August 3, 2010
DON'T ASSUME YOU ARE ON GOOD sOIL!
Luke 8:1-15
Amanda Marley
Central Truth
Too much of a good thing can be harmful.
Key Verse | Luke 8:7
"Other seed fell among the thorns; and the thorns grew up with it and choked it out." (Luke 8:7)
Luke 8:1-15
Women Accompanying Jesus
1 Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3 and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them 1 8:3 Some manuscripts him out of their means.
The Parable of the Sower
4 And when a great crowd was gathering and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable, 5 “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. 6 And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. 8 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.”
The Purpose of the Parables
9 And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, 10 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.’ 11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 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. 13 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. 14 And as for what fell among the 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. 15 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.
Dive Deeper | Luke 8:1-15
I love this parable of the four soils because it always brings conviction and challenge every time I read it. Jesus teaches us about four different kinds of soils:
1. Seed that falls on the path. It is trampled on and then eaten by birds—people who hear and do not believe.
2. Seed that falls on rocks. It begins to grow, but withers and dies—people receive the message with joy, but fall away when trials come.
3. Seed that falls among the thorns—people who hear, but are choked by distractions in this life.
4. Seed falls on good soil—people who hear the Word, retain it, obey it, and bear fruit. They are planted in God’s Word.
Growing up in Dallas, I have always been burdened by the desire for more. More time, more things, more money, more world. Today, as a follower of Christ, I get trapped in building a spiritual resume of more ministries, more Bible studies, more serving. As I examine what “thorns” are in my life, I realize that good things such as ministry, helping others, and serving can be just as choking as materialism, addictions, and activity when you have too much.
A lot of things are good by themselves, but in combination they can keep us from living fruitful lives for God. If we are spending all our time “doing” and not “being” then God’s Word can not take deep root in our lives. Psalm 46:10 (NIV) says, “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
I struggle to be still at times, actually a lot of the time. When I’m not still, I usually end up “doing” to please people, instead of seeking the Holy Spirit and what God would have me do. I believe a lot of us can get caught up in doing “good things” and, therefore, assume wrongly that we are on good soil.
Discussion Questions
1. What soil are you growing in?
2. What are some of the thorns you face that can distract you from your relationship with Christ?
3. Are you taking time to be still before God each day and allowing His Word to take deep root in your heart?
FAMILY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Who do we learn about in verses 2 & 3? These were all women who were following Jesus, supporting Him financially and living for Him.
2. Take time today to write a note to a woman that you know who is following Jesus and living her life for Him.