Do you have a favorite movie or book that focused on the premise that there may be more to
life than meets the eye?
Read Mark 4:21-34
What jumps out to you?
What questions do you have about this passage?
These three parables follow the parable about the soils as Mark brings the topic of the Kingdom of God into focus.
When you think of the “kingdom of God” what comes to mind?
If the kingdom of God is like a lamp, what does that say about God’s desire for His kingdom to
be seen/found?
A good parent wouldn’t send their kids on a scavenger hunt where the kids would never
find the prize. In the same way, God desires for His kingdom to be found. How is this
encouraging to you?
In the second picture, Jesus points to a farmer who plants but doesn’t actually know how the
growth happens. How is it encouraging to see that God’s kingdom isn’t dependent on our
understanding everything or doing everything?
A single acorn is pretty insignificant, but when planted and fully grown it is a mighty oak, how
much more insignificant can the message of the gospel be in our world today when it has the
power to change everything?
How have you been challenged to trust the slow and hidden growth in your life and the
seeming lack of action on behalf of God?
How do you trust when there is more waiting than growth?
Jesus gives us the third picture by using a mustard seed to show us that the beginnings of His
kingdom will be drastically different from the future. How is this encouraging to you?
Read Matthew 19:23-30 and take note of how confused the disciples were about the workings
of Jesus’ kingdom. What is upside down about what Jesus says?
Jesus came to proclaim an upside-down kingdom, but in doing so He revealed that His kingdom
was actually right side up. What does it look like for you to trust that what seems upside down
is actually right side up?
Those who were most willing to accept the upside-down nature of God’s kingdom were those
with nothing to lose. What is something that you are afraid to lose by living according to God’s
kingdom?
Notice that God’s kingdom must be received it is not forced upon anyone, and for this
reason, it can easily be missed.
Two Questions to Consider:
Will I humbly submit to the King of the kingdom?
What am I seeking to control in my life that God is inviting me to hand over to him?
In these three pictures, we see that the light of the world came to us, the creator of all things became a tiny seed that would die and be buried so that we could have life, and the one who came into this world as a tiny baby will return as a conquering king. Let’s celebrate that God’s kingdom is here and God’s kingdom is now!
