The Sower

In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus implores his audience and us to listen intently (V. 3 & 9) and understand the implications of it. He doesn’t want us to overlook the condition of our heart in receiving the Word of God.

Matthew 13:3-9; 18-23

Mark 4:1-9; 13-20

Luke 8:5-15

The seed (Word of God) fails to grow to the point of fruitfulness because of the condition of the soil (Heart).

What hearers have:

• The footpath soil hearers have hearts.
• The shallow rocky soil hearers have hearts.
• The thorny soil hearers have hearts.

What hearers need:

• The need of footpath hearers is a heart.
• The need of shallow rocky soil hearers is .
• The need of thorny soil hearers is .

The thorny soil never grows to maturity, no fruit is produced.

Luke 8:14

Matthew 13:22

Philippians 3:13

The problem with thorny soil isn’t roots, desire, or determination. It’s .

Three Thorns that compete with and choke the Word of God from growing in people’s lives:

• Thorn 1:
• Thorn 2:
• Thorn 3: (pleasures of life)

Two Questions:

1. Are you choking spiritually?
2. Are you in need of a spiritual Heimlich maneuver?

Heimlich Maneuver Verse John 15:5-6

⁵ “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned.