Mark 4:1-20 | End of the Year Evaluation of Our Lives
Notes
Transcript
Parable of the Sower (Mark 4:1-20)
Parable of the 4 Soils (Mark 4:1-20)
The same sower
The same seed
4 different soils
Along the path: the birds came and devour it
Rocky ground: It immediately sprang up. But it withered away under the hot sun because it didn’t have deep roots.
Among thorns: The thorns grew and choked it, and it yielded no grain.
Good soil: The seed sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that yielded 30%, 60% and 100%
Four soils: which one in 2024?
4 different soils
4 different hearts
An indifferent heart
A withered heart
A distracted heart
A receptive heart
An indifferent heart: Satan immediately comes and takes away the word.
A withered heart: It falls away because of tribulation or persecution.
These individuals, “failed to consider that true discipleship implies self-surrender, self-denial, sacrifice, service, and suffering. They ignored the fact that it is the way of the cross that leads home.” - W. Hendriksen
A distracted heart: misplaced priorities.
CARES OF THE WORLD
DECEITFULNESS OF RICHES
DESIRES FOR OTHER THINGS
A receptive heart: Willing to listen to God’s Word and put it into practice.
“He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” - Mark 4:9
ἀκούω: Hear; pay attention to; obey
Illustration: “Go to your room and pick up your toys.”
But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. James 1:22, NLT
Ponder:
What steps can you take today to improve the condition of your spiritual soil? What rocks or thorns need to be removed?
How will you allow prayer and the Word of God to cultivate “good soil” in your heart in 2024?
A vision: And they bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold. - Mark 4:20
An Invitation: Join the Bible Reading Challenge
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