First Baptist Church . 3 Hedge Street . Simpsonville, SC 29681 . phone: (864) 967-8591 . Class Location: Main 210
Our Prayer
Our Prayer
Heavenly Father, I know that I have sinned against You and that my sins separate me from You. I am truly sorry. I now want to turn away from my sinful past and turn to You for forgiveness. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that Your Son, Jesus Christ, died for my sins, that He was raised from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become my Savior and the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send Your Holy Spirit to help me obey You and to convict me when I sin. I pledge to grow in grace and knowledge of You. My greatest purpose in life is to follow Your example and do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
Matthew 16 stands as a watershed moment in
the life and ministry of Jesus. Until now, the disciples have seen His
miracles, heard His teaching, and followed Him across towns and hillsides. But
now, in a moment of quiet clarity, Jesus turns the question toward them. He
moves from the crowds to the core. From the curious to the committed. “Who do
people say that the Son of Man is?” And then more personally, “But who do you
say that I am?”
It’s a question that echoes through the
centuries. It is the most important question anyone will ever answer: Who is
Jesus?
Peter speaks first, as he so often does. But
this time, he speaks with Spirit-given insight: “You are the Christ, the Son of
the living God.” It is a bold and beautiful confession. He is saying, “You are
not just a prophet. You are not just a healer or teacher. You are the Messiah —
the long-awaited King sent to rescue God’s people.” And Jesus affirms it.
“Blessed are you, Simon… this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but
by my Father in heaven.”
Jesus then declares that on this rock — on
the confession of His identity — He will build His church, and the gates of
hell shall not prevail against it. This is the first time the word “church”
appears in the Gospels. Jesus is announcing the birth of a new community, built
on Him, advancing by His authority, and protected by His power.
But the mood shifts suddenly. For the first
time, Jesus begins to speak plainly about what kind of Messiah He will be — not
the conquering hero the people expected, but the suffering servant they needed.
He tells His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, suffer, be rejected,
killed, and rise again. And Peter — who had just confessed Him as the Christ — rebukes
Him.
Jesus’ response is sharp and startling: “Get
behind me, Satan.” Peter had spoken divine truth, but now he speaks the
language of human wisdom, trying to keep Jesus from the cross. But there is no
crown without the cross. There is no salvation without sacrifice. And Jesus
makes it clear: not only must He suffer, but so must all who follow Him.
“If anyone would come after me, let him deny
himself and take up his cross and follow me.” This is not a call to comfortable
religion. This is a call to cruciform living — a life shaped by the self-giving
love of Jesus. It is the paradox of the kingdom: to find your life, you must
lose it. To follow Christ, you must follow Him to the cross.
Matthew 16 calls us to clarity. Who do we say
that Jesus is? And if we confess Him as the Christ, will we follow Him all the
way — through suffering, surrender, and self-denial?
Jesus is here, not just to be admired, but to
be followed. Not just to be crowned, but to be crucified. And He invites us to
walk with Him, carrying our cross, toward resurrection life.
Matthew 16:13-20
Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ
13 Now when Jesus came into the district of
Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of
Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and
others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you
say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the
living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For
flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.
18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and
the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of
the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven,
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then He strictly
charged the disciples to tell no one that He was the Christ.
In Matthew 16:15, Jesus asks, “Who do you say
that I am?” How would you answer that question personally, and why does that
confession matter so much for the church?
Jesus calls the church “my church” (v.18).
What difference does it make in your life to remember that the church belongs
to Jesus and not to us?
How does it challenge you to think of the
church as people on mission instead of a building or weekly event?
Jesus promises that “the gates of hell shall
not prevail” against His church (v.18). What does it look like for us to live
with that kind of boldness and confidence in our faith?
Jesus gives the church “the keys of the
kingdom” (v.19). How can you personally use the gospel to unlock hope and
freedom for others this week?
