Mark's great 4th chapter is about the power of the words of God, but also about discipleship about those who hear the word and live accordingly. In rhetorical flourish, Mark gives us this dramatic scene of Jesus asleep in a boat where his disciples are full of fear because of the storm they find themselves in. And yet, with a word, he calms it. And then rebukes his disciples. Why? Because true faith in the God who will bring us to the other side gives courage not timidity.

Growth in the Kingdom of God is a mystery. It seems at once both so entirely connected to us and what we do with what we have heard and at the same time utterly the work of God. Sometimes it seems as though we see it and sometimes it is elusive for years and years. Even so, the Kingdom is like a little mustard seed. Small, seemingly insignificant and Jesus tells us that it will grow beyond our wildest dreams!

The Parable of the Sower illustrates how different people respond to God's word through the metaphor of seeds falling on various types of soil. From the path where birds quickly devour the seed, to rocky ground where growth is shallow, to thorny areas where worldly concerns choke out growth, and finally to good soil where abundant fruit is produced. This foundational teaching reveals both the transformative power of God's word and the crucial importance of how we receive it. Understanding our own spiritual receptivity and actively cultivating good soil in our hearts is essential for genuine spiritual growth.