SF461 - REACHING THE REACHABLE (Mark 4 13-20)

SF461

REACHING THE REACHABLE

Mark 4:13-20

INTRODUCTION

Series Background

Outreach

Soul winning

Prospects

Church Growth

These are catch phrases today!

Everyone talks about them but what do they mean and how are they done?

The questions

Who or what is a prospect?

How do I reach them for Jesus?

Sermon Background

The parable

Sower = Jesus/Christian

Seed = The Word of God

Soil = Human hearts

The prospect

“A likely or potential candidate”

“A receptive and responsive person”

The principle

Jesus teaches us to harvest when the fruit is ripe (John 4:34-38)

The problem

Knowing when the fruit is ripe.

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1A.          THE RECEPTIVITY OF THE SOIL

1B.          Hard Heart (vv. 4, 15)

1C.          Response

Rejects the message

2C.          Reason

Heart has been hardened by the ways and words of the world.

3C.          Result

The seed is snatched away

Satan takes the Word away

2B.          Hasty Heart (vv. 5-6, 16-17)

1C.          Response

Emotional, enthusiastic, superficial

2C.          Reason

No roots, shallow faith

3C.          Results

The seed is scorched

When persecution comes they “quickly fall away”

3B.          Haughty Heart

1C.          Response

Temporary or negative

2C.          Reason

Their lives are filled with rival seeds and they refuse to repent

3C.          Results

The seed is smothered

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4B.          Humble Heart

1C.          Response

Accept the Word and act upon it!

2C.          Reason

They are receptive to both the message and the messenger.

They have a prepared heart!

They are reachable

Naaman - Jordan River

3C.          Results

They will bear fruit!

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2A.          THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SOWER

1B.          We Must Sow Plentifully

2 Corinthians 9:6

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

2B.          We Must Sow Passionately

Psalms 126:6

He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.

3B.          We Must Sow Patiently

Galatians 6:9

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

4B.          We Must Sow Purposefully

1C.          People we know

F.R.A.N.

2C.          People who are spiritually hungry

Questionnaire evangelism

Informal surveys

3C.          People who are going through a life-style change

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APPLICATION

What type of heart do you have?

Who are you cultivating for Christ?

Who can you bring to our FRANtastic week?