Unlocking the Parables

Intro

Pastors should be storytellers
Bite from second sandwich

Scripture

Mark 4:3–9 (NET) — “Listen! A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. 5 Other seed fell on rocky ground where it did not have much soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep. 6 When the sun came up it was scorched, and because it did not have sufficient root, it withered. 7 Other seed fell among the thorns, and they grew up and choked it, and it did not produce grain. 8 But other seed fell on good soil and produced grain, sprouting and growing; some yielded thirty times as much, some sixty, and some a hundred times.” 9 And he said, “Whoever has ears to hear had better listen!”

Prayer

Study

Passage is longer
4 sections: Preamble — Parable — Purpose — Explanation

Preamble

Mark 4:1–2 (NET) — 1 Again he began to teach by the lake. Such a large crowd gathered around him that he got into a boat on the lake and sat there while the whole crowd was on the shore by the lake. 2 He taught them many things in parables, and in his teaching said to them:

Jesus Teaches the CROWD
Teach – Didasko – Didatic – Moral
Parable is a juxtaposition
Challenge to eval & draw conclusions

Parable of the Sower

Let’s read the Parable again, since Jesus himself will tell us that this one story is the key to understanding all the parables.

Mark 4:3–9 (NET) — 3 “Listen! A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. 5 Other seed fell on rocky ground where it did not have much soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep. 6 When the sun came up it was scorched, and because it did not have sufficient root, it withered. 7 Other seed fell among the thorns, and they grew up and choked it, and it did not produce grain. 8 But other seed fell on good soil and produced grain, sprouting and growing; some yielded thirty times as much, some sixty, and some a hundred times.” 9 And he said, “Whoever has ears to hear had better listen!”

Bookend “listen”. Not passive. Jesus will hilite {P}
Not about EARS. About hearts!
What does it mean!? Good question!
Look at explanation (v14)

The Sower Explained

Mark 4:14 (NET) — 14 The sower sows the word.

Who is the sower? You? {P}
Like evangelist appraoch

Mark 4:15 (NET) — These are the ones on the path where the word is sown: Whenever they hear, immediately Satan comes and snatches the word that was sown in them.

Some people don’t receive the Word.
Sad panda.

Mark 4:16–17 (NET) — These are the ones sown on rocky ground: As soon as they hear the word, they receive it with joy. 17 But they have no root in themselves and do not endure. Then, when trouble or persecution comes because of the word, immediately they fall away.

I guess those people weren’t Christians either.
Moar sad pandas

Mark 4:18–19 (NET) — Others are the ones sown among thorns: They are those who hear the word, 19 but worldly cares, the seductiveness of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it produces nothing.

Those guys let life get in the way.
Too bad, panda so sad!

Mark 4:20 (NET) — But these are the ones sown on good soil: They hear the word and receive it and bear fruit, one thirty times as much, one sixty, and one a hundred.”

This is where a lot of preachers like to camp.
15-fold is bumper crop!
Yield > Spoil

That preaches!
Easy, Tasty, home happy.
Didn’t eat the steak!
Meat of the Markan sandwich

Purpose of Parables

Mark 4:10–13 (NET) — 10 When he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. 11 He said to them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those outside, everything is in parables,12 so that although they look they may look but not see, and although they hear they may hear but not understand, so they may not repent and be forgiven.” 13 He said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? Then how will you understand any parable?

An open secret
{>P} Bookend “listen”. Understand. Know.
Like stained glass

The Sower Explained

Mark 4:14 (NET) — 14 The sower sows the word.

{>P} Who is the sower?
It doesn’t matter! Not the point!
Not just salvation! Too Easy.
Need to THINK. Understand. Know.

Mark 4:15 (NET) — These are the ones on the path where the word is sown: Whenever they hear, immediately Satan comes and snatches the word that was sown in them.

Hard-hearted indifference
Don’t WANT to know.

Mark 4:16–17 (NET) — These are the ones sown on rocky ground: As soon as they hear the word, they receive it with joy. 17 But they have no root in themselves and do not endure. Then, when trouble or persecution comes because of the word, immediately they fall away.

Not rocks. Good soil ON rocks!
This was Peter! Apostles!

Mark 4:18–19 (NET) — Others are the ones sown among thorns: They are those who hear the word, 19 but worldly cares, the seductiveness of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it produces nothing.

Saved? Dead faith?
Cares/worries supersede the Gospel?
Are you pruning your garden?

Mark 4:20 (NET) — But these are the ones sown on good soil: They hear the word and receive it and bear fruit, one thirty times as much, one sixty, and one a hundred.”

What is the fruit? Gal 5!
God wants to bless!

Conclusion & Application

Hebrews 4:12 (NET) — For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing even to the point of dividing soul from spirit, and joints from marrow; it is able to judge the desires and thoughts of the heart.

The Path

Not hard hearted!
Traditional Marriage?
Women in ministry?
Favourite doctrinal issue?

The Rock

Their Struggle vs MY struggle
Misfortune (plane crash)
I want it to be easy
Joel Osteen promised easy!

The Thorns

No time to read.
No time to pray.
No time to fellowship.
HOW BAD DO YOU WANT IT?

Blaspheme the Holy Spirit.
Auditory accountability!
Tough teaching reveals the heart.
Gut-check time.