This past Sunday, Pastor Ben Johnson launched our new teaching series, “Parables: Stories Jesus Told,” with a message titled “How’s Your Heart?” Teaching from Matthew 13, Pastor Ben unpacked the Parable of the Sower, where Jesus describes four types of soil that represent the condition of our hearts in receiving God’s Word. Some hearts are hardened, others are shallow or distracted, and some are ready to receive and bear fruit. We were invited to examine our own hearts and to partner with the Holy Spirit to soften and prepare the soil of our lives. Through worship, humility, and faith—even faith as small as a mustard seed—we can respond to God’s Word in a way that produces lasting transformation and spiritual fruit.
✍️ Notes
That same day, Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “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. Some 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 roots. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop - a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.” The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.” “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” Matthew 13:1-23
1. Invite the Holy Spirit
“I will give you a new heart...” (Ezekiel 36:26)
“Humbly accept the word planted in you...” (James 1:21)
2. Worship
“Bow down… do not harden your hearts.” (Psalm 95:6-8)
3. Have Faith
“Faith as small as a mustard seed...” (Matthew 17:20)🔗 STAY CONNECTED
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