WEBVTT

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 you might be sitting here for the first time being in our church for the first time or a church for

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 the first time. You might have been here for a hundred years like I have, it feels like, and you

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 might be wondering why do we do this bit of church, the bit that I'm doing, why do we do this preaching

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 bit of church every week? We know that God speaks through his word, the Bible. In 2 Timothy it says

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 that all scripture is God-breathed as if God was speaking it to you directly. His words in the Bible,

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 read and explained, are empowered by his spirit, they are his living voice. And we are commanded

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 in the Bible too to pass on his word through reading and preaching when we gather together

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 carefully and wherever we are. We can trace the practice of doing this back from today through

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 church history, back to the disciples ministry and back to Mark 2 verse 2 where we hear that Jesus

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 began to preach the message of good news to all. Now I was preparing to preach today, that lineage

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 struck me because Jesus' example followed faithfully for many, many, many generations.

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 Through that preaching and proclamation of Jesus' words, that's why I am right here doing the same

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 today. So this week, like the last and the one before that and the one before that, we're going to hear

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 God speak in his word. And I'm going to try and help you understand it, apply it, and love it.

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 So let me pray and ask him to do what he has promised he will do and speak to us. Let's pray.

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 Amen.

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 Lord Jesus, open our ears to hear you speak today. May the words of my mouth be filled with messages

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 from you. Would you speak through your Holy Spirit to me, through me today, so that we may together

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 hear your words with open ears. For it is a privilege that you, O God, would speak to us. Amen.

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 So far in Mark, which we've been stepping through the last few weeks of church, we've heard that Jesus

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 was preaching and healing and proving himself by miracles and defying the conventions of the culture

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 of his day. He loved people who were outsiders, who didn't fit into the culture of the time,

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 who were often outcast. And he shunned the insiders, the people who thought that they had

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 everything together. We haven't seen, though, yet how Jesus preached day to day. It was a big deal

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 what he was doing. We know that he was preaching. Mark 4 is where we get to hear about it.

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 So today, I want to do three, take you through three steps. We're going to discover how Jesus

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 preached and why. Because it's not what you might expect. We're going to try and understand

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 what his preaching means for him and for his kingdom. And lastly, we're going to look at how

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 his teaching leads and empowers his followers in his kingdom. But right now, let's discover how

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 he preached. So get your Bible, go to Mark 4, and if the fan doesn't keep blowing it away,

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 keep it open in front of you.

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 Jesus was outside in a boat on the lake. The crowd around him was so large that he had to

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 get in the water to stay away from them so that they could all hear him rather than being crushed.

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 So eager were so many to hear him. So he gets into a boat and he says, listen. And then he spoke to

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 them using parables. A parable is this kind of wisdom story that gives us insight into the real world.

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 It literally means to put one thing beside another. Like a story beside reality itself.

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 These are puzzles of wisdom that when interpreted correctly can reform whole worldviews, reshape cultures,

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 reform ways of living, ways of thinking, all with this little story. But the problem with parables

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 is that they're like riddles. They're tricky. They're completely unclear without an interpretation.

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 Like a lock that needs a key.

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 Jesus explained to his disciples why he used parables in Mark 4 in verse 11. And if you were

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 listening to the passage, this is the verse that sounds out of place. So have a look. This is why

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 Jesus used parables. He says,

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 Everything is said in parables. Everything.

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 So that they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding.

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 Otherwise they might turn and be forgiven.

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 Wait.

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 Wait.

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 Wait.

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 Wait.

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 Sounds like Jesus was deliberately trying to exclude people.

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 Is he?

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 Why does he say this?

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 Jesus here is quoting from the Old Testament.

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 From a book in the Old Testament called Isaiah.

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 Where God calls a bloke called Isaiah to be a prophet.

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 Using those exact words.

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 Jesus here is aligning himself as God's messenger.

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 And perhaps his disciples and the other people gathered around at that moment,

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 they might have understood that.

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 But still, that's a strange part of God's calling of Isaiah to pick out.

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 It's not by accident that Jesus places his preaching alongside what God's people knew

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 was God's invitation for a man to be God's messenger.

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 But Jesus quoting Isaiah, he also reveals that Jesus' messages from God as parables,

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 they're going to demand a special perception and understanding.

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 And without those, the heroes of the parables will miss forgiveness from God and receive judgment.

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 See, they're pretty important.

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 So rather than this being Jesus deliberately excluding people,

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 he's warning people to pay attention and seek understanding and perception,

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 or they're going to miss out.

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 I said before that parables are locked and need a key.

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 And to understand their meaning and application,

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 they would need explaining by someone very wise,

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 or explaining by the person who wrote them.

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 Who will provide the key for Jesus' parables?

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 Or more specifically, who might be the key that we're to look to,

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 to get understanding.

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 So, right now, put yourself in the crowd around the lake.

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 How would you make sense of these parables?

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 Let me first tell you how not to understand these parables.

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 Do not make yourself the key to their interpretation.

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 You are not the key to understanding Jesus' preaching.

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 Their author alone knows their meaning,

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 and you cannot open a lock without being given a key.

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 If I stand before one of those vintage old doors with an old lock,

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 with one of those huge big keyholes,

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 apart from it being kind of cool and making me think about

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 all the Lord of the Rings books that I read when I was young,

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 with all the elaborate ways of opening doors and things to say

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 and that kind of stuff,

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 I would be stuck.

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 I wouldn't know what to do.

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 The only thing I've got is a hand or a finger or something

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 to try and jam into that lock to try and get it open.

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 That's not going to help.

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 So take care with these parables.

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 Your finger's not going to open the lock.

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 You can't do it.

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 And take care with the word of God too.

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 See that you never take your culture,

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 your desires,

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 your preferences,

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 and project those onto the word

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 to make it suit you.

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 Rather, look to Jesus himself,

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 to his words,

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 and to the life that he lived,

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 to see what these words truly mean

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 and how to apply them to their life,

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 your life.

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 Now,

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 the best part of this passage,

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 I think,

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 is that

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 people came to Jesus to do exactly that,

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 straight away.

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 Look at chapter 4, verse 10.

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 People came to Jesus to hear him

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 straight after that first parable.

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 They were desperate to hear what it meant.

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 And it's not just Jesus' disciples.

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 It's not just Jesus going home

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 with the guys who gave him a lift.

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 It's just a bunch of people

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 who really wanted to know what was going on.

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 And Jesus was willing to explain it to them,

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 to those who would come close

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 and hear further.

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 But vast numbers of people,

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 a crowd so big

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 that the guy had to go into the water

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 to avoid getting crushed,

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 vast numbers of people

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 went home after hearing Jesus' parables

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 without seeking Jesus' insight into them,

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 and they assumed

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 that they could comprehend

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 and apply them without him,

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 or they were totally irrelevant,

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 it didn't matter.

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 Judgment

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 and a real lack of wisdom.

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 God is not being people,

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 heard by people,

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 who respond like that.

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 Jesus is seeking people

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 who when they hear Jesus speak,

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 yearn for more words from him,

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 so that many would receive

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 the salvation that he brings,

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 and the forgiveness from sins

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 that he offers.

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 Jesus knew people needed

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 his insight.

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 Which is why he asks

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 those rhetorical questions

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 in verse 13.

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 Look at verse 13 with me.

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 Don't you understand this parable?

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 How then will you understand

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 any parable?

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 Well, the answer is

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 by asking you, Jesus,

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 to explain them

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 and say more.

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 Jesus is the one to come to

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 for the key to understanding

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 all God's word.

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 He is the king

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 of the kingdom of God.

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 And we come to this passage now

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 and to our Bibles every day

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 because of Jesus' willingness

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 to embody and reveal

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 that he is the key.

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 He is the key to the kingdom of God.

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 Good news.

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 I'm not going to preach

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 to you today in parables.

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 I'm first not clever enough

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 to write them

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 because they're so rich

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 and difficult and amazing.

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 But I'm going to dive with you

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 into these that Jesus shared.

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 There's four of them today.

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 And we're going to see

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 what they reveal

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 about his kingdom.

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 And then we're going to look

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 at how he unlocks the parables

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 for our life and mission.

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 And we're going to start

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 with the two short parables,

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 two of them that begin

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 with the statement.

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 The kingdom of God

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 is like...

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 See how the design

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 of the parable works?

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 Each little story

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 reveals part of the kingdom

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 as revealed by the king.

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 The kingdom of God here

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 is not about a realm

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 or a geographical location,

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 but it's all about

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 who the ruler is

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 and how he rules.

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 See, the king

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 of the kingdom of God

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 did not come with an army

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 or tanks,

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 no force.

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 He didn't drive out

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 the physical enemies

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 of God's people

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 like they might have

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 expected him to do,

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 but he came with words

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 of invitation,

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 grace,

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 and love.

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 These parables reveal

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 the king

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 of the kingdom of God.

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 They're breathtaking.

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 They're disarming.

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 They're deep.

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 So let's have a look

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 at some of them.

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 First,

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 the kingdom of God

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 is like a lamp.

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 Look at me

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 at verse 21.

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 That'll be over the page

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 if you've got

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 a church Bible

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 in front of you.

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 Verse 21

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 of chapter 4.

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 He said to them,

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 Do you bring in a lamp

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 to put it under a bowl

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 or a bed?

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 Instead,

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 don't you put it

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 on its stand?

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 For whatever is hidden

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 is meant to be disclosed,

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 and whatever is concealed

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 is meant to be brought out

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 into the open.

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 If anyone has ears to hear,

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 let him hear.

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 The kingdom

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 is the light

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 in a dark room.

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 It's on a stand.

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 It's up high

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 where the light

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 can disperse from.

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 It's not hidden.

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 Its light reveals

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 what lies

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 in the darkness,

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 illuminating

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 the unknown

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 and providing

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 the view

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 for man

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 to take steps

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 back to God.

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 The light

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 provides insight

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 and understanding

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 for the world

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 that we live in.

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 Jesus' life

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 shows us

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 that he is

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 this lamp

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 on a stand.

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 That people

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 would see

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 their way

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 to God

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 when they saw

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 him.

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 He does not want

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 mystery

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 or exclusion,

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 but invites

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 and provides

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 nearness

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 to God

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 as people

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 see him.

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 as they

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 see the light.

00:15:41.360 --> 00:15:41.820
 So second,

00:15:42.080 --> 00:15:42.720
 let's go

00:15:42.720 --> 00:15:43.879
 to verse 30

00:15:43.879 --> 00:15:45.700
 where the

00:15:45.700 --> 00:15:46.480
 kingdom of God

00:15:46.480 --> 00:15:47.139
 is like

00:15:47.139 --> 00:15:48.500
 a seed.

00:15:50.580 --> 00:15:50.980
 A little

00:15:50.980 --> 00:15:51.480
 seed

00:15:51.480 --> 00:15:52.100
 contains

00:15:52.100 --> 00:15:52.639
 all the

00:15:52.639 --> 00:15:53.220
 potential

00:15:53.220 --> 00:15:54.220
 of a huge

00:15:54.220 --> 00:15:54.740
 tree

00:15:54.740 --> 00:15:55.879
 in a tiny

00:15:55.879 --> 00:15:56.340
 grain.

