Keep your heart with all diligence,
For out of it spring the issues of life.
BIG IDEA:
A Healthy Heart Left Unattended Will Become Unhealthy!
“Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed. As he scattered it across his field, some of the seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it. Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn’t have deep roots, it died. Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” Then he said, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”
Then Jesus said to them, “If you can’t understand the meaning of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables? The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others. The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away. The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced. And the seed that fell on goodsoil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”
1. Sower is
.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2. Seed is the
.
For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.
3. Soil is the
.
One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?”
FOUR HEARTS
HARD HEARTS
The seed cannot sprout. This represents a heart that has not been penetrated by the Word of God.
STONY HEARTS
The seed germinates, but the plants do not take root. This represents a shallow heart that receives the Word with joy but falls away in times of temptation.
THORNY HEARTS
The seed grows, but the competing thorns choke the life out of the plants. This represents a heart that is overcome by worries, greed, and worldly desires.
GOOD HEARTS
The seed produces much fruit. This represents a cultivated heart.
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
Then Jesus turned to the Jews who had claimed to believe in him. “If you stick with this, living out what I tell you, you are my disciples for sure. Then you will experience for yourselves the truth, and the truth will free you.”
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY, WE PRAY YOU HAVE A BLESSED WEEK!
