Jesus Will Establish His Kingdom, Part 1

Mark 4:1-34
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Today, we’re exploring the profound impact of God’s word—the living seed that revives souls and transforms lives. Whether you’re teaching your children, ministering to a group, or sharing biblical truths with a neighbour, you might sometimes wonder what difference you’re making. Remember, life under the blessings of God’s rule comes through the ministry and reception of His word. Even when it feels like you’re sowing with no visible change, God’s word, the powerful seed, is working in ways you may not see immediately. Join us as we delve into Mark Chapter 4 and discover how Jesus assures us of His kingdom’s establishment even in a world that rejects Him. Be encouraged and renewed as we uncover the truth that God’s word never returns void.

100:00:00,440 –> 00:00:08,080This Word actually brings life. It revives the soul. It makes200:00:08,100 –> 00:00:11,920simple people who don’t understand things, wise. How do300:00:11,940 –> 00:00:15,180simple people who don’t get it come wise? Through the Word of400:00:15,200 –> 00:00:18,420God. That’s it’s effect, because it’s living seed. It’s not just500:00:18,440 –> 00:00:19,420information.600:00:19,420 –> 00:00:22,480Welcome to Open the Bible with the pastor Colin Smith. I’m700:00:22,500 –> 00:00:25,299David Pick. I’m glad you could be with us today and Colin, it800:00:25,320 –> 00:00:28,139sounds like today we’re going to hear what Open the Bible900:00:28,160 –> 00:00:33,080is all about, to proclaim the living seed of the word of God.1000:00:33,080 –> 00:00:36,459Now, we’ve just stated the core conviction of our ministry that1100:00:36,459 –> 00:00:40,259we share together and that our whole family of listeners shares1200:00:40,259 –> 00:00:43,639together, we believe in the power of the word of God. And1300:00:43,639 –> 00:00:46,439here’s the problem. Sometimes it seems like the word of God just1400:00:46,439 –> 00:00:50,700kind of falls in the ground. And that’s what Jesus says, it’s1500:00:50,720 –> 00:00:54,139seed. And so sometimes you put the seed out and you think, what1600:00:54,139 –> 00:00:57,020have I accomplished? You know, I’ve been trying to become a1700:00:57,259 –> 00:00:59,599You know, I’ve been trying to teach my children, I’ve been1800:00:59,599 –> 00:01:02,060trying to witness to my neighbor, I’ve been trying to1900:01:02,419 –> 00:01:07,220pray for a friend and what really has come of all of this.2000:01:07,660 –> 00:01:10,339And it feels like it’s just seed in the ground. And the thing2100:01:10,339 –> 00:01:13,739that’s so important to remember is, yeah, it looks like nothing2200:01:13,739 –> 00:01:16,940much has happened, but it is living seed. And it can lie in2300:01:16,940 –> 00:01:20,620the ground a long time. And God has a way of honoring his own2400:01:20,620 –> 00:01:24,220word. And of making seed that has lain dormant for a long2500:01:24,500 –> 00:01:27,800grow. I mean, there may be a parent who’s listening to this2600:01:27,800 –> 00:01:31,639who say, oh, my son, my daughter knows the truth. But there’s2700:01:31,639 –> 00:01:34,540been no response for years. Yeah, but it’s always worth2800:01:34,540 –> 00:01:36,099putting the living seed there.2900:01:36,300 –> 00:01:39,940I hope that’s encouraging to you as we begin today’s message3000:01:40,099 –> 00:01:43,699Jesus will establish his Kingdom. We’re in Mark chapter3100:01:43,699 –> 00:01:47,339four. So join us in your Bible, if you can. Here’s Colin.3200:01:48,040 –> 00:01:50,699Now we noticed right at the beginning of Mark’s gospel that3300:01:50,760 –> 00:01:55,260Jesus opened his ministry. He began by announcing that the3400:01:57,800 –> 00:02:00,360these were the first recorded words out of the mouth of3500:02:00,360 –> 00:02:03,779Jesus