00:15:57.379 --> 00:15:58.480
 Its power

00:15:58.480 --> 00:16:00.519
 under control

00:16:00.519 --> 00:16:01.840
 in the face

00:16:01.840 --> 00:16:02.379
 of terrible

00:16:02.379 --> 00:16:02.779
 odds.

00:16:02.779 --> 00:16:03.779
 God

00:16:03.779 --> 00:16:04.779
 is

00:16:04.779 --> 00:16:05.299
 in Mark

00:16:05.299 --> 00:16:05.600
 4.

00:16:05.720 --> 00:16:06.019
 Jesus

00:16:06.019 --> 00:16:07.019
 is just

00:16:07.019 --> 00:16:07.360
 this

00:16:07.360 --> 00:16:08.179
 carpenter

00:16:08.179 --> 00:16:08.699
 standing

00:16:08.699 --> 00:16:09.059
 in a

00:16:09.059 --> 00:16:09.399
 boat,

00:16:09.839 --> 00:16:10.100
 but he

00:16:10.100 --> 00:16:10.459
 is the

00:16:10.459 --> 00:16:10.799
 king

00:16:10.799 --> 00:16:11.120
 of the

00:16:11.120 --> 00:16:11.319
 most

00:16:11.319 --> 00:16:12.000
 powerful

00:16:12.000 --> 00:16:12.579
 kingdom

00:16:12.579 --> 00:16:13.240
 to ever

00:16:13.240 --> 00:16:14.039
 take hold

00:16:14.039 --> 00:16:14.620
 of the

00:16:14.620 --> 00:16:14.980
 world.

00:16:15.199 --> 00:16:15.679
 The gospel

00:16:15.679 --> 00:16:16.519
 has circled

00:16:16.519 --> 00:16:17.120
 the globe.

00:16:18.319 --> 00:16:18.839
 It's

00:16:18.839 --> 00:16:19.519
 crossed barriers

00:16:19.519 --> 00:16:20.179
 of continents

00:16:20.179 --> 00:16:20.799
 and language.

00:16:21.579 --> 00:16:21.959
 It's been

00:16:21.959 --> 00:16:22.679
 greeted by

00:16:22.679 --> 00:16:23.459
 young

00:16:23.459 --> 00:16:24.399
 and old

00:16:24.399 --> 00:16:26.139
 and clever

00:16:26.139 --> 00:16:26.559
 people

00:16:26.559 --> 00:16:27.100
 and foolish

00:16:27.100 --> 00:16:27.519
 people.

00:16:28.120 --> 00:16:28.759
 It's even

00:16:28.759 --> 00:16:29.519
 been embraced

00:16:29.519 --> 00:16:30.659
 by its

00:16:30.659 --> 00:16:31.100
 enemies.

00:16:33.100 --> 00:16:34.120
 This tree

00:16:34.120 --> 00:16:34.600
 has grown

00:16:34.600 --> 00:16:35.539
 so much

00:16:35.539 --> 00:16:37.179
 that it

00:16:37.179 --> 00:16:38.039
 now connects

00:16:38.039 --> 00:16:39.039
 us,

00:16:39.319 --> 00:16:39.620
 connects

00:16:39.620 --> 00:16:40.259
 you,

00:16:40.939 --> 00:16:41.500
 to the

00:16:41.500 --> 00:16:42.439
 word that

00:16:42.439 --> 00:16:43.039
 he preached

00:16:43.039 --> 00:16:43.840
 by the

00:16:43.840 --> 00:16:44.259
 lake that

00:16:44.259 --> 00:16:44.579
 day,

00:16:45.039 --> 00:16:45.539
 to this

00:16:45.539 --> 00:16:45.980
 broke

00:16:45.980 --> 00:16:46.460
 carpenter

00:16:46.460 --> 00:16:47.100
 standing in

00:16:47.100 --> 00:16:47.419
 a boat

00:16:47.419 --> 00:16:47.980
 2,000

00:16:47.980 --> 00:16:48.579
 years ago.

00:16:49.779 --> 00:16:50.360
 He was

00:16:50.360 --> 00:16:50.819
 just a

00:16:50.819 --> 00:16:51.319
 seed,

00:16:52.579 --> 00:16:53.039
 but look

00:16:53.039 --> 00:16:53.279
 at the

00:16:53.279 --> 00:16:53.579
 tree.

00:16:56.579 --> 00:16:57.679
 On first

00:16:57.679 --> 00:16:58.039
 reading,

00:16:58.159 --> 00:16:58.360
 these

00:16:58.360 --> 00:16:58.939
 parables

00:16:58.940 --> 00:16:59.620
 are like

00:16:59.620 --> 00:17:00.720
 prophecy.

00:17:01.000 --> 00:17:01.220
 They're

00:17:01.220 --> 00:17:01.420
 like

00:17:01.420 --> 00:17:02.020
 insights

00:17:02.020 --> 00:17:02.580
 into the

00:17:02.580 --> 00:17:03.200
 life that

00:17:03.200 --> 00:17:03.500
 Jesus

00:17:03.500 --> 00:17:04.559
 would live

00:17:04.559 --> 00:17:05.059
 out in

00:17:05.059 --> 00:17:05.440
 the pages

00:17:05.440 --> 00:17:05.840
 of Mark

00:17:05.840 --> 00:17:06.360
 to come,

00:17:06.900 --> 00:17:07.240
 and they

00:17:07.240 --> 00:17:07.539
 are.

00:17:08.480 --> 00:17:08.980
 But they're

00:17:08.980 --> 00:17:09.660
 even more

00:17:09.660 --> 00:17:10.140
 than that.

00:17:10.680 --> 00:17:11.100
 Here's how

00:17:11.100 --> 00:17:11.380
 we know.

00:17:11.440 --> 00:17:11.759
 Have a look

00:17:11.759 --> 00:17:12.059
 at verse

00:17:12.059 --> 00:17:12.620
 33 and

00:17:12.620 --> 00:17:13.059
 34.

00:17:17.059 --> 00:17:17.779
 With many

00:17:17.779 --> 00:17:18.180
 similar

00:17:18.180 --> 00:17:18.640
 parables,

00:17:18.799 --> 00:17:19.580
 Jesus spoke

00:17:19.580 --> 00:17:20.240
 the word

00:17:20.240 --> 00:17:20.640
 to them,

00:17:20.860 --> 00:17:21.519
 as much

00:17:21.519 --> 00:17:21.860
 as they

00:17:21.860 --> 00:17:22.000
 could

00:17:22.000 --> 00:17:22.559
 understand.

00:17:23.039 --> 00:17:23.380
 He didn't

00:17:23.380 --> 00:17:23.860
 say anything

00:17:23.860 --> 00:17:24.259
 to them

00:17:24.259 --> 00:17:24.860
 without using

00:17:24.860 --> 00:17:25.380
 a parable,

00:17:25.880 --> 00:17:26.340
 but when

00:17:26.340 --> 00:17:26.920
 he was alone

00:17:26.920 --> 00:17:27.259
 with his

00:17:27.259 --> 00:17:27.420
 own

00:17:27.420 --> 00:17:28.000
 disciples,

00:17:28.000 --> 00:17:29.480
 he explained

00:17:29.480 --> 00:17:30.619
 everything.

00:17:32.740 --> 00:17:33.160
 Jesus

00:17:33.160 --> 00:17:33.960
 always

00:17:33.960 --> 00:17:34.720
 offered an

00:17:34.720 --> 00:17:35.420
 explanation

00:17:35.420 --> 00:17:36.079
 for his

00:17:36.079 --> 00:17:36.500
 parables.

00:17:38.460 --> 00:17:39.180
 We can

00:17:39.180 --> 00:17:39.839
 compare

00:17:39.839 --> 00:17:40.740
 Jesus'

00:17:40.960 --> 00:17:41.640
 life and

00:17:41.640 --> 00:17:42.380
 example to

00:17:42.380 --> 00:17:43.140
 these stories

00:17:43.140 --> 00:17:44.400
 to see

00:17:44.400 --> 00:17:45.539
 his kingdom

00:17:45.539 --> 00:17:46.160
 come.

00:17:46.480 --> 00:17:46.700
 There's

00:17:46.700 --> 00:17:47.220
 more.

00:17:48.519 --> 00:17:48.920
 If we

00:17:48.920 --> 00:17:49.460
 just heard

00:17:49.460 --> 00:17:50.180
 these stories

00:17:50.180 --> 00:17:50.940
 and then

00:17:50.940 --> 00:17:51.940
 clearly watched

00:17:51.940 --> 00:17:52.400
 how he

00:17:52.400 --> 00:17:52.980
 lived,

00:17:53.779 --> 00:17:55.099
 that's what

00:17:55.099 --> 00:17:55.680
 we would see

00:17:55.680 --> 00:17:56.019
 in those

00:17:56.019 --> 00:17:56.480
 parables,

00:17:56.839 --> 00:17:57.539
 but there's

00:17:57.539 --> 00:17:58.079
 more.

00:17:59.259 --> 00:17:59.740
 The good

00:17:59.740 --> 00:18:00.139
 news is

00:18:00.139 --> 00:18:00.680
 that Mark

00:18:00.680 --> 00:18:01.700
 chose one

00:18:01.700 --> 00:18:02.279
 parable

00:18:02.279 --> 00:18:04.319
 that Jesus

00:18:04.319 --> 00:18:04.980
 preaches

00:18:04.980 --> 00:18:06.819
 and explains

00:18:06.819 --> 00:18:08.559
 to help us

00:18:08.559 --> 00:18:09.279
 see deeper

00:18:09.279 --> 00:18:10.079
 into all

00:18:10.079 --> 00:18:10.460
 the other

00:18:10.460 --> 00:18:11.099
 parables to

00:18:11.099 --> 00:18:11.400
 come.

00:18:12.480 --> 00:18:13.039
 Let's jump

00:18:13.039 --> 00:18:13.460
 back to the

00:18:13.460 --> 00:18:13.839
 beginning of

00:18:13.839 --> 00:18:14.319
 Mark 4.

00:18:15.660 --> 00:18:16.460
 This may

00:18:16.460 --> 00:18:17.180
 be the

00:18:17.180 --> 00:18:17.960
 only parable

00:18:17.960 --> 00:18:18.559
 you know.

00:18:19.559 --> 00:18:20.400
 This was

00:18:20.400 --> 00:18:21.559
 my favourite

00:18:21.559 --> 00:18:22.099
 one growing

00:18:22.099 --> 00:18:22.419
 up.

00:18:23.019 --> 00:18:23.699
 I love

00:18:23.699 --> 00:18:24.359
 the idea

00:18:24.359 --> 00:18:27.019
 of God

00:18:27.019 --> 00:18:28.419
 being

00:18:28.419 --> 00:18:29.319
 gracious

00:18:29.319 --> 00:18:30.939
 and I

00:18:30.939 --> 00:18:32.259
 also really

00:18:32.259 --> 00:18:32.779
 really like

00:18:32.779 --> 00:18:33.219
 the story

00:18:33.219 --> 00:18:33.439
 of the

00:18:33.439 --> 00:18:33.779
 prodigal

00:18:33.779 --> 00:18:35.059
 son because

00:18:35.059 --> 00:18:35.699
 I often

00:18:35.699 --> 00:18:36.980
 felt like

00:18:36.980 --> 00:18:37.399
 one or

00:18:37.399 --> 00:18:38.119
 both of

00:18:38.119 --> 00:18:39.659
 those people

00:18:39.659 --> 00:18:40.039
 in that

00:18:40.039 --> 00:18:40.399
 story.