Closing Thoughts
The call of Jesus in Matthew 16 is clear: the
church is not a building to sit in, but a people sent out. If the church is
built on the confession that Jesus is the Christ, then our lives must reflect
that confession daily. We are not called to play church, to coast in comfort,
or to treat faith like a hobby. Instead, Jesus gives us the promise that His
church will be built, the mission to storm the gates of hell, and the power of
the gospel to set captives free. The question is not whether Christ’s church will
advance — the question is whether we will step off the sidelines and join Him
in His mission. So, how is God calling you to stop playing church and start
being the church this week?
The scene that unfolds in Matthew 14 is one
of the most awe-inspiring in the Gospels. It is not just a display of Jesus’
divine power — it is a deeply personal invitation to trust Him in the middle of
life’s storms. After a day of miracles and ministry, Jesus sends His disciples
across the Sea of Galilee while He retreats alone to pray. As night falls, a
storm rises. The winds howl, the waves batter the boat, and the disciples find
themselves once again straining at the oars, caught in chaos beyond their control.
It is in that darkness, in the fourth watch
of the night — between 3 and 6 a.m., when exhaustion and fear are at their peak
— that Jesus comes to them, walking on the water.
This moment is not just about supernatural
ability. It is a revelation of who Jesus is. In the Old Testament, only God
tramples the waves (Job 9:8); only Yahweh rules the sea. So, when Jesus comes
walking on the water, He is declaring, without a word, that He is the Lord of
creation. The storm that terrifies them is under His feet.
The disciples, understandably, are terrified.
They think they are seeing a ghost. But Jesus speaks with clarity and
compassion: “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” Literally, He says, “I am”
— echoing the divine name revealed to Moses at the burning bush. This is no
mere rabbi. This is God in the flesh, standing on the waves.
Then Peter — impulsive, courageous, and
deeply human — says, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the
water.” Jesus says one word: “Come.” And Peter steps out of the boat. For a
moment, he walks on water too. But then his eyes shift from Jesus to the wind,
and he begins to sink. He cries out, “Lord, save me!” And immediately, Jesus
reaches out His hand and catches him.
This story is not a rebuke of Peter’s failure
— it is a portrait of grace. Jesus saves doubting disciples. He meets us in the
middle of the waves, not once we've reached the shore. The boat isn't the
safest place — the presence of Jesus is.
When they climb into the boat, the wind
ceases. And those in the boat worship Him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of
God.” This is the first time the disciples make such a confession together. It
is in the storm — not in the calm — that they come to see Him for who He truly
is.
This passage reminds us that faith isn’t the
absence of fear — it’s the choice to look to Jesus in the midst of it. He
doesn’t always calm the storm first; sometimes, He walks into it and calls us
to follow. But He is never far. He is never late. And He never let’s go.
Jesus is here, even in the storm. Even in the
middle of the night, when our strength is gone and the waves are high — He
comes to us. And His presence is enough.
Matthew 14:22-33
Jesus Walks on the Water
22 Immediately He made the disciples get into
the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowds. 23
And after He had dismissed the crowds, He went up on the mountain by Himself to
pray. When evening came, He was there alone, 24 but the boat by this time was a
long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. 25
And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea. 26
But when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and
said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus
spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” 28 And Peter
answered Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” 29
He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came
to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he
cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out His hand and took
hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And
when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat
worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”
Why do you think Jesus sent His disciples
into the boat while He went up the mountain to pray (vv. 22–23)?
What does this teach us about His priorities
and His care for His people?
When the disciples saw Jesus’ walking on the
sea, they were terrified (vv. 2527). Why do you think they reacted this way,
and how does Jesus’ response speak into our own fears?
Peter stepped out of the boat in faith but
began to sink when he saw the wind (vv. 28–30). What does this reveal about the
difference between faith and fear in the Christian life?
Jesus immediately reached out His hand to
save Peter (v. 31). How does this moment illustrate both our weakness and
Jesus’ willingness to rescue?
The disciples worshiped Jesus as the Son of
God when the storm ceased (vv. 32–33). How should our experiences of Christ’s
power and presence lead us to deeper worship today?
