Hey, Grace’rs,
Our weekly FAITH5 is taking us through the Gospel of Mark this year.
If you haven’t yet worshipped with your Grace family you can do so either on Facebook or
YouTube.
If you are new to FAITH5, here’s how it works.
Set aside 5-10 minutes at the end of the day and do the following by yourself, with those in your household, or even with family/friends online:
Share…1 high and 1 low from the day.
Read…Mark 4:21-34
He said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under the bushel basket, or under the bed, and not on the lampstand? 22 For there is nothing hidden, except to be disclosed; nor is anything secret, except to come to light. 23 Let anyone with ears to hear listen!” 24 And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear; the measure you give will be the measure you get, and still more will be given you. 25 For to those who have, more will be given; and from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.”
The Parable of the Growing Seed
26 He also said, “The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, 27 and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. 28 The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. 29 But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come.”
The Parable of the Mustard Seed
30 He also said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; 32 yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”
The Use of Parables
33 With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; 34 he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples.
Talk…Here are several questions you can ask each week as you talk about these verses:
1) What does this passage say about Jesus?
2) What issue or need does Jesus address?
3) How did people respond to Jesus and his message or actions?
4) What might God be saying to you/us through this passage?
5) How will you/we respond?
Pray…for each other. For our world. For our church. For our family and friends.
Bless…each other by making the sign of the cross on each other’s foreheads and say: The LORD Bless You and Keep You.
(FAITH6—Sleep well!)