Chapter one and verse fifteen.3600:02:04,000 –> 00:02:07,080The kingdom of God is near, Jesus says.3700:02:07,279 –> 00:02:13,440Now, the kingdom is simply the blessing of the rule or reign of3800:02:13,440 –> 00:02:18,759God, the blessing of the rule or reign of God.3900:02:18,860 –> 00:02:22,380And so, when Jesus taught his disciples to pray the Lord’s4000:02:22,380 –> 00:02:27,059prayer, he said, now, pray like this, your kingdom come, your4100:02:27,059 –> 00:02:31,500will be done on earth as it is in heaven.4200:02:31,500 –> 00:02:38,419Remember that our Lord reigns over heaven, over earth, and4300:02:38,419 –> 00:02:43,779even over hell itself. He is sovereign. He is the king.4400:02:43,800 –> 00:02:48,580There is no power that comes close to his, but there is this4500:02:48,940 –> 00:02:53,880difference that we must observe. In heaven, his rule is4600:02:53,880 –> 00:02:58,619recognized. That is why heaven is full of his blessing. In4700:02:58,619 –> 00:03:04,559hell, his rule is resisted, which is why hell is under his4800:03:04,559 –> 00:03:10,059judgment. On earth, what do we have? A mixture of both,4900:03:10,259 –> 00:03:16,119really. On earth, God’s rule is partly recognized, partly5000:03:16,119 –> 00:03:18,940resisted, and that is why the world in which we live in its5100:03:18,940 –> 00:03:23,759very nature bears both the marks of God’s blessing and the marks5200:03:23,839 –> 00:03:28,399of God’s judgment. So when we pray, Your kingdom come. What5300:03:28,399 –> 00:03:32,759we’re saying is, Oh Lord, let this earth be more like heaven5400:03:32,759 –> 00:03:38,000than it’s like hell. Let it bear more of the marks of the5500:03:38,080 –> 00:03:43,539blessing of life under your rule. Now, when Jesus began his5600:03:43,539 –> 00:03:48,639ministry in chapter one in verse 15, he said, The kingdom of God5700:03:48,800 –> 00:03:58,479is near and so it was A touch of heaven on earth. Through the5800:03:58,479 –> 00:04:03,479ministry of Jesus and we’ve seen it in Mark’s gospel, sickness5900:04:03,479 –> 00:04:12,520is healed. Demons are cast out sins are forgiven. Ordinary6000:04:12,520 –> 00:04:16,440people follow Jesus. Troubled people are set free. The6100:04:16,440 –> 00:04:21,019kingdom of God was coming near. The blessing of life under the6200:04:21,019 –> 00:04:27,339rule of God was being manifested in many different ways. But6300:04:27,339 –> 00:04:29,820then as We followed the story of Mark’s gospel, we’ve seen6400:04:29,859 –> 00:04:34,619something else going on. This marvelous ministry of Jesus that6500:04:34,619 –> 00:04:41,100is bringing such blessing as the kingdom comes near is rejected,6600:04:41,519 –> 00:04:45,260is resisted. We saw it in chapter three and verse six6700:04:45,260 –> 00:04:48,700didn’t we? That after these manifestations of the kingdom of6800:04:48,700 –> 00:04:52,880God, the Pharisees and the Herodians conspire together.6900:04:52,880 –> 00:04:57,899They plot as to how they might kill Jesus. And then we saw last7000:04:57,940 –> 00:05:00,500time in chapter three and verse twenty-two that when the7100:05:00,500 –> 00:05:03,959official delegation of scholars came down from Jerusalem, their7200:05:03,959 –> 00:05:07,859conclusion and their verdict was that Jesus was in league with7300:05:07,859 –> 00:05:11,160the devil. Now that’s where we’ve come to in Mark’s Gospel.7400:05:11,540 –> 00:05:14,000And so, at the beginning of chapter four, as we open our7500:05:14,000 –> 00:05:19,959Bibles, we are faced with an obvious question, if the king is7600:05:19,959 –> 00:05:23,200rejected and we’re going to see more and more of that as we go7700:05:24,200 –> 00:05:27,799through the Gospel until ultimately he is crucified, if7800:05:27,799 –> 00:05:31,140the king is rejected, what hope is there for the kingdom?7900:05:32,040 –> 