Weekly Discussion Guide

Pastor Saul reminded us that the Gospel will bring to the surface whatever is in our hearts. And so, when God gives you something to say or do, you can’t lose!

MY STORY

Describe any recent (or past) gardening experiences that were successful. If you’d like to describe some tragic attempts of trying to keep plants alive, and failing, that would be okay to talk about too.

WHAT DOES GOD WANT US TO HEAR?

“Hear then the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.” (Matthew 13:18-23)

How many different soils were there in Jesus’ parable of the sower?

What do each of the soils represent? How does each soil represent a possible condition of someone’s heart?

What does God want us to hear? Based on the passages above, what are the factual “takeaways” that are meaningful to you?

WHAT DOES GOD WANT US TO DO?

Describe each soil, each possible condition of the heart, in modern-day terms. For example, the deceitfulness of riches might be the relentless pursuit of wealth, hoping that will give people a sense of dignity and purpose.

Pick one the soils, and describe a period in your life when that condition of your heart reflected the condition of one of those soils.

What happened, if anything, to move out of that condition?

What does God want us to do? Flowing out of our reading and interpretation, what action does this passage or the Spirit’s leading, nudging us toward?

WHAT DOES GOD WANT ME TO DO?

Be brutally honest about the condition of your heart, right now: are you lacking roots in your faith; are you tempted to distance yourself from God because of suffering; are the temptations of the world seducing you; are you bearing fruit in your life?

If your heart is in a spiritually unhealthy condition, ask a mature believer to help you get unstuck.

If you heart is in a spiritually healthy condition, how can you go from thirty-fold to sixty-fold in regard to bearing fruit … or sixty-fold to one-hundred-fold?

What does God want ME to do? What is the personal application and action step that the Holy Spirit is calling you toward?