00:18:44.399 --> 00:18:45.159
 It may

00:18:45.159 --> 00:18:45.539
 be a

00:18:45.539 --> 00:18:45.919
 really

00:18:45.919 --> 00:18:47.759
 well-known

00:18:47.759 --> 00:18:50.240
 parable that

00:18:50.240 --> 00:18:50.779
 you can think

00:18:50.779 --> 00:18:51.180
 of right

00:18:51.180 --> 00:18:51.460
 away.

00:18:52.519 --> 00:18:52.920
 I'm not

00:18:52.920 --> 00:18:53.099
 going to

00:18:53.099 --> 00:18:53.619
 go deeply

00:18:53.619 --> 00:18:54.139
 into it.

00:18:54.839 --> 00:18:55.240
 I'm just

00:18:55.240 --> 00:18:55.720
 going to

00:18:55.720 --> 00:18:56.399
 describe it

00:18:56.399 --> 00:18:56.759
 but I

00:18:56.759 --> 00:18:57.460
 think that

00:18:57.460 --> 00:18:57.940
 God might

00:18:57.940 --> 00:18:58.420
 have something

00:18:58.420 --> 00:18:59.099
 very very

00:18:59.099 --> 00:18:59.779
 different to

00:18:59.779 --> 00:19:00.279
 say to you

00:19:00.279 --> 00:19:00.599
 than you

00:19:00.599 --> 00:19:01.019
 think is

00:19:01.019 --> 00:19:01.359
 actually

00:19:01.359 --> 00:19:02.000
 written there

00:19:02.000 --> 00:19:03.220
 because I

00:19:03.220 --> 00:19:03.720
 can tell you

00:19:03.720 --> 00:19:04.200
 that growing

00:19:04.200 --> 00:19:04.619
 up both

00:19:04.619 --> 00:19:05.079
 prodigal

00:19:05.079 --> 00:19:05.500
 son and

00:19:05.500 --> 00:19:05.879
 this one

00:19:05.879 --> 00:19:06.579
 I had my

00:19:06.579 --> 00:19:06.799
 own

00:19:06.799 --> 00:19:07.519
 interpretation

00:19:07.519 --> 00:19:08.180
 that suited

00:19:08.180 --> 00:19:08.599
 me.

00:19:09.319 --> 00:19:09.879
 Let's see

00:19:09.879 --> 00:19:10.399
 what Jesus

00:19:10.399 --> 00:19:10.899
 says.

00:19:13.779 --> 00:19:14.299
 He

00:19:14.299 --> 00:19:15.359
 describes a

00:19:15.359 --> 00:19:15.779
 farmer

00:19:15.779 --> 00:19:16.420
 sowing

00:19:16.420 --> 00:19:17.039
 seeds.

00:19:18.139 --> 00:19:18.940
 Four soils

00:19:18.940 --> 00:19:20.359
 and four

00:19:20.359 --> 00:19:21.479
 responses to

00:19:21.479 --> 00:19:22.019
 the seed

00:19:22.019 --> 00:19:22.619
 as it

00:19:22.619 --> 00:19:23.119
 is sown.

00:19:24.079 --> 00:19:24.719
 The story

00:19:24.719 --> 00:19:25.339
 is very

00:19:25.339 --> 00:19:26.259
 simple but

00:19:26.259 --> 00:19:27.299
 Jesus explains

00:19:27.299 --> 00:19:28.779
 its epic

00:19:28.779 --> 00:19:29.879
 implications for

00:19:29.879 --> 00:19:30.399
 us all.

00:19:31.139 --> 00:19:31.379
 He says

00:19:31.379 --> 00:19:31.979
 the key

00:19:31.979 --> 00:19:32.740
 for us

00:19:32.740 --> 00:19:34.699
 is what

00:19:34.699 --> 00:19:35.279
 the seed

00:19:35.279 --> 00:19:36.859
 is and

00:19:36.859 --> 00:19:37.699
 our response

00:19:37.699 --> 00:19:38.459
 to it.

00:19:40.059 --> 00:19:40.339
 So then

00:19:40.339 --> 00:19:40.799
 later in

00:19:40.799 --> 00:19:42.399
 verse 13

00:19:42.399 --> 00:19:43.039
 to 20

00:19:43.039 --> 00:19:44.559
 we learn

00:19:44.559 --> 00:19:45.219
 that the

00:19:45.219 --> 00:19:46.599
 seed is

00:19:46.599 --> 00:19:47.319
 the word.

00:19:47.539 --> 00:19:48.099
 It's God's

00:19:48.099 --> 00:19:49.219
 message preached

00:19:49.220 --> 00:19:50.200
 and lived

00:19:50.200 --> 00:19:50.759
 out through

00:19:50.759 --> 00:19:51.220
 Jesus.

00:19:53.240 --> 00:19:53.960
 If you

00:19:53.960 --> 00:19:54.380
 were a

00:19:54.380 --> 00:19:54.740
 farmer

00:19:54.740 --> 00:19:55.339
 standing in

00:19:55.339 --> 00:19:55.900
 that crowd

00:19:55.900 --> 00:19:56.240
 and you

00:19:56.240 --> 00:19:57.000
 heard Jesus

00:19:57.000 --> 00:19:58.180
 describing a

00:19:58.180 --> 00:19:58.779
 story of a

00:19:58.779 --> 00:19:59.279
 farmer just

00:19:59.279 --> 00:20:01.059
 lobbing grain

00:20:01.059 --> 00:20:01.779
 everywhere with

00:20:01.779 --> 00:20:02.259
 some of it

00:20:02.259 --> 00:20:02.740
 going on the

00:20:02.740 --> 00:20:03.160
 path and

00:20:03.160 --> 00:20:03.640
 some of it

00:20:03.640 --> 00:20:04.079
 going on the

00:20:04.079 --> 00:20:04.460
 rocks and

00:20:04.460 --> 00:20:04.880
 some of it

00:20:04.880 --> 00:20:05.240
 going into

00:20:05.240 --> 00:20:05.759
 bad soil,

00:20:05.860 --> 00:20:06.160
 you'd think

00:20:06.160 --> 00:20:06.480
 what a

00:20:06.480 --> 00:20:06.900
 waste.

00:20:08.700 --> 00:20:08.980
 That's

00:20:08.980 --> 00:20:09.279
 actually

00:20:09.279 --> 00:20:09.740
 what's

00:20:09.740 --> 00:20:11.980
 going to

00:20:11.980 --> 00:20:12.400
 grab your

00:20:12.400 --> 00:20:13.100
 attention if

00:20:13.100 --> 00:20:13.380
 you're an

00:20:13.380 --> 00:20:14.519
 agriculturalist.

00:20:14.519 --> 00:20:16.339
 but

00:20:16.339 --> 00:20:18.900
 in this

00:20:18.900 --> 00:20:19.400
 story

00:20:19.400 --> 00:20:21.440
 it reveals

00:20:21.440 --> 00:20:22.039
 Jesus'

00:20:22.879 --> 00:20:23.319
 gracious

00:20:23.319 --> 00:20:24.420
 strategy

00:20:24.420 --> 00:20:26.139
 so that

00:20:26.139 --> 00:20:27.099
 all might

00:20:27.099 --> 00:20:27.420
 hear the

00:20:27.420 --> 00:20:27.940
 good news.

00:20:28.420 --> 00:20:28.740
 He's not

00:20:28.740 --> 00:20:28.940
 playing

00:20:28.940 --> 00:20:29.480
 favourites,

00:20:29.920 --> 00:20:30.319
 he's not

00:20:30.319 --> 00:20:30.660
 going,

00:20:31.079 --> 00:20:31.440
 oh those

00:20:31.440 --> 00:20:31.859
 people will

00:20:31.859 --> 00:20:32.160
 get it,

00:20:32.240 --> 00:20:32.500
 I'll go

00:20:32.500 --> 00:20:32.980
 over here.

00:20:33.200 --> 00:20:33.599
 He's

00:20:33.599 --> 00:20:34.000
 preaching it

00:20:34.000 --> 00:20:34.420
 to everyone.

00:20:36.500 --> 00:20:37.200
 So as

00:20:37.200 --> 00:20:37.599
 Jesus

00:20:37.599 --> 00:20:38.240
 preaches

00:20:38.240 --> 00:20:38.799
 and so

00:20:38.799 --> 00:20:39.099
 is the

00:20:39.099 --> 00:20:39.480
 word,

00:20:40.019 --> 00:20:40.359
 people

00:20:40.359 --> 00:20:41.180
 respond to

00:20:41.180 --> 00:20:41.759
 hearing it

00:20:41.759 --> 00:20:43.619
 and see

00:20:43.619 --> 00:20:45.059
 here that

00:20:45.059 --> 00:20:45.460
 there's this

00:20:45.460 --> 00:20:46.700
 existing barrier

00:20:46.700 --> 00:20:48.519
 to accepting

00:20:48.519 --> 00:20:49.259
 God's word.

00:20:49.379 --> 00:20:49.700
 It's in

00:20:49.700 --> 00:20:50.879
 verse 15.

00:20:51.279 --> 00:20:51.960
 Look at your

00:20:51.960 --> 00:20:52.539
 Bible and see

00:20:52.539 --> 00:20:52.980
 if you can see

00:20:52.980 --> 00:20:53.500
 what it is,

00:20:53.539 --> 00:20:54.259
 verse 15.

00:20:57.619 --> 00:20:58.500
 It's Satan

00:20:58.500 --> 00:20:59.279
 himself.

00:21:01.339 --> 00:21:01.839
 Jesus is

00:21:01.839 --> 00:21:02.599
 fully aware

00:21:02.599 --> 00:21:03.660
 of Satan's

00:21:03.660 --> 00:21:04.400
 intention to

00:21:04.400 --> 00:21:05.500
 remove the

00:21:05.500 --> 00:21:06.079
 word,

00:21:06.819 --> 00:21:07.700
 undermine the

00:21:07.700 --> 00:21:08.640
 word and

00:21:08.640 --> 00:21:09.539
 distract the

00:21:09.539 --> 00:21:10.160
 soil from

00:21:10.160 --> 00:21:10.779
 growing the

00:21:10.779 --> 00:21:11.099
 word and

00:21:11.099 --> 00:21:11.740
 bearing fruit.

00:21:12.500 --> 00:21:13.059
 Satan wants

00:21:13.059 --> 00:21:13.839
 to silence

00:21:13.839 --> 00:21:14.240
 Jesus'

00:21:14.440 --> 00:21:14.859
 message.

