Dusty Bibles always lead to Dirty Lives

The Bible is a remarkable book. The Bible is a remarkable book. Millions of copies are bought Millions of copies are bought

each year. It has been the each year. It has been the number-one bestseller for number-one bestseller for

decades. But tragically, the Bible decades. But tragically, the Bible is said to be the least-read is said to be the least-read

bestseller of all time.bestseller of all time.

Dusty BiblesDusty Biblesalways lead toalways lead to

Dirty Lives.Dirty Lives.

Whenever God’s Word is presented Whenever God’s Word is presented before any audience, the lessons of before any audience, the lessons of The Parable of the Sower take The Parable of the Sower take effect. The power of God’s Word to effect. The power of God’s Word to transform a person is in direct transform a person is in direct proportion to the condition of that proportion to the condition of that person’s heart.person’s heart.

Make sure that your heart is like Make sure that your heart is like fertile soil in which God’s Word like fertile soil in which God’s Word like seed germinates, takes root and seed germinates, takes root and produces fruit of various kinds and produces fruit of various kinds and measure.measure.

Of the many parables Jesus taught, Of the many parables Jesus taught, this one is mentioned in three this one is mentioned in three gospels [Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23; gospels [Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23; Mark 4:1-9, 14-20] and given the Mark 4:1-9, 14-20] and given the precise interpretation. There are precise interpretation. There are four kinds of surfaces or soils—four four kinds of surfaces or soils—four types of heart conditions — upon types of heart conditions — upon which the seed falls.which the seed falls.

Road Soil:Road Soil:Hardened HeartHardened Heart

(vv. 5, 12)(vv. 5, 12)

1.1. Road Soil: Hardened Heart Road Soil: Hardened Heart (vv. 5, 12)(vv. 5, 12)1.1. Road Soil: Hardened Heart Road Soil: Hardened Heart (vv. 5, 12)(vv. 5, 12)

a.a. These are those who hear the These are those who hear the message but the Devil snatches message but the Devil snatches away the word from their hearts, away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and so that they may not believe and be saved. Did you note what the be saved. Did you note what the Devil does?Devil does?


b.b. Reading and receiving the Word Reading and receiving the Word and believing in Jesus lead to and believing in Jesus lead to eternal life eternal life (John 5:39-40; 20:30-31)(John 5:39-40; 20:30-31)..

c.c. If you have heard the good news If you have heard the good news but the Devil snatched it away, but the Devil snatched it away, listen to it again.listen to it again.


d.d. Another trick by the Devil is to Another trick by the Devil is to distort God’s Word with the intent distort God’s Word with the intent to deceive to deceive (Luke 4:9-13)(Luke 4:9-13)..

Stony Soil:Stony Soil:Shallow HeartShallow Heart

(vv. 6, 13)(vv. 6, 13)

2.2. Stony Soil: Shallow Heart Stony Soil: Shallow Heart (vv. 6, 13)(vv. 6, 13)2.2. Stony Soil: Shallow Heart Stony Soil: Shallow Heart (vv. 6, 13)(vv. 6, 13)

a.a. These are those who “receive the These are those who “receive the word with joy when they hear it, word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away” (v. 13).testing they fall away” (v. 13).

2.2. Stony Soil: Shallow Heart Stony Soil: Shallow Heart (vv. 6, 13)(vv. 6, 13)2.2. Stony Soil: Shallow Heart Stony Soil: Shallow Heart (vv. 6, 13)(vv. 6, 13)

b.b. Just because one receives the Just because one receives the Word with joy does not guarantee Word with joy does not guarantee its lasting benefits.its lasting benefits.

c.c. Jesus cited how human traditions Jesus cited how human traditions nullify the power of the Word to nullify the power of the Word to take effect take effect (Mark 7:9-13)(Mark 7:9-13)..

Thorny Soil:Thorny Soil:Crowded HeartCrowded Heart

(vv. 7, 14)(vv. 7, 14)

3.3. Thorny Soil: Crowded Heart Thorny Soil: Crowded Heart (vv. 7, 14)(vv. 7, 14)3.3. Thorny Soil: Crowded Heart Thorny Soil: Crowded Heart (vv. 7, 14)(vv. 7, 14)

a.a. These are “those who hear, but as These are “those who hear, but as they go on their way they are they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature” pleasures, and they do not mature” (v. 14)(v. 14)..

3.3. Thorny Soil: Crowded Heart Thorny Soil: Crowded Heart (vv. 7, 14)(vv. 7, 14)3.3. Thorny Soil: Crowded Heart Thorny Soil: Crowded Heart (vv. 7, 14)(vv. 7, 14)

b.b. Even now as you listen, worries Even now as you listen, worries and pursuit of riches can choke the and pursuit of riches can choke the Word’s potential to bear fruit.Word’s potential to bear fruit.

Good Soil:Good Soil:Fertile HeartFertile Heart

(vv. 8, 15)(vv. 8, 15)

3.3. Good Soil: Fertile Heart Good Soil: Fertile Heart (vv. 8, 15)(vv. 8, 15)3.3. Good Soil: Fertile Heart Good Soil: Fertile Heart (vv. 8, 15)(vv. 8, 15)

a.a. These are “those with a noble and These are “those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering retain it, and by persevering produce a crop” produce a crop” (v. 15)(v. 15)..

b.b. Understanding God’s Word and Understanding God’s Word and deciding to obey it leads to deciding to obey it leads to godliness and productive living.godliness and productive living.

3.3. Good Soil: Fertile Heart Good Soil: Fertile Heart (vv. 8, 15)(vv. 8, 15)3.3. Good Soil: Fertile Heart Good Soil: Fertile Heart (vv. 8, 15)(vv. 8, 15)

c.c. We can count how many seeds We can count how many seeds there are in one apple but we can there are in one apple but we can never predict how many apples never predict how many apples there are in one seed.there are in one seed.

GUIDELINESGUIDELINES

1.1. Set aside a regular time. Unless Set aside a regular time. Unless you schedule it, you'll neglect it.you schedule it, you'll neglect it.

2.2. Before you start reading, ask God Before you start reading, ask God for help and understanding.for help and understanding.

Haddon W. Robinson

3.3. Carefully think about what you Carefully think about what you are reading. The treasures of the are reading. The treasures of the Bible seldom lie like pebbles on Bible seldom lie like pebbles on the surface. To mine the gold, you the surface. To mine the gold, you have to dig.have to dig.

Haddon W. Robinson


4.4. Before you decide what a Before you decide what a passage means to you, try to passage means to you, try to understand what the author was understand what the author was saying to the original readers.saying to the original readers.

Haddon W. Robinson


5.5. Write down at least one truth or Write down at least one truth or principle you can put into principle you can put into practice.practice.

Haddon W. Robinson


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Dusty Bibles always lead to Dirty Lives