I failed to post this last week. I apologize for that but I upgraded my laptop and had issues. Here’s the lesson for last week.

“If you want to hear God speak, read your Bible. If you want to hear God speak audibly, read your Bible out loud.”
Justin Peters

Passage

14 "The sower sows the word.
15 "These are the ones who are beside the road where the word is sown; and when they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word which has been sown in them.
16 "In a similar way these are the ones on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy;
17 and they have no firm root in themselves, but are only temporary; then, when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they fall away.
18 "And others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word,
19 but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
20 "And those are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold."
Mark 4:14-20 (NASB)

Background

Quote-Born and reared in Vicksburg, Mississippi, Justin earned his undergraduate at Mississippi State University (1995) and then a Master of Divinity and Master of Theology (2000, 2002) from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.

Justin met his bride, Kathy, at an evangelism conference near Los Angeles, California in 2009. They were married in August of 2010. From 2014 until 2019 they lived in Sandpoint, Idaho and were members of Kootenai Community Church. They now, along with their little dog, Mia, reside in Bozeman, Montana, and are members of Grace Bible Church.

Passage-The Book of Mark has an emphasis in miracles (27 total) which is significantly more than any of the other Gospels. The key word in Mark is "Immediately" which is used 34 times causing the reader to move from one account to the next rapidly. Mark is the shortest of the synoptic gospels and was written about 64 A.D.

It was written by John Mark who was one of the missionaries who accompanied Paul on their mission trips. It is possible that Mark wrote this Gospel at the urging of Peter (his companion in Rome) since he had firsthand knowledge of the things that Mark wrote about.

The purpose of the Gospel of Mark is to show that the Lord Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God who was sent to suffer and to serve in order to rescue and restore mankind.

Lesson Notes

Opening Statement

I didn’t make one.

Ask: What is an “AH HA!” moment?
Point: The moment a connection is made between two pieces of previously unconnected information that sparks a revelation of insight.

Ask: What do you do when you have an “AH HA!” moment?
Point: Typically, most people stop what they are doing and contemplate the new insight then return to their daily lives

Ask: What do you do with an “AH HA!” moment when it comes from scripture, a devotion, church sermon, or other Christ-centered activity?
Point: The same brief contemplation that happens with a secular moment; briefly realize the connection, perhaps discuss it in the context of the moment with those around you, but otherwise it gets lost and people move on to the next activity.

First Reading Mark 4:17 (NASB)

Ask: What does it mean to not have a “…firm root in themselves…?”
Point: The “AH HA!” moment sparked no real change or alteration in anything.

Ask: What does that mean if we have an “AH HA!” moment but nothing changes in our lives?
Point: It means we either don’t really believe what was revealed to us through the insight or we aren’t willing to act upon it.

Ask: Does that matter?
Point: In matters relating to Jesus, God, God’s ways, and what the Holy Spirit shows us, yes.

Second Reading Matthew 7:15-23 (NASB)

Ask: How does the Second Reading relate to our having or not having a “firm root” of the word of God in our heart?
Point: Our obedience to God’s ways as laid out by Jesus and God’s Apostles in the Bible demonstrates our faith.

Third Reading Romans 16:25-27 (NASB)

Ask: What does it mean to be obedient in faith?
Point: To believe God’s word is truth, and follow it as much as we are able. Where we are unable we work to make changes in our lives enabling us to be more obedient to His Word and His Ways.

Fourth Reading Psalm 119:158-160 (NASB)

Closing Statement

All of the Bible is truth. All of it. From beginning to end we have a previously outlined path through life, a guidebook, a manual for how to live. The Prophets knew this. The Israelites knew this. The Apostles knew this, and the Psalmist knew this.

153 Look upon my affliction and rescue me, For I do not forget Your law.
154 Plead my cause and redeem me; Revive me according to Your word.
155 Salvation is far from the wicked, For they do not seek Your statutes.
156 Great are Your mercies, O LORD; Revive me according to Your ordinances.
157 Many are my persecutors and my adversaries, Yet I do not turn aside from Your testimonies.
158 I behold the treacherous and loathe them, Because they do not keep Your word.
159 Consider how I love Your precepts; Revive me, O LORD, according to Your lovingkindness.
160 The sum of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting. Psalm 119:153-160 (NASB)

Questions for the Week

Question 1 Do you hear God speak?

Question 2 What do you do when you have an “AH HA!” moment today?

Question 3 Do you want to do something differently, and if the answer is “yes”, then what do you intend to change to make that a reality?

Question 4 In your favorite translation of the Bible, re-read Psalm 119:153-160 and write in your journal your thoughts in each verse including the meaning of the Hebrew letter Resh in context of what it means to this Psalm?

Scripture

First Reading

17 and they have no firm root in themselves, but are only temporary; then, when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they fall away.
Mark 4:17 (NASB)

Second Reading

15 "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
16 "You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?
17 "So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.
18 "A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.
19 "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20 "So then, you will know them by their fruits.
21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.
22 "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'
23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'
Matthew 7:15-23 (NASB)
Psalm 6:8

Third Reading

25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past,
26 but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith;
27 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.
Romans 16:25-27 (NASB)

Fourth Reading

158 I behold the treacherous and loathe them, Because they do not keep Your word.
159 Consider how I love Your precepts; Revive me, O LORD, according to Your lovingkindness.
160 The sum of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting.
Psalm 119:158-160 (NASB)

Definitions

26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
Romans 16:26 (KJV)

Greek Strong's Number: 5218

Greek Word: ὑπακοή
Transliteration: hypakoē
Phonetic Pronunciation: hoop-ak-o-ay'
Root: from <G5219>
Part of Speech: n f
Vine's Words: Obedience, Obedient, Obey
English Words used in KJV:
obedience 11
obedient 1
to make obedient + <G1519> 1
to obey + <G1519> 1
obeying 1
from <G5219> (hupakouo); attentive hearkening, i.e. (by implication) compliance or submission :- obedience, (make) obedient, obey (-ing).

James Strong, Strong's Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary, (Austin, TX: WORDsearch Corp., 2007), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, Under: "5218".

Obedience [ oh-bee-dee-uhns ] noun

the state or quality of being obedient.
the act or practice of obeying; dutiful or submissive compliance:Military service demands obedience from its members.
a sphere of authority or jurisdiction, especially ecclesiastical.
Chiefly Ecclesiastical.

1. conformity to a monastic rule or the authority of a religious superior, especially on the part of one who has vowed such conformance.

2. the rule or authority that exacts such conformance.

Likely Place Where Jesus Told the Parable of the Sower

The route from Capernaum to Tabgha that Jesus walked when He gave the parable of the sower.

The likely place where Jesus got in a boat and went out a short distance to address the crowd. It was likely this location because the surrounding terrain forms a natural amphitheater and would be perfect for addressing a large crowd of people.

Adult Bible Study Material - The Cavalier's Pen

Week 23 Do You Hear the Word Sown?