Closing Thoughts
Faith is not the absence of fear but the
decision to trust Jesus in the middle of it. Like Peter, we are called to step
out of the boat and fix our eyes on Christ, even when the waves seem
overwhelming. The storms of life — uncertainty, suffering, or doubt — are not
beyond His reach. When we stumble, Jesus is quick to save, reminding us that
His power is greater than our weakness. The right response to His saving hand
is worship, not worry. So where in your life is Jesus inviting you to step out
in faith and trust Him more fully?
END
Teacher notes:
Matthew 14:22-33
22 Immediately He made the disciples get into
the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowds. 23
And after He had dismissed the crowds, He went up on the mountain by Himself to
pray. When evening came, He was there alone, 24 but the boat by this time was a
long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. 25
And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea. 26
But when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and
said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus
spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” 28 And Peter
answered Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” 29
He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came
to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he
cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out His hand and took
hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And
when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat
worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”
In Mark 5, we are brought face-to-face with
one of the most haunting and powerful stories in all the Gospels — the healing
of a man possessed by a legion of demons. It is a scene that confronts us with
the extremes of human brokenness and the unmatched authority of Jesus Christ.
This is not just a story about deliverance; it is a declaration of the gospel’s
power to reach the most hopeless, the most defiled, and the most forgotten. If
the man in this story is not beyond the reach of Jesus, then no one is.
Jesus and His disciples have just crossed the
stormy Sea of Galilee. As they arrive in the region of the Gerasene’s — a
Gentile, unclean land — they are immediately met by a man who embodies
everything the world fears and rejects. He is naked, violent, uncontrollable,
and living among the tombs. He has been cast out of society, bound in chains
that he continually breaks, consumed by a darkness that no one can tame. Mark
tells us he cried out day and night, cutting himself with stones. He is
physically alive, but spiritually and emotionally buried in death.
And then Jesus steps onshore.
Before the man can even cry for help, the
demons within him recognize Jesus’ authority. “What have you to do with me,
Jesus, Son of the Most High God?” they shriek. Even the forces of hell cannot
deny who Jesus is. And with a word, the Legion is cast out and driven into a
herd of pigs, that rush down the steep bank and drown in the sea. In an
instant, the chaos is silent. The man is free.
When the people come to see what has
happened, they find him clothed, sitting, and in his right mind. The same man
who had terrified them is now at peace, restored by the grace and power of
Jesus. But tragically, instead of rejoicing, the people are afraid — and they
ask Jesus to leave.
The man, however, begs to go with Jesus. But
Jesus sends him back to his home with a mission: “Go home to your friends and
tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how He has had mercy on you.”
And that’s exactly what he does. He becomes the first missionary to the
Gentiles — not with theological training, but with a testimony.
This story reminds us that Jesus doesn’t
avoid our darkness — He walks straight into it. He crosses seas and storms to
rescue even one soul. No one is too lost, too unclean, too far gone. Jesus is
here, even in the tombs, and where He comes, demons flee, the broken are
restored, and the outcast becomes the witness.
Mark 5:1-20
Jesus Heals a Man with a Demon
5 They came to the other side of the sea, to
the country of the Gerasenes. 2 And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat,
immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. 3 He
lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a
chain, 4 for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched
the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength
to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was
always crying out and cutting himself with stones. 6 And when he saw Jesus from
afar, he ran and fell down before him. 7 And crying out with a loud voice, he
said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure
you by God, do not torment me.” 8 For he was saying to him, “Come out of the
man, you unclean spirit!” 9 And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He
replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” 10 And he begged him earnestly
not to send them out of the country. 11 Now a great herd of pigs was feeding
there on the hillside, 12 and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs;
let us enter them.” 13 So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came
out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed
down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea. 14 The herdsmen fled
and told it in the city and in the country. And people came to see what it was
that had happened. 15 And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man,
the one who had had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind,
and they were afraid. 16 And those who had seen it described to them what had
happened to the demon-possessed man and to the pigs. 17 And they began to beg
Jesus to depart from their region. 18 As he was getting into the boat, the man
who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. 19 And
he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them
how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 20 And he
went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for
him, and everyone marveled.
(Mark 5:3–5): What do these verses reveal
about the destructive and isolating nature of sin and evil? How do we see
similar forms of bondage in our world today?
