The Soil or the Sower: Where Does Salvation Truly Begin?

[00:01:59] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
Well, good morning, Grace.
[00:02:00] Does anybody have the joy and the Lord in the house this morning?
[00:02:04] Won't you stand to your feet?

[00:05:22] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
and Grace.
[00:05:23] And grace the nations brought

[00:07:24] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
As we celebrate Advent.

[00:07:35] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
Good morning.
[00:07:35] I'm Danae and this is Sam Gandy and today we have the honor of lighting the Joy Candle.
[00:07:44] This marks the beginning of our third week of Advent where we prepare our hearts and our minds to celebrate the birth of Christ.

[00:07:55] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
As we continue in celebrating Advent today, we will light the joy candle together.
[00:08:01] This seems simple enough, but joy does not always come easy to us, at least it doesn't to me.
[00:08:08] In the book of Psalm, King David writes an entire psalm to remind us to have the fullness of joy.
[00:08:13] In the Galatians, the Apostle Paul talks about the fruit of the Spirit and lists joy as one of them, which should be part of our Christian walk.
[00:08:22] And over 300 years ago, a Christmas song was written about joy.
[00:08:27] We actually sang it this morning.
[00:08:29] It's called Joy to the World.
[00:08:34] And in the Christmas story, even the shepherds had to be reminded to have joy.
[00:08:38] Luke 2, 10-11 says, But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid.
[00:08:45] I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all people.
[00:08:49] Today in the town of David, a Savior is born to you.
[00:08:54] He is the Messiah, the Lord.
[00:08:57] So this Christmas, let's remember to have joy, but more than that, let's practice joy.
[00:09:02] So take the time to think about joy and then, you know, enjoy it.
[00:09:07] To think about joy.
[00:09:12] And go beyond just that, but practice joy in everything that you do.
[00:09:18] As we light the joy candle today, also remember that true joy comes from Jesus Christ.
[00:09:26] Joy to the world, the Lord is come.
[00:09:29] Let earth receive her King.
[00:09:31] Joy to the world, the Savior reigns.
[00:09:34] Let men their songs employ.

[00:09:55] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
Would you stand as we continue to worship?

[00:10:29] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
The first Noel the angels did say Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay In fields where they lay keeping their sheep On a cold winter night
[00:11:00] Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel Born is the King of Israel
[00:11:29] They looked up and saw a star Shining in the east beyond them far And to the earth it gave great light And so it continued
[00:11:58] Both day and night Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel Born is the King of Israel, Noel
[00:12:27] The King is born, the King is born, the King is born
[00:12:57] Noel, Noel Born is the King of Israel Noel, Noel Noel, Noel Born is the King of Israel
[00:13:33] The King is born, the King is born, the King is born

[00:14:01] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]:
In a manger, no crib for a bed The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head The stars in the sky looked down where He lay
[00:14:28] The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hill The cattle are lowing the baby awake
[00:14:56] The little Lord Jesus No crying He makes I love Thee, Lord Jesus Look down from the sky And stay by my cradle
[00:15:41] Make this your prayer with me.
[00:15:45] Believe me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay close by me forever and ever.
[00:16:00] I pray, bless all the dear children in Thy tender care And take us to heaven to live with Thee there Worthy is Your name

[00:16:31] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
Jesus you deserve the praise worthy is your name worthy is your name Jesus you deserve the praise worthy is your name worthy is your name
[00:16:58] Jesus, you deserve the praise, worthy is your name, worthy is your name.
[00:17:13] Jesus you deserve praise worthy is your name worthy worthy is your name Jesus you deserve praise worthy is your name worthy is your name
[00:17:41] Jesus you deserve the praise worthy is your name worthy is your name Jesus you deserve the praise worthy is your name
[00:18:13] You deserve praise, worthy is Your name.

[00:19:00] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]:
Jesus, worthy is your name, worthy is your name Jesus, you deserve praise, worthy is your name

[00:19:46] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
O come, O come, Emmanuel And ransom captive Israel That mourns in lonely exile here
[00:20:17] Until the Son of God appeared Rejoice!
[00:20:34] Rejoice!
[00:20:41] To Thee, O Israel O come, Thou Dayspring carol
[00:21:11] All spirits by thine advent here Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
[00:21:58] Rejoice!

[00:22:23] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Rejoice!
[00:22:23] Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel

[00:22:28] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
We just say, God, that we can find joy, that we can rejoice in knowing that you are here.
[00:22:50] You left your throne to come to us, God, and we're so thankful this morning.
[00:22:54] Lord, let us find joy in the unexpected moments.
[00:22:58] Because even though this is called the most wonderful time of the year, God, for many it's the most grief-filled time of the year.
[00:23:07] It's the most stressful time of the year.
[00:23:12] But we look to you, Lord, our source of joy.
[00:23:17] Our source of peace.
[00:23:20] Our source of hope.
[00:23:23] We thank you, Lord.
[00:23:24] We worship you this morning.
[00:23:26] In your name we pray.
[00:23:27] We all say, Amen.
[00:23:30] Amen.
[00:23:30] Well, Merry Christmas.
[00:23:31] Why don't you turn, greet your neighbor, give a hug, give a high five.
[00:23:35] Welcome to Grace.

