
1
The Hard Ground Life
Life filled with debilitating trauma that challenges the idea of “God being good.”
Hard Ground Solution
Because my life experiences work against me, I believe my past has been forgiven and God’s best is mine. Holding on to God’s Word, my redeemed life finds its voice, and transformational truth being stolen from me stops NOW!
2
The Stony Ground Life
Life lived by a shallow, emotional value system leads to performance Christianity: “Either I didn’t do enough” or “God failed me.”
Stoney Ground Solution
Living by my conviction to follow God’s Word keeps emotional living in check.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NLT
16 That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.
17 For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!
18 So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.
3
The Thorny Ground Life
Good soil, but the cares of life, the lure of riches, and the distractions of things need to be cleared away to allow maximum return
Thorny Ground Life Solution #1 – Worry
Romans 12:1-2
With God’s help, I embrace what God does for me, and I fix my attention on God’s way of doing things. It brings the best out of me. I don’t worry.
Romans 12:1-2 NLT
1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.
2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Thorny Ground Life Solution #2 – Who I Serve
Ephesians 4:20-24
Since I am alive in Jesus, I can put away my old ways. I live a God-fashioned life that produces God-focused character, working from the inside out. I serve Jesus.
Ephesians 4:20-24 NLT
20 But that isn’t what you learned about Christ.
21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him,
22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception.
23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.
24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.
Thorny Ground Life Solution #3 – Distractions
Colossians 3:12-17
Because I’ve chosen a life in Jesus, I respond to life’s challenges differently. The peace, the Word, and the directive of Jesus guide my life and have become the song of my life. I will not be distracted.
Colossians 3:12-17 NLT
12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.
15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.
16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.
17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.
4
The Good Ground Life
A morally good life, but STILL in need of a SAVIOR!
No matter how noble or distinguished, good is no substitute for God; it’s actually the enemy of God.
Psalms 40:1-3 NLT
1 I waited patiently for the LORD to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry.
2 He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.
3 He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord.
Compost
God turns the wasted things in our lives into fruit-bearing, joy-giving life for others to see and rejoice in what God has done.
Aeration
The breath of the Spirit and the water of the Word serve as daily reminders of His grace and love poured over our wasteful things, creating a joyful thankfulness for how far we’ve come.
Romans 8:27-28 NLT
27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.
28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
Manure
God takes the valueless, stinky, ugly mess of our lives and brings the most glorious value. Our salvation is built on a savagely ugly redemption plan that brought about a beautiful, glorious resurrection.
TIFAW
I am thankful for God’s grace that takes my bad choice, my misstep, and my worst moment and turns them around for my good.
Remembering what Jesus has done for me gives me the hope, humility, and grace to impact others with the love of God.
I live a life of impact.
Mark 4:13 NLT
Then Jesus said to them, “If you can’t understand the meaning of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables?