Whether you are here in person or engaging from home, we are thankful you have chosen to worship with us today. If it is your first time, welcome! we would love to get to know you better. Would you consider filling out our Next Steps card and let us know you stopped by?

At Grace Family we focus our worship on Sunday to impact our lives every other day of the week as well. We also believe no one is perfect but everyone is welcome to worship God with us. So, no matter where you're from, what you've done, or what your week has been like, let's worship God and learn from His word together today.

Mark 4:1-2

"Once again Jesus began teaching by the lakeshore. A very large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat in the boat while all the people remained on the shore. 2 He taught them by telling many stories in the form of parables, such as this one:"

What are parables? 

An earthly story with a heavenly meaning.

Mark 4:3-9

"3 “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed. 4 As he scattered it across his field, some of the seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it. 5 Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. 6 But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn’t have deep roots, it died. 7 Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain. 8 Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” 9 Then he said, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”"

Akouó (ἀκούω) - to hear.

Hupakouó (ὑπακούω) - to obey

Listening is the key to understanding and obedience.

Mark 4:10-12

"10 Later, when Jesus was alone with the twelve disciples and with the others who were gathered around, they asked him what the parables meant. 11 He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secret[a] of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables for everything I say to outsiders, 12 so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled:

‘When they see what I do,

    they will learn nothing.

When they hear what I say,

    they will not understand.

Otherwise, they will turn to me

    and be forgiven.’[b]”"

The Gospel will either harden our hearts or soften our hearts depending on our willingness to hear.

Mark 4:13-14

"13 Then Jesus said to them, “If you can’t understand the meaning of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables? 14 The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others. "

The type of soil does not dictate where the farmer throws the seed.

The Gospel is available to anyone.

Mark 4:15

"15 The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away. "

The hard heart will not receive the Gospel.

This heart has been trampled over time.

Have I allowed my heart to be hardened?

Mark 4:16-17

"16 The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. 17 But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word."

The shallow heart will let go of the Gospel.

For better or for worse.

What is one thing that could make me leave Jesus behind?

Mark 4:18-19

"18 The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, 19 but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced. "

The divided heart will crowd out the Gospel.

Thorns don't kill, they compete.

Am I allowing anything to choke out my commitment to Jesus?

Mark 4:20

" 20 And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”"

The soft heart will multiply the Gospel.

Is my life hospitable to Jesus?

Hear - listen and obey.

Accept - make room for change.

Produce - see your life bear a Gospel legacy.

Pray for God to do this in your life.

Pray for God to do this in the life of others.

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