You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama.
Our passion is to experience and express grace. Join us.
Amen. Thank you guys. That is our prayer. That is what we long for as we come this morning to God's Word.
In Luke chapter 8, you can find it on page 864 of the Bible in the pew in front of you.
If you want to grab one of those, Luke chapter 8.
As this chapter opens, as we have been walking through Luke's Gospel,
we find Jesus and His close group of followers going around town to town,
telling and showing the good news of the kingdom.
And I want us to notice something interesting in these first three verses here
before we pray and read the rest of the passage that we're going to talk about this morning.
In addition to the twelve disciples, some women are in this group with Jesus.
We only get three names, Mary Magdalene, Susanna, and Joanna.
But several women, many women, it says.
Now, that may not seem unusual to you,
but in Jesus' day, in a Middle Eastern culture,
in particular in a culture of Jewish rabbis,
and who typically follows them and would go around with them,
this is highly unusual.
In fact, not just unusual for many, it would have been scandalous.
Jesus certainly would have taken a few dings to His reputation
because of this reality.
But other than being unusual,
why would Luke mention these women who are with Jesus and His followers?
Why intentionally bring this point out?
Well, partially because it fits with Luke's theme
of the message of the kingdom that he's talking about here
being good news of great joy for all people.
Not just men, but women as well.
The community King Jesus is shaping features all sorts of men and women.
There's probably a whole sermon in there
about the significant place of women in the community of God's people,
and we could just stop at these three verses,
and you're saying, great, just do that this morning.
Why not do that this morning?
Well, because there are 50-some of our women on a retreat,
and my wife is one of them,
and I'm not going to waste an opportunity for brownie points with my wife.
Come on, give me a break.
We can't have that sermon this morning.
We will talk about it again more as we go through Luke.
But instead, let me just say this this morning
before we read the rest of the passage.
Women are vital in the kingdom of Jesus
and in the work of his church.
Notice that these women who are with him
are even providing for Jesus and his followers
out of their own means,
from their own pockets as they're traveling around.
Any Christian community is weakened
when it neglects to engage well with its godly women.
God has created male and female in his image.
Yes, with unique roles and uniquely in his image.
God's word describes for us many things
about how that plays out in our relationships,
but we need our women.
We should honor our women.
We must thank God for the women
he has blessed this particular church with
and how they love and serve in this body.
In the previous story at the end of Luke 7
that Peter preached about last week,
there's a woman whom other men had objectified and used.
Jesus treats her very differently.
Jesus honors her, forgives her, dignifies her.
It's worth us asking the question,
has the good news of Jesus changed the way you view
or treat women?
It should, in a noticeable, counter-cultural way.
Perhaps more generally,
has the good news of Jesus changed the way
that you view or treat others who are marginalized,
left out, the least of these?
It should, in a noticeable, counter-cultural way.
Jesus is good news of great joy for all people.
Do they experience that in relationship with us?
I heard this week that our children's ministry
is looking for more volunteers
to spend time caring on Sunday mornings
for some of our special needs kids
to love them and be with them.
And I thought to myself,
Jesus would sign up twice for that.
He loves those who others tend to ignore or overlook.
That's his heart.
What a great opportunity to share Jesus' heart, right?
Many others, not just our women,
many others are marginalized in our culture
as women were in Jesus' day
and in some ways still are today.
So I want to pray for our women
as many of them are gone this weekend
and then we'll turn our attention
to the rest of this passage.
Will you pray with me?
Father, for your creative design
in making us male and female,
we praise you.
we give you thanks for your wisdom
in designing us.
For the way you have called us
into relationship and community together
and for the way you have designed
your church
to work
with men and women
laboring
for your kingdom.
And Father,
we thank you
for the women of this church
and of this community.
For the ways that you have
uniquely shaped them.
For the amazing gifts
you have given to them.
For the tremendous blessing
they are,
an example they are to us
in this church.
We thank you.
We pray for them
and those especially
on the retreat
as they spend time together
this morning
around your word
and praying together.
Might you bless them.
Might you meet with them there
in a special way.
Might your spirit
continue to work
as they come back
and minister
among their friends
and families
in this church.
Father,
use them
in great ways.
And Father,
we come
to your word
this morning
that shows us
these things
that might not always
be the way
we would
naturally think.
