“Genuine discipleship is wholehearted discipleship.” – John Stott Again he began to teach beside the sea. And a very large crowd gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat in it on the sea, and the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land. 2 And he was teaching them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them: 3 “Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it.

“Genuine discipleship is wholehearted discipleship.” – John Stott 5 Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil. 6 And when the sun rose, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. 8 And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.” 9 And he said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

“Genuine discipleship is wholehearted discipleship.” – John Stott 10 And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. 11 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, 12 so that “they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven.”

“Genuine discipleship is wholehearted discipleship.” – John Stott 13 And he said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? 14 The sower sows the word. 15 And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. 16 And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy.

“Genuine discipleship is wholehearted discipleship.” – John Stott 17 And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. 18 And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, 19 but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 20 But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.”

“Genuine discipleship is wholehearted discipleship.” – John Stott DateSermonPassage 1/19 Discipleship–Total Commitment Mark 1:16-20, 3: /26 Discipleship – Total Acceptance of the Word Mark 4:1-20 2/2 Discipleship–Total Trust Mark 4: /9 Discipleship–Total Transformation Mark 5:1-20 2/16 Discipleship–Total Selflessness Mark 6:6-13 2/23 Discipleship–Total Humility Mark 9:33-50

Mark 4:1-20

“Genuine discipleship is wholehearted discipleship.” – John Stott Listen and hear – Truly hear The parable of the sower is framed at the beginning and the end with the call for people to listen and hear. Mark 4:2-3 – And he was teaching them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them: 3 “Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow.” Mark 4:9 - And he said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

“Genuine discipleship is wholehearted discipleship.” – John Stott A parable has been commonly defined as “an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.” It has been estimated that at least 1/3 of Jesus’ recorded teaching is found in the parables (Wiersbe)

“Genuine discipleship is wholehearted discipleship.” – John Stott As disciples of Jesus, God is calling us to accept and live fully by His Word.

“Genuine discipleship is wholehearted discipleship.” – John Stott I. The things that prevent II. The things that promote III. Hear the Word, Accept it, Produce fruit

“Genuine discipleship is wholehearted discipleship.” – John Stott a. The Trampled Soil (The Path) Mark 4:4 - And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it.

“Genuine discipleship is wholehearted discipleship.” – John Stott The condition of this soil: 1) It is trampled down. 2) It is hard. 3) The seed can’t penetrate.

“Genuine discipleship is wholehearted discipleship.” – John Stott The cause of this soil: Many reasons for hardness of our hearts - 1) Hearing the truth over and over and not letting it penetrate the heart 2) Sin that makes us so hard and callous

“Genuine discipleship is wholehearted discipleship.” – John Stott The result of this soil: 1)The seed never takes root. 2) Satan takes away the seed as soon as it is sown. Mark 4:15 - And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them.

“Genuine discipleship is wholehearted discipleship.” – John Stott b. The Shallow Soil Mark 4:5-6 - Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil. And when the sun rose, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away.

“Genuine discipleship is wholehearted discipleship.” – John Stott The condition of this soil: 1) It is very rocky and has little soil

“Genuine discipleship is wholehearted discipleship.” – John Stott The cause of this soil: 1) A lack of time spent in the Word 2) A lack of spiritual growth that no roots form 3) A lack of true understanding of the cost of discipleship

“Genuine discipleship is wholehearted discipleship.” – John Stott Mark 4: And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy. 17 And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. The result of this soil: 1)It endures for a while but doesn’t last when hardship comes. 2) It withers away.

“Genuine discipleship is wholehearted discipleship.” – John Stott c. The Infested Soil Mark 4:7 - Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain.

“Genuine discipleship is wholehearted discipleship.” – John Stott The condition of this soil: 1) It is ready to produce crop 2) Thorns come along with the crop

“Genuine discipleship is wholehearted discipleship.” – John Stott The cause of this soil: 1) Our lives are filled with worries and anxieties of the world rather than trusting God 2) Our desire for things of this world becomes more important than knowing God

“Genuine discipleship is wholehearted discipleship.” – John Stott Mark 4: And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, 19 but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. The result of this soil: 1)Things of this world become more important to us than living for God and trusting Him

“Genuine discipleship is wholehearted discipleship.” – John Stott The Good Soil Mark 4:8 - And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.”

“Genuine discipleship is wholehearted discipleship.” – John Stott The condition of this soil: 1) It is fertile and ready to produce crop 2) It helps the crop grow 3) It produces a yield that multiples

“Genuine discipleship is wholehearted discipleship.” – John Stott The cause of this soil: 1) The soil is nourished and healthy 2) The soil isn’t contaminated

“Genuine discipleship is wholehearted discipleship.” – John Stott Mark 4:20 20 But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold The result of this soil: 1)Healthy growth and bearing fruit that multiples

“Genuine discipleship is wholehearted discipleship.” – John Stott Mark 4:20 But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.”