00:21:15.980 --> 00:21:16.740
 Within the

00:21:16.740 --> 00:21:17.379
 parable there's

00:21:17.379 --> 00:21:17.920
 an implied

00:21:17.920 --> 00:21:19.779
 boundary of

00:21:19.779 --> 00:21:20.579
 Satan's ability

00:21:20.579 --> 00:21:21.379
 to influence

00:21:21.379 --> 00:21:22.000
 the reception

00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:22.359
 of the

00:21:22.359 --> 00:21:22.599
 word,

00:21:22.720 --> 00:21:23.180
 which is

00:21:23.180 --> 00:21:24.759
 to say

00:21:24.759 --> 00:21:25.220
 that he

00:21:25.220 --> 00:21:25.980
 cannot

00:21:25.980 --> 00:21:26.799
 silence

00:21:26.799 --> 00:21:27.579
 the word

00:21:27.579 --> 00:21:28.440
 everywhere.

00:21:30.599 --> 00:21:31.400
 It is

00:21:31.400 --> 00:21:31.960
 always good

00:21:31.960 --> 00:21:32.420
 to hear

00:21:32.420 --> 00:21:33.799
 that Satan's

00:21:33.799 --> 00:21:34.480
 work against

00:21:34.480 --> 00:21:35.480
 us has

00:21:35.480 --> 00:21:36.059
 limits.

00:21:38.200 --> 00:21:38.980
 But it's

00:21:38.980 --> 00:21:39.240
 certainly

00:21:39.240 --> 00:21:40.220
 something to

00:21:40.220 --> 00:21:40.720
 be aware

00:21:40.720 --> 00:21:41.019
 of.

00:21:41.759 --> 00:21:42.980
 And then

00:21:42.980 --> 00:21:43.279
 there's

00:21:43.279 --> 00:21:44.000
 good soil

00:21:44.000 --> 00:21:45.059
 that accepts

00:21:45.059 --> 00:21:45.779
 the word.

00:21:46.779 --> 00:21:47.640
 That soil

00:21:47.640 --> 00:21:49.680
 is personified

00:21:49.680 --> 00:21:50.480
 right at the

00:21:50.480 --> 00:21:50.859
 moment of

00:21:50.859 --> 00:21:51.579
 him explaining

00:21:51.579 --> 00:21:52.339
 it by the

00:21:52.339 --> 00:21:53.019
 people who've

00:21:53.019 --> 00:21:53.559
 gone to

00:21:53.559 --> 00:21:54.740
 Jesus to

00:21:54.740 --> 00:21:55.819
 understand this

00:21:55.819 --> 00:21:56.200
 parable.

00:21:56.440 --> 00:21:57.180
 Those who

00:21:57.180 --> 00:21:57.799
 seek his

00:21:57.799 --> 00:21:58.460
 word and

00:21:58.460 --> 00:21:59.140
 receive it

00:21:59.140 --> 00:22:00.079
 with gladness.

00:22:01.500 --> 00:22:02.480
 The seed

00:22:02.480 --> 00:22:03.379
 in them

00:22:03.379 --> 00:22:04.579
 will grow

00:22:04.579 --> 00:22:05.839
 and bear

00:22:05.839 --> 00:22:06.299
 fruit.

00:22:06.299 --> 00:22:06.359
 fruit.

00:22:07.579 --> 00:22:08.480
 If you

00:22:08.480 --> 00:22:10.139
 have ever

00:22:10.139 --> 00:22:10.859
 been to

00:22:10.859 --> 00:22:11.139
 western

00:22:11.139 --> 00:22:11.559
 New South

00:22:11.559 --> 00:22:12.399
 Wales or

00:22:12.399 --> 00:22:12.759
 to the

00:22:12.759 --> 00:22:13.079
 country

00:22:13.079 --> 00:22:13.619
 anywhere,

00:22:13.819 --> 00:22:14.159
 you would

00:22:14.159 --> 00:22:14.639
 have seen

00:22:14.639 --> 00:22:15.960
 fields of

00:22:15.960 --> 00:22:17.399
 canola,

00:22:18.019 --> 00:22:18.279
 cotton,

00:22:18.559 --> 00:22:18.819
 wheat,

00:22:19.359 --> 00:22:19.960
 all different

00:22:19.960 --> 00:22:20.319
 kinds of

00:22:20.319 --> 00:22:20.460
 things.

00:22:20.519 --> 00:22:20.980
 I imagine

00:22:20.980 --> 00:22:21.680
 wheat because

00:22:21.680 --> 00:22:22.180
 I grew up

00:22:22.180 --> 00:22:23.740
 in dairy

00:22:23.740 --> 00:22:24.379
 country and

00:22:24.379 --> 00:22:24.700
 there's no

00:22:24.700 --> 00:22:25.299
 fields of

00:22:25.299 --> 00:22:25.599
 anything

00:22:25.599 --> 00:22:26.019
 anywhere.

00:22:26.819 --> 00:22:27.180
 Wheat

00:22:27.180 --> 00:22:28.460
 seems just

00:22:28.460 --> 00:22:28.899
 about as

00:22:28.899 --> 00:22:29.419
 normal as

00:22:29.419 --> 00:22:29.700
 I can

00:22:29.700 --> 00:22:30.019
 imagine.

00:22:30.019 --> 00:22:30.700
 but think

00:22:30.700 --> 00:22:31.359
 about this.

00:22:32.000 --> 00:22:32.539
 Think about

00:22:32.539 --> 00:22:33.139
 a wheat

00:22:33.139 --> 00:22:34.900
 seed falling

00:22:34.900 --> 00:22:35.420
 in the ground

00:22:35.420 --> 00:22:36.039
 and growing

00:22:36.039 --> 00:22:36.420
 up.

00:22:36.619 --> 00:22:37.139
 What's the

00:22:37.139 --> 00:22:37.619
 crop at

00:22:37.619 --> 00:22:38.039
 the end?

00:22:39.480 --> 00:22:40.379
 More seeds.

00:22:43.420 --> 00:22:44.160
 More of

00:22:44.160 --> 00:22:44.500
 what the

00:22:44.500 --> 00:22:45.180
 farmer threw

00:22:45.180 --> 00:22:45.700
 out there in

00:22:45.700 --> 00:22:46.059
 the first

00:22:46.059 --> 00:22:46.500
 place.

00:22:48.180 --> 00:22:49.079
 It is the

00:22:49.079 --> 00:22:49.960
 good news

00:22:49.960 --> 00:22:51.259
 that Jesus

00:22:51.259 --> 00:22:52.119
 the farmer

00:22:52.119 --> 00:22:54.359
 can re-sow

00:22:54.359 --> 00:22:55.940
 through the

00:22:55.940 --> 00:22:56.559
 life and

00:22:56.559 --> 00:22:57.139
 labours of

00:22:57.139 --> 00:22:57.660
 his followers

00:22:57.660 --> 00:22:58.700
 to come.

00:22:58.700 --> 00:23:00.240
 And that's

00:23:00.240 --> 00:23:01.080
 the glorious

00:23:01.080 --> 00:23:03.500
 transition that

00:23:03.500 --> 00:23:04.380
 Mark holds

00:23:04.380 --> 00:23:04.860
 up here.

00:23:05.160 --> 00:23:05.980
 The transition

00:23:05.980 --> 00:23:07.519
 that is the

00:23:07.519 --> 00:23:08.640
 pattern for

00:23:08.640 --> 00:23:09.819
 understanding all

00:23:09.819 --> 00:23:10.539
 the parables.

00:23:11.039 --> 00:23:11.940
 They show us

00:23:11.940 --> 00:23:13.039
 how Jesus

00:23:13.039 --> 00:23:13.940
 will usher

00:23:13.940 --> 00:23:14.420
 in his

00:23:14.420 --> 00:23:16.140
 kingdom and

00:23:16.140 --> 00:23:16.960
 grow his

00:23:16.960 --> 00:23:17.700
 followers through

00:23:17.700 --> 00:23:19.960
 his word so

00:23:19.960 --> 00:23:20.580
 that they can

00:23:20.580 --> 00:23:21.720
 be involved

00:23:21.720 --> 00:23:22.920
 in the

00:23:22.920 --> 00:23:23.500
 continuing

00:23:23.500 --> 00:23:24.960
 growth of

00:23:24.960 --> 00:23:25.460
 the kingdom

00:23:25.460 --> 00:23:26.600
 through the

00:23:26.600 --> 00:23:26.940
 word.

00:23:28.700 --> 00:23:31.720
 We're

00:23:31.720 --> 00:23:32.819
 invited to

00:23:32.819 --> 00:23:33.600
 join Jesus

00:23:33.600 --> 00:23:34.340
 followers in

00:23:34.340 --> 00:23:34.960
 verse 10.

00:23:35.380 --> 00:23:35.940
 Crowded

00:23:35.940 --> 00:23:36.620
 round and

00:23:36.620 --> 00:23:37.340
 near Jesus

00:23:37.340 --> 00:23:38.420
 to hear him

00:23:38.420 --> 00:23:39.720
 speak and

00:23:39.720 --> 00:23:40.640
 explain how

00:23:40.640 --> 00:23:41.319
 we follow

00:23:41.319 --> 00:23:42.360
 him into

00:23:42.360 --> 00:23:43.120
 the parable.

00:23:44.580 --> 00:23:45.720
 The words

00:23:45.720 --> 00:23:46.880
 and parables

00:23:46.880 --> 00:23:47.400
 of Jesus

00:23:47.400 --> 00:23:48.480
 are about

00:23:48.480 --> 00:23:49.980
 him and

00:23:49.980 --> 00:23:51.539
 his word

00:23:51.539 --> 00:23:52.240
 grows in

00:23:52.240 --> 00:23:54.240
 us and

00:23:54.240 --> 00:23:54.960
 the parables

00:23:54.960 --> 00:23:56.559
 become about

00:23:56.559 --> 00:23:57.079
 us to.

00:23:59.119 --> 00:24:00.079
 Think about

00:24:00.079 --> 00:24:00.579
 the parable

00:24:00.579 --> 00:24:00.919
 of the

00:24:00.919 --> 00:24:01.159
 sower.

00:24:02.379 --> 00:24:03.099
 We've just

00:24:03.099 --> 00:24:03.599
 been given

00:24:03.599 --> 00:24:04.259
 the word

00:24:04.259 --> 00:24:05.859
 by Jesus

00:24:05.859 --> 00:24:08.440
 and as we

00:24:08.440 --> 00:24:09.159
 gather around

00:24:09.159 --> 00:24:10.200
 him through

00:24:10.200 --> 00:24:10.799
 the ministry

00:24:10.799 --> 00:24:12.759
 of those

00:24:12.759 --> 00:24:13.700
 who follow

00:24:13.700 --> 00:24:14.700
 Jesus from

00:24:14.700 --> 00:24:15.879
 then till

00:24:15.879 --> 00:24:17.079
 now through

00:24:17.079 --> 00:24:17.679
 the preaching

00:24:17.679 --> 00:24:18.279
 of the written

00:24:18.279 --> 00:24:18.799
 word.

00:24:18.799 --> 00:24:20.339
 Now we

00:24:20.339 --> 00:24:20.859
 too

00:24:20.859 --> 00:24:22.639
 take that

00:24:22.639 --> 00:24:23.599
 same seed

00:24:23.599 --> 00:24:23.960
 that is

00:24:23.960 --> 00:24:24.500
 the word

00:24:24.500 --> 00:24:25.299
 and we

00:24:25.299 --> 00:24:25.740
 too

00:24:25.740 --> 00:24:26.319
 sow it

00:24:26.319 --> 00:24:26.899
 everywhere.