[00:24:19] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
It's good to be in the house of the Lord together, isn't it?
[00:24:22] Let's do a little temperature gauge.
[00:24:24] I'm Carrie, by the way, Carrie Burford, and I'm the Connections pastor here, part-time, and it's a joy to get to connect people together.
[00:24:33] Let's do a little temperature gauge, though.
[00:24:35] How high is your stress right now, what, two weeks before Christmas?
[00:24:40] Come on, let me show you.
[00:24:41] Let me see your hand.
[00:24:43] Mine's probably over here.
[00:24:44] It's over my head, right?
[00:24:46] Okay, now let me ask you, where is your joy level?
[00:24:50] Whoo!
[00:24:51] We got some joy!
[00:24:52] I have to confess, I think my stress level is a little higher than my joy level right now.
[00:24:57] But this is why we are in the house of the Lord, right?
[00:25:00] Because we're seeking His nearness.
[00:25:02] And what happens with the nearness of Jesus?
[00:25:05] What happens?
[00:25:07] Peace, joy, love, right?
[00:25:09] All of a sudden, enablement.
[00:25:11] Now, that does not mean we increase our joy so we can get out there and go crazier, right?
[00:25:15] But I do that.
[00:25:17] But it is to just let it inhabit us, right?
[00:25:19] His joy, His presence.
[00:25:21] Well, if you are newer here, and I say newer, that means whether you're a first-time guest or have just been with us a few times or maybe even a month,
[00:25:30] And we haven't had you yet stop by our guest central station right there in the lobby before you leave.
[00:25:37] We'd really like to invite you to do that.
[00:25:39] We'd like to know who you are.
[00:25:41] We'd like to give you a gift.
[00:25:42] We'd like to know a little bit more of your story.
[00:25:44] So please take that brave step and you'll see Annette and Dean there today.
[00:25:49] As well, we have some announcements.
[00:25:53] The first one is we have Christmas Eve services on December 24th.
[00:25:57] We're going to have two of them.
[00:25:58] One's at 3.
[00:25:59] and one's at five so there's time to get there don't be like what i used to be in my younger years i would take that last minute to get by that last gift until those doors were shut at the store is that silly or what because who remembers that gift and who remembers that person later right but if we can sit in the presence of the lord and remember just stop all that activity
[00:26:24] For just a little over an hour and just let him fill us with his story.
[00:26:28] That's pretty powerful, isn't it?
[00:26:30] It's my commitment today.
[00:26:31] So the other thing is that on December 28th, we're going to have just Christmas at home.
[00:26:39] Not Christmas at home.
[00:26:40] Service at home.
[00:26:41] Yeah, we're going to have two Christmases, right?
[00:26:43] No, we're going to have service at home.
[00:26:45] Just stay in your jammies, get that coffee cup or that hot cocoa, and just enjoy just that presence of the Lord, settling down your own heart, letting things just settle down here at the church, and just be in anticipation of what God's going to do in the new year, because he's got good things planned for us.
[00:27:03] Amen?
[00:27:05] Amen.
[00:27:05] Now for your giving, if you are an in-person giving like I am and you write that check or you have a cash envelope, you need to do that by the Christmas Eve service because nobody's going to be here on December 28th.
[00:27:20] But there's other ways that you can give and you can see that in your worship guide.
[00:27:24] And I forgot to mention that we have these invitations to that New Year's Eve.
[00:27:29] New Year's Eve.
[00:27:30] Am I ahead of things or what?
[00:27:34] No, I'm behind things, right?
[00:27:37] These are your invitations.
[00:27:38] Family, friends, neighbors, just get them to come with you.
[00:27:42] Get them to take that moment, too, of renewal in the presence of the God during this Christmas season.
[00:27:48] Amen?
[00:27:49] Okay, I think I can get this part right.
[00:27:51] We're going to pray.
[00:27:54] Oh, Lord, sometimes, you know, just that busyness and the craziness settles in us, and it just creates some extra bumps along the way.
[00:28:03] And we just want to, Lord, just be in your presence, and we want to hear your word and your truth.
[00:28:10] We want to be renewed as we have been, just with the joy of the Christmas carols and being in your presence together.
[00:28:16] Lord, I ask that each heart would receive what they need, Lord God, for the coming weeks and just the new year that's going to be upon us.
[00:28:25] That they would have trust and hope in the Lord their God.
[00:28:29] And Lord, that includes our finances too, Lord.
[00:28:32] However we might give here, whether on campus or online, Lord, we pray that we would be people that trust you with what we have and that you are good to us.
[00:28:42] In Jesus' name, amen.
[00:28:44] Oh, and say, I forgive you, Carrie.
[00:28:47] Oh, thank you.

