Sermon Notes

Mark 4 26 He also said, “The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground 27 and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. 28 The earth produces of itself first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. 29 But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle because the harvest has come.” 30 He also said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, 32 yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”
Ephesians 4 4 there is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all. . . . 11 He himself granted that some are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. 14 We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming; 15 but speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.
(New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition, NRSVue)
Mark 4 26-29 Then Jesus said, “God’s kingdom is like seed thrown on a field by a man who then goes to bed and forgets about it. The seed sprouts and grows—he has no idea how it happens. The earth does it all without his help: first a green stem of grass, then a bud, then the ripened grain. When the grain is fully formed, he reaps—harvest time! 30-32 “How can we picture God’s kingdom? What kind of story can we use? It’s like an acorn. When it lands on the ground it is quite small as seeds go, yet once it is planted it grows into a huge oak tree with thick branches. Eagles nest in it.”
Ephesians 4 4-6 You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly. You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness. . . . 11-13 He handed out gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, and pastor-teacher to train Christ’s followers in skilled servant work, working within Christ’s body, the church, until we’re all moving rhythmically and easily with each other, efficient and graceful in response to God’s Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ. 14-16 No prolonged infancies among us, please. We’ll not tolerate babes in the woods, small children who are easy prey for predators. God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love—like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do. He keeps us in step with each other. His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in love. (The Message, MSG)

This week’s lesson introduces the final unit of the Winter Quarter 2025-2026, “Enduring Beliefs of the Church.” This third unit—entitled “The Church and Its Teachings”—explores the convictions that Christians hold to be true about the intrinsic character of the Church. Last week, the lesson about Peter’s call and commitment to become and remain a “fisher of men and women,” not only exhibited his growth as a follower of Jesus Christ, but it also served to remind contemporary Christians that the Church that Jesus founded was a glimpse of the “Kingdom/Kin-dom of God” on earth ahead of its complete inauguration at the end times. In this week’s lesson, both texts from the Gospel of Mark and the Letter to the Ephesians seek to explain how that kingdom/kin-dom becomes reality through the actions of called and committed disciples who collectively comprise the Christian Church.

Mark 4 is a portion of a literary unit that runs from Mark 1:1 - 8:26 that discusses Jesus’ preaching and teaching as evidence the inauguration of the “kingdom/kin-dom of God.” According to the Synoptic Gospels, this reign was both a present and future reality that actively enfleshed God’s original intention for creation. In God’s kingdom, all people flourish, all persons matter, and all those who live at the margins of life are moved from periphery of human affairs to the center of God’s care and concern.
But make no mistake about it, the care and concern evidenced under God’s reign is not a socially neutral reality. The term “kingdom of God” is a politically charged phrase. In first century Palestine, any discussion of kingdoms of any kind would immediately invoke the scrutiny and military might of the Roman Empire. When Mark’s Jesus declares that, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news,” (Mark 1:15), he is making a counter-imperial proclamation that challenges Roman sovereignty. Therefore, any preaching, teaching, and action that come after this statement contextualizes God’s reign—and the Church that Jesus builds—as a political affront to human kings and kingdoms. Further, the activities, mind-sets, and teachings of the Church are automatically diametrically opposed to any imperialistic regimes.
By extension, in Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians, as he discusses how the Church—as the Body of Christ—takes it marching orders from Jesus, he teaches that Christian unity is a fundamental activity, mindset, and teaching of the Church. Christian unity is not an option, but a mandate. We’re supposed to possess it, preserve it, and strive for it at all costs. In John 17, Jesus prayed, “Let them be one,” as an indicator of how important for his followers—those who would become the Church—to always fight for unity as a testament to the world that they were actually followers of Jesus. Unity is rooted in the origin and life of the Church. For Paul, teamwork makes the dream—of God’s kingdom/kin-dom—work. Chirstian love expressed as Christian unity, is an enduring belief and value of the Church.

