WEBVTT

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 Good morning. My name is Matthew Capone, and I'm the pastor here at Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church,

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 and it's my joy to bring God's Word to you today. A special welcome if you're new or visiting with us.

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 We're glad that you're here, and we're glad that you're here not because we are trying to fill seats,

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 but because we're following Jesus together as one community.

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 And as we follow Jesus together, we become convinced that there's no one so good, they don't need God's grace,

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 and no one so bad that they can't have it, which is why we come back week after week to hear what God has to say to us in His Word,

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 because we believe that God has something to say to everyone.

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 We're continuing our series in the Gospel of Mark.

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 You'll remember that the Gospels tell the story of Jesus in His life and His death and His resurrection.

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 We're shifting our focus a little bit. We left Mark chapter 3 behind last week,

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 and this morning we're beginning Mark chapter 4, where Jesus leaves His healing,

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 and we begin to see specifically Him teaching about the kingdom of God.

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 This is the section in Mark with a great focus on Jesus' parables.

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 Now, if you remember last week, we saw this family intervention that happened with Jesus.

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 His family came, and they were calling Him away from His ministry.

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 They believed that He was perhaps harming Himself in the midst of it,

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 that things had gotten out of control, and it was time for them to intervene.

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 Jesus, in that passage, clarified for them and for us His priorities,

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 that His family is important, they're just not the most important.

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 That mission, His purpose, the reason that He was sent, comes before everything else.

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 It's His keystone commitment, or His primary commitment,

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 that He filters all His other commitments through.

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 This week, we're going to continue to explore Jesus' call, His words to follow me.

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 It's the words He spoke to Simon and Andrew when He called them in chapter 1.

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 It's the same thing He said to Levi in chapter 2.

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 And as we look at that call, both for the world and for ourselves,

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 this story, this parable, is going to help us answer a couple questions.

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 First, what is it that keeps people from answering Jesus' call?

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 If Jesus is so universally recognized as a good teacher,

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 if so many people believe that,

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 why do so few people actually follow His teaching?

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 How can someone be ambivalent towards such a polarizing and critical figure

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 in the history of the world?

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 So much so that the dating of world history hinges around the time of Jesus' birth and His life.

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 Yes, Jesus' impact is great.

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 Why is it not even greater?

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 Why is it not even more than it is?

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 Now, the other question is similar but more personal.

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 Not just how we understand the world, but what about us?

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 What keeps us from following Jesus?

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 What pulls us away from Him?

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 If Jesus, as we talked about last week,

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 is the horizon line that we look towards,

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 if He is the one that we center our lives around,

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 how can we make sure that we are pointed and oriented in the right direction?

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 How can we go the distance?

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 How do we live lives that are wise and fruitful?

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 Now, I'm saying basically two things over and over again

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 that we're going to look at in this passage.

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 One, we are going to get a mental map, a paradigm,

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 to understand the world and how it responds to Jesus and His teaching.

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 And two, we're going to understand what that means for us,

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 how we can be people who are fruitful rather than barren.

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 And so it's with those questions,

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 I'm going to invite you to turn with me to Mark chapter 4.

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 We're going to be starting at verse 1.

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 One, you can turn in your worship guide,

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 you can turn on your phone,

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 you can turn in your physical Bible.

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 No matter where you turn, remember that this is God's Word.

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 God tells us that His Word is more precious than gold,

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 even the finest gold,

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 and that it is sweeter than honey,

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 even honey that comes straight from the honeycomb.

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 And so that's why we read now, starting at verse 1.

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 Again, He began to teach beside the sea,

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 and a very large crowd gathered about Him,

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 so that He got into a boat and sat in it on the sea.

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 And the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land.

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 And He was teaching them many things in parables.

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 And in His teaching He said to them,

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 Listen, behold, a sower went out to sow.

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 And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path,

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 and the birds came and devoured it.

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 Verse 5.

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 Other seeds fell on rocky ground where it did not have much soil,

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 and immediately it sprang up,

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 since it had no depth of soil.

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 And when the sun rose, it was scorched,

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 and since it had no root, it withered away.

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 Other seed fell among thorns,

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 and the thorns grew up and choked it,

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 and it yielded no grain.

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 And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain,

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 growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.

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 And He said,

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 He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

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 Verse 10.

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 And when He was alone,

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 those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parables.

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 And He said to them,

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 To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God,

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 but for those outside, everything is in parables,

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 so that they may indeed see but not perceive,

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 and may indeed hear but not understand,

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 lest they should turn and be forgiven.

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 Verse 13.

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 And He said to them,

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 Do you not understand this parable?

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 How then will you understand all the parables?

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 The sower sows the word,

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 and these are the ones along the path where the word is sown.

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 When they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them.

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 And these are the ones sown on rocky ground,

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 the ones who, when they hear the word,

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 immediately receive it with joy.

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 And they have no root in themselves,

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 but endure for a while.

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 Then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word,

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 immediately they fall away.

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 Verse 18.

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 And others are the ones sown among thorns.

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 They are those who hear the word,

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 but the cares of the world,

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 and the deceitfulness of riches,

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 and the desires for other things,

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 enter in and choke the word,

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 and it proves unfruitful.

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 But those that were sown on the good soil

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 are the ones who hear the word,

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 and accept it,

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 and bear fruit,

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 thirtyfold,

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 and sixtyfold,

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 and a hundredfold.

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 I invite you to pray with me as we come to this portion of God's word.

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 Our Father in heaven,

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 we come to you again,

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 grateful for your word that you've given to us.

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 You tell us in your word about those who,

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 when they heard it,

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 were struck to the heart.

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 And we ask for that this morning.

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 We ask that you would strike us to the heart,

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 that you would honor your promise,

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 that we talked about last week in John chapter 14,

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 that you give your spirit to your people.

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 We ask for your spirit this morning

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 to help us understand your word,

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 that you would use it to encourage us,

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 you'd use it to challenge us,

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 you'd use it to bear fruit in our lives,

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 and most importantly,

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 that you would use it to exalt Jesus Christ,

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 that we would see him as more beautiful

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 and more glorious than anything else.

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 We ask these things in his mighty name.

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 Amen.

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 We have changed scenes since last week.

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 You'll remember Jesus was teaching in a house.

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 That's where he had the two circles around him,

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 the inner circle that was coming to hear him,

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 and the outer circle of his family

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 that was coming to drag him away.

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 And now he's returned again to the sea.

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 We see here in verse one,

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 that word again reminding us

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 that Jesus has been teaching by the sea many times.

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 The last time we saw him by the sea

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 was in chapter three, verse seven.

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 And that was the incident where it seemed like

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 his very life was in danger,

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 that people were pressing in on him so hard

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 that he had to get into a boat to get away from them.

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 That's the same dynamic we have here.

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 In verse nine of chapter three,

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 we were told he got into the boat lest they crush him.

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 And here we see in verse one,

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 he got into a boat and sat in it in the sea.

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 Now he could be getting into this boat for the same reason.

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 He could be getting in to prevent himself

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 from being crushed.

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 That's possible.

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 There's another likely reason that this is happening,

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 which is that Jesus is trying to speak to this large crowd.

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 And so I want you to imagine for a second

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 that you are in a modern day auditorium.

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 In fact, in a sense,

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 we're in something similar to that right now.

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 Except Jesus had no public announcement system.

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 Jesus did not have a headpiece like I do.

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 He had no microphone.

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 And so instead of the stage,

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 you have the boat that Jesus is on.

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 Instead of people sitting out in chairs,

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 they're probably sitting on a hillside

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 along the Sea of Galilee lined up in rows.

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 In fact, we have a reason to believe

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 that this is what was going on.

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 If you visit Capernaum today,

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 you can see the same dynamic by the Sea of Galilee.

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 So Jesus on the boat in the sea,

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 the people on the shore,

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 and he has his natural sound system,

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 which is the water.

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 It's just a basic principle

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 that water carries sound.

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 And so that's most likely why

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 Jesus has chosen to deliver his message in this way.

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 Now that's similar from chapter three.

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 In chapter three,

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 we're told there was a great crowd.

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 Here we're told there is a very large crowd.

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 In other words,

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 the pattern of intensification continues.

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 More and more people are following Jesus.

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 The pressure is rising.

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 The interest is growing.

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 If anything,

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 Jesus is becoming more and more popular.

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 It's in that context that we see him here

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 begin to teach them.

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 We're told in verse two,

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 he is teaching them in parables.

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 In other words,

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 he is telling them these stories

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 that help them understand the world

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 and the way it works.

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 He's telling them stories here in this chapter

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 to help them and us understand

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 how it is that the kingdom of God

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 actually operates.

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 And so it's with that,

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 we're going to jump right into the story itself here,

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 this parable.

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 Jesus tells the story in verses three through nine,

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 and then he provides an interpretation for us

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 in verses 13 through 20.

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 And at a big picture level,

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 there are fundamentally two types of soil.

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 There is good soil,

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 and there's bad soil.

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 And there's varying degrees to how these soils respond.

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 Some are worse than others of the bad soils.

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 Some are better than others of the good soils.

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 What we know here, though,

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 is this scene begins,

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 verse three,

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 is there is a sower that goes out to sow.

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 And we're told in the interpretation,

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 verse 14,

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 that this seed that the sower is giving

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 is in fact the word of God.

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 This image of a seed is important for us

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 because it reminds us

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 of how potent and powerful the word of God is.

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 Seeds, you know,

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 contain their own nourishment,

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 their own power within them.

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 They come with all the ingredients needed

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 except for the soil.

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 And so from the very beginning,

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 we're being reminded

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 of the important question of this passage,

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 which is if the word of God is so powerful,

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 if the seed has what it needs in itself,

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 why are there mixed results?

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 Why do some people respond powerfully,

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 others not at all?

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 It's with that question

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 that we begin to understand

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 and see these different types of soil.

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 First, verse four,

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 we have the soil that falls along the path.

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 We're told that the birds come and devour it.

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 Jesus then explains for us,

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 verse 15,

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 what's going on.

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 When they hear,

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 Satan immediately comes

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 and takes away the word that is sown in them.

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 In other words,

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 there are this group of people

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 that when the word of God comes,

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 it makes absolutely no impact.

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 They don't even consider it.

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 It's not something that enters into their mind

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 and they wrestle with.

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 It's something that goes in one ear

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 and out the other.

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 Their spiritual darkness,

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 in other words,

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 is so great,

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 the distractions are so immediate

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 that the word doesn't even gain

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 a hearing for them.

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 Maybe they ignore it.

00:14:04.480 --> 00:14:06.200
 Maybe they are hostile to it.

