Mark 4:21-2521 He said to them, "Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don't you put it on it's stand? 22 For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. 23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear. 24 Consider carefully what you hear," he continued. "With the measure you use, it will be measured to you - and even more. 25 Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him."  NIV 84 Lesson NotesThe Secret of the Kingdom Is Revealed, Not LearnedJesus says, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you.” This shows that the knowledge of God’s kingdom is revealed, not learned or earned. It’s an act of divine grace that invites us into intimacy with Him. The Kingdom’s Secret Is a “Good Secret” — Meant to Be SharedUnlike most secrets meant to be kept hidden, the “secret” of the kingdom is like good news waiting to be told. It’s the kind of secret that begins with a few and is meant to spread to many — starting with the disciples and continuing through us. The Parables Both Conceal and RevealJesus’ parables act like a filter for the heart. They illuminate truth for those who are open and receptive, yet harden those who resist. Like sunlight that both melts wax and hardens clay, the same message produces different effects depending on one’s heart condition.Jesus Is the Lamp of God — the Light That Cannot Be HiddenJust as a lamp’s purpose is to illuminate a dark room, Jesus came to reveal the truth of God’s kingdom. His light exposes, reveals, and transforms. He is both the Lamp who brings light and the Lamb who gives life. The Lamp Is the Lamb — the Cross as the Ultimate RevelationThe greatest illumination of God’s kingdom comes through the cross. The King’s glory is revealed in His sacrifice. The light of the world shines brightest through the humility, love, and suffering of Jesus, the Lamb of God DISCUSSION QUESTIONS1 Can you recall a time when you had a "positive personal happening" that only you knew about and had yet to tell another person? A time when you "good news just waiting to be told." How did it make you feel? What do you think about the "the kingdom of God" being in that category of secret?2 Jesus said parables reveal and conceal based on the heart’s condition. In what ways have you experienced this with your own heart - times when your heart has been more like wax or more like clay when it comes to receiving the truth of God?3 How does it feel to know that Jesus has entrusted the secret of God’s Kingdom to you personally? The sermon described the “secret of the kingdom” as both a blessing and a burden. In what ways have you experienced both the wonder and the weight of sharing what God has revealed to you?4 The sermon concluded that “the Lamp is the Lamb.” How does seeing Jesus’ light through His sacrificial love help you understand God’s kingdom — and shape how you live within it?