[00:29:13] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
Well, good morning.
[00:29:15] It is good to see you today.
[00:29:16] I'm Pastor Steve here.
[00:29:17] I'm the campus pastor here at Grace Covenant Mooresville, and what a beautiful time of year.
[00:29:22] Amen.
[00:29:23] How many of you feel that goodness and light?
[00:29:26] Would that describe your season right now?
[00:29:28] Good.
[00:29:29] I'm so happy for you.
[00:29:30] That's awesome.
[00:29:31] Because we have to grab that by the horns, don't we?
[00:29:33] We cannot let this season get away from us.
[00:29:37] But we are in our third week of Advent, and we've been going through this song, Do You Hear What I Hear?
[00:29:46] We started with the verse, Do You See What I See?
[00:29:48] And this morning, we continue this series as we look at the phrase, Do You Know What I Know?
[00:29:57] What you know changes things, doesn't it?
[00:29:59] This is a pretty important question that I think all of us need to ask ourselves.
[00:30:06] Because when you slow down and look closely, the birth of Jesus is surrounded by people, if you think about it, that are absolutely confused.
[00:30:14] I mean, they're overwhelmed.
[00:30:15] They're trying to understand what God's doing in that season.
[00:30:18] They don't know.
[00:30:18] Mary's visited by an angel, and she has this spectacular news of what's going to happen to her.
[00:30:24] I don't know how this is gonna happen this doesn't make sense and then her husband her betrothed Joseph hears about it and this completely upends his life he's confused like this is gonna make my life very difficult right his wife is pregnant outside of before they're actually married confusion
[00:30:48] The shepherds on the hill, we've been reading their story.
[00:30:51] They see heaven break open with a message that they don't even begin to understand what is going on.
[00:30:59] Because the Christmas story is full of people who didn't understand what God was doing.
[00:31:04] And yet, something fascinating happens throughout the story.
[00:31:10] People begin to see.
[00:31:12] They begin to believe.
[00:31:13] Many people came to know Christ.
[00:31:15] Mary believes.
[00:31:16] Joseph obeys.
[00:31:17] The shepherds run to him.
[00:31:19] Simeon and Anna recognize Jesus immediately.
[00:31:24] And these are the stories that we often focus on as we're going through the Christmas season, amen?
[00:31:29] But at the same time, something tragic is happening.
[00:31:34] While these ordinary folks, these humble, overlooked outsiders,
[00:31:40] are welcoming the Messiah.
[00:31:42] Listen, the very nation, the very people that had been waiting for him for so long completely missed him.
[00:31:49] These were the folks who should have known.
[00:31:51] The very nation that was waiting for him missed him.
[00:31:58] John captures this idea with stunning simplicity in a passage in John 1, the 10th verse.
[00:32:04] He says, he was in the world, speaking of Jesus the Messiah,
[00:32:09] And though the world was made through Him, He's their Creator, the world did not recognize Him.
[00:32:15] He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him.
[00:32:22] Isn't that tragic?
[00:32:23] They had the Scriptures, they had the promise of the Messiah, they prayed for Him, they taught their children about Him, they longed to see Him, and when He finally arrives, they didn't even recognize Him.
[00:32:37] And the same thing is true of our
[00:32:39] And for many of us, this raises a deeply personal issue because we all have loved ones in our lives, people who we love, that we cherish, that we care for deeply, who don't know the Lord.
[00:33:02] And some of them have walked away from church.
[00:33:05] Maybe that they were raised in.
[00:33:06] Some who know about Jesus but don't really know Him.
[00:33:09] Some whom we seem completely unmoved no matter how clearly or consistently God's working around them.
[00:33:17] And so the question emerges when it comes to the people in our lives that we love and we care for that don't know the Lord, who've heard the message but don't know Him.
[00:33:27] The question, why?
[00:33:29] Why do some people come to know Christ and others don't?
[00:33:33] Why did the shepherds and the teenagers and the elderly prophets recognize Jesus immediately, yet the scholars and the priests and the leaders missed Him entirely?
[00:33:45] This is what the Christmas story in itself invites us to wrestle with.
[00:33:50] Do you know what I know?
[00:33:53] What opens, what closes the human heart to Jesus?
[00:33:56] And so this morning, I want to look at two points.
[00:33:59] As we are praying, as we are loving the people around us who don't know the Lord because this is an absolutely essential message that people need to hear.
[00:34:09] And so why do some receive Jesus, come to know Jesus, and why do some not?
[00:34:15] My first point that I want to talk to you about this morning is this, and this should be absolutely encouraging to all of us, and it's this, God draws every heart.
[00:34:22] Amen?
[00:34:23] Write that down.
[00:34:24] God draws every heart.
[00:34:26] Every person is born with a God awareness.
[00:34:29] It is a built-in pull that is drawing them to their Creator.
[00:34:34] We all feel it.
[00:34:35] Some of us, we suppress it.
[00:34:37] We pretend like it's not there, but it is there.
[00:34:39] We are naturally curious.
[00:34:42] There's a spiritual instinct that knows that there is someone above us, somebody beyond us, somebody over us.
[00:34:50] Paul says it like this in Romans 1, verse 19.
[00:34:52] We're going to go through some scriptures this morning.
[00:34:54] I want you to write these down.
[00:34:55] Reflect on them later.
[00:34:57] He says this, Since what may be known about God is plain to them,
[00:35:02] Because God has made it plain to them.
[00:35:04] Well, how has God made it plain to us?