That challenges
cultural assumptions
like Jesus did then
that calls us
to you
in ways that our hearts
need this morning.
And so would you
prepare us
to hear your word.
Would you speak
and might we listen
and hear
and see
and worship
our Savior.
And it's in his name
we pray.
Amen.
Luke chapter 8
we'll pick up
at verse 4.
And when a great crowd
was gathering
and people from town
after town
came to him
he said in a parable
a sower went out
to sow his seed
and as he sowed
some fell along the path
and was trampled underfoot
and the birds of the air
devoured it
and some fell on the rock
and as it grew up
it withered away
because it had no moisture
and some fell among thorns
and the thorns
grew up with it
and choked it
and some fell
into good soil
and grew
and yielded a hundredfold
as he said these things
he called out
he who has ears to hear
let him hear
and when his disciples
asked him
what this parable meant
he said
to you it has been given
to know the secrets
of the kingdom of God
but for others
they are in parables
so that seeing
they may not see
and hearing
they may not understand
now the parable
is this
the seed
is the word of God
the ones along the path
are those who have heard
then the devil
comes and takes away
the word from their hearts
so that they may not believe
and be saved
and the ones on the rock
are those who
when they hear the word
receive it with joy
but these have no root
they believe for a while
and in time of testing
fall away
and as for what fell among thorns
they are those who hear
but as they go on their way
they are choked by the cares
and riches
and pleasures of life
and their fruit
does not mature
as for that in the good soil
they are those
who hearing the word
hold it fast
in an honest
and good heart
and bear fruit
with patience
no one after lighting a lamp
covers it with a jar
or puts it under a bed
but puts it on a stand
so that those who enter
may see the light
for nothing is hidden
that will not be made manifest
nor is anything secret
that will not be known
and come to light
take care then
how you hear
for to the one who has
more will be given
and from the one who has not
even what he thinks he has
will be taken away
then his mother
and his brothers
came to him
but they could not reach him
because of the crowd
and Jesus was told
your mother and your brothers
are standing outside
desiring to see you
but he answered them
my mother and my brothers
are those who hear
the word of God
and do it
thus far God's
holy
inerrant
inspired
word
that we might know
him
more
early in our marriage
I was
sitting on the couch
one morning
eating a bowl of cereal
watching ESPN
Sports Center
having a great time
and I have a vivid
recollection of this
morning because my
sweet wife walked
into the room
to talk with me
about something
I say I have a vivid
recollection of it
I also still have
no idea what it was
that she came to talk
to me about
what happened
as I sat there
watching
and her talking
I heard every word
that she said
only in one sense
of the word
heard
I grunted
a few times
in response
nodded
several times
but she perceiving
what was going on
in the situation
at one point
stopped
mid-sentence
and I had
absolutely no reaction
I was glued
to the highlights
didn't even notice
I'm hoping
now that
laptop computers
and smartphones
are fairly common
that I'm not
the only one
who's ever been
in this position
but if you haven't
been there
it is not
a good position
to find yourself in
don't do that
when my wife
is speaking to me
it is vital
that I hear her
properly
that I not just
have sound waves
pass through my ears
but that I truly
listen
that I understand
that I respond
appropriately
to what she's saying
how much more
is this true
with the word
of God
with the good news
of the kingdom
of Jesus Christ
Jesus is teaching
us here through
these parables
and these stories
that he tells
in this section
of scripture
that hearing
the word of God
properly
is of vital
importance
we must truly
hear it
in fact it has
eternal significance