00:14:06.800 --> 00:14:08.320
 They do not wrestle with it.

00:14:08.340 --> 00:14:09.180
 Or consider it.

00:14:10.820 --> 00:14:13.780
 If you were here during our Philippians series,

00:14:13.980 --> 00:14:16.480
 you know that I am a connoisseur

00:14:16.480 --> 00:14:17.800
 of fine rain jackets.

00:14:19.060 --> 00:14:20.460
 And there's a variety of reasons for that,

00:14:20.500 --> 00:14:22.820
 which I won't go into this morning.

00:14:22.860 --> 00:14:25.399
 But there are varying qualities of rain jackets

00:14:25.399 --> 00:14:26.220
 that you can buy,

00:14:26.840 --> 00:14:28.300
 which are going to serve you

00:14:28.300 --> 00:14:30.420
 with a variety of performances.

00:14:31.200 --> 00:14:34.200
 The deeper into the wilderness you are,

00:14:34.280 --> 00:14:36.400
 the higher the quality of rain jacket you want.

00:14:37.139 --> 00:14:39.659
 The way you assess whether it's a good rain jacket or not

00:14:39.659 --> 00:14:41.259
 comes in a variety of ways.

00:14:41.360 --> 00:14:41.840
 First of all,

00:14:41.899 --> 00:14:43.840
 you want to know what kind of tape it has.

00:14:44.360 --> 00:14:47.259
 Because it doesn't matter how good the material is

00:14:47.259 --> 00:14:48.840
 if the water comes in through the seams.

00:14:49.720 --> 00:14:49.899
 Right?

00:14:49.959 --> 00:14:51.500
 So you want your seams taped.

00:14:52.000 --> 00:14:55.159
 The other question is how effective your hood is.

00:14:55.519 --> 00:14:56.779
 If your hood is not effective,

00:14:56.919 --> 00:14:59.059
 it doesn't matter how good the material is,

00:14:59.120 --> 00:15:01.039
 water is going to come in through the top.

00:15:01.039 --> 00:15:04.379
 And so what you want is the type of rain jacket

00:15:04.379 --> 00:15:07.240
 that if someone were to dump a bucket of water

00:15:07.240 --> 00:15:08.240
 over your head,

00:15:08.339 --> 00:15:09.740
 you would be untouched.

00:15:10.639 --> 00:15:12.319
 That's how you know you're dealing

00:15:12.319 --> 00:15:13.879
 with a high quality product.

00:15:14.659 --> 00:15:16.039
 Now, of course, you also want breathability.

00:15:16.779 --> 00:15:19.819
 That probably comes after the other two.

00:15:23.019 --> 00:15:25.120
 These folks, the hard soil,

00:15:25.319 --> 00:15:28.740
 spiritually have the best rain jackets possible.

00:15:28.740 --> 00:15:32.019
 Nothing can touch them.

00:15:33.779 --> 00:15:37.000
 Everything beads up and rolls off.

00:15:37.779 --> 00:15:41.039
 They have no space or time

00:15:41.039 --> 00:15:43.200
 to consider the word of God.

00:15:43.320 --> 00:15:46.519
 There is nothing that is able to get through.

00:15:49.100 --> 00:15:52.159
 And so that helps us understand that type of response.

00:15:52.320 --> 00:15:53.779
 Satan is actually at work,

00:15:53.840 --> 00:15:55.879
 as Jesus tells us here at verse 15,

00:15:56.039 --> 00:15:57.299
 pulling away the word

00:15:57.299 --> 00:15:59.939
 before it even has the chance to make an impact.

00:16:00.699 --> 00:16:04.519
 This hard soil can't be penetrated by seeds.

00:16:05.000 --> 00:16:08.099
 That's what happens when it's that packed down.

00:16:10.799 --> 00:16:14.120
 Jesus then goes on to tell us about soils

00:16:14.120 --> 00:16:15.939
 that do receive the word,

00:16:16.079 --> 00:16:17.419
 but only superficially.

00:16:17.759 --> 00:16:19.359
 And so in verses five and six,

00:16:19.459 --> 00:16:21.120
 we have the rocky ground.

00:16:21.279 --> 00:16:23.939
 Verse five, we're told immediately it sprang up.

00:16:23.940 --> 00:16:27.380
 Verse 16, these people receive God's word

00:16:27.380 --> 00:16:30.840
 with incredible joy for a time.

00:16:32.740 --> 00:16:34.860
 Then we see verse six,

00:16:35.260 --> 00:16:36.340
 the sun comes out.

00:16:36.980 --> 00:16:37.980
 It was scorched.

00:16:38.280 --> 00:16:40.600
 Since it had no root, it withered away.

00:16:41.600 --> 00:16:44.100
 Verse 17 clarifies this even more.

00:16:44.500 --> 00:16:46.820
 They had no root in themselves.

00:16:46.820 --> 00:16:49.620
 And so they fall away.

00:16:50.900 --> 00:16:52.100
 And he tells us here,

00:16:53.520 --> 00:16:55.300
 in verse 17,

00:16:56.260 --> 00:16:58.660
 that it's because of tribulation or persecution

00:16:58.660 --> 00:17:01.460
 that arises on account of the word.

00:17:02.440 --> 00:17:03.480
 In other words,

00:17:03.600 --> 00:17:07.420
 these folks are excited about the word of God

00:17:07.420 --> 00:17:11.019
 until it stops being comfortable.

00:17:11.019 --> 00:17:15.759
 And the moment it stops being comfortable,

00:17:16.319 --> 00:17:18.099
 they are gone.

00:17:20.980 --> 00:17:22.160
 What's missing here?

00:17:24.039 --> 00:17:27.119
 Verse 16 tells us they received it with joy.

00:17:28.400 --> 00:17:30.559
 What did they not receive it with?

00:17:32.319 --> 00:17:36.099
 They did not receive it with faith or repentance.

00:17:36.099 --> 00:17:39.019
 In other words,

00:17:39.099 --> 00:17:41.339
 they loved the sound of the gospel.

00:17:41.659 --> 00:17:43.639
 It seemed like this beautiful thing.

00:17:43.719 --> 00:17:46.359
 The idea of forgiveness was attractive.

00:17:47.079 --> 00:17:49.459
 And they did not grasp the fact

00:17:49.459 --> 00:17:51.740
 that they were the ones who needed to be forgiven.

00:17:52.039 --> 00:17:54.059
 They did not come face to face

00:17:54.059 --> 00:17:56.439
 with the reality of their own sin.

00:17:56.579 --> 00:17:57.799
 They did not realize

00:17:57.799 --> 00:17:59.259
 that they could not stand

00:17:59.259 --> 00:18:01.740
 before a holy God by themselves.

00:18:01.859 --> 00:18:03.419
 And so they never received

00:18:03.419 --> 00:18:05.740
 and grasped the gospel for themselves.

00:18:06.679 --> 00:18:08.859
 They were there for a moment.

00:18:09.019 --> 00:18:11.079
 They were not there forever.

00:18:11.439 --> 00:18:14.079
 There was something that was appealing to them.

00:18:14.179 --> 00:18:17.539
 It did not strike to the core of their hearts.

00:18:18.959 --> 00:18:20.179
 Now, if you're wondering

00:18:20.179 --> 00:18:21.559
 or thinking about Christianity,

00:18:22.119 --> 00:18:23.939
 if you don't consider yourself a Christian,

00:18:24.299 --> 00:18:26.199
 one thing I want to call your attention to

00:18:26.199 --> 00:18:28.679
 in our worship guide is page 10,

00:18:29.059 --> 00:18:31.279
 which talks about this dynamic

00:18:31.279 --> 00:18:33.699
 of what it means to actually be someone

00:18:33.700 --> 00:18:35.940
 who has been penetrated to the heart

00:18:35.940 --> 00:18:37.259
 by the word of God.

00:18:37.539 --> 00:18:40.380
 And you'll see there's two bolded sections here

00:18:40.380 --> 00:18:41.640
 near the middle bottom.

00:18:41.779 --> 00:18:42.720
 One is repent.

00:18:42.720 --> 00:18:45.059
 The other is believe in the gospel.

00:18:46.120 --> 00:18:49.500
 You can hear many things about Christianity.

00:18:49.779 --> 00:18:52.660
 You can like many things about Christianity.

00:18:53.039 --> 00:18:54.740
 You can admire Jesus.

00:18:54.740 --> 00:18:59.680
 And if you have not repented from the heart,

00:18:59.900 --> 00:19:02.299
 you will not last.

00:19:03.759 --> 00:19:05.519
 Verse 17,

00:19:06.519 --> 00:19:09.380
 they have no root in themselves.

00:19:09.380 --> 00:19:13.700
 When the going gets hard,

00:19:13.940 --> 00:19:14.860
 they leave.

00:19:16.120 --> 00:19:18.780
 It is not a keystone commitment for them

00:19:18.780 --> 00:19:20.140
 as we talked about last week.

00:19:20.200 --> 00:19:22.280
 It is a secondary commitment.

00:19:23.740 --> 00:19:26.020
 Church is extremely useful.

00:19:26.980 --> 00:19:28.760
 It is useful to help them meet

00:19:28.760 --> 00:19:30.240
 all sorts of other goals.

00:19:30.820 --> 00:19:32.980
 They thought it was a great place

00:19:32.980 --> 00:19:35.600
 to meet good conservative people.

00:19:35.599 --> 00:19:39.159
 And in a sense, it was.

00:19:39.959 --> 00:19:42.179
 They thought it was a great place

00:19:42.179 --> 00:19:43.859
 to meet dating prospects.

00:19:45.439 --> 00:19:47.319
 And in a sense, it was.

00:19:47.439 --> 00:19:49.219
 They thought it was a good place

00:19:49.219 --> 00:19:50.179
 to make business contacts.

00:19:51.179 --> 00:19:52.619
 And in a sense, it was.

00:19:52.659 --> 00:19:54.399
 They thought it was a good place

00:19:54.399 --> 00:19:55.279
 for the lonely.

00:19:55.639 --> 00:19:56.879
 And in a sense, it was.

00:19:56.959 --> 00:19:58.899
 They thought it was a good place

00:19:58.899 --> 00:20:00.659
 to raise their children to have morals.

00:20:00.799 --> 00:20:02.779
 And in a sense, it was.

00:20:02.959 --> 00:20:04.219
 They thought it was a good place

00:20:04.220 --> 00:20:06.319
 to have importance and power and identity.

00:20:07.100 --> 00:20:08.400
 They weren't getting the respect

00:20:08.400 --> 00:20:09.980
 that they wanted at work or at home.