[00:35:06] For since the creation of the world, God's invisible qualities, His eternal power, divine nature, have been clearly seen.
[00:35:19] Being understood from what has been made so that people are without excuse.
[00:35:29] You see what Paul is saying here?
[00:35:30] He's saying, do you want to see God?
[00:35:32] All you have to do is open your eyes.
[00:35:38] That's all you have to do.
[00:35:40] Look at the world around you, look inside at the complexity of you and you will have to come to the only logical conclusion is that there has to be a designer.
[00:35:58] Now, this verse is often read as a warning, but for today, I think it's an encouragement as we think about the loved ones around us, our friends, our family, our community, because Paul was saying this, every human heart begins with an awareness that God is real.
[00:36:11] We all start there.
[00:36:12] Not a resistance, not unbelief, not cynicism, but we start with awareness.
[00:36:18] The default setting of the human heart is a need for God.
[00:36:23] Everywhere in the world, even in places where the gospel hasn't even been reached yet, you find a hunger for transcendence.
[00:36:32] Do you guys realize that?
[00:36:34] Everywhere throughout history, a longing for meaning, a search for purpose, a sense of the divine.
[00:36:42] I love Ecclesiastes chapter 3 verse 11 this is what it says he says he speaking of God has made everything beautiful in its time how many of you guys know you guys are being made beautiful and in his timing amen isn't that great listen what it says it says he has also set eternity in the human heart yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end
[00:37:08] He's saying we may not understand the completeness of who God is, but every one of us knows that there's something bigger than us.
[00:37:15] This is why across cultures and throughout history, people pursue religion.
[00:37:19] If they don't know that there's a true God, listen, they're going to invent one.
[00:37:22] If they don't have revelation, that they're going to make symbols.
[00:37:25] If they don't have scripture, they'll create stories because something deep inside every person whispers, you were made for someone.
[00:37:36] and Creation itself reinforces that whisper, does it?
[00:37:38] The sky is preached, the oceans declare, the mountains announce, the symmetry, the beauty, the order of nature, all of it testifies to a designer, that there's a mind behind this, there's a creator who crafted all things with purpose.
[00:37:54] I love what in Psalms chapter 19, the Psalmist beautifully writes this, he says,
[00:38:01] Declare the glory of God.
[00:38:03] It isn't just passively.
[00:38:05] It's like when you look there, you have to see.
[00:38:08] The skies proclaim the work of His hands.
[00:38:13] Day after day, they pour forth speech.
[00:38:18] Night after night, they reveal knowledge.
[00:38:22] They have no speech.
[00:38:23] They use no words.
[00:38:24] No sound is heard from them yet.
[00:38:27] And we know this, yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.
[00:38:36] This is why Paul writes, God's invisible qualities are clearly seen, meaning that you don't need a seminary degree to sense God.
[00:38:45] You don't need a theological manual to begin to search.
[00:38:49] The evidence is everywhere.
[00:38:50] It's inside of us.
[00:38:51] It's around us.
[00:38:53] And this is absolutely great news, isn't it?
[00:38:57] Because it means your loved ones who seem far from God, the neighbor who's uninterested, the child that seems disconnected, they don't start at zero.
[00:39:11] They begin with a heart that was designed to know God.
[00:39:14] They start with a soul that naturally is pulled towards Him.
[00:39:18] They begin with an inner awareness that there's a Creator and that Creator, I belong to Him.
[00:39:27] You see, before sin distorts and before pride hardens and before wounds close people off, the human heart begins with a posture of openness to the Lord.
[00:39:36] And so I just want to begin this morning with that hope.
[00:39:42] That God loves your loved ones.
[00:39:47] He's pursuing them and their hearts are already inclined to Him whether they realize it or not.
[00:39:54] That's the foundation that we begin with.
[00:39:57] No one has an excuse because God is constantly revealing Himself and every heart has felt that pull.
[00:40:05] You and I have felt that pull.
[00:40:06] That's why we are here today.
[00:40:08] Amen?
[00:40:10] Now before we proceed to my next point, I want to pause to address the question that I think comes up all the time when we come to this topic.
[00:40:17] And it's the question of this, does God choose some people to be saved and others not to be saved?
[00:40:23] Right?
[00:40:23] Is God up there saying like, you're good.
[00:40:27] I don't know about you though.
[00:40:28] You look crazy.
[00:40:29] I don't know if I want you up here with me.
[00:40:36] Listen.
[00:40:39] That's not what we see in Scripture.
[00:40:42] Not even close.
[00:40:44] 1 Timothy, I want to read this to you.
[00:40:46] Chapter 2, verse 3 says this, This is good and pleases God our Savior.
[00:40:50] Listen to this, what Paul says to Timothy, he says, Who wants all people, say all people.
[00:40:57] Who wants all people to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.
[00:41:02] Did you hear that?
[00:41:04] All people.
[00:41:05] Not the select few, all people.
[00:41:09] If that wasn't good enough for you, 2 Peter 3 verse 9 says this, The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some of you understand, slowness.
[00:41:18] Instead, I'll praise the Lord for this, He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish.
[00:41:28] But everyone to come to repentance.
[00:41:31] Who does God want to come to repentance?
[00:41:34] Everyone.
[00:41:35] Who does He want to perish outside of Him?
[00:41:37] Nobody.
[00:41:39] That's the will of God.
[00:41:42] That is His heart.
[00:41:44] He hasn't chosen some for wrath and some for glory.
