This message by pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, June 10, 2007, and was taken from Mark 4:1-20.
Jesus tells the parable of the sower. The focus of the text: Why does the same message have different results with different people?
Intro:
- vs. 11, 12: And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, so that “they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven.” This is one of the hard sayings of Jesus. Is Jesus saying in this section that He is purposefully keeping people from understanding truth. No, for those who do not care for the things of God hear but do not hear to the point of action, because they are not interested.
- The focus of the passage is not the content of the gospel, but the hearts of men.
Four Kinds of Hearts:
- v. 15: Mere exposure to the gospel is insufficient for salvation. (Ezekiel 33:30-32)
- vs. 16, 17: Enthusiasm over the gospel is no insurance of eternal life.
- vs. 18, 19: A passing interest profits noting.
- v. 20: A heart that is genuinely receptive to the gospel will produce good and abundant and abiding fruit.
Conclusion:
This requires of us careful examination: Which of these soils represents your heart?
If you are in the first three categories, flee to Christ. If you are in that last category, are you producing fruit?