1. The Parable of the Growing Seed
Mark 4:26-29

2. Mark 4:26-29
26 And He was saying, “The kingdom of God is like a man who casts seed upon the soil; 27 and he goes to bed at night and gets up by day, and the seed sprouts and grows — how, he himself does not know.28 The soil produces crops by itself; first the blade, then the head, then the mature grain in the head. 29 But when the crop permits, he immediately puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

3. The Big Idea:
When the gospel is faithfully proclaimed, a fantastic process begins; a process that is a sovereign work of God; a process that is often hidden from our view; yet a process that promises the fruitful result of changed lives and saved souls.

4. This work demands our faithfulness (26-27a)
26 And He was saying, “The kingdom of God is like a man who casts seed upon the soil; 27 and he goes to at night and gets up by day…

5. Matthew 28:19-20
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

6. Mark 16:15
Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.

7. Romans 10:13-17
13 for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED." 14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? 15 How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!" 16 However, they did not all heed the good news; for Isaiah says, "LORD, WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR REPORT?" 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

8. 1 Timothy 1:12-16
12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, 13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; 14 and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. 15 It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. 16 Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.

9. John 9:24-25
24 So a second time they called the man who had been blind, and said to him, "Give glory to God; we know that this man is a sinner." 25 He then answered, "Whether He is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see."

10. I. This work demands our faithfulness (26-27a)
II. This work is a work of God and it is fantastic (27a-28)
…and the seed sprouts and grows — how, he himself does not know. 28 The soil produces crops by itself; first the blade, then the head…

11. 1 Corinthians 3:6-7
6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. 7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.

12. Isaiah 55:10-11
10 For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth And making it bear and sprout, And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; 11 So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.

13. I. This work demands our faithfulness (26-27a)
II. This work is a work of God and it is fantastic (27a-28)
III. This work of God will be fruitful (28b-29)
…then the mature grain in the head. 29 But when the crop permits, he immediately puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.
“Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.” (1 Corinthians 4:2 – NKJV)

14. Romans Road
Romans 3:23 – “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…”
Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 5:8 – “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 10:9-10 – “9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”
Romans 10:13 - for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED."

15. Galatians 6:9
“Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.”

16. Psalm 126:5-6
“5 Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting. 6 He who goes to and fro weeping, carrying his bag of seed, Shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.”

17. The Big Idea:
When the gospel is faithfully proclaimed, a fantastic process begins; a process that is a sovereign work of God; a process that is often hidden from our view; yet a process that promises the fruitful result of changed lives and saved souls.

18. The Parable of the Growing Seed
Mark 4:26-29