The Sun Scorches the Plants (Mark 4:1-20)

Summer Worship Series, Sunday August 9, 2020

Under the Sun Series, Week 9, The Sun Scorches the Plants

Readings for Week 8:

First Lesson: Deuteronomy 8:1-9.  The Israelites who would enter the Promised Lan had gone through much testing and many difficult times, but through it all, God had positive lessons for them to learn.

Second Lesson:  Hebrews 12:1-13.  On the heels of the great “Hall of Faith: chapter of the Bible (Hebrews 11), this reading reminds us that all of God’s people face difficulties that God uses for our discipline and ultimate benefit.

Gospel and Sermon Text:  Mark 4:1-20.  The parable of the Sower and the Seed describes a variety of reactions people have to hearing the Gospel.  May God grant that we continue to hear his Word with joy and gratitude and bear much fruit!

Sermon:  The Sun Scorches the Plants.  Mark 4:1-20

Sometimes the message from God has the purpose of confronting people with his law…and sometimes this meets with rejection.  That message then condemns those who oppose God.  At other times, that Word fulfills the desire of God that people be saved, and it works or strengthens faith in him.

This message of Jesus’ was meant to build up those given the gift of faith and allows us to think about our need to be deeply rooted in God’s Word so that we do not allow trouble and persecution to scorch our faith.  And we all experience our share of trouble in this world that we Christians must go thru in order to receive eternal life.

It is a blessing to know that just as Jesus loved us enough to live and die for us, he also loves us enough to warn us.  He forgives us for our past failures in these things and he urges us to listen to his Word, because that will produce a faith strongly rooted in the words and promises of our Lord.

Pastor Ron Koehler