REVIEW – “But I tell you” message series

• Talking about having a Historical Biblical Worldview – meaning, we evaluate our beliefs and practices based on historical biblical teaching, not what our culture values

• • A recent Barna study shows only 6% of Americans having a Biblical Worldview even though many claim to have it — 69% say of Americans say they are Christians

• #1 worldview in America is Syncretism – a pick and choose belief system

• We’ve been looking at some of the sayings of Jesus where He was challenging the worldview of the people of His time — Those same challenges to their worldview apply to us today
• Last week – Jesus is to be most important in our lives. He will not take even second place. How we relate to Him in this life is how He relates to us in eternity.

PREVIEW – Today – we’re talking about…

• Not everyone is willing to listen to what God has to say
• We need to stay faithful, to not give up and to continue to “Show and Tell” the Good News

Matthew 13:1-23 “But blessed are those that see and hear” (Mark 4:1-20; Luke 8:4-15)

1. Jesus tells the story of the farmer sowing the seed

Matthew 13:1-9 Later that same day Jesus left the house and sat beside the lake. ² A large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat there and taught as the people stood on the shore. ³ He told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one:

“Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds. ⁴ As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. ⁵ Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. ⁶ But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died. ⁷ Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants. ⁸ Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted! ⁹ Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” NLT

• Farmer // Seed // Field — 4 soil types for WHERE the seeds fell and their result
• Ends with an encouragement to listen and understand

2. Jesus’ methods cut to the heart

Matthew 13:10-15 ¹⁰ His disciples came and asked him, “Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?” ¹¹ He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. ¹² To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. ¹³ That is why I use these parables, For they look, but they don’t really see. They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand. ¹⁴ This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says, ‘When you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend. ¹⁵ For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes— so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’ NLT

• Two categories of people: Those who listen to learn and have life change (Romans 10:9-17) and those who don’t (Romans 1:18-24)
• Jesus honors our hearts intent (Matthew 7:7-11) though He longs to save and help (2 Peter 3:9; 1 Timothy 2:4)

3. But blessed are those that are willing see and hear

Matthew 13:16-17 “But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. ¹⁷ I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it. NLT

• Whose voice carries the most weight in your life? Friends, family, news, social media, Gods?
• Will you agree with God that the best, most blessed, place to be is with a heart intent to listen and obey Him over all other voices in your life?

4. The Parable explained // Jesus explains the parable

Matthew 13:18-23 “Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds: ¹⁹ The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts. ²⁰ The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. ²¹ 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. ²² The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced. ²³ The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” NLT

• There are multiple ways the fruit of God’s activity in our lives can be reduced to nearly nothing
• Which soil season are you in? What do you need to do to move towards fruitfulness?

5. Application
6. Will you allow the Seed of God’s Word to take root in your life — to produce fruit (life change in you) and Kingdom impact in the lives of others?
7. Don’t assume you’re the good soil so deal with the roadblocks in your life

• Footpath – recognize it’s a spiritual battle – therefore pray
• Rocky Soil – trials and tribulation – therefore endure
• Thorny Soil – temptations to pursue other things – therefore prioritize
• Good Soil – fruitfulness for God’s kingdom — don’t compare, don’t give up, and sow –

3. Help those around you deal with their roadblocks to fruit in their lives (Matt 7:1-6; 2 Timothy 2:22-26)

For Small Group Discussion:

Opening Question: What stood out to you the most from the sermon this week?

Main Point: God wants us to intentionally seek Him and order our life after His directives.

Read/Tell the Story: Matthew 13:1-23

Questions:

1. What is the purpose of parables?
2. What are the four soils? What does each soil represent?
3. Which type of soil do you relate to in this season and why?
4. What are the thorns that threaten to choke out our faith and make it unfruitful?
5. How do you cultivate good soil in your own heart?
6. Who in your group has had good soil that has produced growth in your life?

Supporting Scripture: John 15:1-4, Galatians 5:22-23, Colossians 1:9-14

For more resources for this series go to: https://bit.ly/RLcurrentseries