In Mark chapter 4, we have an opportunity to listen to Jesus’ teaching just as he delivered it to his first followers and the crowds who joined them. Through storytelling, Jesus revealed truth about the Kingdom of God and about our own hearts. By paying attention to Jesus’ words, we can find our next step to follow him and overcome obstacles to our own growth, belief, or fruitfulness. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Read Jesus’ teaching and stories about the Kingdom of God from Mark 4:1-34. What observations can you make about the Kingdom of God? How would you describe the connection between our personal growth and the expansion of God’s Kingdom? 2. How does Jesus use the image of different soils to explain obstacles to belief as well as to growth based on the condition of the human heart from his story in verses 3-10 and explanation in verses 11-20… • Hard Heart: • Shallow Heart: • Cluttered Heart: • Good Heart: 3. What does Jesus teach us about ourselves and God’s kingdom from the stories he tells in Mark 4… • The sower, seed, and soils in verses 3-10: • The Lamp in verses 21-25: • The Growing Seed in verses 26-29: • The Mustard Seed in verses 30-34: 4. What did you hear this weekend that inspired you, challenged you, or sparked disagreement or further consideration? 5. Examine your own heart and receptivity to the Word of God. Would you characterize your heart as: • Soft or Hard • Deep or Shallow • Cluttered or Full of Purpose What causes you to make that determination? 6. How could you take a step toward creating ideal conditions for your own spiritual growth or inspire someone else to trust Jesus?