that we hear it
properly
do you think
of yourself
as a good
listener
generally
do you think
you listen well
to the word
of God
specifically
hearing the word
of God
properly
is of vital
importance
and that's what
this passage
is about
notice Jesus
focus on hearing
here
how do you know
Will that that's
what this passage
is about
just look through
it and hear
what he's saying
we didn't stop
as we read
through it
but verse 8
he who has ears
to hear
let him hear
verse 10
there's a difference
highlighted between
mere hearing
that I was describing
happening while I ate
my cereal
and watched sports
center
and true
understanding
verses 12
and 13
and 14
and 15
as Jesus
begins this famous
parable of the
sower
you'll notice
all four soils
are people
who have
heard
the word
and then
what happens
next
it's different
each time
verse 18
Jesus says
very clearly
take care
then how
you hear
in verse 21
as we get
to the end
Jesus says
my mother
and my brothers
the ones
that are in
this close
vital relationship
with me
are who
the one
who gave me
birth
and the ones
I grew up
with
no
it's those
who hear
the word
and do it
that's what
Jesus is
talking about
here
we need to
grasp
what he's
talking about
when he's
talking about
hearing
the word
of God
don't we
there's something
that he's
onto here
in this
passage
when Jesus
speaks
of the word
of God
of course
he means
the holy
scriptures
what we
now know
as the
Bible
as we
have it
in particular
not just
the words
themselves
but the
story
that it
tells
featuring
King
Jesus
as the
one who
through his
life
death
and resurrection
redeems
and restores
all of
God's
creation
that has
been broken
and fallen
and us
particularly
in our
relationship
with God
that has
been
broken
by our
sin
it's
the Bible
and that
message
of good
news
of a
Savior
Christ
the Lord
that's
what
Jesus
is
talking
about
that's
what
it is
that we
must
hear
properly
he says
so let me
acknowledge
up front
the awkwardness
potentially
of a preacher
telling you
how important
his preaching
is
hey y'all
should pay
attention
to me
more
that seems
a little
bit
self-serving
and strange
perhaps
this time
each week
is not
the only
time
you are
to
encounter
the
word
of
God
but
it
is
a
primary
one
when
we
open
this
book
and
read
and
preach
these
truths
we
expect
to
hear
God
speak
we
mean
it
that
strongly
because
this
is
his
word
and
he
continues
to
speak
through
it
by
his
spirit
that's
not
to
highlight
the
preacher
quite
the
opposite
actually
it
means
that
the
good
news
of
the
kingdom
should
far
outshine
the
preacher
himself
a
British
preacher
Charles
Spurgeon
once said
of two
of his
contemporary
preachers
Mr.
Whitefield
and Mr.
Wesley
may
preach
the
gospel
better
than
I
do
but
they
can't
preach
a
better
gospel
amen
that's
why
we
come
and
talk
about
this
it's
not
really
all that
interesting
what I
might
think
personally
but
if
God
were to
speak
to
us
we
ought
to
listen
the
word
of
God
the
message
therein
is
what
we
must
hear
properly
not
the
eloquence
of
will
or
anyone
else
and
I'm
never
going to
apologize
for
highlighting
that
priority
it's
his
word
not
mine
so
what
does
Jesus
say
that
proper
or
true
hearing
of
the
word
of
God
looks
like
what's
he
describe
in
this
passage
well
after
some
negative
examples
we get
to the
end
of the
parable
of
the
sower
and
there's
good
soil
right
here's
what it's
supposed
to look
like
verse
eight
some
fell
into
good
soil
and
grew
and
yielded
a
hundred
fold
and
then
Jesus
explains
later
what the
parable
means
he says
as for
that
in the
good
soil
they are
those
who
hearing
the
word
hold
it
fast
in
an
honest
and
good
heart
and
bear
fruit
with
patience
there's
two
things
that
he
highlights
there
first
proper
hearing
begins
with
faith
with
holding
it
fast
it
starts
with
trusting
the
word
of
God
as
the
truth
that
directs
and
guides
me
not
just
because
of
what
it
is
but
because
it
comes
from
the
one
I
trust
to
be
my
good
shepherd
because
I
trust
him
I
trust
his
word
we
are
not
merely
to
hear
the
words
of
scripture
but
to
hold
them
fast
