4. THE PARABLE OF THE SOILS TOLD (MATTHEW 13:3-9)
1) Hard Soil
Beside the road (packed ground)
Seed cannot penetrate the soil (ground)
Birds come along and eat the seed
2) Rocky Soil
Immediately springs up (because of no depth of soil)
Withered away (because the sun scorched it & it had no root)

5. THE PARABLE OF THE SOILS TOLD (MATTHEW 13:3-9)
3) Thorny Soil
Thorns (weeds) choke out the seed
4) Good Soil
Yields a crop
Some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty

6. THE PARABLE OF THE SOILS EXPLAINED (MATTHEW 13:18-23)
1st Soil Type: The Hard Heart
hears, but does not understand the word
The evil one snatches away the word from their heart
2nd Soil Type: The Shallow Heart
hears, receives the word with joy
No firm root in himself
Only temporary
Falls away (immediately when …)

7. THE PARABLE OF THE SOILS EXPLAINED (MATTHEW 13:18-23)
3rd Soil Type: The Divided Heart
hears, …
but the worry of the world,
the deceitfulness of riches,
the desire for other things
chokes out the fruit (it becomes unfruitful)
4th Soil Type: The Good Heart
hears, understands the Word (accepts it)
bears fruit (some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty)
holds the word fast (bears fruit w/ perseverance)

8. OWNING YOUR FAITH (6 Steps to Take)
1) Break up the hard soil
Soften your heart
2) Go deeper
Develop the inner life, not just the outer life
Let the word take root in your heart
3) Get the weeds out
Remove everything that competes for your devotion
4) Understand the word w/ an honest heart, hold it fast,
bear fruit w/ perseverance)

9. OWNING YOUR FAITH (6 Steps to Take)
5) Take the book challenge
Read “Own It”
6) Make a plan for your spiritual growth this summer
Set goals