Seeds and weeds 種と雑草
Growth… fruit
Mark 4:1-20
There are several passages of scripture that as a young christian scared me… I shared a week ago about the things being done in secret being shouted from the rooftops, as a teenage boy there were certain things being done in secret I didn’t want shouted from the rooftops… this passage is one that I worried about as well… see I didn’t grow up in a Christian family, I found faith at fourteen… and I came into church at an age when many of the other boys and girls that grew up in church were starting to question their faith and live far less passionate than me about the salvation they had in Christ. So when it says
1. Grow by sowing your seeds down deep 深く種を蒔いて成長する
Mark 4:15-18
Perhaps it was fear of falling away that made me even more passionate about guarding my faith. To become sure of it. To let his fire burn in me. Inviting people to youth group. Dancing with all my might. Leading the christian club at lunch time. Getting kicked out of Biology class for bringing my bible and writing “bereshit bara Elohim et hassamaiym waet haares” on the doodle space at the top of the worksheet… I was eager to prove to God and everyone that my roots went down … and I’m glad I did …
My background a little … not just a pastor … not just a missionary … not just a president … but also a father now for 13+11=24 years and the younger one is in the hospital today… if you came to his call in the last year or so you’d have had no idea what I’ve been through…
Luke 22:31,32
Here’s the point… the word you receive here at church isn’t human wisdom… let it go down deep… let it take root… let it find living water…
Going deep in God is about faithfulness. Faithfulness and success… faithfulness comes when we make the right decision even when it’s difficult…
Luke 16:10-11
Matthew 25:21
Luke 19:17
Faithfulness in small things: loving God (attendance, tithing, journal as open/true worship), loving people (sharing, service) … then his blessings will come upon you
Deuteronomy 28:2-13
2. Grow by watching out for the weeds 雑草を見張って成長する
Mark 4:18-19
Cares of the world,
Deceitfulness of riches
Desires for other things
Watch your weeds… I thought Jesus was going to take all these things away?
Matthew 13:24-30
Think of a rice field… you’re growing it and inside there are all kinds of things… turtles, tadpoles, bullfrogs, dragonflies, fireflies, minnows, waterstriders, crawfish, loaches,
Paul received a thorn:
2 Corinthians 12:8-10
When I am weak, then I am strong! Power perfected in weakness.
The thing is we may not get rid of the weeds, but what is bigger? your weeds or your God.
Psalm 34:3
"gadal" make big -- magnify
Mark 4:20
Rough outline and message notes by Chris Moore of His Call Church - ヒズコールチャーチ