00:05:37,940That’s the great question. How will the kingdom come in a8000:05:37,940 –> 00:05:45,079world that rejects the king? How can the blessing of life under8100:05:45,079 –> 00:05:49,980the rule of God be known in this world that has chosen to reject8200:05:50,660 –> 00:05:55,720the king? How can the blessing of Christ’s rule be experienced?8300:05:55,859 –> 00:06:00,299How may it come in a Christ-rejecting world? Well,8400:06:00,339 –> 00:06:04,260that’s really what chapter 4 is all about. And the key verse8500:06:04,260 –> 00:06:07,700here is verse 11, where Jesus says that the secret of the8600:06:07,700 –> 00:06:11,200kingdom of God has been given to you. He says these words to the8700:06:11,200 –> 00:06:16,820disciples, and he reveals this secret in a number of stories of8800:06:17,059 –> 00:06:20,140which we’re going to look at the first here, the very simple8900:06:20,140 –> 00:06:24,660story of the sower and, most of us, many of us will know this9000:06:24,660 –> 00:06:28,299story very well and perhaps have known it for some years. The9100:06:28,299 –> 00:06:32,859sower goes out to sow seed. The seed falls on different kinds of9200:06:32,859 –> 00:06:37,899ground. The seed that falls on bad ground leads to nothing of9300:06:37,899 –> 00:06:42,299lasting value, but the seed that falls on good ground produces a9400:06:42,420 –> 00:06:48,239marvelous harvest. And what I want us to see as we come to9500:06:48,239 –> 00:06:52,079this story is that the reason that Jesus tells it is he is9600:06:52,079 –> 00:06:57,880explaining to his disciples how the kingdom comes in a world9700:06:57,880 –> 00:07:03,059that rejects the king. Therefore, this teaching of9800:07:03,059 –> 00:07:06,959Jesus is full of very special significance for all of our9900:07:06,959 –> 00:07:12,179thinking about ministry today. How are we to see the10000:07:12,179 –> 00:07:16,700harvest that God is looking for? What is it going to take?10100:07:16,700 –> 00:07:20,220What are the things we should value? What are the things that10200:07:20,220 –> 00:07:24,920we should pursue? Now, I want to look at four very obvious10300:07:24,920 –> 00:07:28,600things here this morning. First, the seed and then the10400:07:28,600 –> 00:07:33,660source and then the soils and then, lastly the harvest. First10500:07:33,660 –> 00:07:36,859of all, the seed and will you notice this very clear10600:07:37,380 –> 00:07:42,000statement here from Jesus in verse fourteen. Jesus is10700:07:42,000 –> 00:07:44,839asking the disciples, don’t you understand this parable? And so10800:07:44,839 –> 00:07:48,940he explains it to them and he says, verse fourteen, the farmer10900:07:48,940 –> 00:07:55,880sows the word. The word and then so that we understand what11000:07:55,880 –> 00:07:58,760the whole story is about in verse fifteen, he tells us that11100:07:58,760 –> 00:08:03,179the soil or rather the effect of the seed in the soil is a11200:08:03,179 –> 00:08:06,839description of different kinds of people. Verse fifteen, some11300:08:06,839 –> 00:08:11,019people are like seed along the path and then verse sixteen,11400:08:11,019 –> 00:08:15,160others, and so forth through the story. So, this story is11500:08:15,160 –> 00:08:19,500about people and the word. It is about the effect of the word11600:08:19,500 –> 00:08:24,859of God in the lives of people. It is about the different ways11700:08:24,859 –> 00:08:30,700in which people interact and relate to the word of God. The11800:08:30,940 –> 00:08:37,820the former verse fourteen sows the word the word. Now, the11900:08:37,820 –> 00:08:40,479secret of the kingdom, therefore, that Jesus is12000:08:40,479 –> 00:08:46,159explaining to his disciples is that Life under the blessings12100:08:46,159 –> 00:08:52,659of God’s rule will come to people through the ministry and12200:08:52,659 –> 00:08:57,700the reception of the word of God, and Jesus is saying to12300:08:57,700 –> 00:09:00,140the disciples. There’s no doubt they were wondering as we12400:09:00,539 –> 00:09:04,340sometimes wonder. how can we see the blessing of God’s rule in12500:09:04,340 –> 00:09:07,780this Christ, rejecting world and he’s saying to them. Here’s12600:09:07,780 –> 00:09:16,880what you need to grasp the word of God is living seed it has12700:09:16,880 –> 00:09:24,859Life-producing power if you think off the scriptures simply12800:09:24,880 –> 00:09:33,039what does this mean? Think again? The Word of God has12900:09:33,039 –> 00:09:40,900life giving power. It is says Jesus living seed. That is why13000:09:40,900 –> 00:09:45,539Peter says later in the new Testament, You have been born13100:09:45,539 –> 00:09:52,900again. How how are you born again? See Peter says you were13200:09:52,979 –> 00:10:02,059you born again through the living and enduring. What Word13300:10:02,059 –> 00:10:06,080of God. New life came to you not just new information came to13400:10:06,080 –> 00:10:09,059you. Not just you heard the gospel that then somehow you13500:10:09,059 –> 00:10:12,239had to make your own independent judgment about no13600:10:12,239 –> 00:10:16,580life came to you. Peter is saying how through the living13700:10:16,580 –> 00:10:22,679seed of the word of God now that is precisely what Jesus is13800:10:22,799 –> 00:10:26,960doing with the living seed that will under certain conditions13900:10:26,960 –> 00:10:30,659that we’re going to look at later will produce a marvelous14000:10:30,659 –> 00:10:36,239harvest. The seed is the words so the first main theme here in14100:10:36,239 –> 00:10:39,880the story of Jesus is surely that we understand and select14200:10:39,880 –> 00:10:49,159the right seed. seeds will produce a different crop right14300:10:49,260 –> 00:10:52,780seal the gardeners and all the folks that were brought up on14400:10:52,780 –> 00:10:58,900the farm years ago, different seeds will produce a different14500:10:58,900 –> 00:11:04,000crop and so as we think about ministry, the seed that we.14600:11:04,000 –> 00:11:10,940soul will determine the crop that we get doesn’t that follow14700:11:10,940 –> 00:11:19,359us We must choose our seed carefully and in the whole14800:11:19,359 –> 00:11:23,659business of selecting the seed, which is really one of the14900:11:23,659 –> 00:11:26,739critical discussions that goes on in church world, especially15000:11:26,739 –> 00:11:29,960among pastors and leaders. What is the seed that’s really gonna15100:11:29,960 –> 00:11:32,719raise the harvest? Well, the obvious question is, well. what15200:11:32,719 –> 00:11:37,140is the harvest we’re looking for? What’s the crop? See is15300:11:37,140 –> 00:11:39,960the crop just a big crowd? Well, there are certain kinds of15400:11:39,960 –> 00:11:45,840seeds. Well, we’ll do that. is the crop? A long list of15500:11:45,840 –> 00:11:49,299decisions that may or may not last. Jesus specifies that15600:11:49,299 –> 00:11:51,799right here in this parable. Well, there’s kind of seed.15700:11:51,799 –> 00:11:58,239We’ll do that too. But Jesus is making it clear here that the15800:11:58,239 –> 00:12:03,200harvest he is looking for is the harvest of the kingdom. That15900:12:03,200 –> 00:12:08,280is the harvest of lives lived under the blessing of God’s16000:12:08,400 –> 00:12:11,340rule. Now, what is the seed that will raise that harvest16100:12:11,340 –> 00:12:14,780and Jesus says the seed that will raise that harvest of16200:12:14,780 –> 00:12:19,159Lives lived under the blessing of God’s rule is the word of16300:12:19,159 –> 00:12:27,260God and there is no other seed that raises this harvest This16400:12:27,260 –> 00:12:35,140seed. has produced this harvest. in every generation and16500:12:36,000 –> 