THE IMPACT OF GOD’S WORD. Luke 8:4-8 While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: “A

THE IMPACT THE IMPACT OF GOD’S OF GOD’S

WORDWORD

Luke 8:4-8Luke 8:4-8

While a large crowd was gathering and people were While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: “A farmer went out to sow his this parable: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. Some fell on rock, and when of the air ate it up. Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.” When he said this, he called out, “He sown.” When he said this, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear”.who has ears to hear, let him hear”.

Luke 8:11-13Luke 8:11-13

““This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away.testing they fall away.

Luke 8:14-15Luke 8:14-15

The seed that fell among thorns stands for those The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.persevering produce a crop.

I. The Hard HeartI. The Hard Heart

A. The condition of the ground.A. The condition of the ground.Luke 8:5 - A farmer went out to sow his seed. Luke 8:5 - A farmer went out to sow his seed.

As he was scattering the seed, some fell As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up.birds of the air ate it up.


A. The condition of the ground.A. The condition of the ground.

1. What was the condition?1. What was the condition?




2. How did that affect the seed?2. How did that affect the seed?


B. The condition of your heart.B. The condition of your heart.Luke 8:12 - Those along the path are the ones Luke 8:12 - Those along the path are the ones

who hear, and then the devil comes and who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.that they may not believe and be saved.


B. The condition of your heart.B. The condition of your heart.

1. Do you hear the word with a 1. Do you hear the word with a closed mind?closed mind?




2. Are you too proud to be 2. Are you too proud to be taught?taught?




2. Are you too proud to be 2. Are you too proud to be taught?taught?

3. Are you so loyal to what you 3. Are you so loyal to what you were taught in the past to were taught in the past to consider something new? consider something new?



II. The Shallow HeartII. The Shallow Heart

A. The condition of the ground.A. The condition of the ground.Luke 8:6 - Some fell on rock, and when it came Luke 8:6 - Some fell on rock, and when it came

up, the plants withered because they had up, the plants withered because they had no moisture.no moisture.









B. The condition of your heart.B. The condition of your heart.Luke 8:13 - Those on the rock are the ones who Luke 8:13 - Those on the rock are the ones who

receive the word with joy when they hear receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall while, but in the time of testing they fall away.away.



1. Are you quick to accept new 1. Are you quick to accept new ideas but don’t think them ideas but don’t think them through?through?



1. Are you quick to accept new 1. Are you quick to accept new ideas but don’t think them ideas but don’t think them through?through?

2. Do you drop an idea quickly 2. Do you drop an idea quickly for something else?for something else?




III. The World Oriented HeartIII. The World Oriented Heart

A. The condition of the ground.A. The condition of the ground.Luke 8:7 - Other seed fell among thorns, which Luke 8:7 - Other seed fell among thorns, which

grew up with it and choked the plants.grew up with it and choked the plants.









B. The condition of your heart.B. The condition of your heart.Luke 8:14 - The seed that fell among thorns Luke 8:14 - The seed that fell among thorns

stands for those who hear, but as they go stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.not mature.



1. Do you allow the world’s 1. Do you allow the world’s interests to crowd out the word?interests to crowd out the word?



1. 1. Life’s worries Life’s worries ((μέριμναμέριμνα) ) = = care, care, anxiety.anxiety.


Matthew 6:26-30Matthew 6:26-30Look at the birds of the airLook at the birds of the air; they do not sow or ; they do not sow or

reap or store away in barns, and yet reap or store away in barns, and yet your your heavenly Father feeds themheavenly Father feeds them. . Are you not Are you not much more valuable than theymuch more valuable than they? Who of you ? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his by worrying can add a single hour to his life? “And why do you worry about life? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith.clothe you, O you of little faith.


Matthew 6:26-30Matthew 6:26-30Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or

reap or store away in barns, and yet your reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his by worrying can add a single hour to his life? “And why do you worry about life? “And why do you worry about clothes? clothes? See how the lilies of the field See how the lilies of the field growgrow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell . They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how that is how God clothes the grass of the God clothes the grass of the fieldfield, which is here today and tomorrow is , which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, thrown into the fire, will he not much more will he not much more clothe youclothe you, O you of little faith., O you of little faith.




2. 2. RichesRiches ( (πλοῦτοςπλοῦτος) = wealth, ) = wealth, obtaining money.obtaining money.




2. 2. RichesRiches ( (πλοῦτοςπλοῦτος) = wealth, ) = wealth, obtaining money.obtaining money.

3. 3. PleasuresPleasures ( (ἡδονήἡδονή) = lust, ) = lust, sensual ideas.sensual ideas.



4. These interests do not have to 4. These interests do not have to be bad ones, just be of more be bad ones, just be of more priority than the Lord!priority than the Lord!

Mary & MarthaMary & MarthaLuke 10:38-42Luke 10:38-42





IV. The Receptive HeartIV. The Receptive Heart

A. The condition of the ground.A. The condition of the ground.Luke 8:8 - Still other seed fell on good soil. It Luke 8:8 - Still other seed fell on good soil. It

came up and yielded a crop, a hundred came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.times more than was sown.

III. The Receptive HeartIII. The Receptive Heart








B. The condition of your heart.B. The condition of your heart.Luke 8:15 - But the seed on good soil stands Luke 8:15 - But the seed on good soil stands

for those with a noble and good heart, who for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.produce a crop.



1. Do you listen with an open 1. Do you listen with an open mind?mind?




2. Are you willing to learn?2. Are you willing to learn?





3. Are you prepared to hear?3. Are you prepared to hear?





3. Are you prepared to hear?3. Are you prepared to hear?

4. Do you understand & put into 4. Do you understand & put into action what you hear?action what you hear?


B. The condition of your heart.B. The condition of your heart.James 2:14-17 - What good is it, my brothers, if James 2:14-17 - What good is it, my brothers, if

a man claims to have faith but has no a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, what good is it? In the same way, faith by faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is deaddead..


You have no idea how much good You have no idea how much good your witness can be!your witness can be!

Isaiah 55:10-11Isaiah 55:10-11

As the rain and the snow come down from As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is and bread for the eater, so is my word that my word that goes out from my mouthgoes out from my mouth: : It will not return It will not return to me emptyto me empty, but will accomplish what I , but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.sent it.

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THE IMPACT OF GOD’S WORD. Luke 8:4-8 While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: “A