Hearing and Sharing God's Word (Mark 4:21-34)
This sermon delves into the profound privilege and responsibility of understanding God's Word, exploring how genuine believers hear and respond to divine truth. It unpacks four essential characteristics of spiritual listening, illuminating the believer's role in the expansion of God's Kingdom.
This sermon unpacks Mark 4:21-34, revealing that true believers hear and respond to divine truth, and this profound gift obligates them to share the gospel obediently, appreciatively, dependently, and confidently.
Overview
The sermon begins by setting the context of Jesus's parable of the soils, highlighting that the distinguishing mark of true Christians is their receptivity to divine truth. While others do not hear with believing ears, genuine believers understand, embrace, and obey the Word of God, recognizing divine revelation as the greatest grace gift.
Jesus then instructs His disciples on how they are to listen to the Word concerning their evangelistic calling. This involves listening obediently, understanding that the light of truth is given to be displayed, not hidden. It is an innate obligation to let the gospel shine forth into the world.
Secondly, believers are called to listen appreciatively, acknowledging God's promise of abundant blessing for their faithfulness in sowing the seed of the gospel. God will not only return in measure what is sown but will give far more, an unlimited promise of divine blessing.
Finally, the sermon details listening dependently and confidently. Believers must understand their limitations in evangelism; while they plant the seed, God alone provides the growth and life. This mysterious, divinely automatic process leads to an inevitable, massive expansion of the Kingdom, far beyond its small beginnings, ultimately encompassing nations.
Key points
- True Christians are distinguished by their receptivity and obedience to divine truth, as opposed to those who do not understand or believe.
- The greatest grace gift is divine revelation, the Word of God, which is essential for salvation, sanctification, and hope.
- Believers are called to listen obediently, understanding that the truth received is like a lamp meant to shine, not to be hidden.
- Listening appreciatively means recognizing God's promise of abundant blessing and reward for those who faithfully sow the seed of the gospel.
- Listening dependently acknowledges that spiritual growth and regeneration are God's work alone, a divinely automatic process that humans cannot manipulate.
- Listening confidently comes from the understanding that the Kingdom of God, despite its small beginnings (like a mustard seed), will inevitably grow into a massive, worldwide reality.
- Jesus's parables were explained privately to His disciples but delivered to the crowds without explanation as an act of divine judgment for their rejection of Him.
In John MacArthur's words
“The greatest grace gift is divine revelation.”
“What distinguishes a true believer is responsiveness to divine truth.”
“No human being no matter how persuasive, no matter how clever, makes a contribution to regeneration, conversion or justification.”
Outline
- I. The Distinguishing Mark of True Christians: Hearing the Word
- II. How We Are to Listen to the Word of God
- A. We Listen Obediently (Mark 4:21-22)
- 1. The Lamp Analogy: Light is meant to shine, not be hidden.
- 2. The Hidden Revealed: Truth is disclosed in its proper time.
- B. We Listen Appreciatively (Mark 4:24-25)
- 1. Measure for Measure: God returns what is sown.
- 2. More Will Be Given: Abundant blessing for those who have.
- C. We Listen Dependently (Mark 4:26-29)
- 1. The Growing Seed: The farmer plants, but God gives growth.
- 2. Divine Automaticity: Regeneration and growth are God's work alone.
- D. We Listen Confidently (Mark 4:30-32)
- 1. The Mustard Seed: Small beginnings lead to massive expansion.
- 2. Nations in the Shade: Prophecy of worldwide Kingdom growth.
- III. The Privilege of Understanding (Mark 4:33-34)
Scripture references
- Mark 4:21-34
- John 10:3-4
- John 10:16
- John 10:26
- Ephesians 2:10
- Psalm 119:105
- Luke 24
- Matthew 28
- Acts 1
- Matthew 7:21
- Luke 8:18
- Galatians 6:7
- Luke 6:38
- Matthew 13:12
- John 3
- John 1:12
- 1 Corinthians 3
- Romans 1
- Philippians 1:6
- Matthew 10:26
- 2 Timothy 2:6
- Matthew 17:20
- Ezekiel 17
- Daniel 4:10
- Daniel 4:21
- Revelation
21 And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?
22 For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.
23 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
24 And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.
3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
1 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.
2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
18 Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)
6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.
6 The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.
20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
1 And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
2 Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of Israel;
10 Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great.
21 Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation:
Insights
Divine truth is a profound gift, making understanding accessible where others remain lost.
Receptivity to God's Word marks the heart of a true believer.
The light of truth is given not to be hidden, but to shine through us.
Questions & answers
What distinguishes a true believer from a non-believer?
A true believer is distinguished by their responsiveness to divine truth. They hear the Word of God, embrace it, believe it, love it, and obey it, whereas non-believers cannot understand the things of God.
Why is divine revelation considered the greatest grace gift?
Divine revelation, which is God's Word, is considered the greatest grace gift because without it, believers would know nothing about salvation, sanctification, or the hope of glory.
What does the sermon say about Jesus speaking in parables to the crowds?
Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables without explanation as an act of divine judgment. They had rejected Him, and thus He withheld further truth, explaining everything privately only to His disciples.
How does the parable of the growing seed (Mark 4:26-29) inform evangelism?
This parable teaches that humans are responsible for planting the seed (telling the truth), but the growth and life (regeneration, conversion) are entirely God's work. The process of spiritual growth is divinely automatic.
What is the message of the mustard seed parable (Mark 4:30-32)?
The mustard seed parable teaches that despite its tiny beginnings, the Kingdom of God will experience massive, staggering growth. It will expand globally, drawing in people from all nations, representing an inevitable and triumphant outcome.
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