Mark 4:26-34: Mark was writing to the church in Rome that hadn’t had the impact on the culture they desired. Rather, they were becoming the scapegoat for everything that was going wrong in the current culture, and Mark was reminding them that this life in God IS worth it. A sower goes out to sow some seeds, and things WILL grow, regardless. A tiny mustard seed, so insignificant, becomes a huge bush that provides protection and shelter. The kingdom is alive, fertile, and utterly extravagant! (This is the Bigger Story Al referenced last week, the Story that is strong and vibrant enough to bear the weight of our human and often pain-filled stories.)

David Johnson, Lead Teaching Pastor | Ordinary Time | www.thedoor.org