Mark 4:21–41
From the Soil to the Storm
Pastor Jared Carline | September 6, 2026
Mark 4:21-41
A Lamp on a Stand
21 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? 22 For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. 23 If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear.”
24 “Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. 25 Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.”
The Parable of the Growing Seed
26 He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28 All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. 29 As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”
The Parable of the Mustard Seed
30 Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. 32 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.”
33 With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. 34 He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.
Jesus Calms the Storm
35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
Title: From the Soil to the Storm
Big Idea: Genuine faith receives the Word, lives in its light, trusts God’s Kingdom work, and keeps trusting Jesus when circumstances become frightening.
Truth 1: The Word Is Meant to Shine
Mark 4:21–25
-What God reveals is meant to become visible in our lives.
-What we do with what we hear matters.
Truth 2: The Kingdom Grows Even When We Cannot See It
Mark 4:26–29
- We are called to faithfully plant the seed; God gives the growth.
Hidden does not mean inactive.
Truth 3: God’s Kingdom May Begin Small, But It Will Not Remain Small
Mark 4:30–34
- The mustard seed reminds us not to despise small beginnings.
- God can take something small and produce something far greater than we could imagine.
George Müller Story
Mark 4:30–32 — Mustard Seed
- Müller began his orphan ministry with just 26 girls.
- Through prayer, faithfulness, and dependence on God, the ministry eventually cared for thousands.
- “Trials, obstacles, difficulties and sometimes defeats, are the very food of faith.”
Truth 4: The Storm Tests Whether the Word Has Taken Root
Mark 4:35–38
- What the disciples heard from Jesus on the shore was tested in the boat.
- Fear can cause us to question not only our circumstances, but whether God cares.
Truth 5: The Storm Reveals Who Jesus Really Is
Mark 4:39–41
- Jesus commands the wind and the sea, revealing His authority.
- The disciples’ question is the climax: “Who then is this?”
Application: What Do You Do When You Can’t See?
- Let the Word Shine — Mark 4:21–25
- Don’t Assume God Isn’t Working Because You Can’t See Growth — Mark 4:26–29
- When the Storm Comes, Remember Who Is in the Boat — Mark 4:35–41
