Sunday School Lesson
February 1
Lesson 9 (KJV)
The Christian Church
Devotional Reading: Acts 2:42–47
Background Scripture: Matthew 16:13–20; Ephesians 1:15–23; 2:13–22; 5:22–27
Mark 4:26–32
26 And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;
27 And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.
28 For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.
29 But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.
30 And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?
31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:
But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.
Ephesians 4:4–6, 11–18
4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
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11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
Key Text
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.—Ephesians 4:15–16
Enduring Beliefs of the Church
Unit 3: The Church and Its Teachings
Lessons 9–13
Lesson Aims
After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to:
1. Summarize the parables of Mark 4:26–32.
2. Explain the purpose of unity in the Spirit.
3. Make a plan for seeking reconciliation within the church and between the church and its surrounding community.
How to Say It
Colossians Kuh-losh-unz.
Ephesians Ee-fee-zhunz.
Pentecost Pent-ih-kost.
Synoptic Sih-nawp-tihk.
Introduction
A. Rapid Growth
My home state, Nebraska, enjoys a worldwide reputation for growing corn. It is estimated that cornfields in the state total nearly ten million acres. For me, moving to Nebraska from California, this was astounding. In central Nebraska, one can drive miles in the summer and see nothing but corn fields.
What was especially impressive to me was how fast this crop can grow. Farmers plant, and seedlings emerge in May. The corn stalks quickly become knee-high, then waist-high, then over-the-head-high. With plenty of moisture and fertilizer, corn stalks can grow an inch a day or more. I was told that sometimes you can hear the corn growing, which is true. If you stand in a corn field during peak growth season in the evening, you will hear popping as leaves emerge from the stalk.
Jesus and the people of His time and place did not have corn as we have it today. But they had other plants that grew rapidly in the fertile and well-watered fields of the Galilee region. Jesus told many parables involving farming and sowing seeds. This lesson reveals one reason why.
B. Lesson Context
Jesus is known for His use of parables when teaching. While Jesus’ parables are unique, this teaching method was well-known in the ancient world. For Jesus, a parable is usually an illustration that compares something well-known in the experience of the hearers to less understood spiritual truths. His illustrations were drawn from the everyday lives of His audience.
Many parables teach about the “kingdom of God” (in Matthew, “kingdom of heaven”). We see their comparative nature in their introduction, “The kingdom of heaven is likened unto …” (example: Matthew 13:24). Some parables are narratives, telling a little story (example: Luke 15:4–7). Others are observational, giving spiritual application to an easily pictured scenario (example: 6:39).
The kingdom parables often have applications regarding Jesus’ intentions for the church. This lesson looks at two such parables in Mark.
I. Parables of the Kingdom
(Mark 4:26–32)
A. Scattered Seeds (vv. 26–29)
26. And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground.
Mark 4:1–34 features four parables, and this verse begins the third. As we read about a man who casts seed into the ground, we remind ourselves that people of Jesus’ day had no mechanical devices to spread seed like we have now. Rather, seed was broadcast by hand. This required skill to minimize wasted seed. After harvest, seed was saved to be ready for the spring planting. What was saved could have been eaten, but farmers knew that without that seed, there would be no future harvest.
27. And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.
the seed is planted, the farmer’s job is done for a while. He sleeps and gets up according to his routine. The seed needs no help to spring and grow up. However, while the farmer can observe this, he doesn’t know how it works. He just expects it to happen.
In a world before modern scientific advances, there was great wonder about seeds and how they were able to replicate the plants they came from (compare Genesis 1:11–12). For seeds to be sown and then produce a good crop was seen as a blessing of the Lord (26:12). So, too, for Jesus: the growth of the kingdom is accomplished by God.
28. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.
In the verse before us, Jesus describes a seed becoming a mature plant. From the earth (dirt), the germinated seed becomes fruit of herself without help from the farmer. The word corn is used in an older sense to indicate grain crops in general. Grain crops produce kernels that can be dried and ground into flour, providing a necessary ingredient for bread until the next harvest. Plant growth begins with a blade emerging from the ground, and sprouts indicate that the planting has succeeded. This becomes a stalk that produces an ear, the seed head of the plant. This grain head matures and, if the conditions are right, will be full of grain like the seed from which it came.
29. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.
The stalks of grain don’t just keep growing on and on, year after year. Their seed has been planted for a purpose: the harvest. And so it is with the kingdom of God (compare Isaiah 17:4–6; Matthew 13:1–23; Revelation 14:14–18). And as the ancient farmer didn’t understand how a seed could result in a mature stalk of wheat, so too it is with the kingdom of God.
B. Smallest Seed (vv. 30–32)
30–31. And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth.
In these verses, Jesus introduces a new parable. Unlike the previous parable, the one we now consider has parallels in the other two synoptic Gospels (Matthew 13:31–32; Luke 13:18–19). Again, the parable is about the kingdom of God. The vital need for such illustrations is seen in the fact that “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand” (Mark 1:15).
Like wheat, the mustard plant grows from seed after being planted (Matthew 13:31). Mustard seeds are tiny, as small as one millimeter in diameter. These were the smallest seeds with which Jesus’ hearers would have been familiar, thus symbolic of the smallest item in their everyday world. This imagery is so powerful that Jesus will use it again later (17:20; Luke 17:6).
What Do You Think?
What word image would you use to tell a modern-day parable about the kingdom of God?
Digging Deeper
What truth regarding the kingdom of God would your parable convey?
32. But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.
Mustard plants can grow from tiny seeds to large shrubs in a single growing cycle of approximately 90 days. Some people have seen mature mustard plants around the Sea of Galilee that reached 10 feet tall. Though not technically “trees” by modern definition, they have considerable branches, giving a tree-like appearance. These leafy branches provide shade and can support the weight of small birds (compare Luke 13:19).
Like the previous parable, this one is about the kingdom of God. These parables refer prophetically to the church and its astounding growth. Beginning with a core of disciples, Jesus’ followers became the church on Pentecost. The book of Acts describes the rapid numerical growth of the first-century church following Jesus’ ascension (Acts 2:41–47; 4:4; 6:7). Today, estimates number those who identify as Christian at more than two billion.
What Do You Think?
In what ways have you seen God work through something small or humble to achieve His will?
Digging Deeper
How has the kingdom of God surprised you? How should it?
II. Work of the Kingdom
(Ephesians 4:4–6, 11–18)
In the first three chapters of this letter, Paul discusses the church’s foundation in the plan of God (Ephesians 1:11–12); Paul explains Christ’s role in breaking down the dividing wall between Jews and Gentiles (2:14); and he calls his readers to recognize that Christ is the head of His church, and the church is His body (1:22–23). These points are all at odds with a divided church. Therefore, chapter 4 begins Paul’s expression of the vital, unitary nature of the church.
A. Unified under Jesus (vv. 4–6)
4. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling.
The church grows as more people are added to the kingdom of God. This growth creates challenges to unity as various cultures interact. Ephesians 4, however, teaches about the doctrines of the church that are to remain unchanging. Neither growth nor unity is to be emphasized at the expense of the other. The apostle Paul stresses unity by teaching on the “seven ones” in Ephesians 4:4–6. These are points of doctrine that cannot be dismissed if the growing church is to be what God intends.
One body speaks of the church (compare Romans 12:4–5; Ephesians 5:23; Colossians 1:18). Paul has much to say about diversity within the unified body of Christ in 1 Corinthians 12:12–31. That passage also tells us how the one Spirit—the Holy Spirit—relates to that unified body. Christians are unified in having received the Holy Spirit through faith and repentance (Acts 2:38; Galatians 3:14).
The church has one hope to which it is called (see Ephesians 1:18; 4:1). Believers have this hope through our belief in the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ (see 1 Corinthians 15:19; 1 Peter 1:3) and future eternal life with the Lord in heaven (Romans 6:22). After Paul left Ephesus, he testified to his “hope and resurrection of the dead” (Acts 23:6).
5. One Lord, one faith, one baptism.
We come now to the fourth, fifth, and sixth of the “seven ones.” One Lord refers to the Lord Jesus Christ, the head of the church (Ephesians 3:11; 5:23). One faith involves our common assent regarding the person and work of Jesus (John 20:30–31; Acts 16:31). Paul emphasizes that the one baptism is for both Jews and Gentiles: a baptism into Christ. This emphasis aligns with Paul’s corrective to the Corinthians regarding different baptisms (1 Corinthians 1:12–15; compare 12:13).