00:12:40,900this culture. and we can have absolute confidence in the16600:12:40,900 –> 00:12:43,179middle of all the discussions about what does it take to16700:12:43,179 –> 00:12:47,919reach this generation in this culture? We can have absolute16800:12:47,919 –> 00:12:54,580confidence that seeds will produce this harvest in our16900:12:54,580 –> 00:12:59,900culture and in our generation that is surely the first thing17000:12:59,900 –> 00:13:05,099that we learn from the teaching of Jesus here and that is why17100:13:05,840 –> 00:13:13,099this best seed must be core to the ministry of our church17200:13:13,099 –> 00:13:17,619because this is the seed Jesus says that produces the crop17300:13:17,619 –> 00:13:22,840that God is looking for raises the harvest of the kingdom17400:13:22,840 –> 00:13:25,820which is surely therefore the harvest that we should be17500:13:25,820 –> 00:13:29,380interested in to. That is why we keep wanting to say and to17600:13:29,380 –> 00:13:33,619reinforce what is worship about? It is that we sing and pray17700:13:33,640 –> 00:13:37,159and we work together around the word of God, that the truth of17800:13:37,159 –> 00:13:40,599God’s word is permeating everything that we do, not just17900:13:40,599 –> 00:13:43,820a part of it. You’re listening to Open The Bible with Pastor18000:13:43,820 –> 00:13:47,000Colin Smith and the first part of our message, Jesus will18100:13:47,000 –> 00:13:51,440establish his kingdom from Mark Chapter four. Probably all of18200:13:51,440 –> 00:13:55,299us have wrestled with questions relating to our faith. If18300:13:55,299 –> 00:13:57,679you’re currently working through some big questions or you18400:13:57,679 –> 00:14:01,539have a friend or family member who is. Pastor Colin has a new18500:14:01,659 –> 00:14:06,880What Jesus says to sceptics, if you find yourself skeptical or18600:14:06,880 –> 00:14:11,000undecided on a question, this booklet is for you or someone18700:14:11,000 –> 00:14:14,200you know who fits that description. Well, we’d love to18800:14:14,200 –> 00:14:17,400send you some copies of this booklet as a way of saying thank18900:14:17,400 –> 00:14:20,960you for supporting open the Bible financially. If that’s19000:14:20,960 –> 00:14:23,640something you’re thinking about doing but you haven’t done so in19100:14:23,640 –> 00:14:28,039the past. This month, if you’re able to begin a new direct debit19200:14:28,039 –> 00:14:32,400of five pounds per month or more, or a one-off gift of 5019300:14:32,400 –> 00:14:35,979pounds or more, we’d love to send you five copies of this19400:14:35,979 –> 00:14:39,900booklet, full details on our website and terms and19500:14:39,900 –> 00:14:44,820conditions. That’s that open the bible.org.UK. Back to the19600:14:44,820 –> 00:14:47,880message. Now here’s Colin. Now, here’s the second thing. The19700:14:47,880 –> 00:14:51,280first is the seed. The seed is the word of God. Second, let’s19800:14:51,280 –> 00:14:57,039just take a moment to ponder the life of the sore. For everybody19900:14:57,960 –> 00:15:02,500who at any time shares the word of God in any setting, a Sunday20000:15:02,500 –> 00:15:06,500school class, a small group, whatever it may be, you will20100:15:06,500 –> 00:15:13,000resonate, I think, with the experience of the sower. Let’s20200:15:13,000 –> 00:15:16,099just think about it for a moment. Try and picture in your20300:15:16,099 –> 00:15:22,340mind the sower in Jesus’s day, and he’s sowing the field by20400:15:22,460 –> 00:15:26,799throwing out the seed by hand. Now he’s got acres and acres of20500:15:26,960 –> 00:15:33,039land. How many miles do you think he walks in a day? 2020600:15:33,039 –> 00:15:41,400miles? And how do his legs feel, and how does his arm feel, when20700:15:41,400 –> 00:15:47,080he trudges his way back, after a long day of scattering