00:20:10.339 --> 00:20:12.620
 And suddenly they realized that if they came to church

00:20:12.620 --> 00:20:14.940
 and they memorized the right set of facts

00:20:14.940 --> 00:20:16.539
 and knew the right things to say,

00:20:16.620 --> 00:20:19.000
 they could be someone of power and influence.

00:20:20.279 --> 00:20:22.620
 And it worked for a time.

00:20:25.079 --> 00:20:30.740
 But while they were there meeting business contacts

00:20:30.740 --> 00:20:33.400
 and dating prospects and good conservative people,

00:20:33.400 --> 00:20:35.660
 they never met Jesus.

00:20:38.920 --> 00:20:42.780
 They were there for the wrong reasons.

00:20:44.300 --> 00:20:47.320
 Again, verse 17, they have no root in themselves.

00:20:48.019 --> 00:20:51.440
 Maybe this is someone whose family determines their faith

00:20:51.440 --> 00:20:54.340
 and it never became their faith.

00:20:55.780 --> 00:20:59.060
 Tribulation and suffering come and they realize

00:20:59.060 --> 00:21:01.759
 this is not for me.

00:21:03.400 --> 00:21:06.759
 This is not what I signed up for.

00:21:08.300 --> 00:21:10.300
 In fact, that clarifies things for us.

00:21:10.360 --> 00:21:12.580
 Why would you not stand in persecution?

00:21:12.840 --> 00:21:14.860
 Well, because you believe this world

00:21:14.860 --> 00:21:17.380
 is the ultimate reality, the ultimate good.

00:21:18.380 --> 00:21:21.700
 You're willing to endure as long as the church

00:21:21.700 --> 00:21:23.580
 helps you accomplish other goals.

00:21:23.579 --> 00:21:28.839
 And you have to believe in another world

00:21:28.839 --> 00:21:31.379
 to be willing to suffer in this one.

00:21:32.539 --> 00:21:35.059
 You have to believe in another world

00:21:35.059 --> 00:21:38.159
 to be willing to suffer in this one.

00:21:39.759 --> 00:21:43.460
 By the way, Jesus is calling his shot when he says this.

00:21:43.460 --> 00:21:47.420
 He's reminding us that you will suffer in this life

00:21:47.420 --> 00:21:48.240
 if you're a Christian.

00:21:50.140 --> 00:21:53.180
 You will suffer in this life if you're a Christian.

00:21:54.539 --> 00:21:56.519
 Paul tells us, 2 Timothy 3,

00:21:56.960 --> 00:22:02.100
 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus

00:22:02.100 --> 00:22:04.120
 will be persecuted.

00:22:04.119 --> 00:22:07.279
 Notice what he doesn't say.

00:22:07.339 --> 00:22:09.239
 He doesn't say might be persecuted.

00:22:10.479 --> 00:22:12.659
 He doesn't say could face persecution

00:22:12.659 --> 00:22:14.759
 if they live in the wrong area.

00:22:16.279 --> 00:22:19.379
 No, indeed, all who desire to live a godly life

00:22:19.379 --> 00:22:21.979
 in Jesus Christ will be persecuted.

00:22:21.980 --> 00:22:26.019
 Those of you who were here for our first Peter series,

00:22:26.120 --> 00:22:27.980
 remember we talked about the fact that the church,

00:22:28.420 --> 00:22:29.700
 as it suffered under communism,

00:22:29.960 --> 00:22:31.680
 faced a variety of persecutions,

00:22:31.920 --> 00:22:34.099
 one of which was that Christians faced

00:22:34.099 --> 00:22:36.680
 limited career and education prospects.

00:22:37.900 --> 00:22:41.500
 I guarantee you that that tribulation

00:22:41.500 --> 00:22:44.440
 and that suffering caused some to realize

00:22:44.440 --> 00:22:46.799
 that Christianity was not for them.

00:22:48.400 --> 00:22:51.319
 They had no root in themselves.

00:22:51.980 --> 00:22:57.220
 If this world is your ultimate horizon line,

00:22:57.740 --> 00:23:01.279
 if it is what you fix your eyes on more than anything else,

00:23:01.460 --> 00:23:04.279
 that will never make sense.

00:23:07.500 --> 00:23:11.700
 And so that's the soil that falls on rocky ground.

00:23:13.880 --> 00:23:17.799
 Then we have our soil, verse 7, that falls on thorns.

00:23:17.799 --> 00:23:21.919
 The thorns grew up and choked it,

00:23:22.019 --> 00:23:23.799
 and it yielded no grain.

00:23:23.940 --> 00:23:26.879
 And Jesus tells us in verse 19 what's going on.

00:23:27.659 --> 00:23:31.220
 The cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches

00:23:31.220 --> 00:23:33.960
 and the desires for other things

00:23:33.960 --> 00:23:35.500
 enter in and choke the word,

00:23:35.940 --> 00:23:38.019
 and it proves unfaithful.

00:23:38.019 --> 00:23:43.119
 For this individual, these individuals,

00:23:43.319 --> 00:23:45.059
 they are interested in Christianity.

00:23:46.099 --> 00:23:48.019
 It's just a low priority.

00:23:49.400 --> 00:23:54.099
 It is one of many priorities that needs to be juggled.

00:23:54.859 --> 00:23:59.879
 They'll be there as long as there isn't a better offer.

00:23:59.880 --> 00:24:03.780
 And so they come and go,

00:24:04.220 --> 00:24:07.540
 depending on what's going on in their lives and the world.

00:24:08.540 --> 00:24:11.800
 This is the difference between the rocky soil and the thorny soil.

00:24:12.380 --> 00:24:16.240
 The rocky soil leaves as soon as it stops being comfortable.

00:24:17.360 --> 00:24:19.580
 They can't handle tribulation or persecution.

00:24:19.579 --> 00:24:26.460
 The thorny soil leaves as soon as Christianity does not serve their agenda.

00:24:27.919 --> 00:24:30.039
 Doesn't have to be suffering or tribulation.

00:24:30.579 --> 00:24:33.179
 It's just there's something more important,

00:24:33.740 --> 00:24:36.980
 and Jesus is not going to help them get there.

00:24:37.720 --> 00:24:40.079
 This is the opposite of what the wise person does

00:24:40.079 --> 00:24:41.299
 that we talked about last week.

00:24:41.480 --> 00:24:45.159
 This individual prioritizes what's most important for them,

00:24:45.160 --> 00:24:49.240
 and then later they figure out if there's anything left over for God.

00:24:50.160 --> 00:24:52.460
 Houses, jobs, families, hobbies, recreation,

00:24:52.840 --> 00:24:54.900
 all are a higher priority.

00:24:56.000 --> 00:24:57.240
 And so this is the person who says,

00:24:57.300 --> 00:24:58.800
 I'm just too busy right now.

00:25:00.220 --> 00:25:02.940
 We had a lot going on.

00:25:05.440 --> 00:25:09.380
 I met a young man when I was a freshman in college.

00:25:09.380 --> 00:25:11.759
 He was a sophomore ahead of me,

00:25:11.759 --> 00:25:16.579
 and he was very eager for Christianity.

00:25:16.759 --> 00:25:20.180
 He'd even sort of mapped out which of the Presbyterian churches

00:25:20.180 --> 00:25:22.440
 were the more traditional ones than others.

00:25:22.819 --> 00:25:25.759
 He invited us, freshmen who had no cars,

00:25:25.839 --> 00:25:28.859
 to go with him because he wanted us to try out the church

00:25:28.859 --> 00:25:31.619
 that wasn't quite as cool but maybe was a little bit more solid.

00:25:32.140 --> 00:25:33.779
 He seemed firm in his faith.

00:25:33.779 --> 00:25:41.039
 Then he got on the fast track for a major airline,

00:25:41.740 --> 00:25:43.779
 doing internships during the summer,

00:25:43.940 --> 00:25:47.920
 and he realized which side his bread was buttered on.

00:25:49.700 --> 00:25:51.680
 And his life radically changed.

00:25:51.740 --> 00:25:54.039
 His priorities radically changed.

00:25:54.180 --> 00:25:56.059
 He dropped his Christian fellowship.

00:25:56.619 --> 00:25:58.119
 He dropped his church attendance.

00:25:58.599 --> 00:26:00.539
 He joined some other groups on campus

00:26:00.539 --> 00:26:03.259
 that would help him reach his career goals.

00:26:03.980 --> 00:26:07.000
 I looked him up as I was preparing this,

00:26:07.079 --> 00:26:09.639
 and he is still in the airline industry

00:26:09.639 --> 00:26:13.359
 as a high flyer, pun intended.

00:26:15.339 --> 00:26:17.099
 Christianity was there

00:26:17.099 --> 00:26:20.359
 until there was something that was more important.

00:26:21.599 --> 00:26:22.920
 It wasn't that there was persecution.

00:26:23.680 --> 00:26:26.240
 There was just a better offer.

00:26:26.240 --> 00:26:30.880
 Christianity was not delivering the good life for him.

00:26:32.680 --> 00:26:36.400
 It's sort of like the theologian Selena Gomez tells us,

00:26:37.460 --> 00:26:39.740
 the heart wants what it wants.

00:26:41.099 --> 00:26:45.420
 And for him, there was something he wanted more than that.

00:26:48.200 --> 00:26:51.500
 Now, these bad soils are all in one category.

00:26:51.720 --> 00:26:53.339
 For us, the point is this.

00:26:53.339 --> 00:26:56.539
 There are many things vying and competing

00:26:56.539 --> 00:26:58.980
 for our attention and our affection.

00:26:59.459 --> 00:27:03.500
 We are tempted by many priorities and many loves.

00:27:03.899 --> 00:27:07.299
 It is possible to miss the most important

00:27:07.299 --> 00:27:10.079
 and beautiful things that are right ahead of us.

00:27:11.559 --> 00:27:13.639
 As people who follow after Jesus,

00:27:13.779 --> 00:27:15.099
 the goal as we read this

00:27:15.099 --> 00:27:17.099
 is that we would be alert to the way

00:27:17.099 --> 00:27:19.259
 that our enemy works in the world.

00:27:19.559 --> 00:27:21.819
 We would remember 1 Peter 5,

00:27:21.819 --> 00:27:34.339
 We would remember 2 Corinthians 2,

00:27:34.819 --> 00:27:37.099
 warning us not to be outwitted by Satan

00:27:37.099 --> 00:27:40.759
 for we are not ignorant of his designs.

00:27:42.139 --> 00:27:44.319
 There is in this passage

00:27:44.319 --> 00:27:47.379
 a call for us to self-examination.

