{"id":257,"date":"2013-07-10T20:24:23","date_gmt":"2013-07-11T01:24:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/?p=257"},"modified":"2013-07-10T20:24:23","modified_gmt":"2013-07-11T01:24:23","slug":"the-right-kind-of-soil","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/?p=257","title":{"rendered":"The Right Kind of Soil"},"content":{"rendered":"<p align=\"center\">Lesson 19<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\">The Right Kind of Soil<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\">Luke 8:1-21<\/p>\n<p>If there is one parable that gives us a clear picture of the work of the gospel this one about the soils is definitely it.\u00a0 I decided a long time ago that the word that I allowed to be planted would be the one factor that would change my life.\u00a0 From the beginning the decision that I made to spend as much time in the Scriptures has led me on an exciting journey of discovery of the importance of God\u2019s Word. Of course it has not been easy. I was reminded of the work that it takes by someone who plants a garden each year.\u00a0 He shared how much he enjoyed the fruit of his labor, but would not put forth the effort unless he enjoyed what he does. I have tried to be the fertile soil in which God\u2019s word can take root and grow.<\/p>\n<p>Although I have been the one to spend time reading, meditating and studying His word, I know without a doubt that whatever fruit that has resulted from the effort is all produced by Him.\u00a0 He is the One who brings about the harvest.\u00a0 The more I submit to Him the greater the fruit.<\/p>\n<p>What is true for the individual can also be said of the assembly of believers.\u00a0 If we really look at ourselves it becomes obvious whether we are fertile soil in which God\u2019s word can take root. All we have to do is look at the harvest that takes place in the body.\u00a0 The fruit that should result from the sowing of God\u2019s word is to result in transformed lives within the church.\u00a0 There should also be new people coming into the body as we share the gospel with them.\u00a0 When we do not see others coming to the Lord then we have to question whether we are serious about letting God\u2019s word sink deep down into our soul.<\/p>\n<p>Luke 8:1<\/p>\n<p>Luke indicates that Jesus began to expand His ministry beyond Capernaum.\u00a0 There is no mention of healing in this verse.\u00a0 He was spending more time proclaiming and preaching about the kingdom of God. It is interesting that both the word proclaiming which means to herald forth the message and preaching which carries with it the idea of interpreting the Word of God.\u00a0 In both instances the message was the same.\u00a0 He spoke of the Kingdom of God.\u00a0 Finally through Jesus the Father had come to rule in men\u2019s hearts.<\/p>\n<p>Jesus did not make the trip alone.\u00a0 Some of the people who travelled with Him included His disciples.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Why did Jesus leave the confines of Capernaum? (His message was for all people.)<\/li>\n<li>What is the difference between proclaiming and preaching?<\/li>\n<li>What does it mean for the Kingdom of God to come to earth?\u00a0 (The Kingdom of God indicates He has taken over and rules men\u2019s hearts?<\/li>\n<li>How does this statement relate to your life?<\/li>\n<li>Who were some of the people who travelled with Him?<\/li>\n<li>Why was it important for His disciples to travel with Him?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Luke 8:2-3<\/p>\n<p>Besides the disciples there were a number of women who also made the trip. As Luke says they were those who had been healed by Jesus.\u00a0 Some had been possessed by evil spirits and others had different types of sicknesses.\u00a0 They were<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Mary Magdalene who had been demon possessed.<\/li>\n<li>Joanna the wife of Herod\u2019s steward, Chuza.<\/li>\n<li>Susanna<\/li>\n<li>Others of which nothing is said.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>All of these women were providing for the needs of Jesus from their own private means.\u00a0 One could almost wonder if the woman forgiven by Jesus in Capernaum might be part of the entourage.\u00a0 All of these women owed Jesus much and were willing to give what they had.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Why were the men following Jesus? (Out of gratitude for what He had done for them.)<\/li>\n<li>Which of the women became the most prominent in the life of Jesus?<\/li>\n<li>What did the support of the women say about Jesus? (Women were not excluded by Jesus as they were in the culture in which they lived.)<\/li>\n<li>What did the support mean for the ministry of Jesus? (it could not continue without financial assistance.)<\/li>\n<li>What does this say about the support we are to give to the ministries of the church?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Luke 8:4<\/p>\n<p>Luke does not explain why Jesus spoke to the people by way of a parable.\u00a0 He just said that a large crowd came to Him from various cities.\u00a0 Whatever the reason, He chose that particular point to begin using a tool that would become His mainstay throughout the rest of His ministry.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>What was beginning to happen in the ministry of Jesus? (He was beginning to draw larger crowds.)<\/li>\n<li>How would the people from other cities have heard about Him?<\/li>\n<li>In what ways do you encourage others to come to hear the message of the gospel?<\/li>\n<li>Why do you think that Jesus began to use parables to teach the people?<\/li>\n<li>What examples of parables have we already seen being used by Jesus to get a message across? (In the last chapter He spoke of the kind money lender.)