6/18/2018 Mark 4 Soil Conditions Vary! The condition of the soil is revealed when the farmer plants seeds. Soil Conditions Vary! On hard, compressed ground: seeds won’t germinate. Mark 4:3-4, NIV Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 1
6/18/2018 Soil Conditions Vary! In shallow, rocky ground: seedlings sprout, but soon wither. Mark 4: 5-6, NIV Some [seed] fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Soil Conditions Vary! In weed-ridden ground: thorns strangle the plants. Mark 4:7, NIV Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. Soil Conditions Vary! In good, fertile ground: plants are productive. Mark 4:8, NIV Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times. 2
6/18/2018 The Point Of The Parable Receptiveness to the gospel varies from person to person. The spiritual condition of a person’s heart is revealed when the seeds of God’s Word are planted in it. Then Jesus said to them…The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others. Mark 4:14 , NLT A Calloused Heart Some people are so indifferent and insensitive to the gospel that it doesn’t sink in at all. Mark 4:15, NIV 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. A Casual Heart The superficial faith of others will wither once they realize that the path of Christian discipleship is not an easy street. Mark 4:16-17, NIV Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 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
6/18/2018 A Crowded Heart Some apparent followers of Jesus get entangled in worldly concerns until their distracted, defective faith gets strangled. Mark 4:18-19, NIV Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 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. A Committed Heart Fruit-bearing followers of Jesus demonstrate true faith in him by their obedience to God’s Word and productiveness in his kingdom. Mark 4:20, NIV Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop – some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown. Plant Prayerfully! Soil can’t change its condition. But lost people can experience a change of heart! Ask the Lord to work in the circumstances of their lives in order to transform bad soil into good soil. 4
6/18/2018 Conduct A “Soil Test” On Yourself Are you a real follower of Jesus? Is your heart predominantly calloused, casual, crowded or committed? Conduct A “Soil Test” On Yourself Good soil is not perfect soil! Even committed hearts have some patches of bad soil. Is there any callousness in your committed heart? Is there any casualness in your committed heart? Is there any crowdedness in your committed heart? 5
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