relating a complex
spiritual principle.
Jesus is trying to tell us aneternal spiritual principle and
(03:35):
he's wrapping it in a story tohelp us get our minds around it.
So that's what we're gonna seeis, jesus was a master
storyteller and he was finding away to take complex spiritual
principles and put them in a waythat we all could grab a hold
of.
So if you're ready, mark,chapter 4, verse 1, says this
Once again, jesus began teachingby the lakeshore.
A very large crowd soon gatheredaround him so that he got into
(03:57):
a boat.
Then he sat in the boat whileall the people remained on the
shore.
He taught them by telling themmany stories in the form of
parables, or parables such asthis one Listen, a farmer went
out to plant some seeds.
As he scattered it across thisfield, some of the seed fell on
the footpath and the birds cameand ate it.
(04:19):
Other seed fell on shallowground with underlying rocks.
The seed sprouted quicklybecause of the soil and it was
shallow, but the plant soonwithered under the hot sun and
since it didn't have deep roots,it died.
Other seed fell among thornsthat grew up and choked out the
tender plants, so they producedno grain.
(04:40):
Still other seeds fell onfertile soil and they sprouted,
they grew and they produced acrop some 30, some 60, and some
even a hundred times as much ashad been planted.
Then he said anyone who has earsto hear should listen and
understand.
Now pause, what is this ears tohear thing?
So basically, what he's sayingis those who understand
(05:03):
understand.
So if you're trying tounderstand, then pay attention.
So there's so many differenttypes of people in his audience
that he's talking to, and sohe's saying those who have ears
to hear, in other words thosewho are paying attention, notice
what I'm saying.
He's kind of winking at them tosay this isn't just some story
about a farmer, but I'm tellingyou something deep, so pay
(05:25):
attention to see if you can pickit out.
As a teacher, jesus is alsotrying to help them understand,
but he's also drawing them intocritical thinking.
So he's saying pay attention,I'm saying more than you think I
am.
Verse 10, later, when Jesus wasalone, the 12 disciples, with
others who gathered around,asked him what the parable meant
.
And he replied you arepermitted to understand the
(05:47):
secret of the kingdom of God,but I use parables for
everything I say to outsiders sothe scripture might be
fulfilled.
When they see what I do, theywill learn nothing.
When they hear what I say, theywill not understand.
Otherwise they will turn to meand be forgiven.
And then Jesus said if youcan't understand the meaning of
this par, otherwise they willturn to me and be forgiven.
And then Jesus said if youcan't understand the meaning of
this parable, how will youunderstand the other parables?
(06:10):
The farmer plants seed by takingGod's word to others.
The seed that fell on thefootpath represents those who
hear the message only to haveSatan come at once and take it
away.
The seed that fell on the rockysoil represents those who hear
the message and immediatelyreceive it with joy, but since
they don't have deep roots, theydon't last long.
They fall away as soon as theyhave problems or are persecuted
(06:33):
for believing God's word.
The seed that fell among thethorns represents those who hear
God's word, but all too quicklythe message is crowded out by
the worries of this life and thelure of wealth and the desire
for other things.
So no fruit is produced, andthe seed that fell on good soil
represents those who hear andaccept God's word, and they
produce 30, 60, or even 100times as much as had been
(06:57):
planted.
Now pause Now.
First of all, notice how Jesustold them.
He said I am doing this thatway.
They have to think about it alittle bit.
He's saying that the scripturewas going to say that I was
going to teach and they weren'tgoing to get it.
In other words, I'm going toteach, but you've got to think
to get it.
That's one of the things I loveabout God.
God wants to develop us as wewalk through this life, and so
(07:20):
he's saying I'm teaching them,I'm trying to get that critical
thinking going on there.
But then also can I tell youthat this is a wonderful way to
then realize he's saying foreverything I'm saying there is a
deeper understanding, and ifyou've been a Christian for very
long, you can definitelyidentify with this passage.
You ever been around somebody Ican't tell you how many times
I've seen this happen where Iwould have somebody who would
(07:41):
send me a YouTube video of asermon they heard.
They'd be like oh, pastor, youhave to listen to this message,
it's so good, it's so great.
They just they talk it up, youknow so much.
And then I go and I listen toit.
I'm like, well, I mean it'sgreat and all, but I mean I
don't know if I'd call it thatgreat, but for them it was.
And then same thing the otherway around.
I will take, I'll listen to amessage and I'll be like, oh, my
goodness, that is so good,that's amazing.
(08:02):
I'm just so thankful to haveheard that you know.
And then I pass it off tosomebody else and they're like
well, it was a message, wasn'tit?
You know?
And that we react to God's wordin different ways, based on,
according to what we just read,seasons of life, willingness to
receive and so many otherfactors.
And so he's giving them acomplex spiritual principle,
(08:24):
that is, that God's word isreceived differently by
different people, for differentreasons.
But instead of saying it likethat, he puts it in a parable so
we can understand it layer bylayer.
Here we go, verse 21.
Then Jesus asked them wouldanyone light a lamp and then put
it under a parable?
So we can understand it?
Layer by layer, here we go,verse 21.
Then Jesus asked them Wouldanyone light a lamp and then put
it under a basket or under abed?
Of course not.