seed?20800:15:48,000 –> 00:15:56,719The man’s exhausted. His arms and his legs are aching and as he looks back20900:15:56,719 –> 00:16:03,640over the vast field that he has been sowing throughout the day, it strikes him21000:16:03,640 –> 00:16:09,719that the field looks exactly the same as it did that morning. There is no21100:16:09,719 –> 00:16:14,419observable difference in the field whatsoever.21200:16:14,419 –> 00:16:22,179Nothing has changed. I have worked to the point of exhaustion he says to himself21300:16:22,179 –> 00:16:28,200and the little voice inside says now what do I have to show for it. Now I21400:16:28,200 –> 00:16:33,799pause here because it’s important for us as those who believe to recognize the21500:16:33,799 –> 00:16:43,659hidden pressure that lies within all spiritual work. I sometimes say to the21600:16:43,659 –> 00:16:50,000guys in the congregation who work in construction I envy you, and you know21700:16:50,000 –> 00:16:55,299why I sometimes envy the guys who work in construction because when they leave21800:16:55,299 –> 00:17:02,940a day’s work they can see exactly what they have done. Something is there that21900:17:02,940 –> 00:17:09,560wasn’t there before and it’s beautifully measurable.22000:17:09,560 –> 00:17:13,979When you’re engaged in any ministry of the Word you’re teaching the Word to22100:17:13,979 –> 00:17:18,699your children, you’re working with a group of people, you’re trying to22200:17:18,699 –> 00:17:24,979disciple. You’re engaged in a ministry of communicating the Word in the prison as22300:17:24,979 –> 00:17:30,819a number of members of our congregation are. There will be times when Satan will22400:17:30,819 –> 00:17:35,660tempt you this way. He will say to you for all you’re doing what difference is22500:17:35,660 –> 00:17:44,199it making and that is precisely the experience of every sower. Remember the22600:17:44,199 –> 00:17:53,020old Beatles song Eleanor Rigby, remember that one? Eleanor Rigby died in the22700:17:53,020 –> 00:18:00,520church and was buried along with her name nobody came. Father Mackenzie wiping22800:18:00,520 –> 00:18:08,000the dirt from his hands as he walks from the grave no one was saved now I will22900:18:08,000 –> 00:18:13,400tell you that any person who puts their energy into communicating the gospel23000:18:13,400 –> 00:18:19,699knows what this is like like the sower in Jesus’ story you work hard to sow the23100:18:19,699 –> 00:18:26,719seed of the word but Satan comes to your mind this way and says what came of it23200:18:26,800 –> 00:18:32,959what came of it now how does the source sustain himself23300:18:32,959 –> 00:18:40,459in this work how are you going to sustain a ministry to your children how23400:18:40,459 –> 00:18:45,560are we going to sustain ministry around the word in small groups how do you23500:18:45,560 –> 00:18:52,560sustain any ministry of the Word and the answer is simply this you you sustain a23600:18:52,920 –> 00:18:59,560ministry of the word by having great confidence in the scene and you see the23700:18:59,560 –> 00:19:04,439reality is that the soarers he trudges home feeling very tired indeed he is not23800:19:04,439 –> 00:19:08,079actually driven to despair by the fact that the field doesn’t look different23900:19:08,079 –> 00:19:13,699because he never expected it to he’s committed to a long term view of24000:19:13,699 –> 00:19:20,099ministry that raises substantial multiple fruit and because he has such24100:19:20,180 –> 00:19:27,000confidence in the seat he is not in despair but rather trusts his work to24200:19:27,000 –> 00:19:32,459the hand of God who raises the harvest and knows that the next day he will come24300:19:32,459 –> 00:19:38,540out and so another field as well you know I’ve been greatly helped by24400:19:38,540 –> 00:19:44,020seeing that the doctrine