Pastor Jon Verwey

God’s Kingdom cannot be hidden, grows only as He makes it grow, and will flourish through those who have ears to hear.

God’s Kingdom cannot be hidden…

He said to them, “Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand? For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear.”  — Mark 4:21–23 (NIV)

God’s Kingdom …grows only as He makes it grow…

He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.” — Mark 4:26–29 (NIV)

God’s Kingdom cannot be hidden, grows only as He makes it grow

God’s kingdom …will flourish…

“What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.” — Mark 4:30–32 (NIV)

God’s Kingdom cannot be hidden, grows only as He makes it grow, and will flourish…

“Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.” — Mark 4:24–25 (NIV)

God’s Kingdom cannot be hidden, grows only as He makes it grow, and will flourish through those who ears to hear.

With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything. — Mark 4:33–34 (NIV) 

When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables — Mark 4:10–11 (NIV)