00:27:47.380 --> 00:27:51.040
 What is your ultimate horizon line,

00:27:51.120 --> 00:27:53.480
 truth, reality, experience, good, future?

00:27:54.160 --> 00:27:56.800
 What is it that you fix your eyes on

00:27:56.800 --> 00:27:58.240
 more than anything else?

00:27:58.520 --> 00:28:01.960
 What is it that you believe the good life is?

00:28:03.920 --> 00:28:06.020
 Another way of asking it is this.

00:28:06.520 --> 00:28:09.380
 Why are you here?

00:28:09.380 --> 00:28:18.320
 Why did you get up and come to this church this morning?

00:28:21.060 --> 00:28:24.460
 Did you come here for Jesus?

00:28:24.460 --> 00:28:32.140
 It is dangerous to have Christianity

00:28:32.140 --> 00:28:33.960
 as a secondary commitment

00:28:33.960 --> 00:28:36.799
 and not a keystone commitment.

00:28:38.400 --> 00:28:41.799
 If that is you, beware.

00:28:44.000 --> 00:28:44.579
 Repent.

00:28:46.180 --> 00:28:48.299
 Turn back now

00:28:48.299 --> 00:28:52.200
 before it is too late.

00:28:53.799 --> 00:28:58.039
 There is something greater than this world.

00:28:59.299 --> 00:29:03.839
 There is a better and more important horizon line.

00:29:04.799 --> 00:29:07.419
 There is something that can deliver

00:29:07.419 --> 00:29:10.240
 what others can only promise.

00:29:10.240 --> 00:29:16.640
 If you are or have been

00:29:16.640 --> 00:29:18.279
 at some point

00:29:18.279 --> 00:29:20.079
 in the dating world,

00:29:20.620 --> 00:29:22.940
 you know there are a variety of characters

00:29:22.940 --> 00:29:23.660
 that you meet.

00:29:24.640 --> 00:29:26.720
 One of the characters that you meet

00:29:26.720 --> 00:29:27.859
 is the player.

00:29:28.940 --> 00:29:30.480
 What does the player do?

00:29:31.620 --> 00:29:34.839
 The player knows how to entice

00:29:34.839 --> 00:29:36.960
 and arouse and flirt.

00:29:37.980 --> 00:29:38.160
 Right?

00:29:38.160 --> 00:29:42.259
 And the longer you are with the player,

00:29:42.500 --> 00:29:43.220
 the quicker,

00:29:43.740 --> 00:29:45.240
 eventually you realize

00:29:45.240 --> 00:29:47.720
 it is all a house of cards.

00:29:49.279 --> 00:29:51.900
 The player can arouse and entice.

00:29:52.440 --> 00:29:55.140
 The player cannot fulfill.

00:29:56.620 --> 00:29:57.740
 Brothers and sisters,

00:29:57.960 --> 00:29:59.820
 this world is a player.

00:30:01.080 --> 00:30:03.740
 The deceitfulness of riches is real.

00:30:04.080 --> 00:30:05.800
 This world promises you

00:30:05.800 --> 00:30:07.200
 all sorts of things

00:30:07.200 --> 00:30:08.380
 that it will not

00:30:08.380 --> 00:30:10.440
 and cannot make good on.

00:30:11.620 --> 00:30:13.340
 It can entice you.

00:30:13.539 --> 00:30:15.080
 It cannot fulfill you.

00:30:15.220 --> 00:30:17.259
 It will pull you in,

00:30:17.420 --> 00:30:18.460
 chew you up,

00:30:18.600 --> 00:30:19.779
 and spit you out.

00:30:21.360 --> 00:30:23.860
 Players are not interested in you.

00:30:23.860 --> 00:30:26.420
 They are interested in trophies

00:30:26.420 --> 00:30:27.940
 to put on the shelf.

00:30:28.100 --> 00:30:30.860
 That is the world that we live in.

00:30:30.859 --> 00:30:34.719
 There are many other voices

00:30:34.719 --> 00:30:37.319
 calling for our attention.

00:30:38.819 --> 00:30:40.759
 Do not listen.

00:30:40.759 --> 00:30:47.400
 Our goal,

00:30:48.400 --> 00:30:50.240
 as we look at this passage,

00:30:50.319 --> 00:30:50.879
 is that we

00:30:50.879 --> 00:30:52.980
 would be the good soil.

00:30:53.779 --> 00:30:54.579
 We would be people

00:30:54.579 --> 00:30:55.779
 who are teachable

00:30:55.779 --> 00:30:56.640
 and tenderhearted.

00:30:57.240 --> 00:30:58.339
 We would go

00:30:58.339 --> 00:30:59.259
 the distance

00:30:59.259 --> 00:31:00.220
 that God's word

00:31:00.220 --> 00:31:01.359
 would actually take root

00:31:01.359 --> 00:31:02.420
 in our lives.

00:31:04.299 --> 00:31:05.619
 Not because

00:31:05.619 --> 00:31:06.700
 we're old-fashioned

00:31:06.700 --> 00:31:08.259
 and we can't keep up

00:31:08.259 --> 00:31:08.839
 with the times.

00:31:08.839 --> 00:31:11.439
 No,

00:31:11.519 --> 00:31:12.519
 because water

00:31:12.519 --> 00:31:14.819
 never goes out of style.

00:31:16.439 --> 00:31:17.339
 Not because

00:31:17.339 --> 00:31:18.179
 we're old-fashioned

00:31:18.179 --> 00:31:19.220
 and we can't keep up

00:31:19.220 --> 00:31:19.779
 with the times,

00:31:19.879 --> 00:31:20.720
 but because water

00:31:20.720 --> 00:31:22.099
 never goes out of style.

00:31:22.279 --> 00:31:23.939
 We still need life.

00:31:24.359 --> 00:31:25.799
 We need spiritual life.

00:31:26.139 --> 00:31:26.879
 That's why we're told

00:31:26.879 --> 00:31:27.919
 in John chapter 1,

00:31:28.019 --> 00:31:29.000
 speaking about Jesus,

00:31:29.179 --> 00:31:30.539
 in him was life

00:31:30.539 --> 00:31:31.379
 and the life

00:31:31.379 --> 00:31:32.240
 was the light of men.

00:31:32.919 --> 00:31:34.019
 We want to be able

00:31:34.019 --> 00:31:35.299
 to agree with the psalmist

00:31:35.299 --> 00:31:36.179
 in Psalm 27

00:31:36.180 --> 00:31:37.060
 that I believe

00:31:37.060 --> 00:31:37.940
 that I shall look

00:31:37.940 --> 00:31:38.600
 upon the goodness

00:31:38.600 --> 00:31:39.200
 of the Lord

00:31:39.200 --> 00:31:40.299
 in the land

00:31:40.299 --> 00:31:41.120
 of the living.

00:31:43.220 --> 00:31:44.220
 One of the dangerous

00:31:44.220 --> 00:31:45.140
 things about

00:31:45.140 --> 00:31:46.279
 the popularity

00:31:46.279 --> 00:31:48.019
 of climbing 14ers

00:31:48.019 --> 00:31:49.560
 in Colorado Springs

00:31:49.560 --> 00:31:50.299
 and in Colorado

00:31:50.299 --> 00:31:50.940
 in general

00:31:50.940 --> 00:31:52.900
 is that as it becomes

00:31:52.900 --> 00:31:54.200
 this normalized thing,

00:31:54.360 --> 00:31:55.220
 people forget

00:31:55.220 --> 00:31:56.840
 how dangerous it is.

00:31:58.680 --> 00:31:59.680
 People assume

00:31:59.680 --> 00:32:00.840
 that because it's popular,

00:32:01.000 --> 00:32:01.820
 it's for everyone.

00:32:03.340 --> 00:32:03.840
 And so often

00:32:03.840 --> 00:32:04.620
 they don't do

00:32:04.619 --> 00:32:05.279
 the research

00:32:05.279 --> 00:32:06.359
 or the preparation

00:32:06.359 --> 00:32:07.379
 that they need.

00:32:09.000 --> 00:32:10.519
 Listening to the calls

00:32:10.519 --> 00:32:11.579
 of this life

00:32:11.579 --> 00:32:12.559
 above the call

00:32:12.559 --> 00:32:13.000
 of Jesus

00:32:13.000 --> 00:32:14.039
 is like this.

00:32:14.299 --> 00:32:15.059
 It's like going

00:32:15.059 --> 00:32:16.599
 to climb a 14er

00:32:16.599 --> 00:32:18.439
 and you have gone

00:32:18.439 --> 00:32:19.339
 to REI

00:32:19.339 --> 00:32:21.179
 and you have bought

00:32:21.179 --> 00:32:22.559
 a bunch of wonderful

00:32:22.559 --> 00:32:23.899
 and high quality equipment.

00:32:24.539 --> 00:32:25.199
 You have bought

00:32:25.199 --> 00:32:26.500
 the best rain jacket

00:32:26.500 --> 00:32:27.000
 possible.

00:32:28.639 --> 00:32:30.739
 You go on your hike,

00:32:30.859 --> 00:32:31.519
 your climb,

00:32:31.599 --> 00:32:32.539
 and you see

00:32:32.539 --> 00:32:33.659
 an amazing view.

00:32:33.660 --> 00:32:34.800
 The views are great.

00:32:36.540 --> 00:32:38.580
 And then you realize

00:32:38.580 --> 00:32:39.460
 at the top

00:32:39.460 --> 00:32:40.600
 you didn't bring

00:32:40.600 --> 00:32:41.460
 any water.

00:32:45.000 --> 00:32:45.600
 Yes,

00:32:45.740 --> 00:32:46.660
 there are many

00:32:46.660 --> 00:32:47.560
 beautiful and good

00:32:47.560 --> 00:32:48.740
 things in this world.

00:32:49.120 --> 00:32:49.460
 Yes,

00:32:49.500 --> 00:32:50.519
 you have wonderful

00:32:50.519 --> 00:32:51.000
 equipment

00:32:51.000 --> 00:32:52.360
 and wonderful views

00:32:52.360 --> 00:32:53.680
 and ultimately

00:32:53.680 --> 00:32:55.100
 none of that matters

00:32:55.100 --> 00:32:56.340
 if you have forgotten

00:32:56.340 --> 00:32:58.080
 what is most important.

00:32:58.840 --> 00:33:00.240
 You might enjoy

00:33:00.240 --> 00:33:01.160
 those views

00:33:01.160 --> 00:33:01.960
 and that equipment

00:33:01.960 --> 00:33:03.059
 for a time.

