Preparing Our Hearts to Receive God's Word

Summary

In today's gathering, we explored the profound parable of the sower from Mark 4:1-20, which Jesus used to illustrate the different ways people receive the Word of God. This parable is a powerful reminder that the condition of our hearts determines how we receive and respond to God's message. The seed represents God's Word, and the soil symbolizes the hearts of humanity. Jesus describes four types of soil, each representing a different response to the Word. Some hearts are like the path where the seed is quickly snatched away by Satan. Others are like rocky ground, where the Word is received with joy but lacks depth and withers under pressure. Some hearts are like thorny soil, where the Word is choked by life's worries and deceitfulness of wealth. Finally, there is the good soil, where the Word is accepted, and it produces a fruitful harvest.

The essence of this teaching is that our hearts must be prepared and open to receive God's Word. We must come to church with an expectation that God will speak to us, and we must be willing to let go of preconceived notions and distractions. The message of the cross may seem foolish to those who are perishing, but to those who believe, it is the power of God. Our hearts are the starting point for transformation, and from there, the Word can take root and influence every aspect of our lives.

As followers of Christ, we are called to not only receive the Word but also to help others in their spiritual journey. We must come alongside new believers, helping them grow in their faith and understanding of what it means to follow Jesus. This is not just the responsibility of pastors but of every believer. We are all called to disciple others, teaching them how to pray, worship, and live out their faith.

Key Takeaways:

- The condition of our hearts is crucial in receiving God's Word. A heart that is open and fertile will allow the Word to take root and produce a fruitful harvest. We must come to church with an expectation that God will speak to us and be willing to let go of distractions and preconceived notions. [10:24]

- The message of the cross may seem foolish to those who are perishing, but to those who believe, it is the power of God. Our hearts must be in a place to receive this message, as it is the starting point for transformation in our lives. [15:23]

- Not everyone who hears the message of Jesus will receive it in its fullness and live it out. The parable of the sower illustrates different responses to the Word, emphasizing the importance of having a heart that is ready to accept and nurture the message. [23:14]

- As believers, we have a responsibility to disciple others, helping them grow in their faith and understanding of what it means to follow Jesus. This involves coming alongside new believers, teaching them how to pray, worship, and live out their faith. [46:19]

- The church must present the gospel message according to Scripture, without watering it down. We must be honest about the cost of following Jesus, which involves denying ourselves, taking up our cross, and following Him. [37:00]

Youtube Chapters:

[0:00] - Welcome
[07:31] - Opening Prayer
[10:24] - The Condition of the Heart
[15:23] - The Message of the Cross
[17:52] - Heart and Mind Connection
[23:14] - Responses to the Word
[25:28] - Feeding Your Faith
[28:49] - Emotional Responders
[30:32] - Counting the Cost
[34:00] - Savior and Lord
[34:57] - Good Soil and Transformation
[35:58] - Personal Testimony
[37:00] - Church's Role in Discipleship
[46:19] - Coming Alongside Others
[47:16] - Invitation to Respond

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Parable of the Sower

Bible Reading:
- Mark 4:1-20

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Observation Questions:

1. In the parable of the sower, what are the four types of soil mentioned, and what do they represent in terms of receiving the Word of God? [10:24]

2. How does Jesus explain the purpose of using parables to His disciples? What does He say about those who are on the outside? [15:23]

3. What are the different responses to the Word of God as described in the parable, and how do they relate to the condition of one's heart? [23:14]

4. According to the sermon, why is it important for believers to come to church with an expectation that God will speak to them? [10:24]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the condition of one's heart affect their ability to receive and respond to the message of the cross? Why is it crucial for transformation? [15:23]

2. What does it mean for Jesus to be both Savior and Lord in the life of a believer, and how does this relate to the concept of good soil? [34:00]

3. The sermon mentions that not everyone who hears the message of Jesus will receive it fully. What factors might contribute to this, and how can believers help others overcome these obstacles? [23:14]

4. How does the sermon suggest believers should approach discipleship, and what role does the church play in this process? [46:19]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on the current condition of your heart. Which type of soil do you think best represents your receptivity to God's Word, and why? [10:24]

2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of expectation when coming to church. How can you cultivate a heart of expectation in your daily life, not just on Sundays? [10:24]

3. Consider the distractions or preconceived notions that might be hindering your spiritual growth. What steps can you take to address these and create a more fertile environment for God's Word in your life? [10:24]

4. The message of the cross is described as foolishness to some but the power of God to others. How can you better articulate the significance of the cross to those who may not understand it? [15:23]

