THE PROBLEM IS THE HEART

PROCLAMATION

“A farmer went out to sow his seed.  As he was scattering the seed, some fell … Still other seed fell on good soil.  It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.”  Mark 4:3-8 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

These words are from the gospel, the good news regarding Jesus, The Christ, which were spoken by Christ according to Mark, a companion Simon Peter.  Again Jesus was by the lake, the Sea of Galilee, and began teaching.  The crowd was large and pressing towards Him, so He got in a boat and sat in it on the lake and spoke to the people on the shore. (Mark 4:1)  He taught them many things, but He spoke in parables: The Parable of The Sower (Mark 4:2-8), The Parable of The Growing Seed (Mark 4:26-29), and The Parable of The Mustard Seed. (Mark 4:30-32)  Afterwards He explained the parables to His disciples. (Mark 4:10-25 and 4:34)  When evening came, Jesus said to His disciples, “Let us pass over unto the other side.” (Mark 4:35)  So, they got into several boats and set out across the lake.  While they were on the lake, a serious storm arose with strong winds and large waves.  The disciples were afraid, and they woke Jesus, who was sleeping on a cushion.  Jesus got up and He said, “Peace, be still.”  Immediately the wind ceased and there was a great calm. (Mark 4:36-39)

APPLICATION

With respect to the Parable of The Sower, the seed is The Word of God and the ground on which the seed lands is the heart of the people who hear it.  The seed that fell by the way landed on unreceptive hard hearts, it did not take root, it did not grow, and it did not produce any fruit. (Mark 4:15)  The seed which fell on stony ground landed on the heart of some very shallow people, it took root and grew, but it died quickly and did not produce any fruit because the roots were too shallow to support and nourish it. (Mark 4:16-17)  The seed that fell among the thorns landed on the hearts of  those who were too concerned about the world and worldly things.  This seed took root and grew, but it did not produce any fruit because it was choked to death by too much concern for the things of the world. (Mark 4:18-19)  The seed which fell on good soil landed on a receptive heart that internalized it and it took root, it grew and produced much fruit, thirty, sixty, and one hundred fold. (Mark 4:20)  May our hearts be receptive to The Word of God and may The Lord God keep and protect our hearts and minds. (Philippians 4:7)

WHAT EFFECT DID THE WORD OF GOD HAVE ON YOU?

Proclamation:

"Then He told them many things in parables, saying: ‘A farmer went out to sow his seed.  As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.  Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil.  It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.  But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.  Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.  Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop, a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown." Matthew 13:3-8 (NIV)

Explanation:

These are the words of Jesus, The Christ, as He spoke from a boat to a large crowd which had gathered on the shore.  In this parable of the sower, The Word of God is the seed and the people that hear it are the ground upon which it fell.

Application:

What did you do with The Word of God when you heard it?  Some heard The Word and rejected it, some liked it but it did not change their life, and some let their friends and the world have more influence over them than The Word.  What kind of "ground" are you?  The best way to answer this question is to look at the "fruit" that it has produced in your life.  When the seed, The Word, fell on good ground, it produced good fruit.  The fruit that we produce is the evidence of God in our lives.  The fruit of The Holy Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)  We need to cultivate within our lives a greater receptivity to The Word of God in order for it to grow within us, to produce good fruit, and produce a changed life which will give God glory.