Sermon Tone Analysis

Reception

Jesus preached, proclaimed the kingdom of God, but no all had a good reception of it.

He did not always have a receptive audience.

Our story before us, this parable, illustrates two things

The problem Jesus faced

The different reactions, receptions of the gospel messages

Jesus was not impressed with the pressing in crowd (see Mk3:9) He knew there would be many who would not accept the message.

In this parable entitled parable of the sower and the soils, it really is focused on the four soils

By now, some had come to accuse Him (Mk3:2)

Others came to seek help for others (Mk2:3-4)

Jesus started to teach in parables, our story is a parable today spoken on the heals of being accused (Mk3:22) and teaching about family of God (Mk3:35)

Jesus stated to teach in parables in public (Mk4:1-2)

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Jesus stated to teach in parables in public (Mk4:1-2)

We will get to Mk4:1-2 in a few minutes) about teaching in parables

Jesus explained to disciples in private (Mk4:10, 33-34)

We will look at MK4:10 in a minute but Let me give you another item, then will look at a couple of scriptures.

Major problem people became hard of hearing (Mk4:11-12; Mt13:10-11)

You can read on in Mt13:12-15 for more about why it is said, hard of hearing, but we need to move on.

So now, let’s look at the passage and then Jesus explanation of the soils, pay attention, key verse is (Mk4:13)

Mk4:13-14

What did you see, what did you notice, what sticks out to you?

Now I mentioned soils, we can replace the word with hearts too.

There are four kinds of soils, but there are four kinds of hearts too, we will look at those as we work our way through this passage too.

The wayside(roadside) / hard heart

These are the one’s that that the seed taken from their hearts by Satan (MK4:15)

Matthews version tells us they did not understand (Mt13:19)

M

Blinded by Satan to the gospel message (2Cor4:3-4)

While Satan maybe blinding them, they had a part, it is precipitated by their own hardness of hearts (Mt13:15)

So, how about today, what does this look like?

Some love darkness more than light (Jn3:19-20)

Some love praise of men more than God (Jn12:42-43)

Some love praise of men more than God (Jn12:42-43)

They see the appeal and are deceived by doctrines of secularism and materialism, as well as humanism, evolution and post-modernism.

The see the appeal and are deceived by doctrines of secularism and materialism, as well as humanism, evolution and post-modernism.

This soil, these hearts, are the ones today who have no interest in spiritual things.

Stony Ground/Shallow Heart

So from the ones who reject the gospel message, to the ones now in who have a shallow heart, but we need to look at what Jesus has to say about it.

It is those who receive with joy (Mk4:16)

They have no root and they do not endure (Mk4:17)

When affliction, when persecution come, they fall away

These are ones who heard, believed and obeyed the gospel, but did not grow roots, did not become true disciples and fell away.

Oftentimes these are the ones who come from a place of emotionalism, but do not understand the cost of being a disciple, so they do not grow roots and they return to old roots, old ways.

Today many can be quick to obey the gospel, they receive it with great joy, they are enthusiastic, they are on fire upon baptism but not being grounded in the word they are not equipped for when the storms come, and they will come.

To prevent this kind of heart, we need to keep to the word, teach the word, help others to understand and apply the word so people can grow roots rooted in the Word of God.

Thorny Ground/Crowded heart

Another example of hearing the Word, believing the Word, obeying the Word but they forget to do some weeding, or purifying and get choked out by the world

As mentioned they hear the Word (Mk4:18)

Word has ability to be fruitful, but becomes unfruitful because the weeding, purifying not done (MK4:19)

Too many worldly cares, desires.

Lusts of the flesh choking out the Word of God (Lk8:14)

There may be many sitting in pews in churches today that are stagnant, that are being choked out by the cares of this world and not growing spiritually.

They think they are OK (good soil) but their life is consumed with the world more than the Creator of the world.

These are the ones who are spiritual babes and are carnal (1Cor3:1-3; Heb5:12-14)

and add to this

People who are spiritually stunted in growth because they are easily distracted by the world (Lk12:29-32)

People who are relying on self sufficiency (1Tim6:17-19)

People whose minds are easily diverted from the things of the Spirit (Gal5:17; Gal6:7-9)

Christians who are rendered fruitless because of the cares of this world, by materialism.

Finally this brings us to final soil

Good Soil/Fruitful Heart

Here we have the picture of the true believer with the converted, transformed, changed life that bears fruit.

This is the one that there is indisputable evidence of salvation.

Hear, accept, and bear fruit (MK4:20)

People will vary on the amount of fruit and the kind of fruit they will produce, but they will produce fruit.

Matthew says these are the ones who understand the Word (Mt13:23)

Luke says with honest, good heart (Lk8:15)

This is fruit that grows with perseverance!

It takes effort!

Make effort to understand the word

Make an effort to keep the word

Make an effort to receive the word with all readiness (Act17:11)

Be like the Bereans who received with all readiness and checked it out

May we always try to understand so we can bear fruit for the kingdom.

We do not know the amount of fruit, or the kind of fruit we will produce but we know we will, in accordance to the grace given to us.

And whatever our ability is, we should exercise it

Each of the hearts had a different enemy

Hard heart: devil himself

Shallow heart: The desires of the flesh

Crowded heart: The things of this world crowd out the Word.

Something to consider, what kind of soil are you?

And does your life, your walk back up what you think?

May we be good soil, always reachable and teachable.

(lead to prayer)

Lord help us to have a good and noble heart, desiring to know and understand the Word and then keeping it so we may grow strong roots and that we may bear fruit worthy of the kingdom of God.