(Mark 5:6–8): Why do you think the demons
immediately recognized and submitted to Jesus’ authority? What does this teach
us about His power over spiritual forces?
(Mark 5:14–16): Why were the townspeople
afraid when they saw the man healed and the pigs destroyed? What does their
reaction teach us about the challenge of truly welcoming Jesus into our lives?
(Mark 5:15): How does the man’s
transformation — “clothed and in his right mind” — illustrate what Jesus does
in the life of a believer? Where have you seen this kind of change in your own
life or in others?
(Mark 5:19–20): Why did Jesus send the man
back to his home instead of letting him travel with Him? How does this shape
our understanding of sharing our testimony where God has placed us?
Closing Thoughts:
When Jesus steps into our lives, He brings
freedom where there was bondage, peace where there was chaos, and purpose where
there was shame. Like the man who was once bound in chains, our testimony is
not about what we have done, but about what Christ has done for us. The most
powerful witness you have is your story of God’s mercy and grace. Jesus doesn’t
just call us to follow Him privately; He sends us to proclaim publicly what He
has done. This week, who needs to hear your story of how Jesus has changed your
life?
END
Teacher's Notes:
In Mark 5, we are brought face-to-face with
one of the most haunting and powerful stories in all the Gospels, the healing
of a man possessed by a legion of demons.
Click Play to Watch
Why are people uncomfortable talking about
demons and spiritual warfare today?
Have you ever had an encounter with evil?
Mark 5:1-5
They came to the other side of the sea, to
the country of the Gerasenes. And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat,
immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. He
lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a
chain, for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched
the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength
to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains, he was
always crying out and cutting himself with stones.
Sin isolates and separates - Just as the man
was cut off from family and community, sin cuts us off from God and others.
Satan always drives people away from love and fellowship into loneliness.
Sin enslaves and controls - The man had no
power over his own actions. He was driven by the demons. Sin makes us slaves
(John 8:34: “Everyone who sins is a slave to sin”).
Sin destroys dignity and identity - He lived
naked, in shame and humiliation (Luke 8:27). Satan wants to strip people of the
image of God and reduce them to despair.
Sin torments and robs peace - Day and night,
the man screamed in agony. Sin promises pleasure, but it delivers torment and
unrest.
Sin leads to death - He lived among the
tombs, a symbol of where sin ultimately leads. Satan’s goal is always
destruction: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10).
Mark 5:6-13
And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and
fell down before Him. And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have You
to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure You by God, do not
torment me.” For He was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean
spirit!” And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is
Legion, for we are many.” And he begged Him earnestly not to send them out of
the country. Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and
they begged Him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.” So, He gave
them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the
herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and
drowned in the sea.
Why did the demons fear Jesus?
They Recognized His Identity - They cried
out, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?” (Mark 5:7).
Demons know who Jesus is, even when people don’t. (James 2:19: “Even the demons
believe, and shudder!”)
They Knew His Authority - They understood He
had the power to command them and determine their fate. Demons are powerful,
but Jesus is all-powerful.
They Knew Their Destiny - They begged Jesus
not to torment them “before the appointed time” (Matthew 8:29). They know
judgment is coming, and Jesus is the Judge.
What does their submission to Him tell us?
Jesus Has Ultimate Authority - Philippians
2:10: “At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and
under the earth.” Even evil spirits are subject to His word.
They Cannot Act Without Permission - Notice
they begged Jesus to let them enter the pigs (Mark 5:12). Satan and demons
operate under limits, God is sovereign.
Submission is Not the Same as Obedience from
the Heart - Their submission was forced, not willing. They bowed to His
authority, but they didn’t worship Him as Lord.
Mark 5:14-17
The herdsmen fled and told it in the city and
in the country. And people came to see what it was that had happened. And they
came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion,
sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. And those
who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man
and to the pigs. And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region.
Why People Resist Jesus’ Power (Then &
Now)
Fear of Change - Jesus disturbed the “status
quo.” People would rather cling to what’s familiar, even if it’s broken, than
risk transformation. Today: Some resist because they know Jesus will call them
to leave old habits or relationships.
