Mark 4

THE PARABLE OF THE FOUR SOILS (4:1-25)
1. The Path = The Word has no impact on their lives (4, 15)
2. Rocky Places = Reception is to shallow to endure (5-6, 16-17)
3. The Thorns = Worldliness prevents progress & production (7, 18-19)
4. Good Soil = Hear & accept the word, are fruitful (8, 20)

Questions for Discussion
1. What do you think of verse 12?
2. How are verses 21-23 relevant to this passage?
3. What do verses 24-25 mean to you?

THE PARABLE OF THE GROWING SEED (4:26-29)
As a Christian, it is your duty and privilege to spread the Word of God around the world. But you won’t always know what results from your labor of love. After all, you are just the messenger, not the message. It is God who works in people’s hearts. It is God who gives them life. It is God who grows them. It is God who brings them to maturity. And when the time is right, it is God who brings them to eternity. Do not doubt the fruit of your work or the spiritual growth within yourself! Growth may be slow, but it is certain when the seed is planted in good soil.

THE PARABLE OF THE MUSTARD SEED (4:30-34)
From humble beginnings, through great growth, to enormous influence
*very controversial interpretation (Matthew 13)

JESUS CALMS THE STORM (4:35-41)
1. Sometimes Jesus LEADS us into storms (35)
2. Sometimes we think Jesus doesn’t CARE (38)
3. We lose peace when we forget the PROMISE (38)
4. Peace comes from the presence of CHRIST (39)
5. Jesus will either calm the storm or calm YOU (40)
6. The story pointed to His DEITY (41)