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Part 2: Hard-Hearted

HEART CHECK

PART 2

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

  • The Parable of the Farmer Scattering Seed.

Luke 8:4-12

1. THE KIND OF SOIL YOU HAVE WILL DETERMINE THE KIND OF GROWTH YOU WILL SEE.

“While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, He told this parable.”

Luke 8:4 (NIV)

“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. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown. When He said this, He called out, ‘Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.’”

Luke 8:5-8 (NIV)

“His disciples asked Him what this parable meant. He said, ‘The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, ‘‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.’”

Luke 8:9-10 (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)

  • Seed - The content of God’s Word.

“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.”

1 Corinthians 3:6 (NIV)

  • We can focus on God’s promises or our circumstance.

“You are very entertaining to them, like someone who sings love songs with a beautiful voice or plays fine music on an instrument. They hear what you say, but they don’t act on it!”

Ezekiel 33:32 (NLT)

2. HOW’S YOUR HEART?

“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”

Proverbs 4:23 (NLT)

  • Indications of a hard heart:

    • Cynicism

    • Short fuse

    • Bitterness

    • Unforgiving spirit

    • Expert on everything

    • Assuming the worst

  • Start tilling.

  • Be teachable.

“I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord, that He may come and shower righteousness upon you.’”

Hosea 10:12 (NLT)

MY NEXT STEP TODAY IS:

  • __________________________________

This week’s Reading Plan and blog/podcast:

  • YouVersion® Bible App Reading Plan: “Holy Spirit’s Answer for Deep Wounds & Hard Hearts” (4 days)

  • Blog and podcast: “Hard-Hearted”

 
Heart CheckDr. John Gerlach