Bulletins - Countryside Vineyard Chruch

Let the River Flow
God So Loved (Studio Version)
Be The Centre
The Lord Will Provide
- - Mark 4:30-31ESV
- - Mark 4:32ESV
- - https://www.youtube.com/embed/iBhmBYw4cW0?autoplay=1
Introduction
Good morning and Welcome....
Open to Mark 4:33-34
Today will be the conclusion to a five-lesson mini-series in Mark on parables.
We have looked at several parables of Jesus over the last four sessions.
Soils (response to the word),
Truth (lamp and basket),
personal growth (the seed grows magically),
and last time, Kingdom growth (Mustard seed).
Jesus doesn’t just teach what the kingdom is—He teaches how it works.
And in Mark 4, He keeps coming back to the same idea: what you do with what you hear matters.
Last time, Bill looked at the mustard seed—a tiny seed that grows into something huge.
The point was simple: when you respond to what God gives you, even in small ways, He multiplies it.
Now here’s the question… If that’s how the kingdom works—why does Jesus teach like this? Why parables? Why not just say it plainly so everyone understands?
That’s where we’re going today.
Look at Mark 4:33–34…”
Mark 4:33–34 “33 With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it. 34 He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.”
That’s our passage for today...
There’s a curious thing that happens in Mark 4.
Jesus uses parables - which by definition are like illustrations meant to help one understand…
But then Jesus says things like he uses them to hide things from those who reject him.
We’re going to look at both of those purposes today and see how they can be both revealing and concealing at the same time.
Sort of like two sides of the same coin. The coin is the parable. On one side the purpose is to make things clearer, on the other is to conceal truth from certain people.
but before I begin to teach, let’s Pray...
I. Parables: Bringing Truth Within Reach
Verse 33 says that with many such parables he spoke the word to them as they were able to hear it.
This seems to say that in some way parables explain hard to grasp truths in a relatable way.
“When He spoke the word… as they were able to hear it,” it means Jesus adjusted His delivery, not the truth.
He didn’t water it down— He wrapped it in story so they could access it.
Just like:
seed
soil
lamps
mustard seeds
Everyday images that reveal eternal truth.
He brought truth down to their level.
God still meets us right where we are.
Understanding is Limited by Willingness
“As they were able to hear it” doesn’t just describe ability… it reveals readiness.
Because in Mark 4: Hearing is never just about ears— it’s about the heart.
In fact in Greek the word Mark uses for hearing actually means or includes acting on what you heard, especially in the way Jesus uses it. To him has ears let him hear. Or hearing you hear. In other words
it’s one thing for one to hear words, it’s quite another to take those words and put them into practice.
Some people heard stories… Others heard the voice of God.
Same words. Different outcome.
Why?
Because they weren’t equally willing to receive it.
You don’t get more truth by hearing more sermons— you get more truth by responding to what you already heard.
This is all good news for us. Because Jesus still meets us where we are.
Now let’s look at the other side of the coin.
One side of the coin is parables make things we aren’t familiar with make sense then the other side of the coin is that parables hide truth from the unwilling heart.
II. Parables: Revealing What’s Really in Us
Look at verse 34a (He did not speak to them without a parable…)
On this side of the coin, we have to first see why Jesus even started teaching this way as a primary method.
And the disciples are wondering the exact same thing.
Mark tells us they asked about the parables… But Matthew 13:10 makes it even clearer—they ask Him straight up:
“Why do You speak to them in parables?”
And Jesus’ answer… If we’re being honest… it’s a little shocking at first.
Mark 4:11 ESV
11 And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables,
Let’s unpack this a bit, becasue we sort of skipped over it when we did the parable of the soils on purpose to pick it up here.
Right there you see two groups.
There’s a “you”… and there’s a “them.”
And that’s uncomfortable… because we want everything to feel equal, open, neutral.
But Jesus draws a line.
In the next point I’m going to talk about the who the “You’s” are and explore the phrase “to you it has been given”, but for now I want to focus on the “thems” (those on the outside).
“Those outside…” — Who are they?
This is not just “non-believers” in a general sense.
In the context of Mark 3 and 4, you’ve already seen the categories:
The scribes — they rejected Him outright
The crowds — they wanted what He could do, not who He is
The curious — interested, but not committed
These are the ones Jesus calls “outside.”
Not because they weren’t allowed in… But because they stayed outside.
Let’s take a closer look at these categories and see if you recognize any sign of them in your own life so you can fix that.
Who are the “thems”?
I’ve come up with 3 categories of those on the outside based on what we’ve seen already in Mark 3 and 4.
1. Rejectors - Didn’t believe
They see clearly… and still reject.
They’re not confused … Not lacking Evidence....
They look at undeniable power and say...
That’s Satan! Mark 3:22
These are people who:
Understand enough to respond… but choose not to
Feel the weight of truth… and push it away
Protect their authority, perceived identity, or lifestyle
This is not ignorance.
This is willful rejection.
Modern version: “I see what this means… and I don’t want it.”
So instead of surrendering, they:
Redefine Jesus
Redefine sin
Redefine truth
2. Consumers - just wanted Jesus’ stuff (healing miracles, food, etc.)
They want what Jesus can do… not who He is.
These are the crowds we see throughout Mark…
Gather for healing, food, miracles Show up when there’s a need
disappear when there’s a cost.
Jesus calls them wicked and adulterous for wanting signs without the message.
“Where are the nine?” Luke 17:11-19
Modern version:
“I want help… but I don’t want surrender.”
They often hang around charismatic churches wanting something .
Healing
provision
Breakthrough
Comfort
but take off when the message confronts them or forces a decision
They might have one of these attitudes
“God, fix my situation… but don’t touch my habits.”
“I’ll come when I need something.”
