GOOD HEART, GREAT FRUIT
Pastor Bill Young
bill@trc.ife

This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. (John 15:8)

I. The

of the parable.

A. Jesus told stories to convey

.

Mark 4:1-9 Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge. 2 He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: 3 “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times.” 9 Then Jesus said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

B. The truth is, some are

listeners than others.

Lesson #1 – Your fruitfulness depends on your willingness to

to God’s Word.

II. The

of the parable.

A. To

Reveal Answer

and

Reveal Answer

truth.
Mark 4:10-12 When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. 11 He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables 12 so that, ” ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’

1. Difference between Revealed truth & Concealed truth.

Lesson #2 – Your fruitfulness depends on your

attitude towards God’s Word.

III. The

of the parable.

A. The SOWER is

(or anyone who shares gospel).

Mark 4:13-14 Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? 14 The farmer sows the word.

B. The SEED is the

of God(Bible).
Mark 4:15 Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. Luke 8:11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God.

C. The SOIL is your

condition (Four types).

1. The

   Reveal Answer
   soil. Mark 4:15 Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.

2. The

   Reveal Answer
   soil.
   Mark 4:16-17 Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.

3. The

   Reveal Answer
   soil.
   Mark 4:18-19 Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.

4. The

   Reveal Answer
   soil.
   Mark 4:20 Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop–thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown.”

Lesson #3 – Your fruitfulness depends on your decision to

God’s Word.

IV. The

of the parable.

A. Some thoughts of

:
1. Your job: Prepare soil of your heart .
2. God causes the growth.
3. Fruit comes in different forms & shapes.
4. Some plants are “more” fruitful than others. 5. What does fruit look like?
a) Spiritual Fruit (Gal 5), Other fruit
6. No fruit? God can change your heart. a) Confess, Pray, Act

Ezekiel 36:26 (NLT) I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.