5. Identify someone in your life who is new to faith or exploring Christianity. How can you come alongside them to support their spiritual journey, as suggested in the sermon? [46:19]

6. The sermon calls believers to disciple others. What practical steps can you take to engage in discipleship within your community or church? [46:19]

7. Reflect on the idea of Jesus being both Savior and Lord. How does this dual role challenge you to live out your faith more fully in your daily decisions and actions? [34:00]

Devotional

Day 1: The Heart's Readiness to Receive

The condition of our hearts is crucial in receiving God's Word. A heart that is open and fertile will allow the Word to take root and produce a fruitful harvest. We must come to church with an expectation that God will speak to us and be willing to let go of distractions and preconceived notions. The parable of the sower in Mark 4:1-20 illustrates this truth by comparing the Word of God to seeds and our hearts to different types of soil. Some hearts are like the path, where the seed is quickly snatched away by Satan. Others are like rocky ground, where the Word is received with joy but lacks depth and withers under pressure. Some hearts are like thorny soil, where the Word is choked by life's worries and deceitfulness of wealth. Finally, there is the good soil, where the Word is accepted, and it produces a fruitful harvest. [10:24]

"Break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you." (Hosea 10:12, ESV)

Reflection: What distractions or preconceived notions do you need to let go of to prepare your heart to receive God's Word today?

Day 2: The Power of the Cross

The message of the cross may seem foolish to those who are perishing, but to those who believe, it is the power of God. Our hearts must be in a place to receive this message, as it is the starting point for transformation in our lives. The cross represents the ultimate sacrifice and the profound love of God for humanity. It is through the cross that we find redemption and the power to live transformed lives. The Apostle Paul reminds us that the message of the cross is central to our faith and that it is the power of God for those who are being saved. [15:23]

"For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." (1 Corinthians 1:18, ESV)

Reflection: How does the message of the cross challenge your current understanding of God's power in your life?

Day 3: Responses to the Word

Not everyone who hears the message of Jesus will receive it in its fullness and live it out. The parable of the sower illustrates different responses to the Word, emphasizing the importance of having a heart that is ready to accept and nurture the message. Jesus describes four types of soil, each representing a different response to the Word. Some hearts are hardened, some are shallow, some are distracted, and some are receptive. The challenge for us is to cultivate a heart that is like the good soil, ready to receive and nurture the Word so that it can produce a fruitful harvest in our lives. [23:14]

"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." (James 1:22, ESV)

Reflection: Which type of soil best represents your current response to God's Word, and what steps can you take to become more like the good soil?

Day 4: The Call to Disciple Others

As believers, we have a responsibility to disciple others, helping them grow in their faith and understanding of what it means to follow Jesus. This involves coming alongside new believers, teaching them how to pray, worship, and live out their faith. Discipleship is not just the responsibility of pastors but of every believer. We are all called to be part of the spiritual growth of others, sharing our experiences and guiding them in their journey of faith. This is a vital part of the Christian life and a way to fulfill the Great Commission. [46:19]

"And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also." (2 Timothy 2:2, ESV)

Reflection: Who is one person you can intentionally invest in this week to help them grow in their faith?

Day 5: The Cost of Following Jesus

The church must present the gospel message according to Scripture, without watering it down. We must be honest about the cost of following Jesus, which involves denying ourselves, taking up our cross, and following Him. Jesus calls us to a life of surrender and sacrifice, where we prioritize His will over our own desires. This is not an easy path, but it is the path to true life and fulfillment. The cost of discipleship is high, but the reward is eternal. [37:00]

"And he said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.'" (Luke 9:23, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?

Quotes

Here are the selected quotes from the sermon transcript:

