Series: A Right Now Word Tuesday, July 12, 2016 Series: A Right Now Word "The Soil Does Matter" St. Mark 4:3-9 NIV

St. Mark 4:3-9 NIV 3 “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.

St. Mark 4:3-9 NIV 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.” 9 Then Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”

1). The Hard Soil - The NIV refers to this surface as "the pathway." The NKJV calls it "the wayside." The Message Bible identifies the surface as "the roadside." - Because the surface was so hard the seeds could not penetrate and germinate; therefore the birds of the air came and took them away. - Jesus lets us know that some people because their hearts are hard when they hear the Word, it does not penetrate or germinate, therefore Satan the prince of the air comes and take it away. (V.15)

2). The Shallow Soil - It is also referred to as "a rocky place where there wasn't much soil." - The NLT says that it did not have deep roots; although it sprung up quickly, it did not last, for it soon wilted under the heat of the hot sun. - Jesus in Vs.16-17 says that this type of soil represents those who hear and receive the word with joy, but since their roots are shallow, they only last a short time. When they encounter trouble or persecution they quickly fall away.

3). The Thorny Soil - These seeds fell among thorns, or as recorded in the Message Bible: "weeds." - The Message Bible goes on to say that they came up but were soon strangled among the weeds and nothing came of them. - Jesus explains in Vs.18-19 that this thorny soil represents those who hear the Word but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires of other things come in and choke the Word, making it unfruitful.

4). The Good Soil - These seeds fell on what is described in the Text as "good soil." The NLT refers to it as "fertile soil." This "good soil" produced a "good crop" a crop that multiplied some thirty, sixty and one hundred times. - The Message Bible says that this "good soil" produced a harvest that even exceeded the sower's wildest dreams.

Three Key Observations From Sunday's Message...

1. It is not just enough to hear God's Word; the Word must penetrate, germinate and produce a harvest.

2. In order for the Word to penetrate, germinate and produce a harvest it must be planted in the right kind of soil, "the good soil."

3. This good soil represents a willing heart and a positive attitude when the Word is presented.