Matthew 13:11
“To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.”
Consider
1. The Kingdom of God is not what the Jewish people were expecting.
2. The Kingdom of God reversed shame and honor in society.
3. The Kingdom of God requires a decision.
Kinds Of Soil
1. The Hard Soil - A Heart Closed to God
Matthew 13:4
“A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he scattered the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it.”
Matthew 13:19
“When anyone hears the Word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart.”
Ezekiel 36:26
“I will remove the heart of stone from you and give you a heart of flesh.”
1. The Hard Soil - A Heart Closed to God
The Rocky Soil - A Heart Shallow in Commitment
Mark 4:5-6
“Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, but when the sun rose, it was scorched. Since it had no root, it withered away.”
Mark 4:16-17
“These are the ones who hear the Word and immediately receive it with joy. But they have no root in themselves, and so endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises because of the Word, immediately they fall away.”
Colossians 2:7 says:
“Let your roots grow down into Him and let your lives be built on Him.”
Kinds Of Soil
1. The Hard Soil - A Heart Closed to God
2. The Rocky Soil - A Heart Shallow in Commitment
3. The Thorny Soil - A Heart Crowded by Distractions
Mark 4:7
“Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain.”
Mark 4:18–19
“They are those who hear the Word, but the cares of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the Word, and it proves unfruitful.”
Matthew 6:33 says:
“Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
Kinds Of Soil
1. The Hard Soil - A Heart Closed to God
2. The Rocky Soil - A Heart Shallow in Commitment
3. The Thorny Soil - A Heart Crowded by Distractions
4. The Good Soil - A Heart Ready for Transformation
Mark 4:8
“Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew, and produced a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.”
Luke 8:15
“The
seed on good soil stands for those with an honest and good heart, who hear the Word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.”
Which Soil Are You?
• Hard?
• Shallow?
• Crowded?
• Or ready for God’s Word to take root and bear fruit?
“Father, thank You for the living seed of Your Word. Thank You that You are the Sower who never stops planting. Lord, we ask You to prepare our hearts. Break up the hard ground. Pull out the thorns. Deepen our roots. Make us good soil that bears fruit—thirty, sixty, even a hundredfold— for Your kingdom. For the one here today who has never said yes to You, may this be the moment they open their heart and let Your Word take root. We ask it in the name of Jesus, our Savior. Amen.”
