Chasing God, Not Approval

Mark | Reading Plan + Study Questions

The Take Off: Launching Into God’s Purpose

How Sweet the Sound

Building Better Devotions

Intentional

Thrones by Vance K. Jackson

15 Minute Daily Reading Plan

Someone Else's World

Walking in the Power of God's Word

The Listener’s Bible®: NIV Edition

New International Version™  (Anglicised), Audio Edition

Holy Bible, New International Version™ (Anglicised), South Asian Audio Edition

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 <div class="label">4</div><div class="s1">The Parable of the Sower</div><div class="p"> 1Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water&#8217;s edge. 2He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: 3&#8220;Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. 8Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 9Then Jesus said, &#8220;Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 10When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. 11He told them, &#8220;The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables 12so that,</div><div class="q1"> &#8220;&#8198;&#8216;they may be ever seeing but never perceiving,</div><div class="q2"> and ever hearing but never understanding;</div><div class="q1"> otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!&#8217; # 4:12 
 Isaiah 6:9,10 &#8221;</div><div class="p"> 13Then Jesus said to them, &#8220;Don&#8217;t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? 14The farmer sows the word. 15Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. 16Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 18Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. 20Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop&#8212;some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.&#8221;</div><div class="s1">A Lamp on a Stand</div><div class="p"> 21He said to them, &#8220;Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don&#8217;t you put it on its stand? 22For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. 23If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 24 &#8220;Consider carefully what you hear,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;With the measure you use, it will be measured to you&#8212;and even more. 25Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.&#8221;</div><div class="s1">The Parable of the Growing Seed</div><div class="p"> 26He also said, &#8220;This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. 27Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28All by itself the soil produces grain&#8212;first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. 29As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.&#8221;</div><div class="s1">The Parable of the Mustard Seed</div><div class="p"> 30Again he said, &#8220;What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? 31It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. 32Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 33With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. 34He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.</div><div class="s1">Jesus Calms the Storm</div><div class="p"> 35That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, &#8220;Let us go over to the other side.&#8221; 36Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, &#8220;Teacher, don&#8217;t you care if we drown?&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 39He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, &#8220;Quiet! Be still!&#8221; Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.</div><div class="p"> 40He said to his disciples, &#8220;Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 41They were terrified and asked each other, &#8220;Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!&#8221;</div>
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 <div class="label">5</div><div class="s1">Jesus Restores a Demon-Possessed Man</div><div class="p"> 1They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes.#5:1 Some manuscripts Gadarenes; other manuscripts Gergesenes 2When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. 3This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. 4For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.</div><div class="p"> 6When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. 7He shouted at the top of his voice, &#8220;What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God&#8217;s name don&#8217;t torture me!&#8221; 8For Jesus had said to him, &#8220;Come out of this man, you impure spirit!&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 9Then Jesus asked him, &#8220;What is your name?&#8221;</div><div class="p">&#8220;My name is Legion,&#8221; he replied, &#8220;for we are many.&#8221; 10And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.</div><div class="p"> 11A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. 12The demons begged Jesus, &#8220;Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.&#8221; 13He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.</div><div class="p"> 14Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. 15When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 16Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man&#8212;and told about the pigs as well. 17Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.</div><div class="p"> 18As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. 19Jesus did not let him, but said, &#8220;Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.&#8221; 20So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis#5:20 That is, the Ten Cities how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.</div><div class="s1">Jesus Raises a Dead Girl and Heals a Sick Woman</div><div class="p"> 21When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. 22Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. 23He pleaded earnestly with him, &#8220;My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.&#8221; 24So Jesus went with him.</div><div class="p">A large crowd followed and pressed around him. 25And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28because she thought, &#8220;If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.&#8221; 29Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.</div><div class="p"> 30At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, &#8220;Who touched my clothes?&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 31&#8220;You see the people crowding against you,&#8221; his disciples answered, &#8220;and yet you can ask, &#8216;Who touched me?&#8217; &#8221;</div><div class="p"> 32But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34He said to her, &#8220;Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 35While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. &#8220;Your daughter is dead,&#8221; they said. &#8220;Why bother the teacher anymore?&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 36Overhearing#5:36 Or Ignoring what they said, Jesus told him, &#8220;Don&#8217;t be afraid; just believe.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 37He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. 38When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. 39He went in and said to them, &#8220;Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.&#8221; 40But they laughed at him.</div><div class="p">After he put them all out, he took the child&#8217;s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41He took her by the hand and said to her, &#8220;Talitha koum!&#8221; (which means &#8220;Little girl, I say to you, get up!&#8221;). 42Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. 43He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.</div>
