Seed Growing Secretly

Seed Growing Secretly

Text: Mark 4:26–29

Introduction: A Quiet Field, A Certain Harvest
Jesus describes a farmer who scatters seed and then goes about ordinary days and nights. Beneath the surface, unseen by the farmer, the seed sprouts and grows. The earth “by itself” produces—first the blade, then the head, then the full grain. When the grain ripens, the farmer swings the sickle because harvest has arrived. This picture teaches how the kingdom advances: the seed carries power, growth unfolds in stages, laborers work faithfully, and harvest surely comes.

The Picture Jesus Draws
The Lord places our attention on three elements—seed, time, and harvest. The farmer’s role is clear: sow and later reap. The mysterious middle—the hidden processes in the soil—belongs to what Jesus calls the seed’s God-given power. The scene encourages steady work and patient confidence rather than hurry and worry.

The Seed and Its Power
Scripture identifies the seed as the word of God (Luke 8:11). The word carries life and effectiveness that do not depend on human flair. Isaiah wrote that God’s word accomplishes what He sends it to do and does not return empty (Isaiah 55:10–11). The gospel itself is God’s power unto salvation (Romans 1:16). People are born again through the incorruptible seed of the word (1 Peter 1:23). When the word is sown plainly and purely, the field receives what produces life.

The Sower’s Work: Faithful, Ordinary, Ongoing
The farmer in Jesus’ story scatters seed and then keeps ordinary rhythms—sleeping and rising. He does his part without trying to pry open the soil. Evangelism and edification follow the same wisdom. We sow widely and consistently (Ecclesiastes 11:4–6). We preach the word in season and out of season (2 Timothy 4:2). We remain steady and refuse to grow weary, knowing we will reap in due time if we do not lose heart (Galatians 6:9). The task calls for diligence in sowing and readiness when harvest presents itself (John 4:35).

Growth in Stages: Blade, Head, Full Grain
Jesus highlights a sequence. Spiritual growth honors the same pattern. New disciples begin as babes who crave pure teaching (Hebrews 5:12–14). With time, practice, and teaching, understanding deepens and fruit becomes evident (2 Peter 3:18; James 1:22–25). Congregations follow the pattern as well—seed sown, shoots appearing, maturity forming. The sequence calls for patience, nourishment, and measured expectations that fit the stage.

Guardrails for the Field: Keep to the Seed
The Lord’s work advances through the Lord’s word. Methods that elevate human tradition or worldly philosophy never replace the seed (Colossians 2:8, 22–23). Scripture warns against adding to or taking from what God has revealed (Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32; 1 Corinthians 4:6; Revelation 22:18–19). The farmer does not swap seed in the bag. Disciples honor the same wisdom by teaching only what the Lord has authorized (Colossians 3:17) and by arranging congregational life according to the apostolic pattern.

What the Farmer Does Not Know—and Why That Matters
Jesus notes that the farmer “does not know how” the seed springs to life. This acknowledgement frees laborers from burdens they cannot carry. Hidden work in hearts belongs to what God accomplishes through His word. Our task remains clear—teach clearly, live consistently, answer questions, urge obedience, and remain patient (James 5:7–8). Anxiety gives way to perseverance when we remember where growth truly resides (1 Corinthians 3:6–7).

Harvest Arrives: Be Ready
Ripeness requires action. When grain is ready, the farmer brings in the crop. Opportunities for reaping appear in seasons—individual hearts open, communities become receptive, doors stand ajar. Wise workers prepare to study with seekers, extend invitations, baptize penitent believers, and fold the newborn into steady teaching and fellowship (Matthew 28:19–20; Acts 2:41–42). Jesus’ language also points forward to the final harvest at the end of the age, when separation and reward occur without delay (Matthew 13:39–43). Both realities urge readiness.

Measured Results and Real Encouragement
Much of kingdom work looks ordinary—conversations, home studies, children taught, daily consistency, prayers for wisdom, quiet acts of service. Jesus honors these rhythms. The field grows while the farmer sleeps and rises. Progress often arrives without fanfare; fruit often forms over years. Do the next faithful thing today and let the seed do what seed does.

Invitation and Obedient Response
Entrance into the kingdom belongs to those who do the Father’s will (Matthew 7:21). Scripture joins salvation to obeying Christ (Hebrews 5:9). The appointed response is plain: hear the gospel, believe in Jesus, repent of sins, confess His name, and be baptized for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Romans 6:3–4; 1 Peter 3:21). Then continue in the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayers (Acts 2:42). That is how the seed takes root, grows, and bears grain.

