Neat things happen when you plant seeds, but you don't necessarily know what's going on underground that brings a shoot. Without any care in the right conditions, it can keep growing until it bears fruit.
Our scriptures talk about God's Kingdom growing from modest beginnings. Ezekiel talks about taking the "crown" from a cedar while Jesus talks about seed growing. How is this about the Kingdom? And most importantly, what's that seed?
In Ezekiel 17, an allegory about the "crown" of a cedar tree describes the recent history of what the "eagles" - Babylonian emperors - have done to God's people. Our scripture picks up the last verses that describe how God will form God's Kingdom.
In Mark 4, Jesus has been talking about the word of God and its relation to God's Kingdom. From the chapter's beginning, he has used parables, and uses two more in our selection. The parable of the growing seed focuses on the hidden and carefree nature of the seed's growth to bearing fruit.
Then the parable of the mustard focuses on the small size of the seed and its ability to grow a large plant that, just as in Ezekiel, provides shelter for all kinds of little ones in its branches.
Those questions remain - how is this about the Kingdom? And most importantly, what's that seed? Find out in the sermon video below, noting the downloads also available below the video panel.
Our scriptures talk about God's Kingdom growing from modest beginnings. Ezekiel talks about taking the "crown" from a cedar while Jesus talks about seed growing. How is this about the Kingdom? And most importantly, what's that seed?
In Ezekiel 17, an allegory about the "crown" of a cedar tree describes the recent history of what the "eagles" - Babylonian emperors - have done to God's people. Our scripture picks up the last verses that describe how God will form God's Kingdom.
In Mark 4, Jesus has been talking about the word of God and its relation to God's Kingdom. From the chapter's beginning, he has used parables, and uses two more in our selection. The parable of the growing seed focuses on the hidden and carefree nature of the seed's growth to bearing fruit.
Then the parable of the mustard focuses on the small size of the seed and its ability to grow a large plant that, just as in Ezekiel, provides shelter for all kinds of little ones in its branches.
Those questions remain - how is this about the Kingdom? And most importantly, what's that seed? Find out in the sermon video below, noting the downloads also available below the video panel.
| 06-17-18-ff-answers.pdf |
| 06-17-18-the_kingdom_by_seeds.pdf |