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 <div class="label">6</div><div class="s1">A Prophet Without Honor</div><div class="p"> 1Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. 2When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed.</div><div class="p">&#8220;Where did this man get these things?&#8221; they asked. &#8220;What&#8217;s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? 3Isn&#8217;t this the carpenter? Isn&#8217;t this Mary&#8217;s son and the brother of James, Joseph,#6:3 Greek Joses, a variant of Joseph Judas and Simon? Aren&#8217;t his sisters here with us?&#8221; And they took offense at him.</div><div class="p"> 4Jesus said to them, &#8220;A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.&#8221; 5He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6He was amazed at their lack of faith.</div><div class="s1">Jesus Sends Out the Twelve</div><div class="p">Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. 7Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits.</div><div class="p"> 8These were his instructions: &#8220;Take nothing for the journey except a staff&#8212;no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. 9Wear sandals but not an extra shirt. 10Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. 11And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 12They went out and preached that people should repent. 13They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.</div><div class="s1">John the Baptist Beheaded</div><div class="p"> 14King Herod heard about this, for Jesus&#8217; name had become well known. Some were saying,#6:14 Some early manuscripts He was saying &#8220;John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 15Others said, &#8220;He is Elijah.&#8221;</div><div class="p">And still others claimed, &#8220;He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 16But when Herod heard this, he said, &#8220;John, whom I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 17For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip&#8217;s wife, whom he had married. 18For John had been saying to Herod, &#8220;It is not lawful for you to have your brother&#8217;s wife.&#8221; 19So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to, 20because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled#6:20 Some early manuscripts he did many things; yet he liked to listen to him.</div><div class="p"> 21Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 22When the daughter of#6:22 Some early manuscripts When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests.</div><div class="p">The king said to the girl, &#8220;Ask me for anything you want, and I&#8217;ll give it to you.&#8221; 23And he promised her with an oath, &#8220;Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 24She went out and said to her mother, &#8220;What shall I ask for?&#8221;</div><div class="p">&#8220;The head of John the Baptist,&#8221; she answered.</div><div class="p"> 25At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: &#8220;I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 26The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her. 27So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John&#8217;s head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison, 28and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother. 29On hearing of this, John&#8217;s disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.</div><div class="s1">Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand</div><div class="p"> 30The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. 31Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, &#8220;Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 32So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. 33But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.</div><div class="p"> 35By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. &#8220;This is a remote place,&#8221; they said, &#8220;and it&#8217;s already very late. 36Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 37But he answered, &#8220;You give them something to eat.&#8221;</div><div class="p">They said to him, &#8220;That would take more than half a year&#8217;s wages#6:37 Greek take two hundred denarii! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 38 &#8220;How many loaves do you have?&#8221; he asked. &#8220;Go and see.&#8221;</div><div class="p">When they found out, they said, &#8220;Five&#8212;and two fish.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 39Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. 40So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. 41Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. 42They all ate and were satisfied, 43and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. 44The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.</div><div class="s1">Jesus Walks on the Water</div><div class="p"> 45Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.</div><div class="p"> 47Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. 48He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, 49but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, 50because they all saw him and were terrified.</div><div class="p">Immediately he spoke to them and said, &#8220;Take courage! It is I. Don&#8217;t be afraid.&#8221; 51Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, 52for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.</div><div class="p"> 53When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there. 54As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus. 55They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56And wherever he went&#8212;into villages, towns or countryside&#8212;they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.</div>
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