00:24:27.059 --> 00:24:27.539
 Not showing

00:24:27.539 --> 00:24:28.279
 favoritism,

00:24:28.460 --> 00:24:29.559
 not dividing

00:24:29.559 --> 00:24:30.839
 our churches

00:24:30.839 --> 00:24:32.539
 by language

00:24:32.539 --> 00:24:33.379
 or culture.

00:24:33.579 --> 00:24:34.059
 We want

00:24:34.059 --> 00:24:35.099
 everyone to

00:24:35.099 --> 00:24:35.859
 hear no

00:24:35.859 --> 00:24:36.339
 matter who

00:24:36.339 --> 00:24:37.000
 they are

00:24:37.000 --> 00:24:38.000
 wherever

00:24:38.000 --> 00:24:38.839
 we are.

00:24:42.259 --> 00:24:43.139
 We share

00:24:43.139 --> 00:24:43.539
 the word

00:24:43.539 --> 00:24:44.139
 hoping it

00:24:44.139 --> 00:24:44.460
 will be

00:24:44.460 --> 00:24:45.139
 received

00:24:45.139 --> 00:24:46.220
 and accepted.

00:24:46.579 --> 00:24:47.139
 That's our

00:24:47.139 --> 00:24:47.639
 mission as

00:24:47.639 --> 00:24:48.379
 Jesus followers.

00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:49.919
 to take

00:24:49.919 --> 00:24:50.799
 his word

00:24:50.799 --> 00:24:51.619
 and to

00:24:51.619 --> 00:24:52.059
 sow it

00:24:52.059 --> 00:24:52.740
 everywhere.

00:24:56.680 --> 00:24:57.519
 We too

00:24:57.519 --> 00:24:58.259
 know also

00:24:58.259 --> 00:25:00.319
 that we

00:25:00.319 --> 00:25:00.740
 are each

00:25:00.740 --> 00:25:01.259
 hearers of

00:25:01.259 --> 00:25:01.759
 the word

00:25:01.759 --> 00:25:02.460
 day by

00:25:02.460 --> 00:25:02.819
 day,

00:25:02.980 --> 00:25:03.579
 Sunday by

00:25:03.579 --> 00:25:03.980
 Sunday.

00:25:05.039 --> 00:25:05.960
 I read

00:25:05.960 --> 00:25:07.159
 this parable

00:25:07.159 --> 00:25:08.319
 of the

00:25:08.319 --> 00:25:08.599
 sower

00:25:08.599 --> 00:25:11.759
 and I

00:25:11.759 --> 00:25:12.299
 know that

00:25:12.299 --> 00:25:12.799
 some days

00:25:12.799 --> 00:25:13.319
 I am a

00:25:13.319 --> 00:25:14.099
 hard pavement

00:25:14.099 --> 00:25:14.579
 to the

00:25:14.579 --> 00:25:14.919
 word of

00:25:14.919 --> 00:25:15.159
 God.

00:25:16.000 --> 00:25:16.379
 You might

00:25:16.379 --> 00:25:16.799
 feel like

00:25:16.799 --> 00:25:17.200
 that right

00:25:17.200 --> 00:25:17.539
 now.

00:25:18.799 --> 00:25:20.740
 Satan is

00:25:20.740 --> 00:25:21.119
 still in

00:25:21.119 --> 00:25:21.519
 the business

00:25:21.519 --> 00:25:22.220
 of removing

00:25:22.220 --> 00:25:23.440
 the word

00:25:23.440 --> 00:25:26.279
 from my

00:25:26.279 --> 00:25:26.879
 ears and

00:25:26.879 --> 00:25:27.659
 from yours.

00:25:28.379 --> 00:25:29.039
 You might

00:25:29.039 --> 00:25:29.599
 be listening

00:25:29.599 --> 00:25:30.299
 right now

00:25:30.299 --> 00:25:31.480
 and not

00:25:31.480 --> 00:25:32.200
 be listening

00:25:32.200 --> 00:25:32.619
 to the

00:25:32.619 --> 00:25:33.240
 challenge of

00:25:33.240 --> 00:25:33.879
 God through

00:25:33.879 --> 00:25:34.440
 his word.

00:25:37.319 --> 00:25:38.440
 Satan loves

00:25:38.440 --> 00:25:39.460
 to rob you

00:25:39.460 --> 00:25:40.960
 of the good

00:25:40.960 --> 00:25:41.419
 news.

00:25:41.539 --> 00:25:42.099
 He loves to

00:25:42.099 --> 00:25:42.819
 undermine it

00:25:42.819 --> 00:25:43.519
 with doubts.

00:25:43.519 --> 00:25:44.700
 He loves

00:25:44.700 --> 00:25:45.420
 to distract

00:25:45.420 --> 00:25:45.900
 you with

00:25:45.900 --> 00:25:46.720
 other things.

00:25:47.900 --> 00:25:48.259
 As you

00:25:48.259 --> 00:25:48.660
 sit in

00:25:48.660 --> 00:25:49.139
 church each

00:25:49.139 --> 00:25:49.740
 week, I

00:25:49.740 --> 00:25:50.259
 can tell you

00:25:50.259 --> 00:25:50.639
 that I am

00:25:50.639 --> 00:25:51.259
 exactly the

00:25:51.259 --> 00:25:51.500
 same.

00:25:51.619 --> 00:25:52.139
 I sit in

00:25:52.139 --> 00:25:52.960
 church, I

00:25:52.960 --> 00:25:53.400
 hear the

00:25:53.400 --> 00:25:54.200
 Bible, I

00:25:54.200 --> 00:25:54.960
 read it, and

00:25:54.960 --> 00:25:55.559
 I'm thinking

00:25:55.559 --> 00:25:56.440
 about my

00:25:56.440 --> 00:25:57.460
 anxieties as

00:25:57.460 --> 00:25:58.319
 a father, I'm

00:25:58.319 --> 00:25:59.279
 worrying about

00:25:59.279 --> 00:25:59.819
 the things that

00:25:59.819 --> 00:26:00.519
 I need to get

00:26:00.519 --> 00:26:01.240
 done the next

00:26:01.240 --> 00:26:02.099
 day because the

00:26:02.099 --> 00:26:02.700
 house is a

00:26:02.700 --> 00:26:03.259
 mess and I'm

00:26:03.259 --> 00:26:03.700
 the only one

00:26:03.700 --> 00:26:04.059
 at home.

00:26:04.279 --> 00:26:04.900
 I'm thinking

00:26:04.900 --> 00:26:05.359
 about the

00:26:05.359 --> 00:26:06.160
 most ridiculous

00:26:06.160 --> 00:26:07.420
 things and

00:26:07.420 --> 00:26:08.359
 ignoring the

00:26:08.359 --> 00:26:09.599
 words of my

00:26:09.599 --> 00:26:10.980
 saviour who

00:26:10.980 --> 00:26:11.960
 is speaking to

00:26:11.960 --> 00:26:13.019
 me face to

00:26:13.019 --> 00:26:13.680
 face through

00:26:13.680 --> 00:26:14.519
 his word.

00:26:16.079 --> 00:26:17.019
 Sounds like

00:26:17.019 --> 00:26:18.759
 something I

00:26:18.759 --> 00:26:19.680
 wouldn't do if

00:26:19.680 --> 00:26:21.519
 I really did

00:26:21.519 --> 00:26:22.299
 believe that.

00:26:23.420 --> 00:26:23.799
 And that's

00:26:23.799 --> 00:26:25.420
 the trick of

00:26:25.420 --> 00:26:25.799
 Satan.

00:26:27.420 --> 00:26:28.360
 Time spent

00:26:28.360 --> 00:26:30.220
 before Jesus

00:26:30.220 --> 00:26:32.460
 in that place

00:26:32.460 --> 00:26:33.400
 in the kingdom

00:26:33.400 --> 00:26:35.160
 inspires a

00:26:35.160 --> 00:26:35.660
 life of

00:26:35.660 --> 00:26:36.079
 mission,

00:26:36.960 --> 00:26:37.559
 sharing the

00:26:37.559 --> 00:26:38.819
 gospel in

00:26:38.819 --> 00:26:40.299
 action and

00:26:40.299 --> 00:26:40.819
 word.

00:26:41.960 --> 00:26:42.460
 love.

00:26:45.460 --> 00:26:48.100
 But the

00:26:48.100 --> 00:26:49.880
 result in

00:26:49.880 --> 00:26:50.680
 this parable

00:26:50.680 --> 00:26:52.440
 of someone

00:26:52.440 --> 00:26:53.960
 who hears

00:26:53.960 --> 00:26:54.680
 the word

00:26:54.680 --> 00:26:56.120
 but gets

00:26:56.120 --> 00:26:56.819
 distracted

00:26:56.819 --> 00:26:59.840
 is a

00:26:59.840 --> 00:27:01.579
 life choked

00:27:01.579 --> 00:27:02.500
 by weeds,

00:27:02.640 --> 00:27:03.200
 the weeds of

00:27:03.200 --> 00:27:04.700
 distraction and

00:27:04.700 --> 00:27:06.079
 idolatry and

00:27:06.079 --> 00:27:06.900
 following after

00:27:06.900 --> 00:27:07.740
 things like it

00:27:07.740 --> 00:27:08.840
 mentions wealth

00:27:08.840 --> 00:27:09.860
 specifically.

00:27:09.859 --> 00:27:11.979
 there is

00:27:11.979 --> 00:27:12.879
 yet hope for

00:27:12.879 --> 00:27:14.039
 every listener

00:27:14.039 --> 00:27:15.439
 while you

00:27:15.439 --> 00:27:16.759
 eagerly seek

00:27:16.759 --> 00:27:17.699
 to hear

00:27:17.699 --> 00:27:18.759
 the word.

00:27:20.439 --> 00:27:21.539
 If you feel

00:27:21.539 --> 00:27:22.379
 like any of

00:27:22.379 --> 00:27:22.919
 those other

00:27:22.919 --> 00:27:23.799
 soils right

00:27:23.799 --> 00:27:24.859
 now as you

00:27:24.859 --> 00:27:25.579
 receive the

00:27:25.579 --> 00:27:26.279
 word of God

00:27:26.279 --> 00:27:27.299
 your hope

00:27:27.299 --> 00:27:28.959
 is that God

00:27:28.959 --> 00:27:29.379
 is in the

00:27:29.379 --> 00:27:29.899
 business of

00:27:29.899 --> 00:27:30.719
 changing you

00:27:30.719 --> 00:27:31.539
 and readying

00:27:31.539 --> 00:27:32.240
 us by his

00:27:32.240 --> 00:27:32.819
 spirit to

00:27:32.819 --> 00:27:33.459
 receive his

00:27:33.459 --> 00:27:33.859
 word,

00:27:34.459 --> 00:27:35.839
 to multiply

00:27:35.839 --> 00:27:36.159
 it in

00:27:36.159 --> 00:27:36.740
 kingdom-minded

00:27:36.740 --> 00:27:37.319
 lives.

00:27:37.659 --> 00:27:37.979
 You've got to

00:27:37.979 --> 00:27:38.619
 keep coming to

00:27:38.619 --> 00:27:38.779
 it.