[00:41:48] He's saying, listen, I want everyone.
[00:41:51] His invitation is universal.
[00:41:54] His desire for salvation for every human being.
[00:41:58] If God had His way, everyone would choose salvation.
[00:42:03] Do you guys see that here?
[00:42:10] John 12, verse 32, Jesus says this himself.
[00:42:13] He says, And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.
[00:42:18] And that includes your loved ones.
[00:42:20] That includes your children.
[00:42:21] That includes your family members, your neighbors.
[00:42:25] And this is the comforting truth that we can trust this morning, this season, that God makes the first move towards every heart.
[00:42:33] The Spirit is working in every person.
[00:42:35] Grace is extended to every life.
[00:42:38] But this is the crucial distinction here.
[00:42:42] God initiates, but guess what?
[00:42:45] We then respond.
[00:42:47] God draws, and we've felt that draw.
[00:42:50] Some of you are feeling it right now, but guess what?
[00:42:52] We then have to decide.
[00:42:54] God reveals, but we either open our hearts to Him or we close it off, don't we?
[00:43:02] And this is why Jesus wept over Jerusalem.
[00:43:04] This is what he said in Luke chapter 13, 34.
[00:43:06] He says, how often, listen to the heart of God, how often I have longed to gather your children together, and you are not willing.
[00:43:22] Man, can you hear his heartache?
[00:43:25] And I want to take some time this morning to ensure that we understand something here, that the problem is never God's willingness.
[00:43:31] God desires salvation for all, but He forces salvation on none.
[00:43:38] Listen, we all understand this, that love can be offered, but love cannot be coerced.
[00:43:44] God will not force anyone into heaven.
[00:43:47] He will not force anybody into relationship.
[00:43:50] He respects your freedom.
[00:43:51] He respects your choice.
[00:43:53] He will not impose His relationship on you.
[00:43:57] And if this is true, then where is the breakdown of communication?
[00:44:01] If God is willing, if He wants us, why do some people come to know Christ and others don't?
[00:44:08] Because we know the first point is that God draws every heart.
[00:44:12] And the second point this morning is this, every heart must respond.
[00:44:20] Isn't it great that we have a God who respects your will, your decision to choose?
[00:44:26] Listen, nobody goes to hell because God wants them to.
[00:44:34] It's because they choose their way over His.
[00:44:40] Every heart must respond.
[00:44:43] Jesus answers this question actually pretty directly in Luke chapter 8 with the parable of the sower.
[00:44:48] I'm going to summarize this parable for you this morning so that you guys get out of here at a decent time.
[00:44:52] We've got another service coming after this.
[00:44:54] So the parable of the sower, Jesus talks about a farmer who sowed seed.
[00:44:59] And later on we see that the farmer is God and the seed is his word.
[00:45:03] and it talks about different kinds of soil that the seed lands on and we see that depending on the soil right there are different outcomes to the word in that person's heart and so the disciples are a little bit confused and so afterwards they say Jesus what were you talking about with that parable and so there's actually a section where Jesus explains the parable to them and I want to I want to share that with you this morning we're gonna start in Luke chapter 8 and
[00:45:30] in the 11th verse he says this is the meaning of the parable the seed is the word of god and so there's four seeds that jesus talks about i want to briefly hit those this morning in our remaining time the first seed is this we find in verse 12 those the seeds along the path are the ones who hear they hear the word of god and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts so that they may not believe and be saved
[00:45:58] And so Jesus identifies this first seed, or this first soil, right?
[00:46:02] The soil represents our hearts, where we are.
[00:46:05] He recognizes this first soil as the soil that is along the path.
[00:46:10] Now how do paths get there?
[00:46:13] by people walking on it right there's a lot of traffic and eventually what happens to that ground and usually this in that day this would have been around the fields they would have walked pretty regularly around those fields and these paths would have would have formed and what happens to ground that you continue to walk on it gets compacted it gets hardened right and so things just kind of sit on the surface the seeds don't sink in
[00:46:40] And that's why Jesus says that the enemy comes and he takes it away.
[00:46:42] You can't steal seed that's buried when it's in your heart.
[00:46:46] When the truth goes down and you're guarding it, the enemy can't come and pull that.
[00:46:51] But man, when it's just on the surface, guess what?
[00:46:52] All he's got to do is... That's all he's got to do right there.
[00:46:59] In the same way, when a heart has been trampled hard by life,
[00:47:04] Busyness and cynicism and pain and the noise around us.
[00:47:08] Even hearing the truth repeatedly without responding, do you guys know that that will harden your heart?
[00:47:14] And then the word can't penetrate.
[00:47:16] It lands, but it can't take root.
[00:47:20] And so the enemy doesn't have to fight it.
[00:47:23] He's not struggling.
[00:47:24] He just comes and he plucks out this little seed that's sitting on the surface.
[00:47:27] The tragedy is not that God didn't sow.
[00:47:31] It is that the heart became too hard to receive.
[00:47:36] This helps us understand why some people can hear the gospel again and again and over and over, and it just seems to never sink in.
[00:47:42] And it's not that God isn't speaking, it's that the heart has become closed, it's become compacted over time.
[00:47:48] This isn't about intelligence or opportunity, it's about openness.