“I believe in God… I just don’t want to get too serious about it.”
“As long as life is hard, I’m in. When it’s good—I’m gone.”
3. Curious but Casual
They’re interested… but not committed.
They listen to parables But they don’t follow up They don’t ask for explanation
This is HUGE because they’re not hostile… just passive.
Modern version: Cultural Christians
They’re around it. They like it. They agree with parts of it.
They might hear something Jesus says and say, “Yeah, that’s good… preach that.”
But nothing changes.
No repentance. No obedience. No surrender.
They assume they’re good with God because they’re close to Christian things…
—but they’ve never actually responded to the Word.
Jordan Peterson is a great example (in fact coined the very term)
Political Right
Mega Churches great band and “feel-good” preaching.
Utter deception
People can be near Jesus, like Jesus, identify with Him, say Jesus stuff, but still be on the outside...
We just identified who the outsiders are…
Now let’s move on to verse 12
Mark 4:11–12 ESV
11 And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, 12 so that “ ‘they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven.’ ”
This is where people get stuck.
Because it sounds like Jesus is saying:
“I’m teaching this way so they won’t be forgiven.”
But that’s not what’s happening.
Jesus is quoting Isaiah 6:9–10.
And that passage is not about people hearing for the first time…
It’s about people who have already heard—and rejected—God over and over.
So this is what’s happening:
God has spoken… They didn’t want it… They resisted it…
And now—
the truth itself becomes something they can no longer receive.
Not because it’s unclear…
But because their heart is closed.
This what is happening in Romans 1:24 “24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves,”
Listen to 2 Thess 2:9-12
2 Thessalonians 2:9–12 ESV
9 The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, 10 and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, 12 in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Pharoah of the Exodus: Seven times he hardened the last three God hardened.
You see this pattern all over Scripture:
God speaks
People resist
God keeps speaking
They keep resisting
Eventually… God gives them over to their resistance and makes it permanent
That’s why the writer if Hebrews says time and and time again.
Do not harden your hearts Hebrews 3:7-11
So back to the point about parables:
Parables don’t create blindness… they reveal it.
And that raises the real question:
If that’s “those outside”… then who are the ones on the inside?
And more importantly—
How do you move from outside… to inside?
And Mark already gave us the answer.
Look at verse 10…
Mark 4:10–11 “10 And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. 11 And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God...
Now add verse 34 to this: and to his disciples he explained everything
And now let’s get back to the front side of the coin again...
III. Parables: Opening Truth to Those Who Lean In
So , we've talked about the “them’ s”, now let’s talk about the “you’ s”?
“To you it has been given…” — What does that mean?
Notice the language—“given.”
Jesus does not say: “To you who figured it out…” “To you who are smarter…” “To you who tried harder…”
No— “To you it has been given.”
That means understanding the kingdom is ultimately a gift.
But here’s where we need to be really careful.
This does not mean God randomly chooses some people to understand and blocks others from ever being able to.
Because Bill just talked about this several weeks ago in Mark 4:24–25 “24 And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. 25 For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.””
So what is He saying?
Light responds to light.
Those who lean in… get more. Those who pull back… lose even what they had.
So yes—it is given… But it is given in response to hunger.
So, how do you move from a them to a you?
How do you move from the outside, to the inside?
We respond to the truth as you receive it.
that means...
You don’t wait until you understand everything…
You respond to what you already understand.
It means when God shows you something—
You don’t debate it… You don’t delay it… You don’t redefine it…
You obey it.
It means when the Word confronts you—
You don’t say, “Let me think about that…”
You say, “Yes, Lord.”
It means when you hear truth—
You don’t just agree with it…
You align your life with it.
Because that’s the difference between the “them” and the “you.”
The “them” heard…
And walked away.
The “you” heard…
And pressed in.
Look at verse 10 again—
“When He was alone… they asked Him…”
They didn’t understand either.
They weren’t smarter. They weren’t more spiritual.
They just refused to stay at a distance.
They moved closer. They asked questions. They stayed with Him.
And that’s when everything changed.
“...and to His disciples He explained everything.”
So how do you move from outside to inside?
You stay.
You ask.
You obey what you know… and trust Him for what you don’t.
Conclusion
And as the worship team comes up… let me leave you with this…
You are not on the outside because God has shut you out…
You are on the outside if you stay at a distance.
Every single person in this room has heard something today.
Maybe it was small… Maybe it was uncomfortable… Maybe it was clear as day…
But you’ve been given light.
And Jesus already told us what happens next—
If you respond to that light… you get more.
If you ignore it… you lose even what you had.
So this moment right here matters.
Not tomorrow. Not next week.
Right now.
Will you walk away like the crowd?
Will you stay comfortable like the casual listener?
Will you protect your life like the rejector?
Or…
Will you do what the disciples did?
Will you lean in… Will you come closer… Will you say yes to what He’s already shown you?
Because the difference between outside and inside…
Is not how much you know.
It’s what you do with what you’ve been shown.
So don’t leave this room the same.
Respond.
Say yes.
Step toward Him.
And watch what He reveals next.
Please stand… Let’s Pray

Mark 4:30-31ESV

Mark 4:32ESV

Introduction

I. Parables: Bringing Truth Within Reach

II. Parables: Revealing What’s Really in Us

“Those outside…” — Who are they?

Who are the “thems”?

1. Rejectors - Didn’t believe

2. Consumers - just wanted Jesus’ stuff (healing miracles, food, etc.)

3. Curious but Casual

III. Parables: Opening Truth to Those Who Lean In

Conclusion