A Hundredfold

Mark 4:3-12 - “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.” And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, so that “they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven.”

John 15:5 - I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

Matthew 3:2 - “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

1 Corinthians 5:12 - For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?

1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 - Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.

Application:

·         A living union with Christ is absolutely necessary; without it there is nothing.

·         The secret of the kingdom of God is proclaimed to all, but only those who have faith understand.

·         The kingdom of heaven is the rule of God and is both a present reality and a future hope.

·         The church is not to attempt to judge the unsaved world. There are governing authorities to do that, and the ultimate judgment of the world is to be left to God.

·         Christians in need because of their idleness are not obedient Christians.

All Scripture verses taken from ESV