[00:47:56] So that's the first seed, and we continue in verse 13.
[00:47:59] Jesus goes on to the second seed.
[00:48:00] He says, those on the rocky ground, say rocky ground,
[00:48:05] Those are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root.
[00:48:10] They believe it for a while, but in the time of testing, they fall away.
[00:48:16] Now, in first century Palestine, rocky soil didn't mean that there was these rocks everywhere.
[00:48:22] What it meant is there was usually this thin layer of soil over bedrock, okay?
[00:48:28] And so what that means is seed would actually fall on that,
[00:48:33] and because it was really warm it would actually at first grow up pretty quick it looked pretty healthy and everybody would get excited like wow this looks like fertile ground right this is really growing up quickly but because there's no depth of soil the roots can't go down and so the first time there's any type of bad weather these seeds these plants would just die because they have no roots they're not grounded
[00:49:04] So early growth looks impressive, it's fast, it's visible, and it's encouraging, but beneath the surface there's no depth.
[00:49:11] And so when the sun comes out, when the heat and the pressure arrives, the plant withers.
[00:49:17] These are people who receive the word of joy.
[00:49:20] There's this real emotion, this real excitement, real belief for a time.
[00:49:27] But when faith becomes costly,
[00:49:30] When obedience brings pressure, when following Jesus includes disappointment, suffering, sacrifice, there's nothing underneath to sustain that emotion.
[00:49:39] It's not about rejection of God, it's about shallowness.
[00:49:43] The problem is not enthusiasm, the problem is, listen, it's a lack of formation.
[00:49:49] These hearts, they had an experience, but they never progressed into, guess what, discipleship.
[00:49:56] And so when testing comes, and listen,
[00:49:59] It always comes.
[00:50:01] Amen?
[00:50:02] Faith collapses.
[00:50:09] So this helps us understand people who once seemed on fire for God.
[00:50:12] You know those folks, but then over the years maybe something happened in their life
[00:50:17] And they just drifted away.
[00:50:18] And it's not because God felled them, it's not because the gospel wasn't real, but because faith never went deep enough to survive hardship.
[00:50:25] Jesus' warning here is, I think, sobering and also loving, that joy without depth will not last.
[00:50:31] Listen, belief without roots cannot endure.
[00:50:35] It cannot endure.
[00:50:37] And the invitation is clear.
[00:50:38] God isn't calling us to just respond to the Word that one emotional time.
[00:50:43] He's calling us to go deep, to allow truth to form us beyond the surface.
[00:50:49] And that's the second seed that Jesus brings up.
[00:50:51] Let's continue this morning to the third seed that we find in verse 14.
[00:50:54] The seed that fell among thorns.
[00:50:57] Say, among thorns.
[00:50:59] How many of you have some thorns in your life?
[00:51:02] We all do.
[00:51:04] I'm not talking about your spouse, come on now.
[00:51:08] I know what some of you were thinking.
[00:51:11] The seed that fell amongst thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way, they are choked by life's worries, riches, and pleasures.
[00:51:25] And again, what do we see happen?
[00:51:28] They do not mature.
[00:51:30] So I want you to see clearly what Jesus says here.
[00:51:32] People hear the word, right?
[00:51:35] We talked about that last week.
[00:51:36] Faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of God, right?
[00:51:39] Or hearing the word of Christ, rather.
[00:51:41] So they heard that word.
[00:51:42] They actually receive the word.
[00:51:44] They receive it.
[00:51:46] They begin to grow in their faith.
[00:51:51] The soil itself isn't hostile, right?
[00:51:54] It's good soil, but what's the problem?
[00:51:56] It's crowded.
[00:51:59] The problem here isn't unbelief, it's competition.
[00:52:04] The word starts growing, but it's not alone.
[00:52:06] Other things are growing too.
[00:52:07] Jesus names three things that all of us can relate to, especially in this season.
[00:52:11] Worries, anxiety, fear, the what-ifs, mental overload, riches.
[00:52:17] We pursue money or success or security or that upward mobility in our careers, pleasures.
[00:52:23] Comfort, Entertainment, Distraction, Indulgences and none of these are necessarily evil by itself and that's what makes this soil so dangerous.
[00:52:34] Thorns, listen, they don't kill plants overnight, they slowly choke it out.
[00:52:42] They slowly use up all the resources in the soil until you have nothing left to give.
[00:52:52] This is the heart that says, I believe in Jesus.
[00:52:54] I want to follow Jesus.
[00:52:58] I just don't have time right now.
[00:53:04] It's faith without margin.
[00:53:06] Devotion without priority.
[00:53:08] Spiritual life squeezed between meetings and notification and practices and deadlines and screens.
[00:53:15] There are things in our lives that are clearly sinful, clearly destructive.
[00:53:19] And then there are things that are completely normal, culturally celebrated, socially accepted, even good on paper.
[00:53:27] And again, that's what makes it so dangerous.
[00:53:29] Most of the time, it doesn't look like rebellion.
[00:53:31] It just looks like a life so full that there's no room left for God.
[00:53:40] You see, Jesus doesn't say the plant dies.
[00:53:43] He says this, it just never goes anywhere.
[00:53:46] It never matures.
[00:53:48] And that's the tragedy, right?
[00:53:49] There's this belief, but there's no fruit.
[00:53:51] There's growth, but no depth.
[00:53:53] There's faith, but there's no transformation.
[00:53:57] Many people don't walk away from Jesus.
[00:53:59] They just never let Him become Lord of their life.
[00:54:01] And over time, the thorn wins, right?
[00:54:03] Not because the thorn is stronger, but simply because it's consistent.
