Sermon Notes | May 22, 2016

Series | Bear Fruit

Speaker | Nathan Miller, NathanM@ChristCommunityKC.org

- A Hard Heart

- A Hard Heart

- A Shallow Heart

- A Hard Heart

- A Shallow Heart

- A Divided Heart

"Every time you make a choice you are turning the central part of you, the part of you that chooses, into something a little different than it was before. And taking your life as a whole, with all your innumerable choices, all your life long you are slowly turning this central thing into a heavenly creature or hellish creature: either into a creature that is in harmony with God, and with other creatures, or else into one that is in a state of war and hatred with God…Each of us at each moment is progressing into one state or the other."

CONVERSATION STARTERS – Olathe Campus

TAKEAWAY: What captured your attention in this week’s sermon? What did God teach you?

READ THE TEXT. Matthew 13:1-23

RWANDA. Nathan highlighted the terrible genocide in Rwanda, and how it happened at a time when 86% of Rwandans went to church. While this is an extreme example, what are some other examples of ways we can “hear” Jesus without actually “listening.” What are some of the dangers?

READ THE TEXT. Matthew 13:10-17, why does Jesus tell stories? How do stories invite us into more intentional listening? Jesus recklessly scatters seed. How does this both show His deep love for humanity but also respect for our ability to choose?

READ THE TEXT. Matthew 13:18-23. Discuss as a group how you might summarize the 4 types of soil. What’s the difference between the rocky ground and thorny ground? How do you see them in our world, as well as in your own heart?

FRUITFULNESS. The last soil bore fruit, what does this fruit look like? What kind of fruit do you see in our church? How about in your own life? What are some ways to pursue faithfulness?

GARDENER. Ultimately because of the cross, it is the Gardener who does this tilling, not us. How does this encourage you? What do you see as our responsibility?