00:27:39.959 --> 00:27:40.579
 You've got to

00:27:40.579 --> 00:27:41.059
 keep listening

00:27:41.059 --> 00:27:41.439
 to him.

00:27:43.899 --> 00:27:44.519
 It's not

00:27:44.519 --> 00:27:45.119
 through any

00:27:45.119 --> 00:27:47.919
 good works

00:27:47.919 --> 00:27:48.299
 that you're

00:27:48.299 --> 00:27:48.719
 going to do.

00:27:48.819 --> 00:27:49.179
 It's not

00:27:49.179 --> 00:27:49.939
 through any

00:27:49.939 --> 00:27:51.379
 striving harder

00:27:51.379 --> 00:27:52.919
 after doing

00:27:52.919 --> 00:27:53.359
 the right

00:27:53.359 --> 00:27:53.779
 thing.

00:27:54.619 --> 00:27:55.299
 It's going to

00:27:55.299 --> 00:27:56.159
 be through the

00:27:56.159 --> 00:27:56.819
 word of Jesus

00:27:56.819 --> 00:27:57.359
 by his

00:27:57.359 --> 00:27:57.979
 Holy Spirit.

00:27:57.980 --> 00:28:01.480
 Do you

00:28:01.480 --> 00:28:01.980
 see how

00:28:01.980 --> 00:28:03.180
 this parable

00:28:03.180 --> 00:28:04.660
 empowers our

00:28:04.660 --> 00:28:05.360
 lives for the

00:28:05.360 --> 00:28:05.579
 kingdom?

00:28:07.420 --> 00:28:08.019
 It is

00:28:08.019 --> 00:28:09.360
 for us

00:28:09.360 --> 00:28:10.319
 as fresh

00:28:10.319 --> 00:28:11.220
 today as it

00:28:11.220 --> 00:28:12.860
 was that

00:28:12.860 --> 00:28:13.259
 day

00:28:13.259 --> 00:28:14.920
 by the

00:28:14.920 --> 00:28:15.259
 lake.

00:28:17.960 --> 00:28:18.440
 So now

00:28:18.440 --> 00:28:18.720
 that we've

00:28:18.720 --> 00:28:19.200
 seen

00:28:19.200 --> 00:28:20.779
 how

00:28:20.779 --> 00:28:23.120
 Jesus'

00:28:23.819 --> 00:28:24.240
 life

00:28:24.240 --> 00:28:25.000
 and who

00:28:25.000 --> 00:28:25.980
 he is

00:28:25.980 --> 00:28:27.420
 is the

00:28:27.420 --> 00:28:28.019
 pattern of

00:28:28.019 --> 00:28:28.180
 the

00:28:28.180 --> 00:28:28.579
 parable

00:28:28.579 --> 00:28:29.779
 but also

00:28:29.779 --> 00:28:30.460
 he has

00:28:30.460 --> 00:28:31.519
 given us

00:28:31.519 --> 00:28:32.460
 the ministry

00:28:32.460 --> 00:28:32.839
 of the

00:28:32.839 --> 00:28:33.220
 word and

00:28:33.220 --> 00:28:33.539
 we have

00:28:33.539 --> 00:28:34.400
 become part

00:28:34.400 --> 00:28:34.640
 of the

00:28:34.640 --> 00:28:34.980
 parable

00:28:34.980 --> 00:28:35.599
 ourselves.

00:28:36.120 --> 00:28:36.460
 Let's

00:28:36.460 --> 00:28:36.900
 look back

00:28:36.900 --> 00:28:37.180
 at the

00:28:37.180 --> 00:28:37.599
 other two

00:28:37.599 --> 00:28:38.059
 parables

00:28:38.059 --> 00:28:38.400
 that we've

00:28:38.400 --> 00:28:38.620
 already

00:28:38.620 --> 00:28:39.079
 seen.

00:28:39.539 --> 00:28:39.779
 The one

00:28:39.779 --> 00:28:40.180
 about the

00:28:40.180 --> 00:28:41.059
 lamp and

00:28:41.059 --> 00:28:41.279
 the one

00:28:41.279 --> 00:28:41.660
 about the

00:28:41.660 --> 00:28:41.920
 mustard

00:28:41.920 --> 00:28:42.339
 seed.

00:28:44.420 --> 00:28:44.940
 The

00:28:44.940 --> 00:28:45.380
 kingdom of

00:28:45.380 --> 00:28:45.779
 God is

00:28:45.779 --> 00:28:46.180
 like a

00:28:46.180 --> 00:28:46.579
 lamp

00:28:46.579 --> 00:28:48.759
 because

00:28:48.759 --> 00:28:50.740
 Jesus has

00:28:50.740 --> 00:28:51.400
 transferred

00:28:51.400 --> 00:28:53.100
 the word

00:28:53.100 --> 00:28:55.820
 from him

00:28:55.820 --> 00:28:58.400
 to us.

00:28:59.840 --> 00:29:00.440
 The

00:29:00.440 --> 00:29:01.180
 light of

00:29:01.180 --> 00:29:01.500
 Jesus'

00:29:01.780 --> 00:29:02.500
 word is

00:29:02.500 --> 00:29:03.120
 now your

00:29:03.120 --> 00:29:04.420
 lamp in

00:29:04.420 --> 00:29:05.120
 your hand

00:29:05.120 --> 00:29:05.780
 to put on

00:29:05.780 --> 00:29:06.259
 the stand

00:29:06.259 --> 00:29:06.540
 of your

00:29:06.540 --> 00:29:07.540
 life every

00:29:07.540 --> 00:29:08.000
 day and

00:29:08.000 --> 00:29:08.460
 to never

00:29:08.460 --> 00:29:09.100
 hide it.

00:29:10.240 --> 00:29:10.680
 For it

00:29:10.680 --> 00:29:10.920
 will be

00:29:10.920 --> 00:29:11.280
 Jesus'

00:29:11.519 --> 00:29:12.380
 word alone

00:29:12.380 --> 00:29:13.180
 that will

00:29:13.180 --> 00:29:13.740
 help you

00:29:13.740 --> 00:29:15.340
 see people

00:29:15.340 --> 00:29:15.660
 in the

00:29:15.660 --> 00:29:16.019
 darkness

00:29:16.019 --> 00:29:17.120
 and motivate

00:29:17.120 --> 00:29:18.160
 you to

00:29:18.160 --> 00:29:19.040
 bring them

00:29:19.040 --> 00:29:19.780
 through their

00:29:19.780 --> 00:29:20.280
 horrible

00:29:20.279 --> 00:29:21.599
 blindness to

00:29:21.599 --> 00:29:22.460
 salvation to

00:29:22.460 --> 00:29:24.480
 Jesus in

00:29:24.480 --> 00:29:25.059
 his light.

00:29:26.039 --> 00:29:26.700
 How incredible

00:29:26.700 --> 00:29:27.119
 is that?

00:29:27.660 --> 00:29:28.319
 How incredible

00:29:28.319 --> 00:29:28.879
 is that?

00:29:30.639 --> 00:29:31.480
 What about

00:29:31.480 --> 00:29:31.859
 the mustard

00:29:31.859 --> 00:29:32.220
 seed?

00:29:33.379 --> 00:29:33.700
 God's

00:29:33.700 --> 00:29:34.319
 word changes

00:29:34.319 --> 00:29:35.519
 us dirt

00:29:35.519 --> 00:29:38.740
 specks into

00:29:38.740 --> 00:29:39.440
 seeds with

00:29:39.440 --> 00:29:40.440
 limitless gospel

00:29:40.440 --> 00:29:41.379
 sharing potential.

00:29:42.200 --> 00:29:43.119
 No matter

00:29:43.119 --> 00:29:44.039
 where you think

00:29:44.039 --> 00:29:44.619
 you are or

00:29:44.619 --> 00:29:45.039
 where you've

00:29:45.039 --> 00:29:46.740
 been, the

00:29:46.740 --> 00:29:47.899
 potential for

00:29:47.899 --> 00:29:49.539
 gospel ministry

00:29:49.539 --> 00:29:52.399
 is limitless.

00:29:55.399 --> 00:29:56.440
 Your life

00:29:56.440 --> 00:29:56.759
 can be

00:29:56.759 --> 00:29:58.240
 fruitful for

00:29:58.240 --> 00:29:58.740
 the kingdom

00:29:58.740 --> 00:29:59.700
 through the

00:29:59.700 --> 00:30:00.119
 word of

00:30:00.119 --> 00:30:00.559
 God.

00:30:02.119 --> 00:30:03.059
 And that's

00:30:03.059 --> 00:30:03.659
 the growth

00:30:03.659 --> 00:30:05.379
 strategy for

00:30:05.379 --> 00:30:06.119
 enlarging the

00:30:06.119 --> 00:30:06.659
 kingdom is

00:30:06.659 --> 00:30:08.159
 through God's

00:30:08.159 --> 00:30:08.519
 people.

00:30:10.379 --> 00:30:11.319
 That brings

00:30:11.319 --> 00:30:11.779
 us to our

00:30:11.779 --> 00:30:12.519
 last parable,

00:30:13.500 --> 00:30:14.000
 the parable

00:30:14.000 --> 00:30:14.859
 of the harvest

00:30:14.859 --> 00:30:16.000
 in verses

00:30:16.000 --> 00:30:16.920
 26.

00:30:16.920 --> 00:30:19.779
 the lamp

00:30:19.779 --> 00:30:20.080
 and the

00:30:20.080 --> 00:30:20.380
 mustard

00:30:20.380 --> 00:30:20.900
 seed,

00:30:21.500 --> 00:30:22.240
 like Takeshi

00:30:22.240 --> 00:30:22.680
 taught us

00:30:22.680 --> 00:30:23.180
 about last

00:30:23.180 --> 00:30:23.519
 week.

00:30:23.840 --> 00:30:24.279
 Mark has

00:30:24.279 --> 00:30:24.600
 put them

00:30:24.600 --> 00:30:25.340
 together like

00:30:25.340 --> 00:30:25.860
 a sandwich.

00:30:26.519 --> 00:30:26.880
 They're like

00:30:26.880 --> 00:30:27.519
 the bread

00:30:27.519 --> 00:30:28.480
 and here

00:30:28.480 --> 00:30:29.039
 comes the

00:30:29.039 --> 00:30:29.360
 filling,

00:30:29.519 --> 00:30:29.860
 the good

00:30:29.860 --> 00:30:30.180
 bit in

00:30:30.180 --> 00:30:30.539
 the middle,

00:30:30.880 --> 00:30:31.580
 the crescendo

00:30:31.580 --> 00:30:32.120
 of those

00:30:32.120 --> 00:30:32.580
 three.

00:30:32.579 --> 00:30:37.480
 let's read

00:30:37.480 --> 00:30:38.339
 verse 26.

00:30:42.339 --> 00:30:43.079
 He also

00:30:43.079 --> 00:30:43.399
 said,

00:30:43.480 --> 00:30:44.000
 this is what

00:30:44.000 --> 00:30:44.460
 the kingdom

00:30:44.460 --> 00:30:45.039
 of God

00:30:45.039 --> 00:30:45.679
 is like.