[00:54:10] The invitation here isn't to try harder.
[00:54:12] The invitation that God, Jesus gives us is, listen, you got to clear the soil.
[00:54:18] You got to clear the soil.
[00:54:19] Some things don't need to be removed because they're sinful.
[00:54:23] They need to be removed because they're crowding out what matters most.
[00:54:29] Amen?
[00:54:31] Man, Jesus was pretty smart, wasn't he?
[00:54:32] He knew what he was talking about here.
[00:54:34] And then he goes on to the fourth seed, and this is what describes many of us here this morning, but the seed on good soil, right?
[00:54:42] It stands for those with a noble and good heart who hear the word, they retain it, and by preserving, they produce a crop.
[00:54:54] You see, the reason why farmers plant seeds
[00:54:58] Seeds is what?
[00:55:01] Do they just want to, like, I don't know.
[00:55:06] I don't know what they want to do.
[00:55:06] But here's what they want to do.
[00:55:09] They want a crop, don't they?
[00:55:10] They want a crop.
[00:55:15] What did he say?
[00:55:16] With joy, we need to enjoy joy.
[00:55:18] So, right?
[00:55:21] Amen to that.
[00:55:22] That made me laugh.
[00:55:26] Here's what we learn about this story.
[00:55:29] There's two things I want to point out.
[00:55:31] First is this, the sower is generous.
[00:55:35] And it's good to know that he throws the seed everywhere, even on places where he knows it will not grow.
[00:55:43] You know how many people have heard the word, the truth,
[00:55:48] And it will not grow.
[00:55:49] Additionally, we learn that the seed is always the same.
[00:55:54] The seed doesn't change, does it?
[00:55:56] It's the same message for everyone.
[00:55:57] It's been around for 2,000 years.
[00:56:00] What changes is what?
[00:56:02] The soil.
[00:56:04] which represents our heart people don't respond differently to God because God treats them differently they respond differently because hearts are in a different condition but some respond don't they some hear the word they hold on to it they let it go deep into their hearts they persevere when life gets hard and over time what appears fruit this is what we see with Mary and Joseph and the shepherds and Simeon and Anna they didn't understand everything but their hearts were open to what God was doing
[00:56:35] The difference between those who know Christ and those who don't.
[00:56:38] Listen, I want to be open.
[00:56:40] It isn't intelligence.
[00:56:42] It isn't opportunity.
[00:56:43] It isn't education.
[00:56:45] It isn't because God favors some over others.
[00:56:49] The difference comes down to the condition of the heart.
[00:56:55] That's it.
[00:56:56] Same seed, same invitation, but a different soil.
[00:57:01] And here's the hopeful part that I want to share with you this morning is that soil can change.
[00:57:08] Amen?
[00:57:08] Hardened hearts can be softened.
[00:57:12] Shallow faith can deepen distracted lives.
[00:57:15] You can clear those things out, which means as long as somebody is alive, God is still working the soil.
[00:57:28] Church, the sower never stops sowing.
[00:57:32] The seed will never stop going out.
[00:57:39] And I just think that's great news for those of us who are praying for the people we love and for our neighbors and for our community.
[00:57:45] We don't have to start from scratch.
[00:57:47] We are stepping into something that God started before they were even born.
[00:57:52] Amen?
[00:57:52] He saw the beginning and the end at the same time, and He knows your part.
[00:57:59] And so we are stepping into what God is already doing in their lives.
[00:58:07] And so this morning I want to take a moment, if you want to just kind of close your eyes, bow your heads for a moment, because I don't want to rush past this.
[00:58:20] Some of you, this may be
[00:58:22] The calmest moments of this season.
[00:58:25] Right here.
[00:58:27] And so we're going to be okay with settling in for a moment.
[00:58:29] Amen?
[00:58:32] Because I don't want to rush past this.
[00:58:34] And I don't want us to analyze ourselves.
[00:58:37] I don't want you to judge yourself.
[00:58:40] But this is what I do want you to do.
[00:58:44] Because our opinions don't matter, do they?
[00:58:48] But I do want you to take a moment to invite the Holy Spirit to come and do what only He can do.
[00:58:54] And so Holy Spirit, would you gently help us this morning?
[00:59:00] Man, your word is powerful.
[00:59:03] And so would you help us to see the condition of our own heart right now?
[00:59:06] Before we look at the people around us, our friends, our family, those who, man, our heart goes out to, we want to take a moment to look within, to see our own hearts right now.
[00:59:19] Not who we wish we were, not who we used to be,
[00:59:23] But where are we right now in this moment?
[00:59:29] The Holy Spirit, we ask you to reveal to us the condition.
[00:59:36] Has my heart become hardened?
[00:59:40] Have I allowed fear, maybe past hurts, to close off my openness to what God wants to do in my heart today?
[00:59:48] And so I'm just living with truth that's sitting on the surface, that's readily stolen, readily blown away.
[00:59:55] Is my faith shallow?
[01:00:00] Is it easily shaken?
[01:00:05] Have I just not given space for it to grow?
[01:00:07] Have I gotten excited in the past and seen God's glory, but just never allowed it to grow deep?
[01:00:13] I've never been intentional with my walk with God.
[01:00:16] I've never pursued Him like I pursue other things.
[01:00:20] And so when difficult seasons come, maybe a loss or a disappointment, I've walked away.
[01:00:25] I've just maybe didn't even walk away from my faith, but I've just stopped showing up.
[01:00:35] For some of you, I think the question is, is my life crowded, distracted?
[01:00:40] Am I allowing the worries of this world, pleasures of this world, the busyness of this world, to pull me away from what's most important and slowly over time, man, I love the Lord, I want to do, I want to be obedient, I believe His way is the way, I just don't have time to do it.