they
are
written
that
we
might
get
to
know
our
creator
and
king
that
we
might
worship
him
more
trust
him
more
contemplate
him
more
consider
who
he
is
that
we
might
have
an
actual
relationship
with
him
through
faith
that
he
would
speak
and
we
would
listen
and
we
get
to
speak
back
to
him
and
know
that
he
hears
us
as well
it's
a
relationship
but of
course
it doesn't
stop
there
it's a
relationship
that is
to
transform
all of
our
lives
hearing
that
begins
with
faith
also
leads
to
fruit
when
we
hear
God's
word
with
faith
it
produces
fruit
as
we
persevere
patiently
a
hundred
fold
kind
of
fruit
verse
8
says
we
hear
God's
word
and
we
do
what
it
says
now
it
just
makes
sense
that
that's
part
of
proper
hearing
right
action
that
we
would
do
what's
been
said
when
you
tell
your
child
to
make
her
bed
how
do
you
know
if
she
has
heard
you
properly
whether
or not
the
bed
gets
made
right
if
you
walk
upstairs
several
minutes
later
and
the
bed
is
a
mess
and
she
sits
there
on
the
ground
playing
with
her
dolls
she
has
not
heard
you
properly
you
will
probably
say
something
like
did
you
hear
what
I
said
to
you
and
you
know
that
she
was
close
enough
that
the
words
passed
your
ears
how
many
times
do
I
have
to
tell
you
do
I
have
to
say
it
you
you've
said
things
like
that
before
right
you
might
have
heard
me
but
you
didn't
hear
me
properly
there
was
no
fruit
to
your
hearing
the
same
would
be
true
with
a
boss
who
gives
directions
he
knows
they
were
physically
heard
but
but he
wants
to know
if there
was
fruit
from
them
if
his
employees
actually
followed
his
directions
or
if
you're
at a
restaurant
and
you
order
a
cheeseburger
with
no
mayo
and
it
comes
out
and
there's
white
stuff
dripping
off
of it
all
over
the
place
this
is
terrible
by the
way
should
never
be
done
that
way
the
server
has
not
heard
you
they
may
have
heard
what
you
said
but
they
didn't
hear
you
properly
there
was
no
fruit
from
your
comment
your
words
didn't
have
the
desired
effect
right
hearing
properly
involves
hearing
trusting
and
action
proper
hearing
begins
with
faith
and
that
faith
leads
to
fruit
that
according
to
the
next
brief
parable
Jesus
tells
about
the
lamp
shines
into
every
area
of
our
lives
that's
what's
going
on
here
it's
very
hard
to
understand
out
of
context
but
in
the
context
of
what
we're
talking
about
this
parable
of
the
lamp
begins
to
make
sense
look
at
verses
16
through
18
no
one
after
lighting
a
lamp
covers
it
with
a
jar
or
puts
it
under
a
bed
but
instead
puts
it
on
a
stand
so
that
those
who
enter
may
see
the
light
this
is
the
word
of
God
that
Jesus
is
describing
right
it's
not
something
to be
heard
and
then
hidden
away
as
though
it
speaks
into
nothing
else
and
we
end
up
living
in
darkness
but
no
it's
rather
that
we
and
others
around
us
would
see
God's
light
on
our
path
showing
us
how
to
live
exposing
and
enlightening
everything
verse
17
nothing
is
hidden
that
will
not
be
made
manifest
nor
is
anything
secret
that
will
not
be
known
and
come
to
light
so
because
that's
true
take
care
then
how
you
hear
how
are
you
hearing
the
word
of
God
for
to
the
one
who
has
more
will
be
given
and
from
the
one
who
has
not
even
what
he
thinks
that
he
has
will
be
taken
away
for
those
of
us
who
hear
the
word
of
God
and
are
seeing
it
speak
into
this
area
of
our
lives
and
then
again
over
here
it
continues
to
do
that
as
we
study
it
more
as
we
read
it
more
the
older
we
get
the
on
Sunday
morning
and
hidden
again
and
left
aside
not
to
speak
into
my
life
it
won't
even
it
will
stop
working
that
way
it
will
stop
making
any
sense
on
Sunday
morning
because
it
doesn't
matter
to
the
rest
of
my
life
even
what
I
thought
it
was
useful
for
won't
be
worth
anything
anymore
it's
not
just
about
churchy
things
it's
to
shine
light
into
all
of
life
and
the
proper
hearing
involves
seeing
every
part
of
my
life
as
under
the
authority
of
God's
word
and
therefore
responding
redirecting
when
necessary
repenting
when
I
need
to
when
I
hear
his
word
what
does
that
fruit
look
like
just
a couple
of
examples
it
means
for
instance
that
