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May 26, 2019 | Pastor John Bayles | Parables of the Kingdom of God: The Parable of the Sower | Mark 4:1-12
Parables of the Kingdom of God (Chapter 4:1-33)
The Parable of the Sower
Mark 4:1-12
In this sermon, a brief overview of the characteristics of Parable literature and then goes a detailed teaching of the Parable of the Sower are given. In the process of interpreting of the Scriptures, it important to recognize and be familiar with the characteristics of the literary type that is being used by the author to present the Gospel. Parable literature is certainly no exception to this rule. The basic definition of a parable is “to throw alongside.” A parable, like an illustration, places a known and an unknown truth beside one another in order to make an illuminating comparison A parable, like a good joke or short story is dependent upon timing - hiding the main point until the very last moment. The more the hearer has in common with the story, the greater the reaction. This surprises of shocks the hearer by the response of laughter, conviction, and in some cases anger, depending upon the purpose of the one telling the parable. Jesus’ audiences were made up of friends, skeptics and outright enemies like the Pharisees, teachers (scribes) and priests. When Jesus told a parable the element of mystery was always present. This mystery was not simply solving an unknown idea. As several author’s have stated: “It (mystery) is not something we don’t know, but something that is too much to know.” “Mystery is not the absence of meaning, but the presence of more meaning than we can comprehend.” In this text of the Scriptures, mystery has a dual meaning. On the one hand, the characteristic of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God were being hidden or downplayed by certain hearers, yet, on the other hand the message was filled with life-changing truth, redemption, awe and majesty for those who were Christ’s sheep. The goal of this sermon today is to amplify the mystery and the conviction that the parable of the sower presents both then and now.
Mark 4:1-12
In this sermon, a brief overview of the characteristics of Parable literature and then goes a detailed teaching of the Parable of the Sower are given. In the process of interpreting of the Scriptures, it important to recognize and be familiar with the characteristics of the literary type that is being used by the author to present the Gospel. Parable literature is certainly no exception to this rule. The basic definition of a parable is “to throw alongside.” A parable, like an illustration, places a known and an unknown truth beside one another in order to make an illuminating comparison A parable, like a good joke or short story is dependent upon timing - hiding the main point until the very last moment. The more the hearer has in common with the story, the greater the reaction. This surprises of shocks the hearer by the response of laughter, conviction, and in some cases anger, depending upon the purpose of the one telling the parable. Jesus’ audiences were made up of friends, skeptics and outright enemies like the Pharisees, teachers (scribes) and priests. When Jesus told a parable the element of mystery was always present. This mystery was not simply solving an unknown idea. As several author’s have stated: “It (mystery) is not something we don’t know, but something that is too much to know.” “Mystery is not the absence of meaning, but the presence of more meaning than we can comprehend.” In this text of the Scriptures, mystery has a dual meaning. On the one hand, the characteristic of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God were being hidden or downplayed by certain hearers, yet, on the other hand the message was filled with life-changing truth, redemption, awe and majesty for those who were Christ’s sheep. The goal of this sermon today is to amplify the mystery and the conviction that the parable of the sower presents both then and now.
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