1. "The condition of one's heart is the determining factor will they truly receive the message of salvation or not not even the message of salvation but the message in general and Jesus is telling this story because he's trying to get them to understand something he's trying to get them to understand that he is going to preach this message that people will come after him and they will preach this message but a majority of the people that hear the message of the good news that hear the message of salvation that hear the message of restoration and reconciliation will not accept the word of truth and change their lives but a majority of them will not take it to heart to the extent that he shows here three three out of the four stories that he shared were people who heard the word that heard the very same truth that sat in in the same church service and heard the very same thing but had very different responses their responses weren't truly rooted in the things of Christ and they fell away and there was one person in that story does that mean that 75 percent of people know there was no statistic or no percentage but I want you to think about something most people that hear the message the true message of the gospel of Jesus will not accept it in its entirety they might hear it and think oh that's a really good talk I really just really enjoyed my that's just really nice I just love it it was amazing it's just phenomenal oh my gosh let's go let's go to lunch or some people are like oh my gosh I want to change I love it this is amazing I want to go to church every day you just didn't even come to church tomorrow right I mean so we all heck in hear the same message and all have different responses the seed that Jesus was speaking of was God's word and The soil that he speaks of is humanity's heart. Now, Jesus has chosen a method of communicating the gospel to people through preaching, through the oratory expression of the gospel." ([775:23] (116 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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2. "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. Paul is saying God essentially, let's just let's just break it down, God could have chose any way to relay the message of the cross. God could have chose any way to express the message of the word but he chose preaching. He chose what we're doing currently right now and he says the message is foolish. It's so hard for people to comprehend why because think about this, how hard and how foolish does it seem? So there's God and what happened was he created some people and they were boyfriend and girlfriend and then they got married and then they did some sinful stuff and then so now we are sinful by nature and so then, what had to happen was that he had to send his son, his one and only son, who had to put on some flesh and he left heaven and he was born in Jerusalem and then he walked among us and then he was brutally murdered for our sins and his blood was spilt so we could be forgiven and on the cross he died and on the third day he came back to life. Can you believe, oh my gosh, right? And if we believe in him and we live this thing out we're going to have life and life to the full like we get to have salvation like we get to go to heaven." ([993:93] (77 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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3. "It sounds absolutely wild but he says it's through the foolishness of preaching and this message is considered foolish to those who are perishing but it is the gift of God for those that are being transformed for those of us who believe it let me tell you it is more foolish to believe that Saturn has to align with Uranus because Pluto has a moon that's in circular rotation which makes you a Scorpio which you should not marry a Taurus and so you can believe that you have to watch out for every two -faced Gemini your thinking is minuscule because your God is so small that he took all of humanity and he categorized them into 12 months into 12 different personality traits you are uniquely and wonderfully and you are fearfully made I think it's more stupid to believe in that which I have than it is to believe in God and I think it's more stupid to believe in that to believe in the message of the cross I think it's more foolish to believe that if I light some incense to a statue with a big belly and put an orange on it that it's going to give me life that it's going to give me success but yet the message of the cross is always the one that gets deemed as the weirdest as the most awkward yeah it is pretty weird to be honest with you but some of the things that we're believing nowadays are even absolutely weirder and so Jesus is saying you know this is why this is why many people won't really accept me to the fullness and to the extent that I want them to because they just can't fathom they can't palate they can't they can't sit well with the message and you have to understand that your heart can either lead the way or it can lead you astray but your heart has to be in a good place even this for those of you that know Jesus and you've come in today God still has a word for you but if your heart is not in a place to receive it you will miss it why because Jeremiah said that the human heart is the most deceitful of all things and desperately wicked who really knows how bad it is so the question is our hearts are wicked our hearts need renewal our hearts need alignment our hearts need to be awakened but why does the message have to go to our heart first why does the message have to come to our heart first it's because of what Proverbs says that's what Proverbs says amen in their hearts humans plan their course but the Lord establishes their steps so what the author" ([1072:93] (152 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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4. "of proverbs is saying that you make decisions for your life not in your mind but in your heart your heart is the organ essentially let's talk about it from a spiritual dynamic but your heart is the place that directs and navigates the course of your life how i feel what i am feeling what i sense where i feel i need to go where i feel i need to move to where i feel i need to be so essentially we think that our minds are making the decision but the thought first takes place in your heart and from your heart it then relays to your mind and then your mind carries out the actions that your heart has already dictated to it scripture says that in your heart you try to figure out the directions that you need to go and then proverbs 23 7 says for as he thinks in his heart so he is see the thought begins here you from here it makes its way up to here and when it's finally here we get to live it out out here so what jesus has been trying to do your entire life whether you believe it or not whether you know it or not he's been trying to capture your heart with the essence of the message of the gospel he's been after your heart he is a jealous god he wants that's why he says you shall thou shall have no other idols or gods before me one of our commandment he is after your heart he is a jealous god like your ex -girlfriend he is worse than that he's lathe wants but just not psycho that's the difference between that right i told you on facebook bring your neighbor