Economic Concerns - The pigs represented
livelihood and wealth. They valued profit over people. Today: Following Jesus
may cost us money, time, comfort, or status, many don’t want that price.
Loss of Control - Jesus displayed a power
they couldn’t explain or manage. His presence was unsettling, it meant He was
in charge. Today: People want a Savior who fits their plans, not a Lord who
takes over.
Spiritual Blindness - They saw the miracle
but missed the Messiah. Sin blinds us to what’s truly good. Today: Many
acknowledge Jesus was good, but not that He is God.
Mark 5:18-20
As He was getting into the boat, the man who
had been possessed with demons begged Him that he might be with Him. And He did
not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much
the Lord has done for you, and how He has had mercy on you.” And he went away
and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and
everyone marveled.
Start Where You Are - Jesus told him to begin
at home, with family, friends, neighbors. Our mission field starts in our
homes, workplaces, schools, and communities.
Tell Your Story - The man didn’t preach a
sermon or quote Scripture; he simply told what Jesus did for him. Sharing your
testimony (before Christ → how you met Him → after Christ) is powerful and
relatable.
Show the Change - The man’s life was visibly
different, clothed, calm, in his right mind. Our changed attitudes, peace in
trials, and love for others speak louder than words.
Be Compassionate and Approachable - The man
had once been feared and avoided, but now he could connect with people. We
witness best when we listen, care, and show genuine love.
Trust God with the Results - The man’s
testimony spread through the Decapolis. By the time Jesus returned later in
Mark 7:31–37, crowds welcomed Him. Our job is to plant seeds; God makes them
grow.
Being a faithful witness isn’t about knowing
all the answers, it’s about pointing people to Jesus with your life and your
words.
Like the man in Mark 5, we tell others:
“This is what the Lord has done for me.”
To Show His Power Extends Everywhere - Up
until this point, most of His miracles happened in Jewish regions. By crossing
the sea, He shows His authority reaches beyond Israel, even into the realm of
the “unclean.” Evil spirits, death, uncleanness, none of it stops Him.
To Rescue One Person - Unlike big crowds in
Galilee, here He seems to come for one man. This shows His heart for the lost
and forgotten. The demon-possessed man was isolated, hopeless, and avoided by
everyone, but not by Jesus. Sometimes Jesus will “cross a storm” just to reach
one soul.
To Plant a Witness in Gentile Territory -
Notice that after Jesus heals the man, He doesn’t let him join the disciples.
Instead, He says: “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord
has done for you” (Mark 5:19). This man becomes the first missionary to the
Decapolis (a league of 10 Gentile cities). When Jesus returns later (Mark
7:31–37), crowds are already prepared, likely because of this man’s testimony.
To Confront Evil Directly - Right after
calming the storm (a picture of His authority over nature), Jesus faces a
legion of demons (His authority over spiritual forces). The disciples are
learning: Nothing is too strong for Jesus, not storms, not demons, not even
death itself.
There are moments in Jesus’ teaching when the
weight of His words presses past the surface and calls for something deeper
than attention — it demands examination. Mark 4 begins with one of those
moments. A great crowd gathers by the sea, hungry for His miracles, intrigued
by His authority. And Jesus, sitting in a boat just off the shore, begins to
teach in parables. His first story, the Parable of the Sower, is not merely an
illustration — it is a spiritual mirror. This is a parable about hearing. Not
with ears, but with hearts. Not just once, but continually. It is a story that
asks each of us: What kind of soil am I?
“A sower went out to sow…” The image is
familiar, almost mundane. A farmer scattering seed — generously, broadly,
almost recklessly. But Jesus is not giving agricultural advice. The seed is the
Word of God. The sower is Christ Himself, or anyone who spreads His truth. The
focus is not on the seed but on the soil. The condition of the heart.
