Seeds, Soils and Souls

Seeds, Soils, and Souls

Matthew 13:1-23

Take-Home Truth: Our hearts have a tendency to be hard, shallow, and divided, but humble hearts receive God’s word and bear much fruit.

Christ-Connection: Christ reveals the truth to those who are willing to listen. 

Hook: (Ice-breaker question. Get the group talking!)

1. Share a puzzling experience you just couldn’t figure out. How did you solve it? (This question is a set up for the concept of a “parable”…puzzling to some, truth revealing to others) 

Engage: (Observe the passage and engage with the text) 

2. As a group, read Matthew 13:1-23 together aloud. Make observations. Discuss and unpack these verses together. 
3. This parable shows Jesus revealing truth to some and concealing truth from others (vv. 11-17). How does this reality shape your understanding of God’s heart for people?

 Reflect: (Reflect upon the key take-aways from the sermon)

4. Ronny elaborated on the four types of soil/soul (vv. 18-23). 

• Hard heart – sees Jesus as irrelevant
• Shallow heart – sees Jesus as a trend
• Divided heart – sees Jesus as an accessory
• Humble/fruitful heart – receives the word, accepts it, and bears much fruit

Which of the four soils most commonly describes your heart? Why?  

5. Different messages (seeds) from God’s Word bring out different responses from his people. What types of seed from God’s Word elicit the hard heart in you? The shallow heart? The divided heart?

Respond: (Apply the truths of God’s Word to your heart, affections, and actions)

6. What are some practical steps you can take this week to cultivate a humble and fruitful heart? 
7. One verse Ronny alluded to for heart cultivation was Jeremiah 29:13. What other Scriptures encourage/challenge you towards a humble and fruitful heart?