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Luke 8:5-8<\/p>\n<p>The parable was about a sower who went out to sow seed.\u00a0 As he sowed the seed fell onto different soils.\u00a0 The seed that<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Fell beside the road and was trampled underfoot and was eaten by the birds.<\/li>\n<li>Fell on rocky ground grew up quickly but because it did not have a good root system withered because of lack of moisture.<\/li>\n<li>Fell among the thorns and were choked out<\/li>\n<li>Fell on good soil grew up and produced a crop a hundredfold.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>His last words to the crowd admonished them to hear what He was trying to tell them.\u00a0<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Why did the sower sow the seed so indiscriminately? (He did not know which place would produce results.)<\/li>\n<li>Why is it important for us to share the gospel with anyone who will listen?<\/li>\n<li>What results might we expect? (The harvest may come from unexpected places?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Luke 8:9<\/p>\n<p>It would appear that the disciples had no more discernment than any of the people in the crowd.\u00a0 They began to ask Him to explain the parable to them.\u00a0 Possibly they did not see themselves in any of the examples that Jesus had used.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Why did the disciples ask Jesus to explain the parable to them?<\/li>\n<li>Why did they not understand what He had been saying to all the people?<\/li>\n<li>What are the reasons that sometimes we missed the point of what a teacher or preacher is saying to us? (We may not think it applies to us.)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Luke 8:10<\/p>\n<p>Before explaining the parable to them He told them of the special privilege available to them.\u00a0 They would learn firsthand what God was trying to do in the world.\u00a0 The mystery of God as can be seen in Colossians 1:27-28 is none other than Jesus Himself.\u00a0 In others words He was going to completely reveal Himself to them.\u00a0 This special privilege would be reserved for them only.<\/p>\n<p>What the statement did not mean was that others would be excluded from learning what God was doing among men.\u00a0 The reason they would have problem understanding was because they chose to close their ears and eyes to what God wanted to reveal to them.\u00a0 See Isaiah 6:9 and Matthew 13:14.\u00a0 If their hearts were receptive they would hear what He had to say.<\/p>\n<p>Another reason for using parables was the fact that the stories would impact the life of at least one individual in a group of people.\u00a0 He was able to touch on a person\u2019s need without having to single them out before others.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>What was to be the special relationship that the disciples would have with Jesus?<\/li>\n<li>What was the mystery to which Jesus was referring?<\/li>\n<li>How do we know that Jesus never intended to exclude anyone from the message He was sharing?<\/li>\n<li>What did Jesus mean when He spoke of seeing but not seeing and hearing and not understanding?<\/li>\n<li>What other reason is given for the use of parables? (Not having to single out an individual by name.)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Luke 8:11<\/p>\n<p>Once Jesus had shared with the disciples His intentions, He began to break down the parable for them.\u00a0 Notice there are two constants throughout the whole story.\u00a0 Although not mentioned God is the sower of the seed.\u00a0 This includes all of the books of the Old Testament and now those taught by Jesus.\u00a0 After the life of Jesus the apostles would carry on the practice of spreading God\u2019s word. The seed is the unchangeable word of God.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>What are the two constants throughout the parable?<\/li>\n<li>What do I call them constants?<\/li>\n<li>Why is it important to have these two factors at play?<\/li>\n<li>Who else besides Jesus had been and would be involved in spreading God\u2019s word?<\/li>\n<li>What is our part in the fulfillment of the parable?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Luke 8:12-18<\/p>\n<p>The variable in the parable is not the soil, but its condition to receive and nourish the seed that has been sown.\u00a0 As has been seen there are four different types of soil.\u00a0 Jesus goes into much greater detail to show who each represents as they hear the word of God.\u00a0 They are like the seed sown\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>On the pathway that has been packed hard by steady traffic.\u00a0 These individuals hear and immediately their hearts are hardened by the devil.\u00a0 They therefore have no hope for salvation.<\/li>\n<li>On the rocky places there were those who heard the word with great emotion but because of their shallowness the word does not become rooted in them.\u00a0 Jesus said, they believe for a while until temptations overwhelm them and the fall away from the faith.<\/li>\n<li>In among the thorns.\u00a0 Their faith is crowed out by all that the world has to offer in the ways of pleasure, wealth and even worries.\u00a0 Of them it was said of them that their fruit never reaches maturity.<\/li>\n<li>In the good soil.\u00a0 They hear because their hearts are honest, good and open to the word. This type of person holds fast to the faith because the word has become deeply rooted in him.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>What is the variable in the different soils? (It was the condition to receive the word and have it flourish.)<\/li>\n<li>What are the characteristics are prevalent in each of the first three soils?<\/li>\n<li>Why do people represented in each of them fail to become mature Christians?