Seed4Soil

Why is understanding this parable key to understanding all of Jesus' parables?

Jesus said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?" (Mark 4:13) Once you understand this parable, you will understand why this is the key to understanding all of Jesus' parables teaching about the Kingdom of God. For God's reign (kingdom) to be on this earth, God's Words need to enter good soil.    

What is Seed?

"The sower sows the Word." (Jesus in Mark 4:14) Seed is the Living Word of God.  The Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us.

What is Soil?

"And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being." (Genesis 2:7) We in our physical bodies are made in God's image out of the soil.  Our bodies return to soil. The soil is the receptacle for the Seed of God's Word. There are four different kinds of soils. (Mark 4:15-20) What kind of soil am I?

Who can know the mystery of the Kingdom of God?

"But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable. And He said to them, 'To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables....'" (Jesus, Mark 4:10-11) Who is coming close? Who is coming to the Living Word, hearing, and responding? (Luke 6:46-49)

What is this "mystery" of the Kingdom of God?

How can the Living Word of God grow in a body made of soil and bear fruit? How can the Word become flesh in my soil? How can a human life become the place were a good God lives and works? (Mark 4:20, 26-29)

What is my part in becoming good soil?

First of all, am I in the small group of people that came to Jesus with their question about the parable which they did not understand? Or, do I walk away without going to Jesus? The Parable of the Sower is unique among Jesus' parables in that it begins with a command and ends with a command - HEAR! The good soil hears the word, accepts it, and bears fruit. (Mark 4:20) The good soil comes to Jesus, hears His Word, and does it. (Luke 6:46-49)

How does Jesus' teaching style compare to Bible teachers today?

Jesus taught using stories, examples, and questions most of the time in His teaching as opposed to lecturing.  He created space for people to hear and choose whether or not to respond. He was a master of storytelling and dialogue. The results of His approach to teaching are still felt today.  This is why Seed4Soil primarily focuses on promoting storytelling and dialogue in training and teaching.

What is Seed4Soil?

We are servants of the church promoting engagement with God's Word for transformational growth through hearing and responding to the Living Word of God.  We are about raising up disciples - those who come to Jesus, hear His Words, and respond to them personally. (Luke 6:46-49) We help provide trainings for Word engagement discipleship using oral inductive Bible study methodology for Scripture storytelling and dialogue sessions. These trainings have two goals: 1) For you to benefit personally from the good fruit of God's Word in your own lives. 2) For you to help others benefit from the good fruit of God's Word in their lives. 

What are key Seed4Soil training and methodology strategies for effective Word engagement?

1. Plant Seed in Soil – Foundational Strategy

2. Hear & Obey God’s Word – Good Soil Strategy 

3. Use Stories, Examples, & Questions for Discovery – Good Sowing Strategy

4. Use God’s Word as Spirit & Life – Good Seed & Sowing Strategy 

5. Make Space for Hearing & Responding – Good Soil & Sowing Strategy 

Do you want to host a Word Engagement training?

Email us at info@seed4soil.org with your questions and requests.

The Parable of the Sower & the Four Soils - Mark 4

And again He began to teach by the sea. And a great multitude was gathered to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat in it on the sea; and the whole multitude was on the land facing the sea. Then He taught them many things by parables, and said to them in His teaching: 

“Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. And it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds of the air came and devoured it. Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away. And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.” 

And He said to them, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” 

But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable. And He said to them, “To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables, so that ‘Seeing they may see and not perceive, and hearing they may hear and not understand; lest they should turn, and their sins be forgiven them.’ ” 

And He said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? The sower sows the word. And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble. Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.” 

Also He said to them, “Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand? For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” 

Then He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given. For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.” 

And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.” 

Then He said, “To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it? It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth; but when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade.” And with many such parables He spoke the word to them as they were able to hear it. But without a parable He did not speak to them. And when they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples. - Mark 4:1–34 (NKJV)