This week on Sunday we are reading the last part of chapter 4, for the study though it makes more sense to read and look at all of chapter 4. What follows is an outline for you to consider.
Read 4:1-20.
- What is a parable, and why did Jesus use this teaching method?
- How do you feel when you read this parable – do you feel like you are the good soil, or the rocky soil; do you feel like “it is all on you to grow in faith?”
- If so, maybe the Holy Spirit is encouraging you to “do a little fertilizing of the soil of your heart.” But there might be another point of this parable. What was Jesus communicating in the parable of the sower? How does this guide us as we share the faith?
Read 4:21-25.
- What is the light that Jesus is talking about?
- What is the purpose of the light?
- How is your light shining – and is there a basket over it?
Read 4:26-34.
- You might be thinking, “But today we know how the seeds grow into plants!” which may lead you to think this parable doesn’t apply. However think about how this might connect with verses 4:1 – 20.
- In verses 4:1 – 20 what (or who) is responsible for the seed to grow?
- In these verses who is responsible?
- How does this parable of Jesus encourage his disciples (and us) through these further ‘seed’ parables?