00:30:46.339 --> 00:30:46.839
 A man

00:30:46.839 --> 00:30:47.679
 scatters seed

00:30:47.679 --> 00:30:47.960
 on the

00:30:47.960 --> 00:30:48.299
 ground,

00:30:48.559 --> 00:30:49.000
 night and

00:30:49.000 --> 00:30:49.299
 day.

00:30:50.179 --> 00:30:50.720
 Whether he

00:30:50.720 --> 00:30:51.699
 sleeps or

00:30:51.699 --> 00:30:52.299
 gets up,

00:30:53.439 --> 00:30:54.460
 the seed

00:30:54.460 --> 00:30:55.179
 sprouts and

00:30:55.179 --> 00:30:55.639
 grows.

00:30:56.039 --> 00:30:56.379
 Though he

00:30:56.379 --> 00:30:56.879
 does not

00:30:56.879 --> 00:30:57.559
 know how,

00:30:58.079 --> 00:30:58.559
 all by

00:30:58.559 --> 00:30:59.240
 itself the

00:30:59.240 --> 00:30:59.960
 soil produces

00:30:59.960 --> 00:31:00.319
 grain,

00:31:00.439 --> 00:31:00.839
 first the

00:31:00.839 --> 00:31:01.220
 stalk,

00:31:01.439 --> 00:31:01.799
 then the

00:31:01.799 --> 00:31:02.059
 head,

00:31:02.059 --> 00:31:02.579
 then the

00:31:02.579 --> 00:31:03.059
 full kernel

00:31:03.059 --> 00:31:03.359
 in the

00:31:03.359 --> 00:31:03.579
 head,

00:31:03.819 --> 00:31:04.179
 and as

00:31:04.179 --> 00:31:05.079
 soon as

00:31:05.079 --> 00:31:05.579
 the grain

00:31:05.579 --> 00:31:06.159
 is ripe,

00:31:06.240 --> 00:31:06.639
 he puts

00:31:06.639 --> 00:31:07.139
 the sickle

00:31:07.139 --> 00:31:07.539
 to it

00:31:07.539 --> 00:31:08.259
 because the

00:31:08.259 --> 00:31:09.339
 harvest has

00:31:09.339 --> 00:31:09.779
 come.

00:31:11.539 --> 00:31:13.639
 God does

00:31:13.639 --> 00:31:14.980
 the growing

00:31:14.980 --> 00:31:16.399
 in unseen

00:31:16.399 --> 00:31:17.700
 and sometimes

00:31:17.700 --> 00:31:18.740
 unknown ways

00:31:18.740 --> 00:31:20.960
 and he does

00:31:20.960 --> 00:31:21.339
 it in your

00:31:21.339 --> 00:31:22.960
 life and in

00:31:22.960 --> 00:31:23.859
 the lives of

00:31:23.859 --> 00:31:24.639
 those around

00:31:24.639 --> 00:31:26.379
 you through

00:31:26.379 --> 00:31:27.159
 his word.

00:31:28.119 --> 00:31:29.079
 You have a

00:31:29.079 --> 00:31:30.659
 place in

00:31:30.659 --> 00:31:31.099
 the kingdom

00:31:31.099 --> 00:31:31.919
 of God and

00:31:31.920 --> 00:31:32.240
 it's to

00:31:32.240 --> 00:31:32.980
 sit right

00:31:32.980 --> 00:31:34.039
 there with

00:31:34.039 --> 00:31:34.759
 the disciples

00:31:34.759 --> 00:31:35.640
 gathered around

00:31:35.640 --> 00:31:36.340
 the saviour

00:31:36.340 --> 00:31:37.779
 listening to

00:31:37.779 --> 00:31:38.019
 him.

00:31:38.100 --> 00:31:38.860
 The time we

00:31:38.860 --> 00:31:39.460
 spend,

00:31:39.779 --> 00:31:40.240
 like I've

00:31:40.240 --> 00:31:40.860
 said before,

00:31:41.019 --> 00:31:41.680
 the time we

00:31:41.680 --> 00:31:42.779
 spend in

00:31:42.779 --> 00:31:43.660
 that place

00:31:43.660 --> 00:31:45.980
 hearing Jesus

00:31:45.980 --> 00:31:47.640
 inspires a

00:31:47.640 --> 00:31:48.620
 life of

00:31:48.620 --> 00:31:49.120
 mission,

00:31:50.680 --> 00:31:51.420
 sharing the

00:31:51.420 --> 00:31:52.480
 gospel in

00:31:52.480 --> 00:31:53.400
 action and

00:31:53.400 --> 00:31:53.880
 word.

00:31:55.000 --> 00:31:55.620
 You have

00:31:55.620 --> 00:31:56.960
 become like

00:31:56.960 --> 00:31:57.539
 a farmer

00:31:57.539 --> 00:31:58.900
 planting seeds.

00:31:58.900 --> 00:31:59.960
 you plant

00:31:59.960 --> 00:32:00.480
 the seed of

00:32:00.480 --> 00:32:01.019
 the gospel

00:32:01.019 --> 00:32:02.920
 wherever and

00:32:02.920 --> 00:32:03.780
 whatever your

00:32:03.780 --> 00:32:04.860
 field, whether

00:32:04.860 --> 00:32:05.860
 it be home or

00:32:05.860 --> 00:32:08.019
 work or a

00:32:08.019 --> 00:32:09.380
 church, wherever

00:32:09.380 --> 00:32:10.019
 you happen to

00:32:10.019 --> 00:32:11.460
 be, wherever

00:32:11.460 --> 00:32:12.240
 you are tending

00:32:12.240 --> 00:32:15.180
 the ground and

00:32:15.180 --> 00:32:15.720
 give it your best

00:32:15.720 --> 00:32:16.360
 shot to help it

00:32:16.360 --> 00:32:16.600
 grow.

00:32:16.800 --> 00:32:17.500
 Wait patiently

00:32:17.500 --> 00:32:18.480
 for the growth

00:32:18.480 --> 00:32:20.200
 that God does

00:32:20.200 --> 00:32:21.160
 by his Holy

00:32:21.160 --> 00:32:21.740
 Spirit through

00:32:21.740 --> 00:32:23.580
 his word for

00:32:23.580 --> 00:32:24.180
 the moment when

00:32:24.180 --> 00:32:25.440
 the harvest is

00:32:25.440 --> 00:32:25.880
 ripe.

00:32:27.180 --> 00:32:27.920
 Friends, we

00:32:27.920 --> 00:32:29.019
 long to see

00:32:29.019 --> 00:32:30.920
 harvest time

00:32:30.920 --> 00:32:31.700
 for this

00:32:31.700 --> 00:32:32.220
 community.

00:32:33.120 --> 00:32:33.600
 When many

00:32:33.600 --> 00:32:34.299
 patches of

00:32:34.299 --> 00:32:35.019
 soil are out

00:32:35.019 --> 00:32:35.580
 there and

00:32:35.580 --> 00:32:36.480
 there's many

00:32:36.480 --> 00:32:37.440
 seeds growing,

00:32:37.900 --> 00:32:38.440
 people are

00:32:38.440 --> 00:32:38.920
 hearing the

00:32:38.920 --> 00:32:39.640
 word of God

00:32:39.640 --> 00:32:40.680
 and some,

00:32:41.140 --> 00:32:41.620
 many,

00:32:42.000 --> 00:32:43.039
 they're all

00:32:43.039 --> 00:32:43.840
 beginning to

00:32:43.840 --> 00:32:44.320
 respond.

00:32:47.259 --> 00:32:48.120
 And while we

00:32:48.120 --> 00:32:50.160
 wait, we

00:32:50.160 --> 00:32:50.480
 know the

00:32:50.480 --> 00:32:51.140
 gospel has been

00:32:51.140 --> 00:32:52.060
 sown, we

00:32:52.060 --> 00:32:52.860
 continue to

00:32:52.860 --> 00:32:53.180
 sow it

00:32:53.180 --> 00:32:53.620
 everywhere.

00:32:54.180 --> 00:32:55.340
 We're united

00:32:55.340 --> 00:32:56.100
 by Jesus'

00:32:56.320 --> 00:32:58.039
 word as a

00:32:58.039 --> 00:32:59.019
 people desperate

00:32:59.019 --> 00:32:59.960
 to see the

00:32:59.960 --> 00:33:00.900
 world around

00:33:00.900 --> 00:33:01.880
 us encounter

00:33:01.880 --> 00:33:02.360
 Jesus.

00:33:02.840 --> 00:33:03.960
 We exist as a

00:33:03.960 --> 00:33:05.460
 church to

00:33:05.460 --> 00:33:06.160
 take God's

00:33:06.160 --> 00:33:07.279
 grace to us

00:33:07.279 --> 00:33:09.400
 and to sow

00:33:09.400 --> 00:33:10.120
 it into all

00:33:10.120 --> 00:33:10.680
 peoples.

00:33:11.340 --> 00:33:11.860
 That is our

00:33:11.860 --> 00:33:12.120
 mission.

00:33:13.820 --> 00:33:14.580
 And we long

00:33:14.580 --> 00:33:15.400
 to celebrate

00:33:15.400 --> 00:33:16.600
 the day of

00:33:16.600 --> 00:33:17.220
 harvest with

00:33:17.220 --> 00:33:18.100
 one person,

00:33:18.180 --> 00:33:18.680
 with ten,

00:33:19.060 --> 00:33:19.640
 with a

00:33:19.640 --> 00:33:20.080
 thousand.

00:33:22.019 --> 00:33:22.740
 Those who

00:33:22.740 --> 00:33:23.400
 accept the

00:33:23.400 --> 00:33:24.100
 word of

00:33:24.099 --> 00:33:24.459
 Jesus.

00:33:25.859 --> 00:33:26.319
 We long

00:33:26.319 --> 00:33:26.959
 to welcome

00:33:26.959 --> 00:33:29.099
 those into

00:33:29.099 --> 00:33:29.799
 a life of

00:33:29.799 --> 00:33:30.339
 sharing the

00:33:30.339 --> 00:33:31.000
 word alongside

00:33:31.000 --> 00:33:31.599
 us.

00:33:32.759 --> 00:33:34.099
 Joy and

00:33:34.099 --> 00:33:34.539
 eternity.

00:33:37.119 --> 00:33:37.919
 I told you

00:33:37.919 --> 00:33:38.279
 that when we

00:33:38.279 --> 00:33:39.579
 started, that

00:33:39.579 --> 00:33:40.319
 I stand here

00:33:40.319 --> 00:33:41.779
 today preaching

00:33:41.779 --> 00:33:43.219
 the word because

00:33:43.219 --> 00:33:44.039
 some people

00:33:44.039 --> 00:33:44.819
 preached it to

00:33:44.819 --> 00:33:45.079
 me.

00:33:46.019 --> 00:33:46.799
 They showed

00:33:46.799 --> 00:33:47.659
 me that Jesus

00:33:47.659 --> 00:33:49.740
 was the key to

00:33:49.740 --> 00:33:50.439
 unlocking the

00:33:50.439 --> 00:33:51.079
 words of God

00:33:51.079 --> 00:33:51.379
 God that I

00:33:51.379 --> 00:33:51.599
 had been

00:33:51.599 --> 00:33:52.079
 hearing as

00:33:52.079 --> 00:33:52.279
 I was

00:33:52.279 --> 00:33:52.799
 growing up.

