The Seed and The Soils

HG Study Guide: The Seed & The Soils Reading: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 Key :9 “Whoever has ears, let them hear.” The LORD’s call to ‘hear’ means more than simply listening to the words HE says! • What is the practical difference between listening and really hearing? JESUS is speaking to the crowds and His parable is about them; unveiling the fact that they will all listen to Him in a variety of ways. • Verse 19 tells us the main subject of His parables: ______________________ • If you were questioned by the agents of a dictatorship who were concerned about talk of the ‘Kingdom of Heaven’ – how would you explain that CHRISTianity has no mandate for power through a military coup – to calm the fears of the dictator!! • You are pressed further by the agents; what would still disturb the dictator about this ‘benign’ Kingdom? JESUS is a Spiritual Physician who is an expert on the human heart. He is revealing to those still outside the Kingdom, that He knows that they will respond to his invitation in a variety of ways. • As He holds up these MRI scans of the human heart to the people – how will this help a listener to be stirred to really hear? This parable was initially used in an ‘evangelistic’ setting; as a call to those outside the Kingdom of Heaven. Read James 1:19-25 and discuss if there are principles in the parable of the Seed & Soils that also apply to those inside the Kingdom of Heaven. • How could you use this parable to help / encourage: • A Christian who is sharing the Gospel but not seeing much of a response? • A non-CHRISTian friend who is struggling to really ‘seek’ GOD? • A Christian friend who isn’t growing much in the Fruit of the SPIRIT? Look at the chart below: develop it further if you like, but use it to challenge your hearts as to your current attitude to GOD’s Word. E.g. to how you are responding to what GOD is saying to you in your bible reading, sermons or books. Are you actually reading or listening enough? Heart: [Soil] Attitude to GOD’s Word [The seed sown] Result: Fruit Compacted – Pathway Indifference None Unprepared – Stony Shallow None Distractions – Thorny Unprioritized None Prepared – Good Received deeply & responded to. Much Jeremiah 4:3 This is what the LORD says to the people of Judah and to Jerusalem: “Break up your unploughed ground and do not sow among thorns. See verse 23 Share with each other if you can, a specific aspiration for more ‘fruit’ in your life. At least spend some time praying now that GOD would help us to be good hearers of the Word and that we might bear much fruit.