A little less conversation …. a little more action

The Parable of the Sower A little less conversation, a little more action Mark 4:1-32

A little less conversation, a little more action [1] Parable of the Sower – range of responses of the hearers of the Good News. [2] Light under a basket – Heed the light, listen & learn! [3] The growing seed – Multiplying the seed!

A little less conversation, a little more action 1 Be broken

A little less conversation, a little more action 1 Be broken What does brokenness do? Releases the treasure within (John 12:24) Brings revelation Attracts the lost (Revelation 10)

A little less conversation, a little more action 2 Be bold – you can do it! What stops us? Fear – 2 Timothy 1:7 Being misunderstood – Ezekiel 3:8-9 Discouragement – 1 Kings 18 Doubt & unbelief The enemy – Luke 11:21-22

A little less conversation, a little more action 3 Sow yourself We need to allow Christ in us OUT!

A little less conversation, a little more action 3 Sow yourself The Engel Scale 1 10 Negative picture of God Accept Christ as their Saviour

A little less conversation, a little more action 4 Rely on Holy Spirit John 5:19-20

A little less conversation, a little more action 4 Rely on Holy Spirit The life of the Christian, without the indwelling power of the Spirit in the heart, is weariness to the flesh. - John G. Lake, Healing revivalist

A little less conversation, a little more action 5 Cross some boundaries

A little less conversation, a little more action 5 Cross some boundaries It's news I'm most proud to proclaim, this extraordinary Message of God's powerful plan to rescue everyone who trusts him, starting with Jews and then right on to everyone else! - Romans 1:16, The Message

A little less conversation, a little more action 6 Model Jesus 3 Rs John 4 – Jesus & the Samaritan woman

A little less conversation, a little more action 6 Model Jesus 3 Rs i) Relevance – John 4:13-15

We need to be talking about Jesus rather than the Church. People arent that interested in the Church but they are interested in Jesus. They will be interested in the Church once the Church becomes like Jesus. - Rev Mark Stibbe A little less conversation, a little more action

A little less conversation, a little more action

A little less conversation, a little more action 6 Model Jesus 3 Rs i) Relevance – John 4:13-15 ii) Revelatory – John 4:16-19

A little less conversation, a little more action 6 Model Jesus 3 Rs Exodus 4:10-12 And Moses said to to the Lord, O my Lord, I am not a man of words now, nor since You have spoken to Your servant, but I am slow of speech and of a slow tongue. And the Lord said to him, Who has made man's mouth? Or who makes the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord? And now go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.

A little less conversation, a little more action 6 Model Jesus 3 Rs Hebrew word for teach = yarah [H3384] 1.To flow as water 2.To shoot as an arrow 3.To point out by aiming the finer

A little less conversation, a little more action 6 Model Jesus 3 Rs i) Relevance – John 4:13-15 ii) Revelatory – John 4:16-19 iii) Relational – John 4:20-26

A little less conversation, a little more action 6 Model Jesus 3 Rs The Legal Way The Relational Way = We are sinners and justification is the way forward. = We are orphans and we need to be adopted. John Wesley

A little less conversation, a little more action Do you want to be an elephant or a rabbit? Elephants > Only fertile four times a year > Only one baby per pregnancy > 22 month gestation period > Sexual maturity at 18 years > Max. growth potential in 3 years = 1 elephant > Almost continuously fertile > Average of 7 babies per pregnancy > 1 month gestation period > Sexual maturity at 4 months > Max. growth potential in 3 years = 476 million rabbits! Rabbits

A little less conversation, a little more action Notes & PowerPoint show from this morning: Resources section