when
I
learn
of
God's
providence
in
his
word
his
sovereign
care
for
me
even
in
the
painful
parts
of
life
it's
not
merely
for
the
purpose
of
me
being
able
to
teach
a
lesson
or
to
answer
a
test
question
about
providence
but
rather
it
leads
my
heart
to
trust
him
in
grief
and
in
struggle
it's
for
that
in
my
life
it
means
that
when
I
see
I
am
disobeying
my
parents
or
misusing
my
body
or
neglecting
another
of God's
commands
that
when
I
see
that
in
God's
word
I
confess
my
sin
and
turning
back
to
him
seek
to
live
the
way
that
God
directs
me
to
live
even
if
I
don't
fully
understand
why
it's
best
it
means
it
means on
a
day
when
I'm
ready
to
give
up
hope
all
together
and
everything
is
dark
that
I
see
God's
word
and
the
glory
promised
to
await
me
in
heaven
and
as
the
hymn writer
says
I
trace
the
rainbow
through
the
rain
in
this
situation
and
I
decide
no
there
is
hope
I
don't
see
it
now
but
I
believe
there
is
hope
even
here
it
means
I
don't
merely
give
a
cent
to
Jesus
as
being
the
most
valuable
thing
that
I
don't
just
say
things
in
verses
I've
heard
before
like
I
should
seek
God's
kingdom
first
above
all
else
that
I
don't
just
say
those
things
or
recognize
that
they're
from
the
Bible
but
that
those
values
would
drive
my
major
life
decisions
more
than
dollars
or
other
desires
that
I
might
decisions
I'm
making
day
to
day
that's
Jesus
heart
that
we
would
hear
properly
trusting
him
and
following
him
in
every
part
of
our
lives
having
a
relationship
with
him
that
transforms
all
of
life
but
Jesus
addresses
this
issue
of
hearing
at
length
in
this
passage
because
he
knows
so
many
of
us
have
hearing
problems
some
of you
on the
way
in
told
me
you
saw
the
title
and
said
I
got
hearing
problems
are
you
talking
about
me
today
maybe
not
I
promise
not
to
talk
about
hearing
aids
but
we've
seen
many
in
Luke
already
who
have
hearing
problems
they're
in the
crowds
around
Jesus
they hear
lots
of
things
that
he
says
but
they
don't
respond
with
faith
or
fruit
where
does
that
hearing
problem
come
from
let's
look
back
at the
parable
of
the
sower
again
there
were
four
kinds
of
soil
right
four
types
of
people
who
all
heard
the
word
but
they
responded
differently
something
different
happened
we've only
talked
about
the
good
soil
so far
first
there's
the
soil
on
the
path
a
sower
a
sower
and
was
trampled
under
foot
and
the
birds
of
the
air
devoured
it
and
Jesus
explains
what
he
means
the
ones
along
the
path
are
those
who
have
heard
then
the
devil
comes
and
takes
away
the
word
from
their
hearts
so
that
they
may
not
believe
and
be
saved
hearing
problem
number
one
Satan
himself
did
you know
that
there's
a battle
going
on
every
time
you
hear
the
word
preached
every
time
you
walk
through
those
doors
into
a
service
like
this
one
a
battle
every
time
you
stop
on
your
own
to
consider
the
truth
of
the
gospel
showing
up
in
a
situation
in
your
life
you
walk
into
a
battle
Satan
wants
to
snatch
the
word
away
from
you
if
you've
ever
wondered
why
it's
so
hard
to
read
God's
word
to
meditate
on
your
life
one
of
the
primary
reasons
is
that
Satan
is
waging
war
in
your
heart
urging
you
to
doubt
God
accusing
you
so
that
you
think
you
must
do
something
to
earn
God's
favor
rather
than
resting
in
the
comfort
of
the
gospel
attempting
you
to
think
other
things
would
be
more
productive
investments
in
other
words
you may
have
trouble
hearing
God's
word
because
someone
else
is
yelling
loudly
in
your
ear
some
hear
the
word
but
Satan
snatches
it
up
so
faith
and
fruit
don't
follow
hearing
problem
number
two
suffering
difficult
things
in life
verse
six
hearing
problem
number
three
which
is
distraction
verse
seven
some
fell
among
thorns
and the
thorns
grew up
with it
and choked
it
Jesus
said
here's
what's
going
on
with the
thorns
they're
those
who
hear
but as
they go
on
their
way
they are
choked
by the
cares
and riches
and pleasures
of life
and their
fruit
does not
mature
it's not
so much
the
difficulties
that they're
facing
it's
maybe even
the good
things
that are
happening
and that
they see
around them
and that
