1. Do You Have What It Takes To Go To Heaven? The Parable of the Sower (Luke 8:1-18)

2. Why Jesus taught in parables And He said, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is in parables, in order that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand. (Luke 8:10)

3. What Jesus meant “ Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God. “ And those beside the road are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they may not believe and be saved. “ And those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy;

4. and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away. “ And the seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity. “ And the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance. (Luke 8:11-15)

5. Why important then and now? The pathway into the kingdom is through the teaching of the word of God. “No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.“It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught of God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me. (John 6:44-45)

6. Not all who hear the kingdom message will become true kingdom citizens. –The closed mind –The crazed mind –The crowded mind Why important then and now?

7. The kingdom belongs to those with a proper heart. –We must be honest. –We must be good.

8. Why important then and now? The word is living, powerful, and life changing. For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Heb. 4:12)

9. A word of caution “ Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed; but he puts it on a lampstand, in order that those who come in may see the light. “ For nothing is hidden that shall not become evident, nor anything secret that shall not be known and come to light. “ Therefore take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him shall more be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him. ” (Luke 8:16-18)

10. Why important then and now? How we respond to the truth now has implications for our future. –The light we receive should never be hidden. –A proper attitude toward truth leads to increase in knowledge and wisdom. –Failure to hear properly will lead to self- deception and darkening of understanding.

11. Two important questions Why can ’ t we reach a certain person? Do I have what it takes to go to heaven?