and your ex it does not matter we don't judge but what if i told you that he's after your heart and what have i told you for those of you who think you know jesus who think you know that what the gospel message is he's still after your heart just because out of that parable three out of the four didn't accept the message does not mean that god will still not go after the three the bible says that he would leave you after the three leave the 99 he would go after the one he is still jealous for your heart some of us in this room I want you to know you've been teeter -tottering you've been playing games and God is saying man I wish you would stop playing games because I'm after your heart you've been looking for that love and that acceptance in your relationships in your friendships in your industry you will never find the completeness that comes from the gospel message of Jesus Christ other than the cross" ([1224:99] (146 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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5. "Not everyone who hears the message of Jesus will receive his message in its fullness and live it out. Not everyone, even in this church, not everybody who hears it, who professes it, who proclaims it is actually going to live it out. Why? Because of the condition and the disposition of our heart. Now, let's jump back into the four stories or the four examples that Jesus gave us. He gave us four different types of people that hear the word. The first person in verse 15 says, some people, what are they like? They're like seed along the path where the word is sown. And as soon as they hear it, Satan comes and he takes away the word that was sown in them." ([1387:16] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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6. "take notes because you forget 80 of the things that you don't write down i mean i think i forgot to write that down but i think that was what the said and this is also why it happens to you because sometimes the only jesus that many of us get is on sunday we do nothing to feed ourselves monday and tuesday and wednesday and thursday and friday and saturday and so we come to sunday completely depleted and empty because we haven't done anything to refill our spiritual tanks with the word of truth with the word of god or in community and so every sunday you come and you come in here you're like yeah and then you go out there and you try to live your entire week based on what was invested in you on a sunday if some of you if you only fill your tank once a week you would never get to the destinations that were created for you to get to the rest of the week it only gets you so far so for some of you you've only filled your tank once a week and you're gotten so far in your spiritual journey because the only time you have been fed is on sunday instead of learning to feed ourselves and to add to what god has already planted in our lives come on are you still with me see the devil works hard to block the seed it says this is the god of this age he has blinded the minds of the unbelievers you know what's interesting to me christians act so surprised when the world does stupid things oh my god again oh my god oh my god oh my god yeah they did it again and they're gonna do it again and they're gonna do it again and again again and again why because the god of his age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of christ who is in the image of god so there are people that are walking around spiritually blind it cannot see the truth of jesus just yet there's like a veil over people's eyes and here's what the truth is but when they come to accept jesus christ in his fullness scripture declares in the book of corinthians later on that the veil is removed and now they can finally see truth but that's his whole ploy the enemy wants to steal the seed that gets planted in you today so that you forget about it on monday and tuesday and he wants to keep those who don't know jesus blinded to the very truth the problem is is that christians are getting mad that unchristians are blind although scripture declares it so what are we doing are you in your life preaching the message of truth to your co -worker are you preaching the message of truth to the gym partner are you preaching" ([1530:48] (150 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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7. "preaching the message of truth where you go. Because if we leave it to a Sunday for Alberto to preach, hoping that somebody gets saved, ain't nobody going to get saved in this city. See, what this city needs was not just another church to be like, hi, we're another church, we're so cute, oh my gosh. We need a church that is going to take the gospel with them outside of the context of Sunday and live this thing out wherever we go and scatter seed wherever we go. Believing that even if just one person repents and turns from their sin and comes to know Jesus, that heaven throws a party and celebrates in heaven what has happened here on earth." ([1680:86] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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8. "Come on, man, if you've been coming to church for years and your life hasn't changed, I question the validity of your conversion. I question the validity of your transformation. Because I just can't quite comprehend that one could receive Jesus as knowing what he did for us and truly receiving it and not being marked and changed. And there at least be a desire to try to live different. Not meaning that I'm going to be perfect. Although a righteous man falls seven times, he gets right back up. That means that people that are in right standing with God will make mistakes, but we get back up." ([1995:45] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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9. "I think pastors get mad at the church people for being a certain way or not being a certain way. And I'm thinking to myself, I don't know if it's a them problem as much as it's an us problem. Because you get to shape culture from up here. You get to preach. You get to lead people. And I think that sometimes that's the church's fault. And I think that's the church's fault. And sometimes the reason that people don't fully commit, maybe it could be because we're not packaging the message according to scripture. I think that we've fluffed up the gospel message too much. I think that we've gotten seeker friendly and we want people to accept us and people to not think we're weird. No, we are freaking weird, man. Christians are weird. You guys raise your hand and you sing. Yeah, you did it at Taylor Swift. You Swifties, we saw you. My kids were there. Taylor, I love you." ([2220:93] (53 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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10. "The seed could be planted, but it's going to take other people to come and water it. Other people to come and cultivate it. Other people to come and help disciple people on that journey. Because that's what he calls us to. Because I would have thrown in a towel, to be honest. But he said, no, I'm going to help you, man, so that doesn't happen. Come on, let's give it up for Brad, ladies and gentlemen." ([2782:06] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?