they think
that's
what really
matters
that's
what's
really
valuable
that's
what I
need
more
of
that's
what
I'm
focusing
my
life
on
and the
word
of God
begins
to fade
if you've
ever been
with someone
struggling
with hearing
loss
and you've
gone to
a noisy
restaurant
you know
how frustrating
that can be
for them
they maybe
want to
have an
important
conversation
someone
they're
focused
on
but it's
so hard
to do
why
because
all the
background
noise
can't get
filtered out
it distracts
them
from being
able to
focus
on something
they want
to treat
with importance
that's what
happens
in the
thorny
soil
particularly
Jesus says
the background
noise
that tends
to drown
out what's
important
for us
is
worldly
cares
the riches
of this
world
gets in
our ears
it's
attractive
to us
it sounds
good
worldly
pleasures
do the
things
that we
want to
do
things
experiences
priorities
that become
more valuable
or attractive
to us
than Jesus
sometimes
even
unintentionally
we notice
they've begun
to dominate
our time
and our
attention
they begin
to shape
our lives
more than
God's values
more than
His word
so how's
your hearing
how are you
receiving
God's word
has the
gospel of
Jesus Christ
become in
some ways
background
noise
or is it
words of
life that
you're desperate
for
every day
are you
bearing fruit
or is most
of your life
when you're
honest
generally
unaffected
by what
God's word
has to say
does the
good news
of the
kingdom
shape your
approach
to every
situation
or
really
it's
not at
all
is a
blogger
that you
follow
or just
your own
wise
thoughts
far more
influential
with you
when you're
making a
big decision
have you
considered
how the
word of
God
speaks into
your
free
time
your
finances
your
marriage
your
vocation
have you
considered
those
things
if you
haven't
considered
deeply
how it
impacts
your
parenting
or
your
relationships
in every
sphere
of life
perhaps
you should
jump into
one of
those
Sunday
school
classes
that
started
this
morning
y'all
that's
why
we
have
classes
like
that
they
don't
have
to
meet
at
nine
o'clock
on
Sunday
morning
to
do
this
but
that's
why
we
have
some
of
them
because
we
need
God's
word
speaking
into
all
of
those
areas
of
our
life
and
if
we
don't
stop
to
consider
it
we'll
tend
to
go
with
whatever
we
think
or
whatever
we
happen
to
hear
or
scroll
through
on
social
media
and
we
want
to
come
together
and
say
how
does
God's
word
speak
into
my
life
as
I
try
to
parent
my
kids
I
need
that
we
need
that
we
need
to
slow
down
and
hear
properly
how
it
speaks
and
bears
fruit
in
all
of
life
listen
I
know
you
hear
the
word
of
God
some
because
Ron
said
earlier
we're
not
bashful
about
the
fact
that
that's
what
we
talk
about
when
we
gather
here
and
you're
here
and
you
hear
the
word
of
God
some
but
James
warns
us
very
specifically
in
his
letter
not
merely
to
hear
the
word
I
know
at
least
you're
merely
hearing
the
word
James
says
don't
merely
hear
and
forget
what
it's
shown
you
about
yourself
he said
that would
be so
foolish
like
standing
in front
of a
mirror
in the
morning
and
walking
away
and
forgetting
what
you've
seen
about
your
face
when
you
look
into
God's
word
sometimes
you
have
to
look
deeply
and
hear
thoughtfully
we
need
to
sometimes
revisit
what
we've
heard
or
read
once
that's
one
of
the
reasons
we
write
small
group
questions
to
go
with
every
sermon
we
preach
here
at
Southwood
they're
right
on
the
home
page
of
the
website
right
here
at
the
bottom
of
the
screen
where
the
sermon
is
this
is
on
the
home
page
every
week
usually
by
the
time
you
get
home
you
can
click
right
there
where
it
says
small
group
questions
and
you
don't
even
have
to
be
in
a
small
group
although
you
should
anybody
can
go
and
have
questions
that
say
give me
a
chance
to
revisit
the
word
of
God
that
I
heard
this
morning
in
particular
they're
geared
towards
what
does
this
look
like
in
my
life
they're
not
magical
questions
they're
questions
to help
you
slow
down
and
think
what
does
it
mean
in
my
life
some
of
your
groups
talk
about
them
together
slow
down
and
listen
and
