BIG IDEA:
in Jesus means new life in Jesus.
Mark 4:3-9
Mark 4:10-12
Mark 4:13-20
What kind of soil is your heart made of?
Three Key Elements in the Parable:
I. The
II. The
III. The
Four Soil Samples (“Heart Soil:):
I. The Heart (v.15)
II. The Heart (vv.16-17)
III. The Heart (vv.18-19)
“Big table. Leather chairs. Coffee. Bottled water. Whiteboard. A committee sits around the table. There is the social self, the private self, the work self, the sexual self, the recreational self, the religious self, the childhood memories self, and others. The committee is arguing and debating and voting. Constantly agitated. Divided. Upset. Rarely can the committee within come to an unanimous, wholehearted decision…One way we might falsely “accept Jesus” is just to invite him onto our committee. Give Jesus a seat at the table. Give him a vote, too. Let him make his case, and then the rest of us will decide for or against. But, if this is how we accept Jesus, then he is just one influence among others, easily offset by the other voices, which yell and demand and threaten.”
–Ray Ortlund, What does it mean to ‘accept Jesus’? TGC article)
IV. The Heart (v.20)
John 15:5, 8
TAKE ACTION!
I. Which of the four soils in Jesus’ parable best describes you right now? (HEAD)
-Are there hard paths that need softening?
-Are there stones that need removing?
-Are there thorns that need uprooting? Or board members that need firing?
-Is there fruit that needs to keep flourishing?
II. Pray that God will give you a heart that hears and accepts his word, producing abundant fruit in your life. Pray this for others. (HEART)
III. Read Mark 4 and James 1:20-25. How will you cultivate the soil of your heart? How can you help others to do the same? (HANDS)