Parable of the Growing Seed, Mark 4:26-29
God’s Process of Transformation
Today, many believers desire to grow in their faith, but few understand how spiritual growth truly happens.
We often think that we can grow spiritually through our own strength — by trying harder, praying longer, or doing more — yet Jesus teaches us something very different. In the parable of the growing seed, He shows us that growth is God’s work. Just as a seed grows silently in the soil, the Kingdom of God grows quietly in the heart of every believer. We live in a world that demands instant results, but God’s growth takes time.
Many Christians are still struggling with the same sins, the same habits, and the same fears, because they have not allowed the Word of God to take deep root in their hearts. The Church today needs believers who are growing — not just attending but changing; not just hearing, but bearing fruit (John 15:8). God desires His people to mature from the stalk to the head, to the full grain — to live fruitful lives that glorify Him. This sermon will help us understand that spiritual growth is a divine process — one that begins when the seed of God’s Word is planted, continues through sanctification, and ends in the harvest when Christ returns.
1. The Scattering of the Seed
Jesus said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground; he sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows—he knows not how” (Mark 4:26–27). The man scatters the seed, but it is God who makes the seed grow. He cannot explain how — the mystery of life is in the seed, and the power is in God. The same way, when the Word of God is spoken, it falls into the hearts of people. Some hearts are hard, others shallow or full of thorns — but good soil represents those with noble and good hearts who hear the Word, retain it, and by perseverance produce a crop (Luke 8:15; Matthew 13:23). The soil represents people and how they receive the message (Mark 4:20). When the Word is planted deep, it begins to grow — silently, day and night — until fruit appears in due time.
2. The Sprouting — The Stalk Appears
When the seed is buried, it begins to sprout. The first sign of life is the stalk. This represents the beginning of new life — the evidence that something is happening beneath the surface. This stage symbolizes the early growth of a believer. The seed of God’s Word begins to push through the soil of the heart. The believer begins to repent, believe, and develop a hunger for God’s truth (1 Peter 2:2).Here begins the process of sanctification — being set apart for God. He starts removing impurities, habits, and desires that hinder our walk with Him (John 17:17; 2 Corinthians 6:17).The stalk is important because it supports what comes next. It’s a foundation of faith, prayer, and obedience — a sign that the life of God is beginning to show.
3. The Formation of the Head
Then the stalk produces a head — a sign of maturity. Inside the head, pollination takes place — this represents how the Holy Spirit works in the believer’s life, connecting truth to understanding. The believer now begins to bear the likeness of Christ. His or her mind, speech, and behavior start to change. This is where faith deepens and wisdom begins to form. At this stage, the servants of God water the seed through teaching and encouragement, but it is still God who causes the growth (1 Corinthians 3:6–7).Though we may not notice the change day by day, transformation is happening — we begin to see new attitudes, new desires, and new character forming.
4. The Grain — Full Maturity
After the head forms, the kernel begins to ripen. This is the stage of spiritual maturity — where the believer produces the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22–23).The believer now becomes useful in God’s Kingdom — feeding others, serving faithfully, and spreading the gospel. But remember — before the seed can bear fruit, it must first die.
Jesus said, “Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces many seeds” (John 12:24).We must die to our old selves, our pride, and our sinful nature, to live a new life in Christ (Romans 6:6; 2 Corinthians 5:17).
5. The Harvest — The End of the Age
When the grain is ripe, the man puts in the sickle — for the harvest has come (Mark 4:29). This represents the end of the age (Matthew 13:39), when Jesus Christ will return to gather His people. Those who allowed His Word to grow and bear fruit will be harvested for eternal life (Revelation 14:15). At that time, He will separate the righteous from the wicked, just as the farmer separates the wheat from the chaff (Matthew 13:41–43). The faithful will receive new, glorified bodies and live forever in God’s presence (1 Corinthians 15:52–54; Revelation 21:4). Even though we may not see it now, God is working day and night. His Kingdom is growing in us and through us. Though evil may seem to prevail, His justice and mercy will triumph (Romans 2:6–8).
6. The Spiritual Lesson
Beloved, this parable shows that the Kingdom of God grows in stages — from the stalk to the head, to the grain, and finally to the harvest. We may not always understand what God is doing, but He is always working. Our part is to hear the Word, receive it with faith, and hold it firmly in our hearts. Many believers today struggle to bear fruit because they have not died to sin. They live with one foot in the church and the other in the world (Matthew 6:24; James 4:4). But just as a seed must die to live, we must surrender completely to Christ. If we allow Him to work in us, He will separate us from sin, renew our minds, and make us like His Son (Romans 12:2; Philippians 3:21).
Conclusion
The process of the seed — from the stalk to the head, to the grain — reveals God’s process in us. from predestination to glorification romans 8:29-30. Growth takes time, faith, and surrender. Even when we cannot see it, God is working. His Spirit is shaping us day and night, just as He causes the seed to grow in the soil. Let us allow His Word to take root in our hearts. Let Him water it through His Spirit. Let Him remove what hinders our growth. And when the harvest comes, may we be found mature, fruitful, and ready for His Kingdom (Philippians 1:6).
“He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”(Mark 4:9)