00:33:03.259 --> 00:33:04.180
 You pull out

00:33:04.180 --> 00:33:04.840
 the timeline

00:33:04.840 --> 00:33:05.920
 long enough

00:33:05.920 --> 00:33:07.299
 with no water

00:33:07.299 --> 00:33:08.340
 and you are facing

00:33:08.340 --> 00:33:09.100
 a situation

00:33:09.100 --> 00:33:10.039
 of life

00:33:10.039 --> 00:33:11.140
 and death.

00:33:12.360 --> 00:33:13.480
 Brothers and sisters,

00:33:13.480 --> 00:33:14.700
 as you live life

00:33:14.700 --> 00:33:15.440
 in this world,

00:33:15.660 --> 00:33:16.680
 there are many

00:33:16.680 --> 00:33:17.600
 beautiful

00:33:17.600 --> 00:33:19.100
 and glorious things,

00:33:19.299 --> 00:33:20.559
 glorious experiences

00:33:20.559 --> 00:33:21.440
 and possessions,

00:33:21.440 --> 00:33:22.720
 and those things

00:33:22.720 --> 00:33:23.700
 are not wrong.

00:33:23.700 --> 00:33:25.319
 and if you have

00:33:25.319 --> 00:33:25.900
 forgotten

00:33:25.900 --> 00:33:27.120
 the most important

00:33:27.120 --> 00:33:27.620
 thing,

00:33:27.840 --> 00:33:29.180
 if you have

00:33:29.180 --> 00:33:30.200
 no spiritual

00:33:30.200 --> 00:33:30.779
 water,

00:33:31.279 --> 00:33:32.580
 all you have to do

00:33:32.580 --> 00:33:33.220
 is extend

00:33:33.220 --> 00:33:34.140
 the timetable

00:33:34.140 --> 00:33:35.200
 out long enough

00:33:35.200 --> 00:33:36.580
 and you are facing

00:33:36.580 --> 00:33:37.279
 a situation

00:33:37.279 --> 00:33:38.240
 of life

00:33:38.240 --> 00:33:39.460
 and death.

00:33:40.660 --> 00:33:42.100
 That is the warning

00:33:42.100 --> 00:33:44.100
 of this passage.

00:33:44.099 --> 00:33:47.439
 in one sense

00:33:47.439 --> 00:33:48.339
 you are doing

00:33:48.339 --> 00:33:48.799
 well,

00:33:48.899 --> 00:33:50.099
 in another sense

00:33:50.099 --> 00:33:51.559
 you are headed

00:33:51.559 --> 00:33:53.299
 for destruction.

00:33:54.439 --> 00:33:55.899
 There are many

00:33:55.899 --> 00:33:56.759
 good things

00:33:56.759 --> 00:33:57.719
 in this life.

00:33:57.859 --> 00:33:59.219
 There is only one

00:33:59.219 --> 00:34:00.879
 that provides us

00:34:00.879 --> 00:34:02.039
 with true life.

00:34:03.599 --> 00:34:04.799
 And so that's

00:34:04.799 --> 00:34:05.419
 the encouragement

00:34:05.419 --> 00:34:05.959
 here

00:34:05.959 --> 00:34:07.559
 of the good soil,

00:34:08.400 --> 00:34:09.019
 verse 8

00:34:09.019 --> 00:34:10.860
 and verse 20.

00:34:10.860 --> 00:34:14.720
 The good soil

00:34:14.720 --> 00:34:16.940
 produces grain

00:34:16.940 --> 00:34:17.599
 growing up

00:34:17.599 --> 00:34:18.200
 and increasing

00:34:18.200 --> 00:34:18.800
 30-fold,

00:34:18.940 --> 00:34:19.519
 60-fold

00:34:19.519 --> 00:34:20.840
 and 100-fold.

00:34:21.940 --> 00:34:22.640
 And then we're told

00:34:22.640 --> 00:34:23.360
 in verse 20

00:34:23.360 --> 00:34:23.760
 why.

00:34:25.579 --> 00:34:26.160
 Those that were

00:34:26.160 --> 00:34:27.059
 sown on the good soil

00:34:27.059 --> 00:34:27.680
 are the ones

00:34:27.680 --> 00:34:28.660
 who hear the word

00:34:28.660 --> 00:34:29.960
 and accept it

00:34:29.960 --> 00:34:31.079
 and bear fruit.

00:34:33.160 --> 00:34:34.579
 The key word

00:34:34.579 --> 00:34:35.519
 of this passage

00:34:35.519 --> 00:34:36.800
 is hearing.

00:34:38.180 --> 00:34:38.980
 Verse 3

00:34:38.980 --> 00:34:39.800
 Jesus begins

00:34:39.800 --> 00:34:40.579
 this by saying

00:34:40.579 --> 00:34:41.119
 listen.

00:34:42.119 --> 00:34:42.639
 Verse 9

00:34:42.639 --> 00:34:43.400
 He who has ears

00:34:43.400 --> 00:34:43.819
 to hear

00:34:43.819 --> 00:34:44.480
 let him hear.

00:34:44.579 --> 00:34:45.119
 Verse 12

00:34:45.119 --> 00:34:46.500
 Hear but not understand.

00:34:46.619 --> 00:34:47.159
 Verse 15

00:34:47.159 --> 00:34:47.900
 When they hear.

00:34:48.019 --> 00:34:48.579
 Verse 16

00:34:48.579 --> 00:34:49.279
 When they hear.

00:34:49.360 --> 00:34:49.900
 Verse 18

00:34:49.900 --> 00:34:50.699
 They are those

00:34:50.699 --> 00:34:51.039
 who hear.

00:34:51.119 --> 00:34:51.559
 Verse 20

00:34:51.559 --> 00:34:53.019
 The ones who hear.

00:34:54.460 --> 00:34:55.259
 There is not

00:34:55.259 --> 00:34:55.739
 just something

00:34:55.739 --> 00:34:56.659
 going on here

00:34:56.659 --> 00:34:58.019
 at the repetition level

00:34:58.019 --> 00:34:59.400
 but at the grammatical level.

00:34:59.840 --> 00:35:00.719
 When we see

00:35:00.719 --> 00:35:01.619
 the word hear

00:35:01.619 --> 00:35:02.179
 when it comes

00:35:02.179 --> 00:35:03.139
 to the bad soil

00:35:03.139 --> 00:35:04.239
 in the Greek

00:35:04.239 --> 00:35:05.299
 it's giving us

00:35:05.299 --> 00:35:06.059
 a verb tense

00:35:06.059 --> 00:35:06.519
 that means

00:35:06.519 --> 00:35:07.759
 they listened once.

00:35:07.760 --> 00:35:10.880
 When we look

00:35:10.880 --> 00:35:11.780
 at the good soil

00:35:11.780 --> 00:35:12.580
 it is using

00:35:12.580 --> 00:35:13.440
 an ongoing

00:35:13.440 --> 00:35:14.960
 active verb tense.

00:35:15.200 --> 00:35:15.880
 In other words

00:35:15.880 --> 00:35:16.600
 they listen

00:35:16.600 --> 00:35:18.040
 and are continuing

00:35:18.040 --> 00:35:18.720
 to listen.

00:35:18.720 --> 00:35:19.540
 It is not

00:35:19.540 --> 00:35:20.240
 a one time

00:35:20.240 --> 00:35:21.060
 thing that happened.

00:35:21.200 --> 00:35:21.720
 It is not

00:35:21.720 --> 00:35:22.280
 the rain

00:35:22.280 --> 00:35:22.940
 that beads up

00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:23.520
 and rolls off

00:35:23.520 --> 00:35:23.980
 the jacket.

00:35:24.300 --> 00:35:24.500
 No

00:35:24.500 --> 00:35:25.880
 it is an ongoing

00:35:25.880 --> 00:35:27.680
 present tense

00:35:27.680 --> 00:35:28.660
 experience.

00:35:28.659 --> 00:35:32.159
 I have told you

00:35:32.159 --> 00:35:32.879
 before about

00:35:32.879 --> 00:35:33.299
 the man

00:35:33.299 --> 00:35:33.839
 who says

00:35:33.839 --> 00:35:34.539
 reminds us

00:35:34.539 --> 00:35:35.319
 that the disciples

00:35:35.319 --> 00:35:36.519
 didn't get

00:35:36.519 --> 00:35:37.500
 many things right

00:35:37.500 --> 00:35:40.159
 but they got

00:35:40.159 --> 00:35:41.779
 one thing right.

00:35:42.339 --> 00:35:43.379
 They kept

00:35:43.379 --> 00:35:44.359
 following

00:35:44.359 --> 00:35:45.199
 Jesus.

00:35:46.480 --> 00:35:47.399
 This passage

00:35:47.399 --> 00:35:48.119
 reminds us

00:35:48.119 --> 00:35:48.960
 of the same thing.

00:35:49.119 --> 00:35:49.879
 We can get

00:35:49.879 --> 00:35:51.159
 many things wrong

00:35:51.159 --> 00:35:51.799
 in this life

00:35:51.799 --> 00:35:52.619
 and we will.

00:35:52.899 --> 00:35:53.839
 We can fail

00:35:53.839 --> 00:35:55.219
 and we can falter

00:35:55.219 --> 00:35:56.460
 and it is

00:35:56.460 --> 00:35:57.099
 the seed

00:35:57.099 --> 00:35:58.119
 that has power.

00:35:59.259 --> 00:35:59.940
 Keep

00:35:59.940 --> 00:36:00.699
 following

00:36:00.699 --> 00:36:01.299
 Jesus.

00:36:02.059 --> 00:36:02.420
 Stay

00:36:02.420 --> 00:36:03.119
 with

00:36:03.119 --> 00:36:03.879
 the seed.

00:36:04.279 --> 00:36:04.739
 Continue

00:36:04.739 --> 00:36:05.539
 to return

00:36:05.539 --> 00:36:06.519
 to the word.

00:36:06.799 --> 00:36:07.099
 Listen

00:36:07.099 --> 00:36:08.059
 and respond

00:36:08.059 --> 00:36:08.779
 because it is

00:36:08.779 --> 00:36:09.379
 the word

00:36:09.379 --> 00:36:10.500
 that has power.

