StoneBridge Community Church
Senior Pastor Jon Saur
Storytime: Mark
Jesus often taught through parables. The term "parable" comes from the Greek and refers to "throwing alongside" one idea to make another idea clearer. In order to help his followers understand the Kingdom of God, Jesus "threw alongside" simple stories.
In January, we will be looking at Jesus' parables in the Gospel of Mark, in order to understand how Mark presents Jesus and how Jesus presented the Kingdom of God to his followers.
Mark 4:21-23 NRSV
SERMON OUTLINE:
I. What is Jesus talking about?
II. The previous parable.
A. The Sower
B. Who is what?
III. Mystery in Mark
A. Mark 4:12
B. Matthew 13:13
C. Uncertainty is the point in Mark
IV. How do you deal with Uncertainty?
A. Unnerving?
B. Freeing?
V. "Everything will come to light"
A. The parable's response to uncertainty
B. "Just trust me."
VI. Trusting Jesus
A. Difficult
B. Not just trusting Jesus.
NEXT STEPS:
1) Think about someone you trust deeply. What makes you trust that person?
2) Compare your trust in that person to your trust in Jesus. How is it different? How is it similar?
3) Pray that God would help your trust in Jesus reflect your trust in the person from item 1.
GROWTH GROUP / PERSONAL REFLECTION QUESTIONS
1) How do you deal with uncertainty?
2) Are you a naturally trusting person?
3) Do you find it difficult to trust Jesus? Why or why not?
4) In what ways is trusting Jesus different than trusting other people?
5) What are practical things you either already do or can begin to do to deepen your trust in Jesus?
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