Mark 4 26 He also said, “The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground 27 and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. 28 The earth produces of itself first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. 29 But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle because the harvest has come.”
The entire chapter of Mark 4 explains Jesus’ unveiling of God’s kingdom/kin-dom. In addition to the utilizing parables as a teaching tool, the Markan writer uses the parables in succession to evaluate the mystery, challenges, fruitfulness and success of God’s reign. While Mark affirms that God’s kingdom/kin-dom is becoming a reality, it has not yet been fully realized. Further, its effects and influence seems hard to pin down, and even undetectable. In the opening verses of the lesson text, the “Parable of the Growing Seed” (4:26-29) compares the kingdom/kin-dom God to a man who is sowing seed. Every bit of the seed sown grows and matures as the it moves through stages of development from seed to stalk, stalk to head, and head to grains that are finally ready to be harvested.
Unlike the “Parable of the Sower” in verses 3-9, the Sower does nothing to nurture the seed into harvest. He does not sow the seed into diverse types of ground to ensure some seed will take root. The Sower goes to sleep and rises every day without watering, weeding, thinning out, or fertilizing the seed. In fact, he does not know how the seed developed. However, experiences harvest even though he did not do the work to produce harvest.
This lack of human effort towards developing the seed represents Divine mysterious activity as the impetus for growth and harvest. God is the One who has established the seed and brought a harvest to pass. Essentially, this parable assures hearers that God is responsible for bringing the kingdom/kin-dom of God to pass. Regardless of how God’s rule is interpreted in the present, and irrespective of the lack of visible human effort towards its establishment, God is always at work to fulfill Divine purpose in God’s own time and by God’s own means. Whatever God has ordained, will come to pass! The kingdom/kin-dom will be a fully actualized reality one day.
30-32 “How can we picture God’s kingdom? What kind of story can we use? It’s like an acorn. When it lands on the ground it is quite small as seeds go, yet once it is planted it grows into a huge oak tree with thick branches. Eagles nest in it.”
In this third parable about seeds, the mustard seed (Petersen translates it as an acorn) becomes a huge shrub or tree, that is large enough to house the nests of eagles. The Markan writer’s choice of utilizing a tiny mustard seed represents the importance of sowing miniscule things that inexplicably grow into large blessings to all. Essentially, Jesus is explaining the impact of believers sowing seeds which will bear fruit in the future. These seemingly inconsequential actions will eventually bring about the kingdom/kin-dom of God. Even Jesus’ own ministry must have seemed invisible and effectual when evaluated by the scribes, Pharisees and religious leaders who constantly opposed him.
However, Jesus’ ministry among the outsiders—sick, hungry, demon-possessed—was visible, received, and monumentally life-altering. This lets us know that Christians should be tenacious and consistent, even though we think our efforts have little efficacy. It might seem like the work we do, the service we render is small and insignificant, but it matters in God’s estimation. According to the Gospel of Mark, we are called to simply plant the seeds. We are not responsible for the future growth. The growth of God’s kingdom/kin-dom is God’s business and God’s responsibility. Simply stated, Christians must trust God to handle growth.
No one expects a miniscule mustard seed to grow into an enormous sprawling tree. But, the parable says that is exactly what happened. Likewise, no one expected the early Church to grow into what it is now. But, that is exactly what happened. Jesus said the gates of hell would not prevail against his Church, and they have not prevailed.
Ephesians 4 4-6 You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly. You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness.
In these verses of the lesson text, the unity of which Paul speaks is not that which we should strive to create, but rather than which we should strive to preserve. This unity exists by divine design and creation (Ephesians 2:14-22).
That there is “one body,” is a reference to the Church. Through the Church, all who are saved, Jew or Gentile, are reconciled to God and to each other. “One Spirit,” is a reference to the Holy Spirit, who has sealed us and enables us to grasp the hope of the Spirit’s calling, the riches of the glory of the Spirit’s inheritance, and the surpassing greatness of the Spirit’s power. It is through the Spirit that the Church is made the dwelling place of God
We have one Lord, Jesus Christ, who redeemed us by His blood and is the head of the Church. We all share a common faith, all of us being saved in exactly the same way). We have but one baptism. And as such, we all have one God and Father. The unity that we share, in terms of our position, is also to be shown in our practice.
11-13 He handed out gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, and pastor-teacher to train Christ’s followers in skilled servant work, working within Christ’s body, the church, until we’re all moving rhythmically and easily with each other, efficient and graceful in response to God’s Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ.
The gifts Paul names here are those that are necessary and essential for all other gifts and ministries. The apostles and prophets have laid the foundation for the Church and ministry by establishing the teaching and doctrine of our Lord. Evangelists proclaim the Gospel defined by the apostles and prophets; they help to birth faith in the lives of those who hear. Pastor-teachers serve to keep the Gospel fresh and relevant and applicable in the life of the Church. All ministry is dependent upon the operation of these gifts.
Paul places emphasis not on knowing our gift, but on finding our place of service. Before we know where we’re supposed to serve, we must first know what God has commanded us to do. Then, we must look around us for those things that need to be done. We should give a higher priority to those things we do best, as good stewards of the grace of God. In so doing, we will discover not only our place of service, but those gifts that God has given us to enable us to serve.
The focus here is not on the individual, but on the contribution that the individual makes to the corporate body of Christ. Spiritual gifts are given for the edification of the body, and to facilitate the ministry of the Church as the body of Christ. Christ indwells the Church corporately and the Church corporately ministers on Christ’s behalf. The Church is the visible manifestation of Jesus on the earth. Jesus Christ not only dwells in it, but the Church visibly manifests Jesus—as the Christ—to the world. While every spiritual gift has its particular function, Paul sets forth the goal of every gift functioning in the body for the corporate ministry and the maturity of the body of Christ. By each member of the body of Christ ministering to the body of Christ, the Church is built up toward the goal of being Christ-like.
14-16 No prolonged infancies among us, please. We’ll not tolerate babes in the woods, small children who are easy prey for predators. God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love—like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do. He keeps us in step with each other. His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in love.
In the final verses of the lesson text, Paul contrasts maturity and immaturity as it pertains to the Church. Maturity is to no longer being like children. As individual Churches are established, they must begin at the “child” state and grow to maturity. The same is true of individual believers.
Doctrinally, an immature Church is unstable. Paul’s goal is that, due to the active involvement and ministry of every member, the Church will grow up to maturity. It will be marked by doctrinal purity and stability. It will discern those who hold to a different doctrine and refuse to be turned away from the truth. The mature Church will be growing in Christ-likeness, committed to the truth of God’s revealed Word and ever seeking to be more closely conformed to Christ, its Head.