2.  PK Musings: Matt 12 recounts what happened just before Mark 4:1-9’s parable is given  A man was brought to Jesus who was demon possessed & He cast them out  Pharisees accused Him of being the devil  His family tries to get “in” w/Jesus even though they did not truly believe until after the resurrection occurred  Jesus is rejected, mocked & misunderstood

3. The Wayside/Indifferent & Hard-Hearted The Wayside/Indifferent & Hard-Hearted  It’s a hard place – path is beaten, open to the pleasures of sin, self-absorbed not God directed  It’s a dangerous place – exposed to fowls of the air, and feet of passers by. (Satan steals)  Exposed seed is in danger; David understood  Ps 119:11 – “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee.”

4. The Stony Ground/Shallow heart & life  They joyfully receive it, BUT the reception is emotional (soul) –Alka Seltzer Christians - all fizz til it dies down & reality (trials) sets in  The seed is quickly starved – not rooted so it “blows” away ( Prov 12:3,12 - flesh robs)  Eph 3:17 “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you, being rooted & grounded in love….”

5. The Thorny Ground/double-minded or overcrowded heart & life  There’s abundant soil, & all is well until outside pressures come eg financial, family, relationship, job, spouse (The world robs it)  They’re double minded (see Mt 6:24)  They’re preoccupied (see Mt 6:25)  Their soil was unfruitful  Sin & worry are robbers

6. Conversion/the good & receptive life Conversion/the good & receptive life  This is the heart/life that leaves no room for excuses – it is a prepared, understanding and fruitful life.  “leaving (forsaking) what is behind (me) and moving forward, I press on toward the upward call of Jesus Christ.”

7.  How rich is the soil of your heart?  Can it receive the engrafted Word of God?  What are you willing to “do” to enrich the soil of your heart?

8.  Jn 15:7-8 “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you will ask what you will, and it shall be done to you. Here in is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; so shall you be my disciples.”