6. One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. We come to the seventh and final “one.” Paul describes the one God by four uses of the word all. God is the Father of all in terms of creation (see Malachi 2:10; Ephesians 3:14–15). For God to be above all speaks to His transcendent nature. He exists outside of His creation. This means there is nothing above the Lord God in power or authority (see Psalms 97:9; 113:4–6; 1 Timothy 6:16). As we come to the phrases through all and in you all, we may be confused about the difference between the two (compare Romans 11:36). The preposition through indicates “means,” “agency,” or “intermediacy,” as in “by means of,” in this context (as it does in Colossians 1:20; 1 John 4:9). The preposition in, for its part, indicates “location.” This speaks to God’s immanence, or presence everywhere (compare Jeremiah 23:23–24; Acts 17:27–28).
What Do You Think?
Which of Paul’s “seven ones” do you struggle with the most? Why?
Digging Deeper
Which encourages you the most? Why?
B. Properly Led (vv. 11–13)
11. And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers.
Christ provides servant-leaders for His church. In this verse, Paul is not teaching about spiritual gifting but about Christ’s gifts to the church: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. The gifts are people.
An apostle was appointed by Christ to be authoritative in the first-century church. Transforming Jesus’ followers into a functioning church required strong leadership, and the apostles had that authority. Only apostles or those closely associated with an apostle were recognized as legitimate authors of the books that make up the New Testament.
Prophets speak for God to strengthen the church (Acts 11:27–28; 15:32; 21:10–11). The household of God is “built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone” (Ephesians 2:20; compare 1 Corinthians 12:28).
Evangelists are mentioned in the New Testament only here and in Acts 21:8 and 2 Timothy 4:5. They proclaim the good news about Jesus, a task essential yet today (see Matthew 28:19–20; Romans 10:14).
Regarding the categories of pastors and teachers, there is some debate regarding whether these are two distinct roles or just one role (as in the hyphenated “pastor-teacher”). The Greek word translated “pastors” occurs 18 times in the New Testament (here and in Matthew 9:36; 25:32; 26:31; Mark 6:34; 14:27; Luke 2 [four times]; John 10 [six times]; Hebrews 13:20; and 1 Peter 2:25). In those other 17 instances, the translation is always “shepherd(s).” Pastors are shepherds who attend to God’s people as a “flock” over which they had been made “overseers” (Acts 20:28).
Teachers instruct on how to understand God and how to live a godly life based on the Scriptures (Colossians 1:28; 2 Timothy 3:16). Noteworthy is the fact that the role of teacher is in Paul’s “top three list” in 1 Corinthians 12:28. Paul explains the reason these leadership roles are necessary in the next verse.
12. For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.
The servant-leader roles complement one another in a common purpose: perfecting the saints. The leaders bring the believers in their congregations to spiritual maturity to share in the work of the ministry (compare Hebrews 5:11–6:3). Edifying means to build (construct an edifice). Church leaders should never be tearing down members, but building them up. Church leadership is about the body of Christ, the church.
What Do You Think?
Who has been the most influential in helping equip you to serve Christ?
Digging Deeper
How will you help equip others to serve?
13a. Till we all come in the unity of the faith.
This ministry of edification is not easy. Anyone who teaches in a church knows there will be differences of opinion that can become nasty divisions. Paul’s vision is that the church will be guided by the great “seven ones” of Ephesians 4:4–6, thereby coming to the unity of the faith (compare Ephesians 4:3). We usually understand the word faith in terms of words such as trust, assent, or belief that as focused on the person and work of Christ Himself (see John 8:24; 20:31; Romans 4:5; etc.). But that is not the sense here. The inclusion of the definite article “the” in the phrase “the faith” has the sense of a body of doctrine to be believed and accepted as true (Acts 6:7; Titus 1:13; Jude 3).
13b. And of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.
In addition to being unified in the faith, the goal is to be unified in the knowledge of the Son of God. This goal is repeated from Ephesians 1:17. Paul stresses such knowledge also in 2 Corinthians 2:14; 4:6.
United We Stand
“But Mom said I could!” the child yelled at her dad, who had just denied her request. Sound familiar? Children become quite skilled at playing their parents off against each other, lining up a positive response from one parent as ammunition for gaining permission from the other parent as well.
