Lesson 18

background notes

doctrinal / teaching point

1. Spiritual maturity is a gradual process.

 

practical application

1. You can be sure that there will be a harvest.

 

questions

1. In which of the gospels is this particular parable found?

2. What does spiritual maturity mean in the life of Christian?

3. How does the parable of the wheat and tares (Matthew 13), relate to spiritual maturity in the kingdom of God?

4. There will be a harvest. What does this mean in the life of an individual believer?

5. There will be a harvest. What does this mean as it relates to the kingdom of God?

 

answers

1. Only in Mark.

2. Christian maturity is when the word is received, believed and obeyed, then the believer grows.

3. This fits in with the Lord's return and God's program. The same man who did the sowing will do the reaping. The wheat and tares are gathered together, then put into the barn or discarded.

4. If we scatter the seed, there will be results. People will be saved and disciples will be made. (We must recognize, however, that we don't save people; only God does that).

5. This refers to God's final stage of the program for the kingdom. We cannot know the inner workings, but we know it's on schedule. There will be a harvest, and we can be a part of it, for God uses us as we are willing to do His work.

 

discuss / consider

1. Read Isaiah 55:11. What does this mean in light of God's purposes? Does it relate to you? What does it mean in your life?

2. Read 1 Corinthians 15:58. Are you fulfilling this in your life? How?

 

challenge

In light of the two verses above, consider your part, and what more you can do in bringing the kingdom of God to fruition.

memorize

• "Jesus said, 'The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground...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." (Mark 4:26-29)