Hearing the Gospel

Introduction

Well if you have your Bibles, you can take them and open them to Luke chapter 8. This morning, we begin a new 6-week series that we are calling, “The Gospel in Parables”. J.T. and I have picked 6 parables, and the goal of this series is to walk us through, using these selected parables, to build an almost systematic understanding of the Gospel and what we are to believe and do with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In this series, we will cover topics like “Hearing the Gospel” (this morning), “The Exclusivity of the Gospel”, “God’s Desire of the Gospel”, and so on. In taking on these various topics, our hope is for you to gain a better understanding of the Gospel, but also help point out some misconceptions of the gospel along the way. So if you will, stand with me as we read Luke 8:4-15

Luke 8:4–15 CSB

4 As a large crowd was gathering, and people were coming to Jesus from every town, he said in a parable, 5 “A sower went out to sow his seed. As he sowed, some seed fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the sky devoured it. 6 Other seed fell on the rock; when it grew up, it withered away, since it lacked moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns; the thorns grew up with it and choked it. 8 Still other seed fell on good ground; when it grew up, it produced fruit: a hundred times what was sown.” As he said this, he called out, “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen.” 9 Then his disciples asked him, “What does this parable mean?” 10 So he said, “The secrets of the kingdom of God have been given for you to know, but to the rest it is in parables, so that Looking they may not see, and hearing they may not understand. 11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12 The seed along the path are those who have heard and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 And the seed on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy. Having no root, these believe for a while and fall away in a time of testing. 14 As for the seed that fell among thorns, these are the ones who, when they have heard, go on their way and are choked with worries, riches, and pleasures of life, and produce no mature fruit. 15 But the seed in the good ground—these are the ones who, having heard the word with an honest and good heart, hold on to it and by enduring, produce fruit.

Body

(1) The Sower and the Seed

a. The Sower (v. 5)

Matthew 9:38 CSB

Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.”

b. Went Out (v. 5)

Matthew 28:19 CSB

Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

c. To Sow (v.5)

(2) The Bad Soils

a. Seed Along the Path (v. 5)

i. Snatched by Satan (v. 12)

John 10:10 CSB

A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.

Revelation 12:9 CSB

So the great dragon was thrown out—the ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the one who deceives the whole world. He was thrown to earth, and his angels with him.

b. Seed On the Rock (v. 6)

i. Receive with Joy (v.13)

ii. Fall away

Hebrews 6:4–6 CSB

For it is impossible to renew to repentance those who were once enlightened, who tasted the heavenly gift, who shared in the Holy Spirit, who tasted God’s good word and the powers of the coming age, and who have fallen away. This is because, to their own harm, they are recrucifying the Son of God and holding him up to contempt.

c. Seed Among the Thorns (v. 7)

i. Choked with worries, riches, and pleasures of life (v.14)

Matthew 19:16–21 CSB

Just then someone came up and asked him, “Teacher, what good must I do to have eternal life?” “Why do you ask me about what is good?” he said to him. “There is only one who is good. If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” “Which ones?” he asked him. Jesus answered: Do not murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not bear false witness; honor your father and your mother; and love your neighbor as yourself. “I have kept all these,” the young man told him. “What do I still lack?” “If you want to be perfect,” Jesus said to him, “go, sell your belongings and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

Matthew 6:33 CSB

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.

(3) The Good Soil (v. 8)

a. Honest and Good Heart (v.15)

b. Hold onto it

Luke 8:18 CSB

Therefore take care how you listen. For whoever has, more will be given to him; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him.”

c. Produce Fruit

i. A General term to describe those who are impacted by the Word of God

Luke 8:21 CSB

But he replied to them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear and do the word of God.”

Luke 8:39 CSB

“Go back to your home, and tell all that God has done for you.” And off he went, proclaiming throughout the town how much Jesus had done for him.

Luke 8:25 CSB

He said to them, “Where is your faith?” They were fearful and amazed, asking one another, “Who then is this? He commands even the winds and the waves, and they obey him!”

Conclusion