Sunday, June 30, 2019

June 30, 2019 | Pastor John Bayles | The Parable of the Sower: The Source and Power of Our Work? | Mark 4:26-29


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June 30, 2019 | Pastor John Bayles | The Parable of the Sower: The Source and Power of Our Work? | Mark 4:26-29

Parables of the Kingdom of God: Chapter 4:1-33
The Parable of the Sower: The Source and Power of Our Work?
Mark 4:26-29

Seeds are remarkable things. Their growth is dependent upon good soil, water, and air. Without any of these three things, seeds won’t germinate. They will die in the soil and eventually become part of the soil. They will turn into dirt. Even more interesting is the fact that all of the process of growth in a seed takes place secretly, unseen, under the soil. It has to be left alone to germinate and grow. Digging it up from time-to-time to see how it's getting along only hampers it's development and most likely will stunt it’s growth and even kill the new, tender plant. By the time it is seen above the ground, it’s already fully a plant – roots and all. And still it can’t be disturbed. Digging around it to free it from the soil or, in some cases, even touching the plant can hinder it's growth or even kill it. So, in the early stages it just has to be left alone to do its thing – be a plant. As it grows above the ground, it stays fully connected to its root system which networks out into the soil to get water which it sends upward through the stem. Above the ground leaves begin to show. These are the sun gatherers which drink the sunshine and change it into food and send it down through the stem and into the roots. All these systems: the soil, the water, the air, the roots, the stem, the plant, the leaves and the sun work together in perfect coordination in order for the plant to grow and eventually produce a product: more seeds, or fruit, which has seeds in it. Mark is the only one of the Gospel writers who includes this parable in his Gospel. I’m not sure why he was the only one, but he was not the only one to know that the Kingdom of God is advancing, not by the power or effort of people, but by the power of God. A we look closely at this very brief parable of Jesus and it’s simple point, perhaps it's so simple that we pass right by it’s meaning.

Sunday, June 23, 2019

June 23, 2019 | Pastor John Bayles | The Parable of the Sower: Uncover Your Light | Mark 4:21-26


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June 23, 2019 | Pastor John Bayles | The Parable of the Sower: Uncover Your Light | Mark 4:21-26

Parables of the Kingdom of God: Chapter 4:1-33
The Parable of the Sower: Uncover Your Light
Mark 4:21-26

        It is clear that Mark is not talking about how to manage the lighting of a home. He is building upon the previous parable of the sower. In that parable Mark highlighted the attitude of the sower and the context of his sowing: hard ground, thorny, rocky and good soil. Here there is a exhortation to do the work of the sower, namely to sow the seed, to share the Gospel message. Using the metaphor of a lamp, Mark asks us to consider the purpose of a lamp – a candle. What is it for, to hide light or to broadcast light? In similar manner, what is the purpose for hearing the Gospel and being born again? Is it so that we can know we’ve heard it and are saved? Is that the propose of sowing seed, so we can eat it ourselves? Or is it so that we can bear fruit? Does the person who does not sow the seed of the Gospel, really understand what happened in their life? Simple question, but often a challenge of answer.

Sunday, June 16, 2019

June 16, 2019 | Pastor John Bayles | The Parable of the Sower (post script) | Mark 4:13-20


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June 16, 2019 | Pastor John Bayles | The Parable of the Sower (post script) | Mark 4:13-20

Parables of the Kingdom of God:
The Parable of the Sower (post script)
Mark 4:13-20

      In each of the Gospels, Jesus responds to the questions of His disciples regarding the meaning of the Parable of the Sower. We will soon discover that an important theme rises as he clarifies the meaning. That theme clearly has to do with sowing the seeds of the Kingdom of God. The disciples think they are going to receive the meaning so that they can understand it themselves, but Jesus has a far greater purpose. He is training these men to be sowers. This is a theme that dominates all three of the remaining parables which Mark presents in his Gospel. It is also a theme for our lives. The message of the Gospel is not simply something to be understood by Jesus disciples. The Gospel, like a seed, is for sowing. The only way to gain the benefits of the message of Christ is to give it away.

Sunday, June 9, 2019

Sunday, June 2, 2019

June 2, 2019 | Pastor Roger Melson | The Eternal Perspective of Our Faith | Genesis 11:27-12:4


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June 2, 2019 | Pastor Roger Melson | The Eternal Perspective of Our Faith | Genesis 11:27-12:4

The Eternal Perspective of Our Faith
Genesis 11:27-12:4


                                               Roger and Marsha Melson