Mark 4:1-34 – November 10th 2017

How does Jesus begin teaching in this passage? What reason does he give for using this method?
Who does Jesus explain the parable to? Why does he explain it to them, and not others?
What is the meaning of the parable, according to Jesus?
Who do the different soils represent?
How should we respond to the fact that different people will receive the Word differently? Should that affect or change the way that we teach Scripture? Why or why not?
Should we teach in parables?
What do the disciples need in order to understand Jesus’ teaching? How should that affect the way we think about our (or others) ability to understand the gospel?

What does the parable about the lamp (21-25) say about Jesus’ teaching? Does he want to hide the truth, according to this?
Who is blamed for their lack of understanding?
What does the parable of the growing seed (v26-29) teach about the kingdom of God? How does the kingdom grow? Who makes the kingdom grow?
What does the parable of the mustard seed (v30-32) teach about the kingdom of God? What size does the kingdom start at? Is that the size it will end at?
The last two verses conclude this teaching section. Who is Jesus teaching in parables to? Who does he explain them to?
What is the relationship between these three short parables and the first one (v1-20)? What do these explain about the first one?

Are these parables encouraging to you? Why or why not?
How should these parables shape the way we think about the growth God’s kingdom? Should that affect the way we live, or share the gospel, or pray?
What does this teach us about how we should approach the Bible, if we want to understand it?
In light of this passage, how should we respond when it seems as though the kingdom is not growing?

How does Jesus begin teaching in this passage? What reason does he give for using this method?
Who does Jesus explain the parable to? Why does he explain it to them, and not others?
What is the meaning of the parable, according to Jesus?
Who do the different soils represent?
How should we respond to the fact that different people will receive the Word differently? Should that affect or change the way that we teach Scripture? Why or why not?
Should we teach in parables?
What do the disciples need in order to understand Jesus’ teaching? How should that affect the way we think about our (or others) ability to understand the gospel?

What does the parable about the lamp (21-25) say about Jesus’ teaching? Does he want to hide the truth, according to this?
Who is blamed for their lack of understanding?
What does the parable of the growing seed (v26-29) teach about the kingdom of God? How does the kingdom grow? Who makes the kingdom grow?
What does the parable of the mustard seed (v30-32) teach about the kingdom of God? What size does the kingdom start at? Is that the size it will end at?
The last two verses conclude this teaching section. Who is Jesus teaching in parables to? Who does he explain them to?
What is the relationship between these three short parables and the first one (v1-20)? What do these explain about the first one?

Are these parables encouraging to you? Why or why not?
How should these parables shape the way we think about the growth God’s kingdom? Should that affect the way we live, or share the gospel, or pray?
What does this teach us about how we should approach the Bible, if we want to understand it?
In light of this passage, how should we respond when it seems as though the kingdom is not growing?