PLANT - Week 1
ROOTED • Sermon • Submitted
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· 4 viewsThe seed of the gospel is available to all. It is sown generously no matter the heart condition of the individual. Its ability to take root and grow when planted is dependent on the condition of the “soil” of one’s heart.
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Big Idea: The seed of the gospel is available to all. It is sown generously no matter the heart condition of the individual. Its ability to take root and grow when planted is dependent on the condition of the “soil” of one’s heart.
THINK: The goal is for the audience to believe that they have the ability to make life choices that ensure that their hearts are fertile soil for the truth of the Gospel to take root in.
FEEL: Develop a deep sense that your connection to the Kingdom of God is directly correlated to the condition of your heart.
DO: Make a conscious choice to adjust your lifestyle, by the help of the Holy Spirit in your life, to create the kind of environment where your relationship with God can grow.
Prayer: “God, we believe the harvest is ready. Prepare hearts to hear and receive the good news of Jesus Christ. May it take root and produce a crop that is far beyond our comprehension.”
(Introduction)
I’ve never been much of a gardener although...
I’ve always wanted to be
I’ve been mentioning it to maria for the last couple of year that I would like to get a couple of planter boxes and try to plant some tomatoes and different things.
I may not be the best gardener but i do know a few things that are required in order for something to grow
water
sun light
and probably the most important
good SOIL
Today, we begin a new 4-week series called Rooted.
Psalm 1:3 says that a person “rooted” in their faith,
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.
first of all....
REGARDLESS OF WHAT SEASON WE FIND OURSELVES IN
IF WE ARE LIVING CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE WATER
WE CAN GROW AND INCREASE EVEN WHEN LOGIC TELLS US THAT...........THE CURRENT SEASON DOESN'T PERMIT GROWTH.
UNDERSTAND THIS......
BECAUSE OF THE TREES PROXIMITY TO THE RIVER
IT HAD LEGAL ACCESS TO WATER
EVEN WHEN WATER WAS NOT FALLING FROM THE SKY (RAIN)
IF WE CONNECT OURSELVES TO JESUS AND ALLOW HIS WORD TO TAKE ROOT IN OUR HEART (OUR SOIL)
HE PROVIDES A CONSTANT SOURCE OF WATER THAT WILL ALLOW US TO LIVE IN EVERY SEASON OF LIFE.
In order for a seed to grow and ultimately prosper it must first be...
PLANTED
A seed is generally planted in soil and the quality of the soil has immeasurable effect on the growth of the seed.
CHARITY GAVE AN EXAMPLE OF SOIL LAST WEEK THAT WASN’T ABLE TO RECEIVE WHAT GOD HAS...
YOU HEART (SOIL) MAY BE SO HARD THAT YOUR UNABLE TO RECEIVE THE SEED OF GOD’S WORD
I WANT TO TALK TO YOU about the planting of the seed and the quality of the soil.
(Main Teaching/Body)
In the Parable of the Sower Jesus says;
3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.”
Nine verses later in Matthew, Jesus explains the meaning of the parable to the disciples;
18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
Jesus gives us 4 different scenarios of seed that is being spread in this parable.
He explains that:
the seed is the Word, the good news shared with others.
The soil is the heart of a person, where the seed of the good news can take root.
Jesus makes clear that the problems in the parable don’t occur with the seed, but ...
the problems we see, arise depending on what kind of soil the seed falls onto.
Let’s take a look at the 4 different types of soil described in the parable of the sower.
1. A hardened or oblivious heart is a barren wasteland
19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path.
Some people are opposed to the good news
and then there are those that are oblivious to it.
Whether by personal volition or innocent omission,
this parable is clear that seed will not grow where there is inhospitable soil.
IN FACT IT SAYS, THERE WILL BE SEED SOWN HOWEVER, IT WILL BE SNATCHED UP BY THE ENEMY. WHY????
because he doesn’t want the seed to have any opportunity to take root and grow in a person’s life.
This kind of soil will never produce fruit because the soil is not conducive to growth
it’s too hard, it can’t take in what it needs to take in (water)
you can water the soil over and over again and still it won’t receive
THE SOIL HAS TO BE BROKEN UP AND TILLED AND WORKED
OH MY LORD,
- UNTIL YOU ALLOW YOUR LIFE TO BE BROKEN UNTO GOD....
THE HARDNESS OF YOUR HEART WILL PREVAIL
2. A troubled heart produces shallow roots.
20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.
Life is a long, and at times, difficult journey. (would you agree)
UNDERSTAND THIS...
A heart that is troubled by the obstacles and adversity of life
will fail to produce deep roots.
These individuals have an interest in the Gospel
They even seem to embrace it at the beginning of the journey.
