The God Pause from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Friday, 15 June 2018 - Mark 4:26-34
Mark 4:26 And he said, “The Kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seed on the ground. 27 Nights he sleeps, days he’s awake; and meanwhile the seeds sprout and grow — how, he doesn’t know. 28 By itself the soil produces a crop — first the stalk, then the head, and finally the full grain in the head. 29 But as soon as the crop is ready, the man comes with his sickle, because it’s harvest-time.”
30 Yeshua also said, “With what can we compare the Kingdom of God? What illustration should we use to describe it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which, when planted, is the smallest of all the seeds in the field; 32 but after it has been planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all the plants, with such big branches that the birds flying about can build nests in its shade.”
33 With many parables like these he spoke the message to them, to the extent that they were capable of hearing it. 34 He did not say a thing to them without using a parable; when he was alone with his own talmidim he explained everything to them. (Complete Jewish Bible)
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It's true, the church doesn't seem to have the political or cultural influence it once did, but Jesus says that kind of influence is not how his Kingdom comes about anyway. The Kingdom is more organic--like a seed growing, changing.
But we tend to desire more control than that. We may be tempted to hold up things like religion (doctrine, creeds, etc.) over relationships. May I suggest the following? Our job, as the church and as God's people, is not to:
*make people believe everything we believe
*tell people what they do and don't need to do to be saved
*judge anyone (only God can do that)
*convert anyone (only the Holy Spirit can do that).
Our job is to introduce people to the person of Jesus Christ. Christ has promised that when he is held up, he will draw people to himself (John 12:32). Holding up Christ crucified is the "Miracle-Gro" that truly transforms.
Savior, help us make you famous--not religion or doctrine or creeds--but you, and you alone. Amen.
Laurie Neill, '12
Discipleship Pastor, First Lutheran Church, Fargo, NDMark 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."
33 With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it;
34 he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples. (New Revised Standard Version).
Mark 4:26 And he said, “The Kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seed on the ground. 27 Nights he sleeps, days he’s awake; and meanwhile the seeds sprout and grow — how, he doesn’t know. 28 By itself the soil produces a crop — first the stalk, then the head, and finally the full grain in the head. 29 But as soon as the crop is ready, the man comes with his sickle, because it’s harvest-time.”
30 Yeshua also said, “With what can we compare the Kingdom of God? What illustration should we use to describe it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which, when planted, is the smallest of all the seeds in the field; 32 but after it has been planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all the plants, with such big branches that the birds flying about can build nests in its shade.”
33 With many parables like these he spoke the message to them, to the extent that they were capable of hearing it. 34 He did not say a thing to them without using a parable; when he was alone with his own talmidim he explained everything to them. (Complete Jewish Bible)
***
It's true, the church doesn't seem to have the political or cultural influence it once did, but Jesus says that kind of influence is not how his Kingdom comes about anyway. The Kingdom is more organic--like a seed growing, changing.
But we tend to desire more control than that. We may be tempted to hold up things like religion (doctrine, creeds, etc.) over relationships. May I suggest the following? Our job, as the church and as God's people, is not to:
*make people believe everything we believe
*tell people what they do and don't need to do to be saved
*judge anyone (only God can do that)
*convert anyone (only the Holy Spirit can do that).
Our job is to introduce people to the person of Jesus Christ. Christ has promised that when he is held up, he will draw people to himself (John 12:32). Holding up Christ crucified is the "Miracle-Gro" that truly transforms.
Savior, help us make you famous--not religion or doctrine or creeds--but you, and you alone. Amen.
Laurie Neill, '12
Discipleship Pastor, First Lutheran Church, Fargo, NDMark 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."
33 With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it;
34 he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples. (New Revised Standard Version).
The Luther Seminary
2481 Como Avenue
Saint Paul, Minnesota, 55108, United State
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