Oakwood Church
The Soil of the Heart
Locations & Times
Oakwood Community Church
11209 Casey Rd, Tampa, FL 33618, USA
Sunday 8:00 AM
2 Corinthians 13:5
“Examine yourselves, to see if you are in the faith.”
“Examine yourselves, to see if you are in the faith.”
Romans 1:20
“For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.”
“For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.”
Mark 4:13
"Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?"
"Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?"
Four Different Conditions of Faith in the Heart
The Constant: “A sower went out to sow.”
The Variable: the soil
The Constant: “A sower went out to sow.”
The Variable: the soil
Matthew 13:19
“the word of the kingdom”
“The kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
This seed would be the truth regarding Christ’s Kingdom and the way one gains entry into it.
“the word of the kingdom”
“The kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
This seed would be the truth regarding Christ’s Kingdom and the way one gains entry into it.
Mark 4:14 “The sower sows the Word.”
Luke 8:11 “The seed is the Word of God.”
1 Peter 1:23 “You have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God.”
This seed is the Word of God, the unchanging truth of the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Luke 8:11 “The seed is the Word of God.”
1 Peter 1:23 “You have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God.”
This seed is the Word of God, the unchanging truth of the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:14
“The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.”
“The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.”
Matthew 13:19
“When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart.”
“When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart.”
The person represented here (seed along the path) would have a heart that is hard.
1. They have no faith.
• They have no conviction of sin.
1. They have no faith.
• They have no conviction of sin.
Isaiah 65:2
“I spread out my hands all the day to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, following their own devices.”
“I spread out my hands all the day to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, following their own devices.”
Seed in Rocky Ground
2. They have shallow faith.
Matthew 13:5
“Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away.”
2. They have shallow faith.
Matthew 13:5
“Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away.”
It’s the persecution and tribulation that arises on account of pursuing righteousness.
2. They have shallow faith.
• They never counted the cost.
2. They have shallow faith.
• They never counted the cost.
Trouble and persecution are very helpful. They strengthen believers and manifest non-believers.
1 Peter 5:10
“The God of all grace will Himself confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”
“The God of all grace will Himself confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”
Are you willing to follow Christ not just to the mountain top but also into the valley?
Purifying your soil from all rocks is the work of getting to know your God for who He truly is in the Scriptures.
Proverbs 17:17
“A brother is born for adversity, but a friend loves at all times.”
“A brother is born for adversity, but a friend loves at all times.”
Seed Among Thorns
3. They have distracted faith.
Matthew 13:22
“The one who hears the Word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the Word.”
3. They have distracted faith.
Matthew 13:22
“The one who hears the Word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the Word.”
Seed Among Thorns
3. They have distracted faith.
• They never committed to Christ alone.
3. They have distracted faith.
• They never committed to Christ alone.
James 4:4
“if you’re the friend of the world, you’re the enemy of God.”
“if you’re the friend of the world, you’re the enemy of God.”
Seed in Good Soil
4. They have fruitful faith.
Matthew 13:8
“Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”
4. They have fruitful faith.
Matthew 13:8
“Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”
Matthew 13:23
“As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the Word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”
“As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the Word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”
There’s genuine repentance: There’s a genuine plowing of the Spirit of God in his heart – plowing out the rocks that prevent faith and plowing out those overwhelming thorns that distract faith.
Galatians 5:22-23
“Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”
“Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”
Matthew 12:33 and Matthew 7:16
“You will recognize them by their fruits.”
“You will recognize them by their fruits.”
Seed in Good Soil
This person is convicted by sin, has counted the cost, and has committed to Jesus alone.
This person is convicted by sin, has counted the cost, and has committed to Jesus alone.
The good soil that produces good fruit is the person who hears, understands, and obeys.