00:33:53.939 --> 00:33:54.859
 It's like

00:33:54.859 --> 00:33:56.059
 they were

00:33:56.059 --> 00:33:56.759
 banging on

00:33:56.759 --> 00:33:57.259
 the door,

00:33:58.399 --> 00:33:58.939
 screaming to

00:33:58.939 --> 00:33:59.240
 get my

00:33:59.240 --> 00:33:59.720
 attention.

00:33:59.720 --> 00:33:59.779
 attention.

00:34:04.220 --> 00:34:04.920
 It's like

00:34:04.920 --> 00:34:06.620
 they could not

00:34:06.620 --> 00:34:08.840
 help but see

00:34:08.840 --> 00:34:09.500
 me in my

00:34:09.500 --> 00:34:10.159
 anxious,

00:34:10.699 --> 00:34:12.159
 fearful state

00:34:12.159 --> 00:34:12.659
 trying to

00:34:12.659 --> 00:34:13.500
 piece together

00:34:13.500 --> 00:34:14.460
 with my

00:34:14.460 --> 00:34:15.280
 understanding and

00:34:15.280 --> 00:34:16.000
 the things that I

00:34:16.000 --> 00:34:17.039
 was getting when

00:34:17.039 --> 00:34:17.519
 I read the

00:34:17.519 --> 00:34:18.480
 Bible or hear it

00:34:18.480 --> 00:34:19.519
 at school or I

00:34:19.519 --> 00:34:20.139
 hear it from my

00:34:20.139 --> 00:34:20.880
 friends who

00:34:20.880 --> 00:34:21.659
 weren't keen on

00:34:21.659 --> 00:34:22.179
 it at all.

00:34:22.460 --> 00:34:23.079
 I didn't know

00:34:23.079 --> 00:34:24.380
 where to go but

00:34:24.380 --> 00:34:25.019
 that group of

00:34:25.019 --> 00:34:25.780
 people together,

00:34:25.780 --> 00:34:26.420
 they slipped

00:34:26.420 --> 00:34:27.100
 this key under

00:34:27.100 --> 00:34:27.660
 the door.

00:34:29.660 --> 00:34:30.400
 They said

00:34:30.400 --> 00:34:31.580
 Jesus is the

00:34:31.580 --> 00:34:32.920
 way to unlock

00:34:32.920 --> 00:34:34.840
 the kingdom

00:34:34.840 --> 00:34:37.140
 so I could

00:34:37.140 --> 00:34:37.940
 find freedom

00:34:37.940 --> 00:34:38.640
 with God,

00:34:39.019 --> 00:34:39.560
 walk through

00:34:39.560 --> 00:34:41.220
 the door and

00:34:41.220 --> 00:34:41.740
 go and take

00:34:41.740 --> 00:34:42.400
 that key and

00:34:42.400 --> 00:34:42.900
 slip it under

00:34:42.900 --> 00:34:43.640
 more doors.

00:34:45.920 --> 00:34:47.260
 I stand here

00:34:47.260 --> 00:34:48.340
 because of

00:34:48.340 --> 00:34:49.260
 Viv and

00:34:49.260 --> 00:34:50.540
 Steve and

00:34:50.540 --> 00:34:51.800
 Chris and

00:34:51.800 --> 00:34:53.400
 Steve and

00:34:53.400 --> 00:34:54.300
 Stephen and

00:34:54.300 --> 00:34:54.620
 Louise,

00:34:54.820 --> 00:34:55.180
 lots of

00:34:55.179 --> 00:34:55.779
 steves in my

00:34:55.779 --> 00:34:56.440
 life growing

00:34:56.440 --> 00:34:56.679
 up,

00:34:56.739 --> 00:34:57.179
 just saying,

00:34:58.239 --> 00:35:00.559
 but I

00:35:00.559 --> 00:35:01.480
 found the

00:35:01.480 --> 00:35:01.960
 key that

00:35:01.960 --> 00:35:02.839
 Jesus is

00:35:02.839 --> 00:35:03.779
 because they

00:35:03.779 --> 00:35:04.619
 gave it to

00:35:04.619 --> 00:35:04.879
 me.

00:35:07.899 --> 00:35:08.419
 Who

00:35:08.419 --> 00:35:08.839
 sowed the

00:35:08.839 --> 00:35:09.419
 gospel in

00:35:09.419 --> 00:35:09.679
 you?

00:35:11.679 --> 00:35:12.219
 What an

00:35:12.219 --> 00:35:13.000
 opportunity we

00:35:13.000 --> 00:35:13.559
 have to go

00:35:13.559 --> 00:35:13.960
 and do the

00:35:13.960 --> 00:35:14.199
 same.

00:35:16.219 --> 00:35:16.879
 So we've

00:35:16.879 --> 00:35:17.619
 heard that

00:35:17.619 --> 00:35:18.359
 Jesus preached

00:35:18.359 --> 00:35:19.079
 in parables,

00:35:19.719 --> 00:35:20.399
 heard about

00:35:20.399 --> 00:35:21.079
 his kingdom

00:35:21.079 --> 00:35:22.440
 and heard

00:35:22.440 --> 00:35:22.919
 about our

00:35:22.919 --> 00:35:23.659
 role in it

00:35:23.659 --> 00:35:23.980
 now.

00:35:25.179 --> 00:35:26.739
 God's

00:35:26.739 --> 00:35:26.819
 word.

00:35:26.819 --> 00:35:27.019
 It's the

00:35:27.019 --> 00:35:27.500
 word that

00:35:27.500 --> 00:35:28.079
 unites us

00:35:28.079 --> 00:35:28.579
 here today.

00:35:28.779 --> 00:35:29.039
 It's the

00:35:29.039 --> 00:35:29.460
 word of

00:35:29.460 --> 00:35:29.919
 God that

00:35:29.919 --> 00:35:30.219
 is our

00:35:30.219 --> 00:35:31.019
 strength and

00:35:31.019 --> 00:35:31.699
 our courage,

00:35:32.559 --> 00:35:33.379
 our insight,

00:35:34.159 --> 00:35:35.099
 our refuge,

00:35:35.599 --> 00:35:36.119
 and our

00:35:36.119 --> 00:35:36.639
 message.

00:35:37.500 --> 00:35:38.000
 So wherever

00:35:38.000 --> 00:35:38.699
 you preach the

00:35:38.699 --> 00:35:39.559
 gospel, however

00:35:39.559 --> 00:35:40.279
 you do it in

00:35:40.279 --> 00:35:41.159
 word or deed,

00:35:41.719 --> 00:35:42.179
 wherever you

00:35:42.179 --> 00:35:43.579
 are, sow the

00:35:43.579 --> 00:35:44.000
 word in

00:35:44.000 --> 00:35:45.599
 abundance into

00:35:45.599 --> 00:35:46.239
 the field of

00:35:46.239 --> 00:35:48.039
 chatwood and

00:35:48.039 --> 00:35:48.440
 beyond.

00:35:48.440 --> 00:35:50.440
 God's

00:35:50.440 --> 00:35:50.840
 and wait

00:35:50.840 --> 00:35:51.559
 patiently for

00:35:51.559 --> 00:35:52.119
 the harvest

00:35:52.119 --> 00:35:54.139
 until we

00:35:54.139 --> 00:35:54.940
 get to sit

00:35:54.940 --> 00:35:56.240
 with Jesus

00:35:56.240 --> 00:35:57.599
 and speak to

00:35:57.599 --> 00:35:58.300
 him face to

00:35:58.300 --> 00:35:58.720
 face.

00:36:00.760 --> 00:36:01.579
 Never miss a

00:36:01.579 --> 00:36:02.159
 chance to open

00:36:02.159 --> 00:36:02.760
 the Bible and

00:36:02.760 --> 00:36:03.320
 listen to him.

00:36:04.659 --> 00:36:05.539
 Keep going to

00:36:05.539 --> 00:36:06.820
 his word, having

00:36:06.820 --> 00:36:07.840
 faith and trust

00:36:07.840 --> 00:36:09.760
 only in the

00:36:09.760 --> 00:36:10.280
 word of our

00:36:10.280 --> 00:36:10.539
 king.

00:36:11.960 --> 00:36:12.679
 Let's pray.

00:36:12.679 --> 00:36:18.019
 Lord Jesus

00:36:18.019 --> 00:36:19.259
 Christ, we

00:36:19.259 --> 00:36:19.759
 hear your

00:36:19.759 --> 00:36:20.339
 word as you

00:36:20.339 --> 00:36:20.739
 speak.

00:36:22.319 --> 00:36:23.139
 You are the

00:36:23.139 --> 00:36:23.919
 way for sinners

00:36:23.919 --> 00:36:24.739
 to come back

00:36:24.739 --> 00:36:25.099
 to their

00:36:25.099 --> 00:36:25.419
 maker.

00:36:25.940 --> 00:36:26.619
 We thank you

00:36:26.619 --> 00:36:26.980
 that you

00:36:26.980 --> 00:36:27.619
 scattered the

00:36:27.619 --> 00:36:28.179
 seed of this

00:36:28.179 --> 00:36:29.039
 good news so

00:36:29.039 --> 00:36:29.779
 widely and

00:36:29.779 --> 00:36:31.099
 graciously that

00:36:31.099 --> 00:36:31.779
 we can be

00:36:31.779 --> 00:36:32.659
 here to receive

00:36:32.659 --> 00:36:33.980
 it and sow

00:36:33.980 --> 00:36:34.859
 it today.

00:36:36.000 --> 00:36:36.759
 May many

00:36:36.759 --> 00:36:37.480
 here accept

00:36:37.480 --> 00:36:38.119
 your word for

00:36:38.119 --> 00:36:38.779
 the first time

00:36:38.779 --> 00:36:39.159
 today.

00:36:40.199 --> 00:36:41.059
 Enable us to

00:36:41.059 --> 00:36:42.019
 bear the fruit

00:36:42.019 --> 00:36:42.659
 of the gospel

00:36:42.659 --> 00:36:43.539
 in our lives

00:36:43.539 --> 00:36:44.899
 as we come

00:36:44.899 --> 00:36:45.599
 to hear you

00:36:45.599 --> 00:36:46.199
 speak every

00:36:46.199 --> 00:36:47.480
 Sunday, every

00:36:47.480 --> 00:36:48.619
 day, every

00:36:48.619 --> 00:36:49.199
 moment we

00:36:49.199 --> 00:36:49.679
 can.

00:36:51.420 --> 00:36:51.960
 And Jesus,

00:36:52.119 --> 00:36:52.739
 may we never

00:36:52.739 --> 00:36:53.519
 miss the chance

00:36:53.519 --> 00:36:54.639
 to hear and

00:36:54.639 --> 00:36:55.460
 learn and

00:36:55.460 --> 00:36:56.179
 respond in

00:36:56.179 --> 00:36:57.179
 worship to

00:36:57.179 --> 00:36:58.359
 your word as

00:36:58.359 --> 00:36:59.099
 you lead us

00:36:59.099 --> 00:36:59.839
 into your

00:36:59.839 --> 00:37:00.579
 eternal kingdom.

00:37:01.579 --> 00:37:01.960
 Amen.