Conclusion: Sow Today, Trust Tomorrow, Reap When Ready
Jesus’ little field scene carries a steadying message. The seed you scatter matters. The stages of growth matter. Your patience matters. The harvest will come. Keep a full seed bag, keep your hands at the task, and keep your eyes open for ripened grain.

Exhaustive Sermon Outline

• Text and Theme

  • Mark 4:26–29—seed, secret growth, certain harvest

• The Parable Restated

  • Farmer scatters seed

  • Ordinary days and nights continue

  • Seed sprouts and grows “by itself”

  • Stages: blade, head, full grain

  • Ripeness and reaping

• The Seed Identified

  • Word of God as seed (Luke 8:11)

  • Word accomplishes God’s purpose (Isaiah 55:10–11)

  • Gospel as God’s power (Romans 1:16)

  • New birth by incorruptible seed (1 Peter 1:23)

• The Sower’s Assignment

  • Sow widely and steadily (Ecclesiastes 11:4–6)

  • Preach the word consistently (2 Timothy 4:2)

  • Do all in the name of the Lord (Colossians 3:17)

  • Do not grow weary; reap in due season (Galatians 6:9)

• Growth in Stages

  • Blade: beginnings, basics (Hebrews 5:12–14)

  • Head: discernment forming (James 1:22–25)

  • Full grain: visible fruit, stability (2 Peter 3:18)

• Guardrails for Laborers

  • Reject human tradition as authority (Colossians 2:8, 22–23)

  • Neither add to nor take from revealed teaching (Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32; 1 Corinthians 4:6; Revelation 22:18–19)

• What the Farmer Does Not Know

  • Hidden processes belong to God’s design

  • Confidence rooted in 1 Corinthians 3:6–7

  • Patience learned from James 5:7–8

• Harvest Readiness

  • Recognize open doors (John 4:35)

  • Act decisively when hearts are ripe (Acts 2:41–42)

  • Remember the final harvest (Matthew 13:39–43)

• The Appointed Response and Ongoing Obedience

  • Hear, believe, repent, confess, be baptized (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Romans 6:3–4; 1 Peter 3:21)

  • Continue in the pattern (Acts 2:42; Matthew 28:19–20)

  • Do the Father’s will; obey the Son (Matthew 7:21; Hebrews 5:9)

• Encouragements for Daily Work

  • Ordinary faithfulness matters

  • Keep sowing; trust the seed; expect a harvest

Call to Action
Refill your seed bag this week: choose one person to study with and one family to invite. Read Mark 4 aloud and pray for patience and readiness. If you have delayed the Lord’s appointed response, arise and be baptized, washing away your sins, calling on His name (Acts 22:16). Then begin sowing tomorrow morning.

Scripture Reference List

• Mark 4:26–29—Parable of the seed growing secretly; seed-power, stages, certain harvest

• Luke 8:11—The seed is the word of God

• Isaiah 55:10–11—God’s word accomplishes His purpose

• Romans 1:16—The gospel as God’s power unto salvation

• 1 Peter 1:23—New birth by the incorruptible word

• Ecclesiastes 11:4–6—Sow morning and evening; do not wait on perfect conditions

• 2 Timothy 4:2—Preach the word in every season

• Galatians 6:9—Do not grow weary; reap in due time

• James 5:7–8—Farmer’s patience; establish your hearts

• 1 Corinthians 3:6–7—Plant and water; God gives the increase

• John 4:35—Fields white for harvest

• Matthew 13:39–43—Harvest and final separation

• Colossians 3:17—Do all in the name of the Lord

• Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32; 1 Corinthians 4:6; Revelation 22:18–19—Do not add to or take from God’s word

• Hebrews 5:12–14—Stages of maturity; solid food for the mature

• 2 Peter 3:18—Grow in knowledge of the Lord

• James 1:22–25—Doers of the word blessed in doing

• Matthew 7:21—Entrance tied to doing the Father’s will

• Hebrews 5:9—Eternal salvation to all who obey Him

• Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16; Romans 6:3–4; 1 Peter 3:21—Appointed response to the gospel

• Acts 2:41–42—Immediate obedience and continued devotion

• Matthew 28:19–20—Make disciples; teach them to observe all He commanded

Prepared by David Hersey of the church of Christ at Granby, MO