1. Parable of The Sower
Luke 8:4-15

2. Informative Parable Prophetic- same reactions today
Profound- real reasons for falling away
Personal- speaks to you and me

3. Purpose of Parables Stress one thing Not the preparation of the soil
Not the dedication of the sower
Different types of hearers
Responsibility of the hearers

4. Wayside Soil Hardened by footprints Grain couldn’t penetrate it
Devoured by the birds

5. Wayside Soil Hearts hardened by … Continuous evil (Genesis 6:5)
Prejudice (Matthew 13:15)
Deceitfulness of sin (Hebrews 3:13)
Covetousness (2 Peter 2:14)

6. Wayside Soil Need understanding
Comes by the Word (Psalm 119:104; Proverbs 2:1-5; 3:5)
No excuse for ignorance (Ephesians 5:17)
Pray for knowledge (Colossians 1:9, 10)

7. Wayside Soil Power of the Word
Satan’s knows its power (2 Thessalonians 2:9, 10)
Deceived Eve (2 Corinthians 11:3)

8. Rocky Soil Thin layer of topsoil Plant springs up, dies in the sun
Roots not deep where the moisture is

9. Rocky Soil Eagerly accepts but falls away Some obeyed at a young age
Started attending, obeyed, then left
Helped convert others, then fell away

10. Rocky Soil Jesus’ explanation Tribulation (Matthew 13:21)
Danger of the “health and wealth gospel”
Cross-bearing necessary (Luke 9:23)
Temptation (Luke 8:13)
Persecution (Mark 4:17)

11. Rocky Soil Symptoms of an underlying problem “Had no root in himself”
No true convictions, or foundation
No real determination to serve the Lord and go to heaven

12. Thorny Soil Ground filled with weeds and thorns
Plant springs up but is “choked”
Not able to come to maturity

13. Thorny Soil Choked by … Cares of the world (Luke 10:41, 42)
Deceitfulness of riches (1 Timothy 6:9, 10)
Pleasures of this life (Mark 4:19)

14. Thorny Soil Is this you, or me?
No longer find joy in serving the Lord?
No longer rejoice when worshiping God?
Delight in things other than Bible study, prayer, etc?

15. Good Soil
Secret to success
Reason for preparation
Need depth

16. Good Soil Need to have this heart Embrace the Word (James 1:25)
Produce fruit (1 Corinthians 15:58)

17. Good Soil Faithful unto the end
Storing up for a good harvest (1 Timothy 6:19)
Absolute trust in God (2 Timothy 1:12)

18. Conclusion All possible responses to the Word Blessed with free will
What type of soil are you?