Mark 4:30-34, "The Smallest of the Seeds of the Earth"

Continuing from yesterday:

Jesus explains that the Kingdom of God is also as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, then sleep at night and rise at day.  The seed would sprout and grow, but the person doesn't know how.  The earth produces of itself, and the seed grows: first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head.  But when the grain is ripe, at once, he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come.

When we hear of the mustard seed, we often hear it in the context of faith..."if you have as little faith as this mustard seed, you can tell this mountain to move, and it'll move."  But here, Jesus compares the seed to the Kingdom of God.  Notice: "The smallest of all the seeds of the earth."

Let's look at some "seeds" of the earth:

• Word of God
• World's definition of success
• World's cultures
• Ways to deal with vengeance
• Hatred (seed of Satan)
• Lies about God
• Happiness as the most important goal
• Possibility of unity among the world's religions (modern day Tower of Babel)
• Evolution
• Atheism
• The idea of sex outside of marriage being not only acceptable, but sinless
• No hell, everybody goes to heaven

Of all these seeds, and even more seeds, the Word of God, among the WORLD's population, is in fact the "smallest" of seeds.

Smallest =

• Least popular
• Least favorite
• Least accepted

Yet, if you allow this small seed to be planted into you, sinking down deep to take root, then it becomes the biggest among all the rest:

Biggest =

• Most fulfilling
• Most practical
• Most rewarding
• Only true one
• Only one that leads to LIFE

All the others lead to sinfullness, which lead to death and emptiness.

Discussion/Reflection Questions:

1. Compare the World's definition of success with Joshua's definition (Joshua 1:7-8)
2. What are some other seeds planted among the world that compete with God's Word?
3. Compare these seeds of the Earth with the Seed(s) of God.  How do they compare, or how are they different?  Why do you suppose God's ways are so unpopular or non-preferred (the smallest)?

---Pastor Andy G.