Rocky Soil: Can’t Grow Fruit On The Rocks A Specific Request Rocky Soil: Can’t Grow Fruit On The Rocks Text: Matthew 13:18-21 Scripture Reading: I Pet. 1:6-9 By Nathan L Morrison All Scripture given is from NASB unless otherwise stated For further study or if questions, Call: 907-252-3708, or Visit: www.frr-churchofchrist-ak.org Prepared by Nathan L Morrison / 05-14-06

Paul admonishes saints to “take heed lest you fall” A Specific Request Intro I Cor. 10:12: Paul admonishes saints to “take heed lest you fall” Unfaithfulness has always been a problem for God’s people: Judas – desire for money motivated him to betray Christ (Mt. 26:14-16) Demas – love of the world motivated him to go back into the world (II Tim. 4:10) Hymanaeus and Alexander – faith became shipwrecked (I Tim. 1:18-20) Hymenaeus and Philetus – departed the faith for false doctrine (II Tim. 2:16-18) Diotrephes – love of “self” motivated him to reject apostles’ teachings (III Jn. 9) Rocky Soil: Can’t GrowFruit On The Rocks Prepared by Nathan L Morrison / 05-14-06

Rocky Soil: Can’t GrowFruit On The Rocks A Specific Request Intro Mt. 13:18-21 18. "Hear then the parable of the sower. 19. "When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road. 20. "The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21. yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away. Emphasis in Scripture mine! Luke 8:13 13. "Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away. Rocky Soil: Can’t GrowFruit On The Rocks Prepared by Nathan L Morrison / 05-14-06

What causes a Christian to become unfaithful? A Specific Request Intro The problem is not: Person never heard the word – Mt. 13:20: Heard it! Refusal to receive the word – Mt. 13:20: Received it with joy! What causes a Christian to become unfaithful? Rocky Soil: Can’t GrowFruit On The Rocks Prepared by Nathan L Morrison / 05-14-06

Rocky Soil: Can’t GrowFruit On The Rocks A Specific Request Affliction (Trouble) Mt. 13:21 (Mk. 4:17) 21. yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away. Affliction is the common lot of man – Job. 14:1-2 Family trouble Health trouble Economic trouble (financial, security, etc.) Interpersonal relationships trouble This is specific trouble: “because of the word” (Mt. 13:21) This affliction can take many forms, often from family troubles, interpersonal relationships, and in some cases can affect economic trouble (jobs)! Emphasis in Scripture mine! Rocky Soil: Can’t GrowFruit On The Rocks Prepared by Nathan L Morrison / 05-14-06

Affliction (Trouble) Why would trouble cause one to forsake Christ? A Specific Request Affliction (Trouble) Why would trouble cause one to forsake Christ? Perhaps they feel as Christians they should be excused from trouble? Mt. 10:16-23: Jesus never promised it would be easy Grow weary from targeted trouble – II Tim. 3:12 May not understand the value of such trouble – Js. 1:2-4 Trouble exercises our faith and produces endurance Trouble in of itself does not cause one to fall away, but one’s reaction to it! The “rocky” Christian has no firm root for whatever reason The earthly consequences become more real or important to this individual than the eternal, long-term blessings (Neh. 2:18; 4:6, 8-15) The one who falls away because of affliction teaches us: you can’t grow fruit on the rocks! Rocky Soil: Can’t GrowFruit On The Rocks Prepared by Nathan L Morrison / 05-14-06

Persecution “because of the word” is suffering for being a Christian A Specific Request Persecution Mt. 13:21 (Mk. 4:17) 21. yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away. Persecution “because of the word” is suffering for being a Christian (I Pet. 4:12-16) Emphasis in Scripture mine! Forms of persecution (still around today): Verbal abuse, intimidation – I Pet. 4:3-4 Physical abuse – Acts 5:40-42; 7:58 Death – Acts 7:58-60; 12:1-2 Rocky Soil: Can’t GrowFruit On The Rocks Prepared by Nathan L Morrison / 05-14-06

