Listen, Hearing To Grow (Audio)

A message by Pastor Noel Kluge.

“The parable of the Sower” in Mark 4 is one of Jesus’ most well-known parables. The parable and explanation are so well known that we can be tempted to pass over it with very little thought.  Interestingly, Jesus warns us to do the exact opposite.  “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” (4:9) “Consider carefully what you hear.” (4:24)

This week we will take a fresh look at this parable and consider carefully what Jesus is saying here.  What did this parable mean for those who heard it for the first time?  Why did Jesus only explain the parable to the disciples and a few around him and not the whole crowd?  What did Jesus mean when he quoted Isaiah 6 saying, “they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding”?  Who are the outsiders?  Who are the insiders?  What does this parable mean for us  today? 

All these questions and more will be tackled as we dig into this well-known parable.