00:36:11.259 --> 00:36:12.539
 We are here

00:36:12.539 --> 00:36:13.119
 together

00:36:13.119 --> 00:36:14.039
 this morning

00:36:14.039 --> 00:36:14.699
 looking at

00:36:14.699 --> 00:36:15.079
 what God

00:36:15.079 --> 00:36:15.980
 has to say

00:36:15.980 --> 00:36:16.639
 to us

00:36:16.639 --> 00:36:17.139
 in his word

00:36:17.139 --> 00:36:17.799
 because we

00:36:17.799 --> 00:36:18.259
 believe

00:36:18.259 --> 00:36:19.339
 it is the seed

00:36:19.339 --> 00:36:19.980
 that has

00:36:19.980 --> 00:36:20.539
 power

00:36:20.539 --> 00:36:21.819
 within itself.

00:36:22.039 --> 00:36:22.940
 It is the word

00:36:22.940 --> 00:36:23.379
 of God

00:36:23.379 --> 00:36:23.920
 at the beginning

00:36:23.920 --> 00:36:24.480
 of Genesis

00:36:24.480 --> 00:36:25.000
 that brought

00:36:25.000 --> 00:36:25.579
 something

00:36:25.579 --> 00:36:26.500
 out of nothing.

00:36:26.779 --> 00:36:27.579
 It is the word

00:36:27.579 --> 00:36:28.000
 of God

00:36:28.000 --> 00:36:28.440
 that brings

00:36:28.440 --> 00:36:29.280
 dead things

00:36:29.280 --> 00:36:29.780
 to life.

00:36:30.000 --> 00:36:30.740
 It is the word

00:36:30.740 --> 00:36:31.260
 of God

00:36:31.260 --> 00:36:31.820
 that does

00:36:31.820 --> 00:36:32.099
 what we are

00:36:32.099 --> 00:36:32.519
 told about

00:36:32.519 --> 00:36:33.079
 in Ephesians

00:36:33.079 --> 00:36:33.820
 chapter 2.

00:36:34.039 --> 00:36:34.720
 It takes

00:36:34.720 --> 00:36:35.320
 people who

00:36:35.320 --> 00:36:35.880
 are dead

00:36:35.880 --> 00:36:36.780
 and makes

00:36:36.780 --> 00:36:37.559
 them alive.

00:36:38.900 --> 00:36:40.099
 No matter

00:36:40.099 --> 00:36:40.940
 where you

00:36:40.940 --> 00:36:42.179
 are for us

00:36:42.179 --> 00:36:42.940
 if we want

00:36:42.940 --> 00:36:44.039
 to be people

00:36:44.039 --> 00:36:44.599
 who bear

00:36:44.599 --> 00:36:45.740
 fruit in our

00:36:45.740 --> 00:36:46.300
 lives

00:36:46.300 --> 00:36:47.519
 our goal

00:36:47.519 --> 00:36:48.380
 is this

00:36:48.380 --> 00:36:49.579
 we keep

00:36:49.579 --> 00:36:50.340
 listening.

00:36:51.720 --> 00:36:52.780
 We keep

00:36:52.780 --> 00:36:53.480
 following

00:36:53.480 --> 00:36:54.320
 after

00:36:54.320 --> 00:36:54.940
 Jesus.

00:36:54.940 --> 00:36:56.940
 We stay

00:36:56.940 --> 00:36:57.900
 with the

00:36:57.900 --> 00:36:58.240
 word.

00:37:02.579 --> 00:37:03.039
 That's

00:37:03.039 --> 00:37:03.260
 what we

00:37:03.260 --> 00:37:03.860
 see here

00:37:03.860 --> 00:37:04.619
 in verse

00:37:04.619 --> 00:37:04.920
 10.

00:37:06.659 --> 00:37:07.440
 I told you

00:37:07.440 --> 00:37:07.860
 before

00:37:07.860 --> 00:37:08.400
 I asked you

00:37:08.400 --> 00:37:09.139
 to imagine

00:37:09.139 --> 00:37:10.000
 an auditorium

00:37:10.000 --> 00:37:10.639
 with a speaker.

00:37:11.679 --> 00:37:12.059
 You know

00:37:12.059 --> 00:37:12.659
 if it's a good

00:37:12.659 --> 00:37:13.360
 event with a

00:37:13.360 --> 00:37:13.679
 speaker

00:37:13.679 --> 00:37:14.480
 there are

00:37:14.480 --> 00:37:15.000
 people who

00:37:15.000 --> 00:37:15.360
 are able

00:37:15.360 --> 00:37:15.719
 to come

00:37:15.719 --> 00:37:16.000
 to the

00:37:16.000 --> 00:37:16.340
 stage

00:37:16.340 --> 00:37:16.760
 afterwards

00:37:16.760 --> 00:37:17.360
 or line

00:37:17.360 --> 00:37:17.659
 up at

00:37:17.659 --> 00:37:18.179
 a microphone

00:37:18.179 --> 00:37:19.240
 to ask

00:37:19.240 --> 00:37:19.740
 questions.

00:37:19.739 --> 00:37:21.119
 And that's

00:37:21.119 --> 00:37:21.339
 what we

00:37:21.339 --> 00:37:21.699
 see

00:37:21.699 --> 00:37:22.459
 verse 10.

00:37:23.159 --> 00:37:23.419
 He was

00:37:23.419 --> 00:37:23.819
 alone.

00:37:24.179 --> 00:37:24.399
 Those

00:37:24.399 --> 00:37:25.139
 around him

00:37:25.139 --> 00:37:25.659
 with the

00:37:25.659 --> 00:37:25.979
 twelve

00:37:25.979 --> 00:37:26.500
 asked him

00:37:26.500 --> 00:37:26.879
 about the

00:37:26.879 --> 00:37:27.299
 parables.

00:37:28.619 --> 00:37:29.419
 The hard

00:37:29.419 --> 00:37:29.799
 soil

00:37:29.799 --> 00:37:30.779
 left the

00:37:30.779 --> 00:37:31.479
 auditorium.

00:37:33.119 --> 00:37:34.099
 The good

00:37:34.099 --> 00:37:34.939
 soil stayed

00:37:34.939 --> 00:37:35.519
 around and

00:37:35.519 --> 00:37:36.239
 asked Jesus

00:37:36.239 --> 00:37:36.959
 what were you

00:37:36.959 --> 00:37:37.659
 trying to

00:37:37.659 --> 00:37:38.000
 say?

00:37:39.579 --> 00:37:40.439
 They were

00:37:40.439 --> 00:37:41.000
 the ones

00:37:41.000 --> 00:37:41.599
 continuing

00:37:41.599 --> 00:37:42.919
 to question

00:37:42.919 --> 00:37:43.639
 and listen.

00:37:45.699 --> 00:37:46.659
 They want

00:37:46.659 --> 00:37:47.000
 to know

00:37:47.000 --> 00:37:47.299
 more.

00:37:48.199 --> 00:37:48.579
 They have

00:37:48.579 --> 00:37:49.259
 heard Jesus

00:37:49.259 --> 00:37:49.579
 exhortation

00:37:49.739 --> 00:37:50.459
 to listen.

00:37:50.659 --> 00:37:51.259
 They know

00:37:51.259 --> 00:37:51.779
 something

00:37:51.779 --> 00:37:52.959
 more is

00:37:52.959 --> 00:37:53.679
 going on.

00:37:54.579 --> 00:37:55.119
 So they

00:37:55.119 --> 00:37:55.779
 keep listening.

00:37:56.239 --> 00:37:56.659
 They keep

00:37:56.659 --> 00:37:57.019
 asking.

00:37:58.839 --> 00:37:59.839
 The same

00:37:59.839 --> 00:38:00.799
 is true

00:38:00.799 --> 00:38:02.059
 for us.

00:38:05.079 --> 00:38:06.059
 Now those

00:38:06.059 --> 00:38:06.899
 of you

00:38:06.899 --> 00:38:07.239
 who were

00:38:07.239 --> 00:38:07.879
 with us

00:38:07.879 --> 00:38:09.359
 in Christmas

00:38:09.359 --> 00:38:09.939
 Eve of

00:38:09.939 --> 00:38:10.799
 2018 have

00:38:10.799 --> 00:38:11.879
 heard this

00:38:11.879 --> 00:38:12.639
 story before.

00:38:13.519 --> 00:38:14.219
 As I often

00:38:14.219 --> 00:38:14.719
 say I

00:38:14.719 --> 00:38:15.219
 apologize

00:38:15.219 --> 00:38:16.739
 but I am

00:38:16.739 --> 00:38:17.179
 in no way

00:38:17.179 --> 00:38:17.479
 sorry.

00:38:17.480 --> 00:38:20.559
 some of

00:38:20.559 --> 00:38:20.840
 you know

00:38:20.840 --> 00:38:21.320
 as I

00:38:21.320 --> 00:38:22.039
 grew up

00:38:22.039 --> 00:38:22.599
 I played

00:38:22.599 --> 00:38:23.519
 violin and

00:38:23.519 --> 00:38:24.380
 viola and

00:38:24.380 --> 00:38:24.719
 I grew

00:38:24.719 --> 00:38:25.800
 up right

00:38:25.800 --> 00:38:26.380
 outside of

00:38:26.380 --> 00:38:26.760
 Washington

00:38:26.760 --> 00:38:27.760
 D.C.

00:38:27.800 --> 00:38:28.079
 in the

00:38:28.079 --> 00:38:28.500
 suburbs.

00:38:29.760 --> 00:38:29.900
 And so

00:38:29.900 --> 00:38:30.240
 this bears

00:38:30.240 --> 00:38:30.920
 special interest

00:38:30.920 --> 00:38:31.240
 for me.

00:38:31.380 --> 00:38:31.579
 I was

00:38:31.579 --> 00:38:33.960
 in college

00:38:33.960 --> 00:38:34.420
 when this

00:38:34.420 --> 00:38:34.920
 happened but

00:38:34.920 --> 00:38:35.480
 I was

00:38:35.480 --> 00:38:35.780
 still

00:38:35.780 --> 00:38:37.159
 headquartered

00:38:37.159 --> 00:38:37.579
 in D.C.

00:38:37.639 --> 00:38:38.219
 on January

00:38:38.219 --> 00:38:39.260
 the 12th

00:38:39.260 --> 00:38:40.139
 2007.

00:38:41.199 --> 00:38:41.500
 And on

00:38:41.500 --> 00:38:42.059
 January the

00:38:42.059 --> 00:38:42.579
 12th at

00:38:42.579 --> 00:38:44.159
 7.51 a.m.

00:38:44.159 --> 00:38:45.119
 there was

00:38:45.119 --> 00:38:45.519
 a man

00:38:45.519 --> 00:38:45.920
 who showed

00:38:45.920 --> 00:38:46.159
 up to

00:38:46.159 --> 00:38:46.559
 the metro

00:38:46.559 --> 00:38:47.059
 station

00:38:47.059 --> 00:38:48.460
 in D.C.

