Soil
Notes
Transcript
He told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one:
“Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds. As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died. Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted! Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”
“Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds: The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts. The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced. The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”
What kind of soil are you?
1. footpath/dirt road - beaten down, flat, hard, used for walking/driving on, there was no water, no care, and no nutrients.
2. shallow rocky soil/gravel - doesn’t hold water, deceitful because plants will start to grow, but they won’t last.
3. thorny/weedy soil - can grow plants, but it chokes them out; the weeds steal the water and nutrients away.
4. good/fertile soil - healthy, with plenty of water and nutrients, fertilized; someone pays attention and takes care of it because good soil doesn’t happen on its own.
Five Ways to Have Good Soil:
Point 1: Possess Humility - realize our need for God; pride keeps us from being vulnerable and honest with ourselves and with Him; we will never grow or produce anything good on our own.
Point 2: Pursue Intimacy - make the Holy Spirit our closest friend; share everything with Him; get to know His character through the Word; closeness takes effort, really knowing Him
requires intentionality. He wants to get down in the dirt with us!
Point 3: Put down Roots - spiritual roots grow in the secret place with God; spend time alone in the Word and worship. Don’t try to live off of spiritual highs/big events (camp!) but through a daily relationship with Christ.
Point 4: Protect your Heart - beware of distractions such as money, fame, relationships. they are like weeds and thorns that will choke out your spiritual growth.
Point 5: Purify Yourself - if soil gets contaminated, nothing will grow in it; it has to be clean! We have to keep ourselves clean and holy before the Lord; we won’t be perfect, but HE is our righteousness!
Application
The goal: to be good soil! Not just for ourselves, but as vs 23 says “to produce 30, 60, even 100 times as much as was planted.”
A life of good soil will grow good fruit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control, and it will affect those around us and change the world for Jesus.
Altar Call
Time of prayer for those who want to make sure that they have good soil in their life.
