1. Series: Growing up in God’s Family Luke 8:4-8

2. Growing up in God’s Family 4 When a large crowd was coming together, and those from the various cities were journeying to Him, He spoke by way of a parable: Luke 8:4-8

3. Growing up in God’s Family Luke 8:4-8

4. Growing up in God’s Family Luke 8:4-8

5. Growing up in God’s Family Luke 8:4-8

6. Growing up in God’s Family Luke 8:4-8

7. Growing up in God’s Family Last week we began this series of messages concerning growing up in God’s family. We allowed God’s Word to give us an overview of the stages of spiritual growth. Introduction:

8. Growing up in God’s Family The stages are new birth, infancy, childhood, young adulthood, and maturity. Introduction:

9. Growing up in God’s Family The truth revealed in the parable is that the condition of our heart, when we encounter the Word of God, determines how much effect the Word can produce in our lives and through our lives. Introduction:

10. Growing up in God’s Family The culture in which Jesus lived and did ministry was primarily an oral culture. In oral cultures the story becomes the primary tool for communicating truth. Introduction:

11. Growing up in God’s Family Jesus shared His parables over and over again as they moved from village to village. Each parable was intended to make one point. From this point additional applications could be applied. Introduction:

12. Growing up in God’s Family We see Jesus teaching this parable in three different settings. In Matthew 13 and Mark 4 Jesus simply shared the story and allowed the primary point to be the only application. Introduction:

13. Growing up in God’s Family In Luke 8 Jesus shares In Luke 8 Jesus shares the same truth and then gives an application of the primary principle: salvation.

14. Growing up in God’s Family God created us with a body, soul, and spirit. Our bodies enable us to be identified and to interact with our world.

15. Growing up in God’s Family Our spirit is dead when we are born physically. This is a result of mankind’s sin.

16. Growing up in God’s Family Adam represented us and as he chose to sin we all experience the consequences. Each of us also, like Adam, has made the choice to sin willfully.

17. Growing up in God’s Family Our sin nature is why we are born dead spiritually. If one remains spiritually dead and dies physically then the person remains dead and enters into eternity still dead spiritually yet now without hope.

18. Growing up in God’s Family This is why we must be born again. We must have our sin nature and willful sins forgiven. This is possible only through trusting in Jesus.

19. Growing up in God’s Family Our soul is the combination of our mind, our emotions and our will. The mind and emotions are always seeking to influence and control the will. All three must be submitted to God.

20. Growing up in God’s Family Once we have trusted Jesus the Holy Spirit comes to live inside our spirit bring it to life. Our spirit enables us to experience fellowship and communication with God.

21. Growing up in God’s Family From within our spirit, the Holy Spirit seeks to influence our soul and body to follow Jesus

22. Growing up in God’s Family Our soul is often called our heart in the Scriptures. Therefore when we talk about four types of hearts we are describing four types of souls. Jesus tells us that there are 4 types of hearts/souls.

23. Growing up in God’s Family In His parable He uses the concept of soils to describe these In His parable He uses the concept of soils to describe these four different hearts. Three of the heart conditions hinder our journey with God. One type of heart enables God’s Word to produce in us and through us multiplied fruit.

24. Growing up in God’s Family This story is usually called This story is usually called the parable of the sower. The story should be called the parable of the soils.

25. Growing up in God’s Family

32. This heart is described through contrasting it with the other three hearts This heart is open to God’s truth/Word Mind opened to believe truth. Emotions open to experience God’s love

33. Growing up in God’s Family This heart has a will predetermined to follow God’s will and ways. It is an obedient, submissive heart This heart desires to grow both deep and wide. God’s Word is able to convict and encourage and transform

34. Growing up in God’s Family This heart produces multiplied fruit. Every seed of the Word multiplies within and outside of the person This heart has no areas closed or hardened to God’s Word

35. Growing up in God’s Family This heart seeks first the kingdom of Christ and His righteousness and therefore avoids allowing thorns or clutter to take root

36. Growing up in God’s Family

37. To cultivate and maintain the heart that is like good soil we must grow in three ways

38. Growing up in God’s Family

41. We understand that what goes into our mind, and what feeds our emotions will influence our will. Therefore we test and make sure we are keeping our hearts ready for God’s Word to do its complete work in us.

42. Growing up in God’s Family

44. Israel had hardened their hearts and God gave them over to the Assyrians. Now Judah, like shallow soil, gave the pretense of loving and following God yet in reality they were as hard as Israel.

45. Growing up in God’s Family Through Jeremiah God said bust up that which is harden and rocky. In addition, he said to not plant among the thorns.

46. Growing up in God’s Family One would have to remove the clutter. It is one thing to remove hardness and shallowness. It is another action to remove the clutter.

47. Growing up in God’s Family Many have their hearts broken by God and desire to be open to His Word. They may even remove rocks of sin and bitterness.

48. Growing up in God’s Family Yet if they have filled life with things that are not eternal they may not have room for God to truly use them for His kingdom. Therefore the potential fruit is choked.

49. Growing up in God’s Family

55. Series: Luke 8:4-8