<\/li>\n<li>What part do you think that emotion has to play in each of them?<\/li>\n<li>Which of the four soils do you think best represents the congregation of Bethany Place?<\/li>\n<li>How much diversity in faith do you see among us?<\/li>\n<li>What do we have to do to have the faith that results from being like the fourth soil?<\/li>\n<li>What would we see happen in our church, community if we developed this kind of faith?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Luke 8:16-17<\/p>\n<p>Jesus follows up the parable of the soils with another short parable dealing with the revelation of all things.\u00a0 A lamp is not meant to be hidden but to give light to all its surroundings.\u00a0 Jesus spoke as the light of the world.\u00a0 In the glow of His light shining even in the dark places there is nothing that can be hidden that will not be exposed.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>What relationship does this parable have with the previous one?\u00a0 (His light will shine to reveal the hearts of man.)<\/li>\n<li>Why is it important for us to understand that everything we do will come under the scrutiny of Jesus who is the light of the world?<\/li>\n<li>Why do we sometimes want to hide from God?<\/li>\n<li>What is the positive idea that comes from not hiding your light under a container?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Luke 8:18<\/p>\n<p>If man is like the fourth soil he will listen to the word of God and filter out all the static that comes from the world around him.\u00a0 It is important to realize that the more one spends in God word and serving Him, he will grow producing a harvest that is a hundred times greater.\u00a0 To let ones spirit or body atrophy from neglect of God\u2019s word even what he thought he had will be lost.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>How is the fourth soil like the man who truly listens to God\u2019s word?<\/li>\n<li>What are those things that can crowd out our ability to hear Him?<\/li>\n<li>What happens when we spend our time in the study of His word and serving Him?<\/li>\n<li>What happens when we neglect those things?<\/li>\n<li>What is truly important in your life?<\/li>\n<li>What is the value of those things?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Luke 8:19-21<\/p>\n<p>Luke does not tell why Mary and His half-brothers came to see Jesus at that particular time. \u00a0They may have been concerned about His welfare, as is seen in Mark 3:21. They were not able to even get close to Him because of the crowds surrounding Him. It is interesting to note that at that point in His ministry His brothers did not even believe in Him.\u00a0 It would take the resurrection for that to happen.\u00a0 Someone told Him that they were there. Jesus responded by saying His real family were not those who were kin by blood but those who are open to hearing God\u2019s word and putting it into practice.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Why did Mary and the brothers come to see Jesus?<\/li>\n<li>Why did the brothers not believe in Him at that point? (They just saw Him as a brother.)<\/li>\n<li>When did the brothers begin to believe that He was the Savior of the world?<\/li>\n<li>What do you think of His response to the one who told Him that His mother had arrived?<\/li>\n<li>How does this tie with both of the previous parables? (It is all about hearing, believing and doing?<\/li>\n<li>In what ways have you shown that you are in the true family of Jesus?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Take an honest look at yourself to see which of the soils best represents your response to God\u2019s word.<\/li>\n<li>Challenge yourself to change with God\u2019s help if you picture yourself as any of the first three soils.<\/li>\n<li>For those of you who see yourselves in the category that fits in with the fourth soil make sure your life reflects the mature fruit that comes from it.<\/li>\n<li>Spend time in fellowship with the Father everyday through prayer and meditation upon His word.<\/li>\n<li>However God has gifted you make sure you do not hide them but use them to serve others.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>Give thanks that God has included you in His family through the work of His Son on the Cross.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The last thing that we want to happen within the body is to become known as a church that does not hear and do the word of God.\u00a0 There are so many obstacles that get in the way today that keep us from going deeper into His word.\u00a0 We want to be a church that God can use in transforming the lives of all with whom we come in contact.\u00a0 This will happen when His word becomes ingrained in us. There should be none of us who represent the pathway, rocky ground or land overrun with thorns.\u00a0 Our lives can only produce a harvest as we let the seed grow in the fertile soil of our mind and heart.\u00a0 When that happens people will recognize us as members of God\u2019s forever family.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lesson 19 The Right Kind of Soil Luke 8:1-21 If there is one parable that gives us a clear picture of the work of the gospel this one about the soils is definitely it.\u00a0 I decided a long time ago that the word that I allowed to be planted would be the one factor that [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-257","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-luke"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/257","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=257"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/257\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=257"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=257"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=257"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}