00:38:48.519 --> 00:38:49.179
 wearing jeans

00:38:49.179 --> 00:38:49.460
 and a

00:38:49.460 --> 00:38:49.859
 t-shirt

00:38:49.859 --> 00:38:51.119
 and a

00:38:51.119 --> 00:38:51.519
 Washington

00:38:51.519 --> 00:38:52.159
 Nationals

00:38:52.159 --> 00:38:52.480
 cap.

00:38:54.319 --> 00:38:55.239
 This man

00:38:55.239 --> 00:38:56.079
 proceeded to

00:38:56.079 --> 00:38:56.599
 take out

00:38:56.599 --> 00:38:57.899
 his violin

00:38:57.899 --> 00:38:58.539
 and begin

00:38:58.539 --> 00:38:59.079
 to play

00:38:59.079 --> 00:39:00.399
 as many

00:39:00.399 --> 00:39:01.199
 people do

00:39:01.199 --> 00:39:01.579
 in metro

00:39:01.579 --> 00:39:01.980
 stations.

00:39:02.119 --> 00:39:02.420
 Some people

00:39:02.420 --> 00:39:02.899
 do it here

00:39:02.899 --> 00:39:03.119
 in the

00:39:03.119 --> 00:39:03.759
 springs too.

00:39:04.379 --> 00:39:04.719
 You'll find

00:39:04.719 --> 00:39:05.039
 those in

00:39:05.039 --> 00:39:05.739
 Manitou Springs

00:39:05.739 --> 00:39:06.199
 from time

00:39:06.199 --> 00:39:06.579
 to time.

00:39:07.500 --> 00:39:08.059
 He played

00:39:08.059 --> 00:39:08.940
 for 43

00:39:08.940 --> 00:39:09.420
 minutes

00:39:09.420 --> 00:39:10.960
 a total

00:39:10.960 --> 00:39:11.440
 of six

00:39:11.440 --> 00:39:11.899
 pieces.

00:39:11.900 --> 00:39:13.559
 Seven

00:39:13.559 --> 00:39:14.000
 people

00:39:14.000 --> 00:39:14.420
 stopped

00:39:14.420 --> 00:39:14.780
 for at

00:39:14.780 --> 00:39:15.160
 least a

00:39:15.160 --> 00:39:15.320
 minute

00:39:15.320 --> 00:39:15.840
 to listen.

00:39:17.400 --> 00:39:17.840
 28

00:39:17.840 --> 00:39:18.220
 people

00:39:18.220 --> 00:39:18.500
 gave

00:39:18.500 --> 00:39:18.800
 money

00:39:18.800 --> 00:39:20.180
 and he

00:39:20.180 --> 00:39:20.480
 made a

00:39:20.480 --> 00:39:20.760
 grand

00:39:20.760 --> 00:39:21.099
 total

00:39:21.099 --> 00:39:21.280
 of

00:39:21.280 --> 00:39:21.700
 $52.

00:39:24.119 --> 00:39:24.720
 Unlike

00:39:24.720 --> 00:39:25.240
 all the

00:39:25.240 --> 00:39:25.500
 other

00:39:25.500 --> 00:39:26.079
 musicians

00:39:26.079 --> 00:39:26.559
 who

00:39:26.559 --> 00:39:26.800
 showed

00:39:26.800 --> 00:39:26.980
 up to

00:39:26.980 --> 00:39:27.099
 the

00:39:27.099 --> 00:39:27.320
 metro

00:39:27.320 --> 00:39:27.780
 station

00:39:27.780 --> 00:39:28.900
 this

00:39:28.900 --> 00:39:29.180
 man

00:39:29.180 --> 00:39:29.460
 happened

00:39:29.460 --> 00:39:29.940
 to be

00:39:29.940 --> 00:39:30.480
 Joshua

00:39:30.480 --> 00:39:30.800
 Bell

00:39:30.800 --> 00:39:32.200
 the most

00:39:32.200 --> 00:39:32.599
 famous

00:39:32.599 --> 00:39:33.039
 living

00:39:33.039 --> 00:39:33.619
 violinist

00:39:33.619 --> 00:39:33.880
 of our

00:39:33.880 --> 00:39:34.180
 time.

00:39:36.000 --> 00:39:36.599
 He

00:39:36.599 --> 00:39:36.980
 plays

00:39:36.980 --> 00:39:37.400
 typically

00:39:37.400 --> 00:39:37.900
 for

00:39:37.900 --> 00:39:38.440
 $1,000

00:39:38.440 --> 00:39:39.099
 a minute.

00:39:39.099 --> 00:39:42.159
 The violin

00:39:42.159 --> 00:39:42.480
 that he

00:39:42.480 --> 00:39:42.940
 was playing

00:39:42.940 --> 00:39:43.179
 in that

00:39:43.179 --> 00:39:43.500
 moment

00:39:43.500 --> 00:39:43.880
 cost

00:39:43.880 --> 00:39:44.599
 $3.5

00:39:44.599 --> 00:39:44.900
 million.

00:39:46.739 --> 00:39:47.400
 Three

00:39:47.400 --> 00:39:47.699
 days

00:39:47.699 --> 00:39:48.179
 earlier

00:39:48.179 --> 00:39:48.699
 he had

00:39:48.699 --> 00:39:48.940
 played

00:39:48.940 --> 00:39:49.079
 in

00:39:49.079 --> 00:39:49.420
 Boston

00:39:49.420 --> 00:39:50.019
 Symphony

00:39:50.019 --> 00:39:50.440
 Hall

00:39:50.440 --> 00:39:51.239
 and

00:39:51.239 --> 00:39:51.739
 okay

00:39:51.739 --> 00:39:52.059
 not

00:39:52.059 --> 00:39:52.319
 good

00:39:52.319 --> 00:39:52.759
 tickets

00:39:52.759 --> 00:39:53.059
 were

00:39:53.059 --> 00:39:53.480
 $100

00:39:53.480 --> 00:39:54.400
 apiece.

00:39:56.199 --> 00:39:56.860
 Only

00:39:56.860 --> 00:39:57.319
 one

00:39:57.319 --> 00:39:57.839
 person

00:39:57.839 --> 00:39:58.099
 who

00:39:58.099 --> 00:39:58.639
 passed

00:39:58.639 --> 00:39:59.119
 by

00:39:59.119 --> 00:39:59.980
 recognized

00:39:59.980 --> 00:40:00.460
 him.

00:40:01.920 --> 00:40:02.559
 Many

00:40:02.559 --> 00:40:02.920
 people

00:40:02.920 --> 00:40:03.239
 didn't

00:40:03.239 --> 00:40:03.619
 stop

00:40:03.619 --> 00:40:03.799
 because

00:40:03.799 --> 00:40:03.920
 they

00:40:03.920 --> 00:40:04.019
 were

00:40:04.019 --> 00:40:04.239
 too

00:40:04.239 --> 00:40:04.460
 busy

00:40:04.460 --> 00:40:04.639
 to

00:40:04.639 --> 00:40:04.960
 notice.

00:40:06.079 --> 00:40:06.539
 They

00:40:06.539 --> 00:40:06.699
 were

00:40:06.699 --> 00:40:06.880
 on

00:40:06.880 --> 00:40:07.039
 their

00:40:07.039 --> 00:40:07.279
 cell

00:40:07.279 --> 00:40:07.579
 phones.

00:40:07.579 --> 00:40:08.940
 They

00:40:08.940 --> 00:40:09.039
 were

00:40:09.039 --> 00:40:09.299
 more

00:40:09.299 --> 00:40:09.759
 important

00:40:09.759 --> 00:40:10.219
 things

00:40:10.219 --> 00:40:10.519
 to

00:40:10.519 --> 00:40:10.860
 attend

00:40:10.860 --> 00:40:11.119
 to.

00:40:11.960 --> 00:40:12.440
 They

00:40:12.440 --> 00:40:12.579
 were

00:40:12.579 --> 00:40:12.799
 on

00:40:12.799 --> 00:40:12.980
 their

00:40:12.980 --> 00:40:13.319
 way

00:40:13.319 --> 00:40:13.639
 to

00:40:13.639 --> 00:40:13.980
 work.

00:40:16.179 --> 00:40:16.699
 Author

00:40:16.699 --> 00:40:17.000
 of one

00:40:17.000 --> 00:40:17.259
 article

00:40:17.259 --> 00:40:17.579
 says

00:40:17.579 --> 00:40:17.960
 this,

00:40:18.759 --> 00:40:19.000
 if we

00:40:19.000 --> 00:40:19.299
 can't

00:40:19.299 --> 00:40:19.480
 take

00:40:19.480 --> 00:40:19.619
 the

00:40:19.619 --> 00:40:19.900
 time

00:40:19.900 --> 00:40:20.039
 out

00:40:20.039 --> 00:40:20.119
 of

00:40:20.119 --> 00:40:20.259
 our

00:40:20.259 --> 00:40:20.639
 lives

00:40:20.639 --> 00:40:20.819
 to

00:40:20.819 --> 00:40:21.019
 stay

00:40:21.019 --> 00:40:21.159
 a

00:40:21.159 --> 00:40:21.380
 moment

00:40:21.380 --> 00:40:21.599
 and

00:40:21.599 --> 00:40:21.860
 listen

00:40:21.860 --> 00:40:22.079
 to

00:40:22.079 --> 00:40:22.279
 one

00:40:22.279 --> 00:40:22.380
 of

00:40:22.380 --> 00:40:22.519
 the

00:40:22.519 --> 00:40:22.759
 best

00:40:22.759 --> 00:40:23.259
 musicians

00:40:23.259 --> 00:40:23.659
 on

00:40:23.659 --> 00:40:23.980
 earth

00:40:23.980 --> 00:40:25.059
 play

00:40:25.059 --> 00:40:25.299
 some

00:40:25.299 --> 00:40:25.420
 of

00:40:25.420 --> 00:40:25.519
 the

00:40:25.519 --> 00:40:25.779
 best

00:40:25.779 --> 00:40:26.119
 music

00:40:26.119 --> 00:40:26.400
 ever

00:40:26.400 --> 00:40:26.699
 written.