of Scripture is not just what the Bible is that is it is24500:19:44,020 –> 00:19:49,239the Word of God we know that but our doctrine of Scripture includes what the24600:19:49,319 –> 00:19:54,780Bible does and I think some of us have not grasped that for sufficient24700:19:54,780 –> 00:19:59,400encouragement yet. Let me just give you one cross-reference today. Again try and24800:19:59,400 –> 00:20:04,819keep it just to one most weeks and that is in Psalm 19 and verses 7 and 8 Psalm24900:20:04,819 –> 00:20:11,11919 and verse 7 and 8 it beautifully brings together what the Word of God is25000:20:11,119 –> 00:20:17,000and what the Word of God does and many of us have grasped what it is but we25100:20:17,000 –> 00:20:23,099need to see more clearly and believe more strongly what it does. Psalm 1925200:20:23,099 –> 00:20:30,400verses 7 and 8 the law of the Lord is perfect. That’s what it is. What does it25300:20:30,400 –> 00:20:36,880do? It revives the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy. That’s what25400:20:36,880 –> 00:20:43,040they are but what do they do? They make wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord25500:20:43,920 –> 00:20:49,579right? That’s what they are. But what do they do? They give joy to the heart and25600:20:49,579 –> 00:20:53,099the commands of the Lord are radiant. That’s what they are but what do they do?25700:20:53,099 –> 00:20:59,819They give light to the eyes. You see what the psalmist David has discovered and25800:20:59,819 –> 00:21:03,780what he’s telling us under the inspiration of God he’s saying look it’s25900:21:03,780 –> 00:21:10,560not just that this word is perfect and trustworthy and true. We know that. It’s26000:21:10,560 –> 00:21:18,939that this word actually brings life. It revives the soul. It makes simple people26100:21:18,939 –> 00:21:23,140who don’t understand things wise. How to simple people who don’t get it become26200:21:23,140 –> 00:21:27,660wise? Through the word of God. That’s its effect because it’s living seed. It’s not26300:21:27,660 –> 00:21:33,839just information. It communicates life. It gives joy to the heart. It gives lights26400:21:33,839 –> 00:21:38,560to the eyes. It’s not just what it is. The word of God26500:21:38,699 –> 00:21:44,819it’s what it does. It does the work of God. That is why the sword of the Spirit26600:21:44,819 –> 00:21:52,780is the Word of God. That is our doctrine of scripture. That is what we believe and26700:21:52,780 –> 00:21:58,900that is how sowers are sustained in their ministry.26800:21:59,839 –> 00:22:01,900Pastor Colin Smith there, on Open the Bible26900:22:01,920 –> 00:22:07,760with the message, Jesus will establish his Kingdom. It’s part of our series, The27000:22:08,099 –> 00:22:11,939Gospel according to Jesus. Imagine what it would have been like to have walked27100:22:11,939 –> 00:22:17,239with Jesus.Imagine what that would do to your faith. The Bible gives us the next27200:22:17,239 –> 00:22:22,119best thing in our series, The Gospel According to Jesus. We’re taking an27300:22:22,119 –> 00:22:26,579unforgettable journey through the book of Mark, discovering along the way the27400:22:26,579 –> 00:22:33,239wonder of Jesus, his teaching and actions and life. You’ll be drawn to him over and27500:22:33,239 –> 00:22:37,599over again. So stay with us in this series and don’t forget if you’ve missed27600:22:37,599 –> 00:22:41,300any of the series or if you want to go back and listen again, you can always do27700:22:41,300 –> 00:22:45,579that by coming online to our website www.openthebible.org.uk www.openthebible.org.uk27800:22:45,579 –> 00:22:49,079www.openthebible.org.uk and there you’ll find all the messages which have already gone out27900:22:49,079 –> 00:22:54,839and they’re added to each and every day. You can also find Pastor Colin’s28000:22:54,839 –> 00:22:58,900teaching as a podcast and those are available on all the main podcast sites28100:22:58,900 –> 00:23:04,500or by following a link from our website Also on our website and available as a28200:23:04,660 –> 00:23:09,780podcast, you can find Open the Bible Daily and that’s a series of short two28300:23:09,780 –> 00:23:14,500to three minute daily reflections based on Pastor Colin’s teaching and read in28400:23:14,500 –> 00:23:19,300the UK by Su McCleish. Open the Bible is supported by our listeners and it’s your28500:23:19,300 –> 00:23:24,000financial support that keep Pastor Colin’s teaching on the air so thank you28600:23:24,000 –> 00:23:29,180if you already give to support Open the Bible. If you don’t already give but28700:23:29,180 –> 00:23:32,540that’s something you’d like to do this month we have an offer for you.28800:23:32,900 –> 00:23:37,739If you are able to set up a new direct debit to the work of Open the Bible this month in the28900:23:37,739 –> 00:23:42,380amount of five pounds per month or more or a one-off gift of fifty pounds or29000:23:42,380 –> 00:23:46,660more we’d love to say thank you by sending you five copies of pastor29100:23:46,660 –> 00:23:51,400Colin’s new booklet What Jesus Says to Skeptics. That’s one copy for you to read29200:23:51,400 –> 00:23:56,140and four to give away to your friends and family. Colin there may be someone29300:23:56,140 –> 00:24:00,380who’s listening today who is a sceptic when it comes to the Christian faith how29400:24:00,380 –> 00:24:04,760would this booklet be helpful to them. Well I think the first thing is that a29500:24:04,760 –> 00:24:09,939sceptic might think well because I don’t yet believe Jesus Christ is not going to29600:24:09,939 –> 00:24:14,699have very much time for me but what we find in the Gospels is that Jesus cared29700:24:14,699 –> 00:24:20,900very very deeply about skeptics he spent time with people who had honest questions29800:24:20,900 –> 00:24:26,099and engaged with them at a very deep level and he offered them a pathway to29900:24:26,500 –> 00:24:32,380faith so if you or someone you know is a skeptic this is an opportunity for you30000:24:32,380 –> 00:24:37,239to hear what Jesus has to say to you. Well we’d love to send you five copies30100:24:37,239 –> 00:24:41,780of Pastor Colin’s booklet What Jesus Says to Skeptics as our way of saying30200:24:41,780 –> 00:24:46,060thank you for your financial support. You can find out more including full terms30300:24:46,060 –> 00:24:51,540and conditions and give online at openthebible.org.uk. For30400:24:51,540 –> 00:24:54,180Open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith30500:24:54,420 –> 00:24:57,699I’m David Pick and I hope you’ll be able to join us again next time30600:25:03,640 –> 00:25:07,599Jesus gave his assessment of what goes on in the hearts of people30700:25:07,599 –> 00:25:10,780who go to church Find out what it reveals30800:25:10,780 –> 00:25:12,619next time on Open the Bible

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Colin Smith

Trustee / Founder and Teaching Pastor

Colin Smith is the Senior Pastor of The Orchard Evangelical Free Church in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. He has authored a number of books, including Heaven, How I Got Here and Heaven, So Near – So Far. Colin is the Founder and Teaching Pastor for Open the Bible. Follow him on X formerly Twitter.

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Sermons on Mark’s Gospel This series takes you on a journey through The Gospel of Mark, where you will encounter Jesus Christ the Son of God. Discovering who Jesus is, and what He has accomplished, you will find yourself drawn to follow Him along with His first disciples. See also: • The Gospel According to

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