trust
the
loving
father
who's
speaking
to
you
ask
him
to
transform
you
according
to
his
word
see
that's
actually
the
hope
for
struggling
hearers
in
this
passage
the
parable
of
the
sower
does
challenge
us
to
consider
what
type
of
soil
we
are
how
our
hearing
is
how
we're
doing
with
that
but
if
you
think
about
the
agricultural
picture
Jesus
has
painted
the
soil
is
not
the
thing
with
the
power
to
produce
the
fruit
is
it
you
ever
seen
soil
just
go
around
and
start
bearing
fruit
on
its
own
no
where's
the
power
coming
from
it's
from
the
seed
right
that's
what
produces
the
fruit
the
seed
is
the
source
of
the
growth
the
seed
Jesus
says
is
the
word
of
God
his
gospel
plowed
deep
into
our
hearts
by
his
spirit
that
has
in
itself
the
power
the
potential
for
producing
fruit
that's
why
Jesus
urges
us
to
hear
it
well
not
because
the
burden
is
all
on
us
to
produce
all
this
fruit
get
it
together
and
produce
fruit
better
no
that's
not
what
Jesus
is
saying
but
because
when
we
hear
God's
word
we
are
being
entrusted
with
something
so
precious
you
can
think
of
it
as
a
love
letter
from
your
creator
your
God
writing
to
you
holding
in
your
hands
something
where
he's
telling
you
what
he's
designed
you
for
and
how
much
he
loves
you
that
he
created
you
for
relationship
to
live
in
fellowship
with
him
and
that
he
was
so
committed
to
that
even
when
you
broke
it
and ran
away
from
him
he
pursued
you
all
the
way
to
the
cross
that
he
loves
you
that
much
that's
what
he
wants
to
tell
you
in
his
word
he
wants
to
show
you
how
his
son
has
demonstrated
his
love
for
you
to
its
fullest
extent
and
you
hold
that
in
your
hands
something
that
you
have
that
is
so
powerful
so
trustworthy
so
transformative
so
glorious
in
what
it
is
that
we
must
give
it
it's
worthy
of
our
undivided
attention
our
thoughtful
application
to our
lives
our
sacrificial
shaping
of our
lives
around
it
regardless
of what
makes
sense
or what
other
personal
preferences
we might
have
why do
you think
Satan's
so intent
on snatching
it away
from you
on making
something else
seem more
valuable
to make
you think
you can't
trust it
why is that
so important
to him
because when
the powerful
seed
penetrates
our heart
it bears
fruit
a hundredfold
Jesus is saying
beyond what
you're used to
sowing
beyond any
seeds
you're used
to
this is the
kind of
fruit you
don't know
about the
power of
this seed
does something
amazing
it produces
crazy fruit
fosters our
relationship
with Jesus
where we're
his mothers
and his
brothers
it transforms
us into
the fruitful
followers of
Jesus
that he's
called us
to be
we hear our
father speak
listen if you're
struggling to
hear if you
if you realize
this morning
that maybe you
don't hear
God's word
enough or you
certainly don't
hear it
as he intends
for you to
if you're not
seeing the
fruit of the
word in your
heart and in
your life
don't focus
on the fruit
don't focus
on the fruit
go back
to Jesus
himself
the vine
remember
dwell on
his love
for you
Jesus says
if you abide
in me
and I in
you
you will
bear
much
fruit
focus there
on him
soak in
the word
until you
see
Jesus
pray that
God would
show you
the glory
of his
grace
in Jesus
as he
speaks to
you
it's what
he wants
you to
hear
he loves
you and
he's written
you a letter
about it
he wants you
to hear of
his love
for you
in Jesus
offer yourself
to him
as soil
where he
through the
power of
his word
not your
efforts
can produce
much
fruit
let's pray
that he would
do that
in our
hearts
father
you have
spoken
in your
word
you have
spoken
through your
spirit
you're the
one who
gives ears
to hear
we need
them
make us
people
who hear
you
who hear
your voice
clearly
through all
the other
noise
around us
that would
tell us
other things
that would
offer us
hope in
other places
that would
tell us
the great
value of
other
alternatives
might we
hear you
speak
today
tomorrow
in every
situation
and in
all of our
lives
might your
word
guide
and speak
clearly
to us
we ask
it in
Jesus name
and for
his glory
amen
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