However, over time without tending to the growth of the seed of the Gospel
they will fall away during the tough times and tribulations that all disciples of Christ experience.
Jesus actually warned us, in (John 16:33) he says....
“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
UNDERSTAND THIS....
Shallow roots will not sustain a person through the adverse and difficult seasons of life.
It takes deep and strong roots growing in healthy soil to weather the stormy seasons.
3. A distracted heart bears no fruit
22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.
A distracted heart cannot grow the roots needed to sustain life.
A heart that cares more for the things of the world than for the things of the Kingdom
is not the healthy soil necessary to experience kingdom growth.
Money,
status,
popularity,
ALL OF THESE THINGS, choke out the ability of the seed to get the nutrients and care necessary to grow STRONG AND HEALTHY roots.
I MADE A DECISION A LONG TIME AGO THAT MY CAREER WAS NOT GOING TO BE MY FOCUS IN LIFE
I’M NOT SAYING THAT IF YOU CHOSE TO FOCUS ON YOUR CAREER, YOUR WERE WRONG
NOW IF YOUR CAREER IS KEEPING YOU FROM PURSUING THE KINGDOM OF GOD THEN.....THAT’S A DIFFERENT STORY
FOR ME,
I HAD TO CHOOSE BECAUSE I KNEW I COULDN’T DO BOTH.
WHEN I DO SOMETHING OR AM PASSIONATE ABOUT SOMETHING ALL MY FOCUS AND ENERGY GOES THERE.
IT’S IMPORTANT THAT IN ORDER FOR YOU TO GROW DEEP AND STRONG ROOTS
THAT YOU DON’T GET DISTRACTED BY CARES AND WORRIES OF LIFE
TRUST GOD
FALL IN LOVE WITH HIM
AND PURSUE HIM ABOVE EVERYTHING ELSE
Unhealthy and distracted soil is not the place for seed to grow
and it’s definitely not the place to find a harvest of healthy fruit.
DEEP ROOTS PRODUCE HEALTHY FRUIT
.....WORSHIP TEAM COME.....
4. A fertile heart sustains life
23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
HERE IT IS.....
A heart that is fertile is one that IS READY TO accept the SEED OF THE Gospel
IT does the hard work of nurturing THE SEED to grow.
This heart is one that is open to the Truth of God’s Word
open to the transformation that will take place.
This heart is made ready by the prompting of the Holy Spirit AND the participation of the individual.
This heart does not just experience growth for themselves, but actually impacts those around them.
UNDERSTAND THIS...
Healthy soil is where seeds have the most opportunity to grow into life giving plants, trees, etc…
FOR EXAMPLE,
a single healthy apple tree can bear enough fruit to feed dozens of people.
It’s shade gives rest to those who pass by on hot days.
It’s flowers nourish thousands of pollinators every spring.
And it’s seed spreads and multiplies into an immeasurable amount of other apple trees over the course of its lifetime.
WHY?
ALL BECAUSE OF FERTILE SOIL
A WILLING HEART
A FOCUSED HEART......AMEN?
HERES THE GOAL....
That you would make a choice to adjust your lifestyle with the help of the Holy Spirit in your life,
align yourself with God’s Word
by doing so you will create the kind of environment where your relationship with God can grow.
AMEN????
(Conclusion/Application)
STAND TO YOUR FEET
EVERY HEAD BOWED
EVERY EYE CLOSED
ELIMINATE ALL DISTRACTIONS RIGHT NOW.
I WANT YOU TO FOCUS AND THINK ABOUT THE QUESTIONS I’M ABOUT TO ASK YOU TODAY.
What kind of soil describes your heart today?
Are you indifferent to the good news of Jesus Christ?
MAYBE you need to spend some time on the condition of your heart so that the seed of the gospel can grow deep and healthy roots?
Are you distracted?
Are there too many things in your life FIGHTING for your attention and care?
If you’ve ever had an earthly garden you know the effort it takes to grow and sustain life in the garden.
It’s no different with the eternal garden of your heart
where the divine seeds of the gospel and the kingdom are trying to grow.
They BOTH need healthy soil and consistent care.
What can you do this next week to strengthen the soil of your heart?
Dedicated time in prayer.
Removal of distractions, no TV, no sleeping in too late, no social media.
Dedicated time every morning in the Word.
Meet with A LEADER OR PASTOR to discuss past hurts that are presently hindering your growth.
WOULD YOU COME THIS MORNING AND LAY DOWN WHATEVER IT IS THAT NEEDS TO BE LAID DOWN AT THE ALTAR
SO THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT CAN BEGAN TO SOFTEN YOUR HEART.
CHURCH WIDE FAST
FASTING IS ONE OF THE QUICKEST WAYS TO SOFTEN THE SOIL OF YOUR HEART
JOIN US IN IT