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Part 3: Half-Hearted

HEART CHECK

PART 3

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

  • The Parable of the Farmer Scattering Seed.

    Luke 8:4-12

  • Seed = God’s Word

  • Soil = Our hearts

“While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, He told this parable: ‘A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants.”

Luke 8:4-7 (NIV)

“This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away.”

Luke 8:11-13 (NIV)

“The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.”

Luke 8:14 (NIV)

1. BEFORE GOD DOES SOMETHING THROUGH YOU, HE’LL DO SOMETHING IN YOU.

  • God’s promise is: Stay faithful, and He’ll bring a harvest in your life.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Galatians 6:9 (NIV)

2. THREE SPECIFIC THINGS THAT CHOKE OUT WHAT GOD WANTS TO DO:

  • The worries of this life.

  • The deceitfulness of wealth.

  • The pleasures of life.

  • It’s time to weed your garden.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.”

Hebrews 12:1 (NLT)

MY NEXT STEP TODAY IS:

  • __________________________________

This week’s Reading Plan and blog/podcast:

  • YouVersion® Bible App Reading Plan: “Purpose in the Pit” (8 days)

  • Blog and podcast: “Thorns in the Soil”

 
Heart CheckDr. John Gerlach