Any value in persecution? A Specific Request Persecution The early church was persecuted (hunted): Apostles suffered – Acts 4-5 Church was scattered – Acts 8:1-4 Saints mercilessly hunted down – Acts 22:4-5; 26:9-11 Paul suffered – II Cor. 11:24-28 Any value in persecution? I Peter 1:6-9 6. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7. so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 8. and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9. obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls. Rocky Soil: Can’t GrowFruit On The Rocks Prepared by Nathan L Morrison / 05-14-06

The one who falls away because of persecution teaches us: you can’t A Specific Request Persecution Persecution in of itself can’t make one fall away, but one’s reaction to it Paul said he tried to force saints to blaspheme (Acts 26:11) Roman persecutions tried to force saints to blaspheme and deny Christ When faced with torture and death, many refused (Acts 26:10) that they may “obtain the salvation of their soul” (I Pet. 1:9) The “rocky” Christian who has no firm root, will only look at the temporal consequences, and ignore the long-term blessings The one who falls away because of persecution teaches us: you can’t grow fruit on the rocks! Rocky Soil: Can’t GrowFruit On The Rocks Prepared by Nathan L Morrison / 05-14-06

A Specific Request Temptation Luke 8:13 13. "Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away. Temptation doesn’t cause one to fall away, but giving in to it can! Mt. 13:21: Doesn’t mention temptation by name but says when affliction and persecution arise, the “rocky” Christian falls away Js. 1:14-15: We sin when we give in to temptation Emphasis in Scripture mine! When we let “affliction or persecution” get to us so that we give in to the temptation, we did so because we desired something more! Rocky Soil: Can’t GrowFruit On The Rocks Prepared by Nathan L Morrison / 05-14-06

Temptation God enables us to resist temptation (I Cor. 10:13): A Specific Request Temptation God enables us to resist temptation (I Cor. 10:13): Resist temptation with knowledge Know how it works – Js. 1:14-15: Avoid things that will arouse our lusts In the case of persecution, remember it is only temporary (Rom. 8:18) Resist temptation with determination Determine to resist (Js. 4:7) Daniel resisted with purpose (Dan. 1:8: “Made up his mind…”) Resist temptation by dedication Love righteousness and unrighteousness loses its appeal (Rom. 12:9) Temptation when not resisted will turn a heart from God! Emphasis in Scripture mine! The one who falls away from giving in to temptation teaches us: you can’t grow fruit on the rocks! Rocky Soil: Can’t GrowFruit On The Rocks Prepared by Nathan L Morrison / 05-14-06

Rocky Soil: Can’t GrowFruit On The Rocks A Specific Request Conclusion Affliction, Persecution, and Temptation are symptoms of the greater problem Mt. 13:21: “No firm root in himself” You can’t grow grain on the rocks! This person’s heart never became fertile soil Lack of dedication caused weakness! The solution is not to promise a removal of trouble, persecution or temptation Troubles will come – II Cor. 1:3-5 Persecution is sure – II Tim. 3:12 Temptation is inevitable – Heb. 4:15-16 The solution is to work on the soil – The grain must take hold in your heart and grow! Fruitfulness is equated with being the good soil! (Mt. 13:23; Mk. 4:20; Lk. 8:15) Rocky Soil: Can’t GrowFruit On The Rocks Prepared by Nathan L Morrison / 05-14-06

Conclusion The Fruit can’t grow on the rocks! A Specific Request Conclusion The Fruit can’t grow on the rocks! Mt. 13:21; Mk. 4:17; Lk. 8:13 Let your faith take firm root and stand firm! (Eph. 6:10-13) Rocky Soil: Can’t GrowFruit On The Rocks Prepared by Nathan L Morrison / 05-14-06

“What Must I Do To Be Saved?” Hear The Gospel (Jn. 5:24; Rom. 10:17) Believe In Christ (Jn. 3:16-18; Jn. 8:24) Repent Of Sins (Lk. 13:35; Acts 2:38) Confess Christ (Mt. 10:32; Rom. 10:10) Be Baptized (Mk. 16:16; Acts 22:16) Remain Faithful (Jn. 8:31; Rev. 2:10) For The Erring Child: Repent (Acts 8:22), Confess (I Jn. 1:9), Pray (Acts 8:22)