KINGDOM LIVING: The Unstoppable Kingdom

HITTING THE MARK WITH JESUS wk. 23

September 21, 2025

THE UNSTOPABLE KINGDOM

Mark 4:21-34

 

 

Mark 4

INTRODUCTION:

Jab 1—DISAPPOINTED

 

 

 

 

 

Matthew 16:18 (NIV)Iwillbuildmychurch, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

TEXT:

Mark 4:21-34 (NIV) ²¹ He said to them, “Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand?²² For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open.²³ If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear.”

²⁴ “Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more.²⁵ Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.”

²⁶ He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground.²⁷ Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how.²⁸ All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head.²⁹ As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”

³⁰ Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it?³¹ It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth.³² Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.”

³³ With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand.³⁴ He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.

 

 

àHighlight:

Mark 4:1-34

 

 

Mark 10:45 (NIV)“For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

 

 

 

 Mark 4:1-20

 

 

THREE WAYS TO RESPOND TO JESUS: 

 

1. THE

 

 

Mark 4:21-25 (NIV)²¹ He said to them, “Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand?²² For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open.²³ If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear.”

²⁴ “Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more.²⁵ Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.”

 

 

 

Mark 4:21 (NIV)“Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand?”

 

 

 

John 8:12 (NIV)When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

 

 

 

 

John 1:4 (NIV)In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.

 

 

 

John 1:9 (NIV)The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.

 

 

 

 

 

Two principles:

 

·        IF YOU IT, YOU MISUSE IT

 

Mark 4:21-23 (NIV)²¹ He said to them, “Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand?²² For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open.²³ If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear.”

 

 

 

 

Mark 4:22 (NIV)For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open.

 

 

 

John 3:19 (NIV)Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.

 

 

 

Isaiah 5:20 (NIV)Woe to those who call evil goodand good evil,who put darkness for light and light for darkness,who put bitter for sweetand sweet for bitter.

 

 

 

2 Corinthians 4:3-4 (NIV)And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.⁴ The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ezekiel 3:18 (NIV) ¹⁸ When I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die fortheir sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood.

 

 

 

Jeremiah 1:17 (NIV) ¹⁷ “Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them.”
 

 

 

 

1 Corinthians 9:16 (NIV) For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!

 

 

 

 

·        IF YOU IT, YOU LOSE IT

 

Mark 4:24-25 (NIV)²⁴ “Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more.²⁵ Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.”

 

 

Proverbs 9:9 (NIV) says, Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still;teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.

 

 

Mark 4:20 (NIV) “They are like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.”

 

Mark 4:24-25 (NIV)“With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more.  Whoever has will be given more…” 

 

 

Mark 4:25b (NIV)“…whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. THE

 

 

Mark 4:26-29 (NIV) ²⁶ He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground.²⁷ Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how.²⁸ All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head.²⁹ As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Romans 12:9-21 (NIV)⁹ Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁰ Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.¹¹ Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.¹² Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ¹³ Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. ¹⁶ Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

¹⁷ Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. ¹⁹ Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.²⁰ On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
    if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

 

 

said, “We are not Democrats, we are not Republicans, we are Christ Followers!”

 

 

Mark 4:27-28 (NIV)²⁷ Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how.²⁸ All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head.

 

 

Mark 4:28 (NIV) ²⁸ All by itself the soil produces grain

 

 

 

 

Mark 4:29 (NIV)²⁹ As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”

 

 

 

 

Revelation 14:15 (NIV)¹⁵ Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, “Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.”

 

 

 

 

 

Galatians 6:9 (NIV)Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

 

 

 

Psalm 126:5-6 (NIV) Those who sow with tearswill reap with songs of joy.  ⁶ Those who go out weeping,carrying seed to sow,will return with songs of joy,carrying sheaves with them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.  DON’T

 

 

Mark 4:30-34 (NIV) ³⁰ Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it?³¹ It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth.³² Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.”

³³ With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand.³⁴ He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.

 

Zechariah 4:10 (NLT) says, Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin…

 

 

 

CONCLUSION:

 

 

 

 

John 12:24-26 (NIV)²⁴ Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.²⁵ Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.²⁶ Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

 

 

Matthew 16:24 (NIV) Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

 

 

 

Galatians 2:20 (NIV) I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

 

 

PRAYER:

 

ALTAR:

 

WORSHIP:

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