[01:01:01] Bored.
[01:01:03] Like Mary and Joseph, like those shepherds on the field, is my heart open and responsive?
[01:01:10] Is my heart good soil?
[01:01:13] For some of you this morning, this isn't just about soil, it's about the seed itself.
[01:01:17] Maybe you felt the pull towards God, that awareness.
[01:01:19] I know you have, whether you realize it or not, that sense that there is more, that you are not an accident, there is purpose to your life.
[01:01:25] God is drawing you to Him.
[01:01:27] Knowing about Jesus is not the same as knowing Him.
[01:01:30] and today the invitation I have for you this morning is simple to receive what God has been offering to you all along and if so if that's you this morning I just want to simply pray with you if you could raise your hand and look up here I want to pray with you this morning if you have would like to receive Jesus Christ for as your Lord and Savior this morning for the first time I'd love to pray with you amen let's all pray this together as we receive this morning Jesus I believe you are the Son of God repeat that after me
[01:01:59] I believe you came for me.
[01:02:01] I confess my need for you.
[01:02:06] I turn from my sin and I place my trust in you.
[01:02:13] Lord, forgive me.
[01:02:15] Lord, make me new.
[01:02:17] Help me follow you.
[01:02:20] I open my heart to you today.
[01:02:23] Everybody say amen.
[01:02:25] Amen.
[01:02:25] Let's give the Lord a praise this morning.
[01:02:30] But let's keep this moment going because I want to take some time to pray for those in your lives who are far from God.
[01:02:38] But I want to frame this correctly for you today because it's easy to approach this like it's mainly this intellectual problem.
[01:02:44] Like if we could find the perfect argument, the perfect article, the podcast to send them to have the right conversation that, listen, that things are going to change.
[01:02:53] Finally, they're going to believe.
[01:02:55] but here's what we see in scripture is that people aren't saved because they get smarter we are saved by grace through faith amen it is a spiritual work that god does in the human heart and that means we don't change people solely by providing information information can definitely clear obstacles it can answer question it can help
[01:03:16] But only the Holy Spirit can awaken a dead heart.
[01:03:21] Amen?
[01:03:21] Only the Holy Spirit can soften soil.
[01:03:24] Only the Holy Spirit can open blind eyes and make Jesus beautiful to people.
[01:03:29] And so our call isn't to pressure people into the kingdom.
[01:03:33] Church, our call is to be faithful.
[01:03:35] to share the word to live with integrity to love people well to speak when God gives opportunity and to keep praying steadily patiently consistently because this is spiritual ground and God is the sower and the seed is powerful and we know the soil can change every one of us is living proof of that
[01:04:05] and that's why prayer matters so much because prayer is how we cooperate with what God is already doing and so before I pray I want you to bring someone to mind if we could close our eyes this morning and join in prayer for those around us our loved ones our family members our children our parents I want you to picture their face this morning whisper that name to God and let's pray from a place of faith not panic from hope not fear trusting
[01:04:33] the Holy Spirit to do what only he can do and so gracious God we lift up before you this morning the people that we love who are far from you you know their names you know their stories you know the conditions of their hearts and so we thank you that you are already at work that you never stop sowing that you never stop pursuing that you never stop loving
[01:05:00] And so Holy Spirit, where hearts are hardened, we just declare a softening over them.
[01:05:06] Where faith is shallow, we just declare a deepening of that faith.
[01:05:11] Where lives are crowded, Lord, we just pray a space should be created
[01:05:18] And Lord, shine your truth, shine your life into their hearts.
[01:05:25] Let the light of Christ break through their confusion and their resistance and the darkness that surrounds them.
[01:05:32] Open their eyes to see, their ears to hear, Lord, and soften their hearts to respond.
[01:05:38] And in the name of Jesus, we stand against the work of the enemy.
[01:05:42] We ask you to guard what you plant in them, that the word would not be stolen, it would not be dismissed, it would not be snatched away, but would take root and it would grow and it would bear fruit.
[01:05:54] In the process, Lord, we ask for patience as we wait.
[01:05:59] We ask for wisdom as we speak.
[01:06:01] We ask for love that reflects your heart.
[01:06:05] and we trust you with what we cannot control.
[01:06:11] Lord, we place them into your hands.
[01:06:15] And it's in Jesus' name, if that's your prayer, say amen.
[01:06:18] Amen.
[01:06:19] God is good, amen.
[01:06:20] Let's give him a hand this morning.
[01:06:21] God is good.
[01:06:24] I want to have you stand with me today.
[01:06:26] I'm going to speak a word of blessing over you.
[01:06:28] Keep praying for your loved ones.
[01:06:30] Keep praying for your family members, your neighbors, because we believe the Holy Spirit is already at work with them.
[01:06:37] At this point, I just want to ask you to stretch your hands out in front of you as if you're receiving a gift as I speak this blessing over you.
[01:06:43] And I'm just believing this over your home, over your family, over your marriage.
[01:06:48] May the Lord bless you and keep you.
[01:06:51] May the Lord make His face shine upon you.
[01:06:54] and Be Gracious to You.
[01:06:57] May the Lord turn His face towards you and give you peace.
[01:07:02] Amen.
[01:07:02] Amen.
[01:07:03] We receive that, Lord.
[01:07:04] Have a great week.