This is the final post in a seven-part series on Four Fields, a Kingdom growth strategy seen throughout scripture in the life of Jesus Christ and his disciples. Read the rest of the series.
Over the last few posts, we unpacked Jesus’ parable of the growing seed found in Mark 4:26-29. Together, we’ve discovered that this parable is much more than just a simple story about an instance of agricultural life.
Jesus used this few sentences to show the powerful process of Kingdom growth coming to fruition.
He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.” -Mark 4:26-29
Let’s do a quick recap.
Field 1: Entry
There must be a point of origin, or a field, for a plant to grow. Jesus’ disciples must enter new fields to scatter the seed.
Field 2: Gospel
Next, the field must be saturated with seed, in order that some may grow and be harvested. Jesus’ disciples must be faithful seed sowers with the gospel in their fields.
Field 3: Discipleship
Seed that takes rest in good soil will sprout up and grow into a healthy plant. Jesus’ disciples are like growing plants in God’s field, who must be obedient in making other disciples.
Field 4: Church
After a season of growth, the farmer will gather the developed crops into a bundle. Jesus’ disciples together in a bundle are the church.
Leadership Development
The farmer will hold back a few of the developed plants to start a new harvest process. Jesus’ disciples must raise up leaders to replicate the Kingdom growth process to see multiplication.
How can we experience God’s Kingdom today?
As disciples of Jesus engage in this Kingdom growth process, we can experience the “already” and “not yet” of His Kingdom come. In each field, disciples are continually transformed through their obedience to Jesus as they follow Him and fish for men. Together as church, they can glorify God and have the privilege to play a part in others allowing Jesus to reign in their lives.
This is the joy of experiencing the “already” of God’s Kingdom.
“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” -Revelation 7:9-10
This beautiful picture of God’s Kingdom coming into fruition is what the church can continually envision as we strive side by side to see this glorious time.
As we labor to see Jesus Christ glorified all over the earth, we can confidently hold that our obedience to Him is not in vain. We can seek to see all nations, peoples, and tribes know Him and worship Him. We can actively play a part in seeing this Kingdom grow by simply doing what Jesus Himself did on earth. All glory to God!
About Four Fields
Four Fields is East-West’s ministry model that includes entering new ministry fields, sharing the gospel, discipling new believers, gathering as church, and developing leaders to continue this ongoing cycle. Based on The Parable of the Growing Seed in Mark 4:26-29, we believe this strategy is seen in the ministry of Jesus and his disciples and is ultimately fueled by the Holy Spirit.