00:40:27.639 --> 00:40:27.980
 If

00:40:27.980 --> 00:40:28.139
 the

00:40:28.139 --> 00:40:28.440
 surge

00:40:28.440 --> 00:40:28.579
 of

00:40:28.579 --> 00:40:28.860
 modern

00:40:28.860 --> 00:40:29.179
 life

00:40:29.179 --> 00:40:29.420
 so

00:40:29.420 --> 00:40:30.079
 overpowers

00:40:30.079 --> 00:40:30.299
 us

00:40:30.299 --> 00:40:30.440
 that

00:40:30.440 --> 00:40:30.559
 we

00:40:30.559 --> 00:40:30.719
 are

00:40:30.719 --> 00:40:31.119
 deaf

00:40:31.119 --> 00:40:31.400
 and

00:40:31.400 --> 00:40:31.840
 blind

00:40:31.840 --> 00:40:32.079
 to

00:40:32.079 --> 00:40:32.519
 something

00:40:32.519 --> 00:40:32.880
 like

00:40:32.880 --> 00:40:33.259
 that,

00:40:34.059 --> 00:40:34.279
 then

00:40:37.579 --> 00:40:40.480
 another

00:40:40.480 --> 00:40:40.900
 magazine

00:40:40.900 --> 00:40:41.219
 said

00:40:41.219 --> 00:40:41.579
 this,

00:40:42.119 --> 00:40:42.400
 Joshua

00:40:42.400 --> 00:40:42.699
 Bell

00:40:42.699 --> 00:40:42.960
 does

00:40:42.960 --> 00:40:43.319
 nothing

00:40:43.319 --> 00:40:43.779
 less

00:40:43.779 --> 00:40:44.559
 than

00:40:44.559 --> 00:40:44.779
 tell

00:40:44.779 --> 00:40:45.119
 human

00:40:45.119 --> 00:40:45.579
 beings

00:40:45.579 --> 00:40:46.199
 why

00:40:46.199 --> 00:40:46.400
 they

00:40:46.400 --> 00:40:46.739
 bother

00:40:46.739 --> 00:40:47.319
 to

00:40:47.319 --> 00:40:47.639
 live.

00:40:49.759 --> 00:40:50.480
 Brothers

00:40:50.480 --> 00:40:50.739
 and

00:40:50.739 --> 00:40:50.980
 sisters,

00:40:51.099 --> 00:40:51.319
 it is

00:40:51.319 --> 00:40:51.639
 one

00:40:51.639 --> 00:40:52.059
 thing

00:40:52.059 --> 00:40:52.460
 to be

00:40:52.460 --> 00:40:52.799
 too

00:40:52.799 --> 00:40:53.139
 busy

00:40:53.139 --> 00:40:53.380
 to

00:40:53.380 --> 00:40:53.679
 hear

00:40:53.679 --> 00:40:53.860
 a

00:40:53.860 --> 00:40:54.199
 famous

00:40:54.199 --> 00:40:54.659
 musician.

00:40:55.719 --> 00:40:56.440
 It

00:40:56.440 --> 00:40:56.639
 is

00:40:56.639 --> 00:40:57.019
 quite

00:40:57.019 --> 00:40:57.519
 another

00:40:57.519 --> 00:40:58.019
 thing

00:40:58.019 --> 00:40:58.559
 to be

00:40:58.559 --> 00:40:58.960
 too

00:40:58.960 --> 00:40:59.380
 busy

00:40:59.380 --> 00:40:59.679
 to

00:40:59.679 --> 00:41:00.159
 hear

00:41:00.159 --> 00:41:00.639
 the

00:41:00.639 --> 00:41:01.099
 voice

00:41:01.099 --> 00:41:01.519
 of

00:41:01.519 --> 00:41:01.900
 God.

00:41:02.579 --> 00:41:03.279
 It

00:41:03.279 --> 00:41:03.639
 is

00:41:03.639 --> 00:41:03.860
 a

00:41:03.860 --> 00:41:04.440
 matter

00:41:04.440 --> 00:41:05.079
 of

00:41:05.079 --> 00:41:05.779
 life

00:41:05.779 --> 00:41:06.480
 and

00:41:06.480 --> 00:41:07.000
 death.

00:41:07.579 --> 00:41:09.699
 will

00:41:09.699 --> 00:41:10.119
 you

00:41:10.119 --> 00:41:10.779
 stop

00:41:10.779 --> 00:41:11.239
 and

00:41:11.239 --> 00:41:11.599
 listen?

00:41:12.360 --> 00:41:12.880
 Will

00:41:12.880 --> 00:41:13.139
 you

00:41:13.139 --> 00:41:13.599
 answer

00:41:13.599 --> 00:41:13.940
 Jesus'

00:41:14.119 --> 00:41:14.319
 call

00:41:14.319 --> 00:41:14.539
 to

00:41:14.539 --> 00:41:14.880
 follow

00:41:14.880 --> 00:41:15.299
 him?

00:41:15.739 --> 00:41:16.239
 That's

00:41:16.239 --> 00:41:16.319
 a

00:41:16.319 --> 00:41:16.639
 decision

00:41:16.639 --> 00:41:16.900
 that

00:41:16.900 --> 00:41:17.179
 God

00:41:17.179 --> 00:41:17.699
 calls

00:41:17.699 --> 00:41:18.340
 everyone

00:41:18.340 --> 00:41:18.779
 to

00:41:18.779 --> 00:41:19.119
 make.

00:41:19.519 --> 00:41:19.819
 Will

00:41:19.819 --> 00:41:20.340
 you

00:41:20.340 --> 00:41:20.840
 give

00:41:20.840 --> 00:41:21.219
 him

00:41:21.219 --> 00:41:21.539
 your

00:41:21.539 --> 00:41:22.000
 life?

00:41:23.299 --> 00:41:24.079
 Or

00:41:24.079 --> 00:41:24.719
 is

00:41:24.719 --> 00:41:24.940
 there

00:41:24.940 --> 00:41:25.420
 too

00:41:25.420 --> 00:41:25.960
 much

00:41:25.960 --> 00:41:26.420
 going

00:41:26.420 --> 00:41:26.980
 on

00:41:26.980 --> 00:41:28.519
 to

00:41:28.519 --> 00:41:28.960
 listen

00:41:28.960 --> 00:41:30.119
 to

00:41:30.119 --> 00:41:30.239
 the

00:41:30.239 --> 00:41:30.559
 music?

00:41:31.980 --> 00:41:32.719
 Verse

00:41:32.719 --> 00:41:33.059
 nine,

00:41:33.639 --> 00:41:34.019
 and

00:41:34.019 --> 00:41:34.179
 he

00:41:34.179 --> 00:41:34.619
 said,

00:41:35.139 --> 00:41:35.460
 he

00:41:35.460 --> 00:41:36.079
 who

00:41:36.079 --> 00:41:36.480
 has

00:41:36.480 --> 00:41:37.159
 ears

00:41:37.159 --> 00:41:37.679
 to

00:41:37.679 --> 00:41:38.119
 hear.

00:41:39.019 --> 00:41:39.559
 Let

00:41:39.559 --> 00:41:40.279
 him

00:41:40.279 --> 00:41:40.899
 hear.

00:41:41.899 --> 00:41:42.460
 Let's

00:41:42.460 --> 00:41:42.659
 pray.

00:41:44.839 --> 00:41:45.399
 Our

00:41:45.399 --> 00:41:45.819
 Father in

00:41:45.819 --> 00:41:46.019
 heaven,

00:41:46.279 --> 00:41:46.659
 we

00:41:46.659 --> 00:41:47.659
 thank you

00:41:47.659 --> 00:41:48.139
 for the

00:41:48.139 --> 00:41:48.559
 power

00:41:48.559 --> 00:41:49.699
 and life

00:41:49.699 --> 00:41:50.199
 of your

00:41:50.199 --> 00:41:50.559
 word.

00:41:51.519 --> 00:41:52.059
 We

00:41:52.059 --> 00:41:52.480
 ask that

00:41:52.480 --> 00:41:52.960
 you would

00:41:52.960 --> 00:41:53.460
 make us

00:41:53.460 --> 00:41:53.819
 the good

00:41:53.819 --> 00:41:54.119
 soil,

00:41:54.359 --> 00:41:54.639
 that we

00:41:54.639 --> 00:41:55.079
 would not

00:41:55.079 --> 00:41:55.579
 be pulled

00:41:55.579 --> 00:41:56.899
 away by

00:41:56.899 --> 00:41:57.500
 other loves

00:41:57.500 --> 00:41:57.799
 and other

00:41:57.799 --> 00:41:58.319
 distractions,

00:41:58.819 --> 00:41:59.139
 but that

00:41:59.139 --> 00:41:59.500
 you would

00:41:59.500 --> 00:41:59.739
 be at

00:41:59.739 --> 00:42:00.099
 work in

00:42:00.099 --> 00:42:00.239
 our

00:42:00.239 --> 00:42:00.639
 hearts,

00:42:01.839 --> 00:42:02.239
 growing

00:42:02.239 --> 00:42:03.219
 our faith

00:42:03.219 --> 00:42:03.659
 and our

00:42:03.659 --> 00:42:04.139
 trust and

00:42:04.139 --> 00:42:04.619
 our love

00:42:04.619 --> 00:42:05.440
 for you.

00:42:05.440 --> 00:42:06.880
 we

00:42:06.880 --> 00:42:07.300
 thank you

00:42:07.300 --> 00:42:07.860
 that you

00:42:07.860 --> 00:42:08.480
 are the

00:42:08.480 --> 00:42:08.940
 gardener.

00:42:09.360 --> 00:42:09.760
 We

00:42:09.760 --> 00:42:10.039
 ask that

00:42:10.039 --> 00:42:10.240
 you would

00:42:10.240 --> 00:42:10.619
 garden our

00:42:10.619 --> 00:42:10.920
 lives.

00:42:11.420 --> 00:42:11.599
 We

00:42:11.599 --> 00:42:12.039
 ask these

00:42:12.039 --> 00:42:12.420
 things in

00:42:12.420 --> 00:42:12.720
 the mighty

00:42:12.720 --> 00:42:13.139
 name of

00:42:13.139 --> 00:42:13.360
 Jesus

00:42:13.360 --> 00:42:13.840
 Christ.

00:42:14.400 --> 00:42:14.619
 Amen.

00:42:16.400 --> 00:42:16.840
 I

00:42:16.840 --> 00:42:17.139
 invite you

00:42:17.139 --> 00:42:17.500
 to stand

00:42:17.500 --> 00:42:17.800
 for our

00:42:17.800 --> 00:42:18.079
 closing

00:42:18.079 --> 00:42:18.340
 hymn.

00:42:18.340 --> 00:42:18.400
 Amen.

00:42:18.400 --> 00:42:18.500
 Amen.

00:42:18.500 --> 00:42:18.539
 Amen.

00:42:18.539 --> 00:42:18.579
 Amen.