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Part 4: Whole-Hearted

HEART CHECK

PART 4

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

  • 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:”

Luke 8:4 (NIV)

LESSONS FROM THE SOIL:

SOIL #1: Faint-hearted

“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.”

Luke 8:11-12 (NIV)

  • God’s work in our lives depends on our openness to His Word.

SOIL #2: Hard-hearted

“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 8:13 (NIV)

  • God’s work in our life has to lead to a personal commitment and action.

“As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, ‘Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.’ He replied, ‘Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.’”

Luke 11:27-28 (NIV)

SOIL #3: Half-hearted

“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)

  • God’s work in our life has to be our first priority.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)

SOIL #4: Whole-hearted

“But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

Matthew 13:23 (NIV)

  • God’s work in our life is an on-going series of choices.

“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:

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This week’s Reading Plan and blog/podcast:

  • YouVersion® Bible App Reading Plan: “A Cheerful Heart is Good Medicine” (3 days)

  • Blog and podcast: “In Search of Good Soil”

 
Heart CheckDr. John Gerlach