This “divide and conquer” method can turn parent against parent and weaken family relationships. It is not the child’s responsibility to maintain unity, though. Parents are responsible for that. When parents are divided, the children can sense it. The result is a sense of anxious unease and lack of security.
The same thing applies to the church. The spiritually mature leaders have the responsibility to maintain unity. When that doesn’t happen, those who are spiritually immature can sense it; they end up insecure and anxious. What can you do to maintain and strengthen the unity among your congregation? —L. M. W.
C. Secure in Truth (vv. 14–16)
14. That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.
People seem attracted to teachers who will support preconceived ideas—what they want to hear rather than what they need to hear (see 2 Timothy 4:3). But those who move on to maturity in Christ are less susceptible to deceptive forces (compare 1 Corinthians 14:20; James 1:6). The danger here is not that of sincere but mistaken people. Instead, the threat is from professional tricksters. The descriptions here have a sense of false teachers who are peddling lies in ways that make money for themselves (compare 2 Corinthians 11:12–13).
Tossed Around
When my son was a baby, we tightly buckled him in his car seat. His neck struggled to assert control over his head movements as his head rolled side to side or tipped forward, tossed around by centrifugal and gravitational forces as we drove. We believed that he would soon gain control of his neck and head as he grew.
We were right. He grew up to be a fine young adult despite the wobbly beginning. The boy who could barely hold his head up for more than 15 seconds is now part of a world-class drum corps at college. He carries a heavy set of five drums onto the field and plays while marching. His steady development has resulted in him becoming a man who understands his role on the team and carries it out with excellence. We were all spiritual infants at some point, subject to being tossed around by the forces of the world. Some of us have grown out of that stage and on to spiritual maturity. Others haven’t. Which category are you in? To find out, read Hebrews 5:11–6:3. —L. M. W.
15. But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.
Truth is what we are to speak; in love is how we are to speak it. Both must characterize our speech for spiritual growth to occur. The outcome of teaching truth in love is spiritual maturity that results in unity (see 1 Corinthians 3:2; 1 Peter 2:2; etc.).
What Do You Think?
What practical ways can you keep truth and love balanced in your interactions?
Digging Deeper
How will you ensure that such interactions result in the maturity and unity of the body of Christ that is the church?
16. From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. Paul returns to his metaphor of the church as the body of Christ (see expanded metaphor in 1 Corinthians 12:12–31; compare Colossians 2:19). Our physical bodies are made up of compatible parts. They are designed to work together as each serves its function. Just as every part is important, so it is to be in the church. This is why divisions—whether based on false doctrines, personal animosity, or whatever—cause the church to self-destruct. Instead, the goal should be edifying, building the church into a community that loves God and others. This will never happen without an overwhelming spirit of love for one another in the church. You cannot work for the destruction of others if you love them.
D. Showing Transformation (vv. 17–18)
17–18. This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart.
Today’s text ends with a stark warning: past practices (walk) and beliefs (mind) must remain in the past. In so doing, they will not allow paganism, the ways of the Gentiles, to influence the church. Paul has more to say about all this in Romans 1:18–32; 6:6; Ephesians 4:19–24; and Colossians 3.
Conclusion
A. Recognizing Two Kinds of Growth
The parables Jesus told give the impression of rapid growth of the kingdom of God. As with seeds to mature plants, this may seem mysterious to us at times. Astounding church growth may be happening in places we don’t expect. May we rejoice whenever we hear stories of unbelievers coming to faith in Christ! But the numerical growth of people brings growth in the number of opinions and interpretations. This can lead to divisions (compare 1 Corinthians 1:10–17; 3:1–9; 11:17–22). The solution is found in the “seven ones” of Ephesians 4:4–6. These still define the basis for church unity.
B. Prayer
Heavenly Father, we confess Your Son to be the head of the church. Use us to raise His name high so that everyone will be drawn to You. Help us not forget that growth of the church means the salvation of more people and their experience of new life in You. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
C. Thought to Remember
Christ intended and designed His church to grow in number and unity.
Standard Publishing. KJV Standard Lesson Commentary® 2025-2026 (pp. 498-516). David C Cook. Kindle Edition.