LifePointe Christian Church
Speaker: Derek Gute, Adult Ministries Pastor
Parable:
“A short allegorical story designed to illustrate or teach some truth, religious principle, or moral lesson.”
“Earthly stories with heavenly meaning.”
Matthew 13:1-9 NIV
Four Types of Soil:
1. Road/Path
2. Rocky Soil
3. Weeds/Thorns
4. Good Soil
“He who has ears, let him hear.”
Matthew 13:18-23 NIV
Parable of the Sower and the Soils is about differing responses people have to the gospel message
“Seed” = “Word of God”
The four soils represent various conditions of the human heart
How is the gospel received by each soil/heart?
Hard Hearts
When someone’s heart is hard, they are unable to hear, understand, or accept the truth of the gospel
The burden of responsibility rests on our shoulders, but Satan is at working against us too
1 Peter 5:8 NIV
2 Corinthians 4:3-4 NIV
How is the gospel received by each soil/heart?
Shallow Hearts
James 1:11 NIV
Matthew 10:16-17, 22 NIV
2 Timothy 3:12 NIV
Ways to Establish Your Faith:
1. Pray
Ways to Establish Your Faith:
1. Pray
2. Read/Study Scripture
Ways to Establish Your Faith:
1. Pray
2. Read/Study Scripture
3. Fully engage at LifePointe
How is the gospel received by each soil/heart?
Distracted Hearts
Mark 14:19
“…their desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.”
How is the gospel received by each soil/heart?
Receptive Hearts
The manner in which you live is evidence that God has transformed your life
Of the four soils, which of them are genuine followers of Jesus?
“Ongoing production of fruit is what differentiates those who have truly responded to the gospel…”
Matthew 7:15-20 NIV
Luke 3:8-9 NIV
“Avoiding judgment is not dependent on the apparent presence of life but upon production of good fruit.”
Matthew 7:13-14
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
What should we do with our knowledge and understanding of the parable?
Cast seed. Share the gospel.
“Go and make disciples”
Ask yourself:
“What kind of soil am I?”
As you reflect on your spiritual walk up to this point in your life, what kind of soil are you?
Admit. Believe. Commit.