Wanted good dirt_lk8

WANTED: GOOD DIRTWANTED: GOOD DIRT(or: Cultivating is as important as Planting)(or: Cultivating is as important as Planting)

Luke 8:1-15Luke 8:1-15

The Parable of the Sower 8:4 While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from one town after another, he spoke to them in a parable: 8:5 “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled on, and the wild birds devoured it. 8:6 Other seed fell on rock, and when it came up, it withered because it had no moisture. 8:7 Other seed fell among the thorns, and they grew up with it and choked it. 8:8 But other seed fell on good soil and grew, and it produced a hundred times as much grain.” As he said this, he called out, “The one who has ears to hear had better listen!”.

Luke 8:1-15 (NET Bible)

NET Bible® ©1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. www.bible.org All rights reserved. NET Bible® ©1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. www.bible.org All rights reserved.

8:9 Then his disciples asked him what this parable meant. 8:10 He said, “You have been given the opportunity to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that although they see they may not see, and although they hear they may not understand.8:11 “Now the parable means this: The seed is the word of God. 8:12 Those along the path are the ones who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 8:13 Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in a time of testing fall away.



8:14 As for the seed that fell among thorns, these are the ones who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the worries and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. 8:15 But as for the seed that landed on good soil, these are the ones who, after hearing the word, cling to it with an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with steadfast endurance.



TA

KE

HO

ME

Ask any farmer. Ask any farmer. WeedingWeeding isn’t fun, but isn’t fun, but necessary.necessary.

We are all growing. We are all growing. But what is the crop? But what is the crop? Goatgrass or Wheat?Goatgrass or Wheat?

Can shallow soil and weedy dirt become Can shallow soil and weedy dirt become productive? You bet! It’s called productive? You bet! It’s called Redemption and Restoration!Redemption and Restoration!

Lord, I want to be good dirt!Lord, I want to be good dirt!

Op

en

ing

Pra

yer

Op

en

ing

Pra

yer

An

nou

nce

men

tsA

nn

ou

nce

men

ts

Wors

hip

Wors

hip

MA

NY

PA

RA

BL

ES

HA

VE

A

VA

CA

NT

CH

AIR

FO

R M

E I may want to hover above the story. Jesus makes I may want to hover above the story. Jesus makes eye contact with me as his parable moves along.eye contact with me as his parable moves along.

This story is no exception. I need to do a bit of self-This story is no exception. I need to do a bit of self-evaluation: evaluation: ─ Impenetrable? ─ Impenetrable? ─ Shallow? ─ Shallow? ─ Weed infested? ─ Weed infested? ─ Black Gold? ─ Black Gold?

The Apostles had the The Apostles had the right question: Lord, is it I?right question: Lord, is it I?

TH

E P

RO

BL

EM

WIT

H S

PR

INT

ING

IN

A M

AR

AT

HO

N That Muzzle-loader That Muzzle-loader term:’Flash in the term:’Flash in the Pan’Pan’

The story of two The story of two sons (Matthew 21)sons (Matthew 21)

Great launch, poor Great launch, poor finish, as the Hare!finish, as the Hare!

CL

UT

TE

RE

D H

EA

RT

S A

ND

G

OA

TG

RA

SS

David prayed for an David prayed for an ‘undivided heart’. ‘undivided heart’. Psalm 86:11Psalm 86:11

A weedy heart means A weedy heart means death to the good stuff…the death to the good stuff…the God stuff.God stuff.

TH

E P

RO

BL

EM

Jointed goatgrass is a devastating Jointed goatgrass is a devastating weed that infests 5 million acres of weed that infests 5 million acres of winter wheat in the United States and winter wheat in the United States and is spreading unchecked at a rate of is spreading unchecked at a rate of 50,000 acres per year. Jointed 50,000 acres per year. Jointed goatgrass costs producers $145 goatgrass costs producers $145 million annually due to:million annually due to:

Reduced yields - commonly 25 to Reduced yields - commonly 25 to 50% loss. 50% loss. Loss of export market Loss of export market Decreased land value Decreased land value Increased tillage required Increased tillage required Loss of certified seed market Loss of certified seed market Rotations to less profitable crops Rotations to less profitable crops

CA

N I

SP

OT

GO

AT

GR

AS

S

IN M

Y F

IEL

D?

Excessive worry and stressExcessive worry and stress

Fixation on money and Fixation on money and pleasurepleasure

Other stuff that stifles my Other stuff that stifles my productivity and competes for productivity and competes for my loyaltymy loyalty

SO

WH

AT

IS

TH

IS ‘

GO

OD

SO

IL’

TH

AT

PR

OD

UC

ES

A G

OO

D

‘CR

OP

’? A noble heartA noble heart

A good heartA good heart

Receptivity to God’s Receptivity to God’s wordword

Retention of God’s Retention of God’s mind on life’s mattersmind on life’s matters

PR

OD

UC

TIV

ITY

IS

A C

OM

MO

N

TH

EM

E I

N J

ES

US

’ S

TO

RIE

S A fig treeA fig tree

A grapevine A grapevine

A steward of moneyA steward of money

A tenant farmerA tenant farmer

Now this…a wheat field!Now this…a wheat field!

LO

RD

, G

IVE

ME

AN

U

ND

IVID

ED

HE

AR

T!

Help from the Psalm 119Help from the Psalm 119

A young person wanting a pure A young person wanting a pure heart ─v 9heart ─v 9

One prone to straying ─v 10One prone to straying ─v 10

Inclined to selfish gain ─v 36Inclined to selfish gain ─v 36

Lured by worthless things ─v 37Lured by worthless things ─v 37

LO

RD

, G

IVE

ME

AN

U

ND

IVID

ED

HE

AR

T!

PRUNE ME, PRUNE ME, PURGE ME PURGE ME DO A HOLY PLANTING DO A HOLY PLANTING IN MY HEARTIN MY HEART

Luke 8:1-15Luke 8:1-15

I believe that Jesus is I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Christ, the Son of the living God.the living God.

I trust him as my Lord I trust him as my Lord and Savior.and Savior.C

on

fess

ion

Con

fess

ion

Wors

hip

Wors

hip

Off

eri

ng

Off

eri

ng

Wors

hip

Wors

hip

Pra

yer

Pra

yer

GoGo BeBeDoDo

Spiritual

Wanted good dirt_lk8