A lamp is placed on a stand,where it will shine, for
(08:44):
everything that is hidden willeventually be brought out into
the open and every secret willbe brought to the light.
Anyone who has ears to hearshould listen and understand.
And then he added Pay closeattention to what you hear.
The closer you listen, the moreunderstanding you will be given
and you will receive even more.
To those who listen to myteaching, more understanding
(09:06):
will be given.
But for those who are notlistening, even what little they
have will be taken away fromthem.
(09:29):
Jesus also said the heads ofthe wheat are formed.
Finally, the grain ripens.
As soon as the grain is ready,the farmer comes and harvests it
with a sickle, for the harvesttime has come.
Jesus said another parable.
How can I describe the kingdomof God?
What story parable should I useto illustrate it?
It is like a mustard seedplanted in the ground.
It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of
(09:52):
all garden plants and it growslong branches and birds can make
their nests in its shade.
Jesus used many similar storiesand illustrations to teach the
people as much as they couldunderstand.
In fact, in his public ministryhe never taught without using
parables, but afterward, when hewas alone with his disciples,
he explained everything to them.
(10:15):
And then the evening came.
As evening came, jesus said tohis disciples let's cross over
to the other side of the lake.
So they took Jesus in a boatand started out, leaving the
crowds behind, although otherboats followed.
But soon a fierce storm came up.
High waves were breaking intothe boat and it began to fill
with water.
(10:35):
Jesus was sleeping in the backof the boat with his head on a
cushion and his disciples wokehim up and shouting teacher,
don't you care that we're goingto drown.
And when Jesus woke up, herebuked the wind and said to the
waves silence be still.
Suddenly the wind stopped andthere was a great calm.
Suddenly the wind stopped andthere was a great calm.
Then he asked them why are youafraid?
(10:56):
Do you still have no faith?
And the disciples wereabsolutely terrified.
Who is this man?
They asked each other.
Even the winds and the wavesobey him.
Wow, what we see is that Jesuswas interested in healing the
people, but he also wanted toshare with people the kingdom of
(11:17):
God, that he wanted them tounderstand the kingdom of God,
and so he would teach them.
But then you also see, at theend of the chapter, he also
wants to help them, to show themhow to live in the kingdom of
God, and that's one of thethings I love about God's word
is my deepest hope for all of usis that every day we would come
together and we would readGod's word, is my deepest hope
for all of us is that every daywe would come together and we
would read God's word.
(11:37):
But here's the thing A discipleof Christ is someone who lives
their life in motion, the gospelin motion, and that is.
We hear God's word, we listento it, we read it, we underline
it, we soap through it and doall these different things, and
then at some point we have toclose our Bible and we go to
work, we go do whatever it iswe've got to do that day, and
(12:00):
that becomes the moment when weget to put God's Word into
action, one of the things I loveabout doing life together as
the community of Christfollowers is.
The gospel doesn't end when weclose our Bibles.
The gospel is always in motionand we see that in this chapter
where for a little while theywere listening to him tell
(12:21):
parables.
And then they got to see it inmotion To the point where Jesus
is saying did you not listen toeverything I said?
Notice, he rebuked the winds andthe waves and he said why in
the world were you afraid?
Do you still have no faith?
In other words, were you notlistening to all the stuff I
just said?
If I still have no faith, inother words, you're not
listening All the stuff I justsaid, if I'm going to be with
you, then wherever I am is whereyou want to be, because I bring
(12:43):
the kingdom of God.
And can I tell you in life somany times, if we're not careful
, what we do is we'll read God'sword, we'll take really good
notes, we'll pray really goodprayers, but then it's almost as
though we leave God in ourquiet time and then we try to go
slay the dragon all by ourself,and then we come in the next
day with our hair on firebecause it didn't go so well and
(13:07):
we do it over and over and overagain.
And if you do that, guess whatthat means.
You're normal.
We all struggle with that fromtime to time.
But the beautiful thing is Godwants us to take his word hide.
But the beautiful thing is isGod wants us to take his word,
hide it in our heart and then gointo our life with joy, saying
I know I'm going to face storms.
Notice, they were with Jesusgoing through a storm that was
(13:28):
so bad they were afraid theywere going to die.
So Jesus never promised us astormless life.
He promised us he would alwaysgo with us.
And then we have theopportunity to see the gospel in
motion in everyday life.
So here's my challenge for youToday when you're finished with
this, don't leave it here.
Take it with you and watch whatGod will do.
(13:49):
Let's pray together right now.
God, thank you so much fortoday.
Thank you, lord, that you arewith us and that you want to
show yourself strong in our life.
I'm thankful, lord, that thereis nothing that anyone is going
through.
Nothing is bigger than you that, god.
You have the ability to do morethan we can imagine.
You have many enemies, but norivals.
(14:10):
I pray today, holy Spirit,you'll open our eyes to see that
and to see that you are alltogether, lovely, powerful,
strong and greater than anythingwe'll face.
In Jesus' name we pray, amen,amen.
God's word says in Mark 8,chapter 34, if anyone would come
after me, let him deny himself,take up his cross and follow me
(14:33):
, the gospel in motion.
I love you.
I'll see you tomorrow.
From Mark, chapter 5.
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