ROOTED Plant

Rooted

Week 1: Plant

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.”

Main Scriptural Text: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

Supplemental Scriptural Text: Matthew 13:15, Mark 8:35, John 16:33, Luke 21:34, Proverbs 4:23

Matthew 13:15 (NIV)

15For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’

Mark 8:35 (NIV)

35For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.

John 16:33–17:1 (NIV)

33“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

1After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.

Luke 21:34 (NIV)

34“Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap.

Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)

23Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

1) Introduction

a) (Illustration idea) As the congregation arrives, offer them each a seed of some sort to take and keep in their hands during the worship experience. Consider the size of the seed that you want. Choose one that is large enough to not drop and lose. Begin your message by giving a personal story about a time you planted a seed of some sort in your yard, garden or pot. Talk about the care and concern needed to grow a small seed into a plant. Pinpoint the necessary aspects for growth- like water, sunlight and soil.

b) Today, we begin a new 4-week series called Rooted.

i) Psalm 1:3 says that a person “rooted” in their faith shall be, “like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever they do will prosper.”

ii) In order for a seed to grow and ultimately prosper it must first be planted.

iii) A seed is generally planted in soil and

(1) the quality of the soil has immeasurable effect on the growth of the seed.

(2) (Illustration idea) Have a small pot with a plant in it that you can reference throughout the series. In this case you could be pointing to the soil in the pot, running soil through your hands, etc… to help the congregation make the connection to the seed and the soil.

(3) To begin our series, we will be talking about the planting of the seed and the quality of the soil.

2) Main Teaching/Body

a) In the Parable of the Sower Jesus says;

i) “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among the thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop - a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown. He who has ears, let him hear.” (Matthew 13:3-9)

ii) Eight verses later in Matthew, Jesus explains the meaning of the parable to the disciples;

iii) “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the Kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the one who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the one who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the one who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop yielding a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown.”

b) Jesus gives us 4 different scenarios of seed being spread in this parable.

i) He explains that the seed is the Word, the good news shared with others.

ii) The soil is the heart of a person, where the seed of the good news can take root.

iii) Jesus makes clear that the problems in the parable don’t occur with the seed, but the problems arise depending on what kind of soil the seed falls onto.

c) Let’s look at the 4 different types of soil described in the parable of the sower.

i) A hardened or oblivious heart is a barren wasteland. (Matthew 13:19)

(1) Some are opposed to the good news and there are those that are oblivious to it.

(2) Whether by personal volition or innocent omission, this parable is clear that seed will not grow where there is inhospitable soil.

(3) In fact, the enemy will come and snatch the seed away because he doesn’t want the seed to have any opportunity to take root and grow in a person’s life.

(4) This kind of soil will never reproduce because it cannot reproduce.

ii) A troubled heart produces shallow roots. (Matthew 13:20-21)

(1) Life is a long, and at times, difficult journey.

(2) A heart that is troubled by the obstacles and adversity of life will fail to produce deep roots.

(a) These individuals have an interest in the Gospel and even seem to embrace it at the beginning of the journey.

(b) 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.

(c) Jesus actually warned us, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

(3) Shallow roots will not sustain a person through the adverse and difficult seasons of life.

(4) It takes deep and strong roots growing in healthy soil to weather the stormy seasons.

iii) A distracted heart bears no fruit (Matthew 13:22)

(1) A distracted heart cannot grow the roots needed to sustain life.

(a) 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.

(b) Money, status, popularity, and other worldly endeavors choke out the ability of the seed to get the nutrients and care necessary to grow roots.

(2) Unhealthy and distracted soil is not the place for seed to grow, and definitely not the place to find a harvest of healthy fruit.

iv) A fertile heart sustains life (Matthew 13:23)

(1) A heart that is fertile is one that readily accepts the Gospel seed and does the hard work of nurturing it to grow.

(a) This heart is one that is open to the Truth of God’s Word and open to the transformation that will take place.

(b) This heart is made ready by the prompting of the Holy Spirit AND the participation of the individual.

(c) This heart does not just experience growth for themselves, but actually impacts those around them.

(2) Healthy soil is where seeds have the most opportunity to grow into life giving plants, trees, etc…

(a) For instance, a single healthy apple tree can bear enough fruit to feed dozens of people.

(b) Its shade gives rest to those who pass by on hot days.

(c) Its flowers nourish thousands of pollinators every spring.

(d) And its seed spreads and multiplies into an immeasurable amount of other apple trees over the course of its lifetime.

3) Conclusion/Application

a) What kind of soil describes your heart today?

i) Are you indifferent to the good news of Jesus Christ?

ii) Are you needing to spend some time on the condition of your heart so that the seed of the gospel can grow deep and healthy roots?

iii) Are you distracted?

iv) Are there too many things in your life clamoring for your attention and care?

b) If you’ve ever had an earthly garden, you know the effort it takes to grow and sustain life in the garden.

c) 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.

i) They need healthy soil and consistent care.

d) 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 pastor or church leader to discuss past hurts that are presently hindering your growth.

(Pastor - Consider encouraging a response from the congregation at this point. Invite them to the altar. Perhaps encourage them to leave their seed that they received at the beginning of the service at the altar over the coming weeks as a sign of their decision to let the Gospel be planted in their lives and their dedication to grow deep roots of faith.)