Some seed falls along the path — hard,
trampled, unreceptive. The Word is spoken, but Satan snatches it away before it
can take root. Some falls on rocky ground — shallow, impulsive, emotional. It
springs up quickly but withers when hardship comes. Some lands among thorns — crowded
hearts tangled in worry, wealth, and worldly desires. The seed grows, but it is
choked before it can bear fruit. But some seed falls on good soil. It takes
root. It endures. It bears fruit—thirty, sixty, even a hundredfold.
This is not a parable about farming — it is a
parable about faith. It warns us not to assume that hearing the Word equals
obeying it. That emotion equals transformation. That proximity to Jesus equals
intimacy with Him. The soil of the heart must be broken, tilled, made ready.
The good soil isn’t naturally good — it’s soil that’s been worked, softened by
grace, humbled by repentance, and opened to receive the Word of life.
Jesus ends the parable with a challenge: “He
who has ears to hear, let him hear.” This is more than a call to listen — it is
a call to listen with your life. To hear the Word and let it go deep. To endure
when trials come. To repent when thorns creep in. And to trust that God’s Word,
when truly received, will always bear fruit.
Jesus is here, sowing the Word even now — scattering
the seed of truth into hearts. The question is not whether the seed is
powerful. The question is: Will you receive it?
Mark 4:1-9
The Parable of the Sower
4 Again he began to teach beside the sea. And
a very large crowd gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat in it
on the sea, and the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land. 2 And he was
teaching them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them: 3 “Listen!
Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell along the
path, and the birds came and devoured it. 5 Other seed fell on rocky ground,
where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no
depth of soil. 6 And when the sun rose, it was scorched, and since it had no
root, it withered away. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up
and choked it, and it yielded no grain. 8 And other seeds fell into good soil
and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and
sixtyfold and a hundredfold.” 9 And he said, “He who has ears to hear, let him
hear.”
In your own words, what is the main point of
the parable of the sower?
Which of the soils do you think is most
common in our culture today? Why?
Which soil do you most identify with in your
current season of life?
How does this parable challenge the way we
share the gospel?
What practical steps can we take to cultivate
“good soil” in our hearts?
Closing Thoughts:
The Parable of the Sower reminds us that
spiritual growth is not accidental — it’s the result of a heart that is soft
toward God’s Word, free from competing idols, and willing to endure for the
sake of Christ. The seed of the gospel has the power to transform, but it must
be received with humility and nurtured through obedience, prayer, and
community. If we’re honest, each of us has areas where the soil has grown hard,
shallow, or overgrown with thorns. God is calling us to break up that ground,
pull those weeds, and let His Word take root so our lives bear fruit that
lasts. What kind of soil will your heart be this week?
END
Teacher Notes:
Mark 4 begins with a great crowd gathered by
the sea, hungry for Jesus’ miracles, intrigued by His authority.
Jesus is sitting in a boat just off the
shore, and He begins to teach in parables. His first story, the Parable of the
Sower, is not just an illustration, it’s a spiritual mirror for those that are
listening.
Mark 4:1-9
Again, He began to teach beside the sea. And
a very large crowd gathered about Him, so that He got into a boat and sat in it
on the sea, and the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land. And He was
teaching them many things in parables, and in His teaching, He said to them:
“Listen! Behold, a Sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell along
the path, and the
birds came and devoured it. Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and
immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil. And when the sun rose,
it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. Other seed fell among thorns, and the
thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. And other seeds fell
into good soil and
produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold
and a hundredfold.” And He said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
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Where do you see President Trump in his
understanding of salvation.
What are some ways you see “the seed”
snatched away before it takes root in people’s lives today?
Why do you think some people respond with joy
to the gospel but fall away when life gets hard?
What “thorns” (cares of the world,
deceitfulness of riches, desires for other things) are most likely to choke out
God’s Word in our life?
What does it look like in practical terms to
“bear fruit thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold”?
Many Bible teachers point out that the
parable of the Sower isn’t just about four different types of people once and
for all, but also about the different conditions our hearts can be in at
different points in our faith journey.
So, the parable is both diagnostic in that it
shows us what kind of heart receives God’s Word, and it reminds us that the
soil can change.
“Break up your unplowed ground; for it is
time to seek the Lord.”
