The Big Idea: A Warning - our hearts are tested by God’s word.

I. 4 different types of soil; 4 different fates of the seed.

(1) Some fell along the path and was eaten by the birds. (2) Some fell in rocky places where little soil existed for the seed to take up root, so when the sun came up the plant withered because it had no root. (3) Other seed fell among thorns, which choked the young plants when they began to grow. (4) Lastly some seed fell on good soil, which caused the planting to grow and produce a good measure of fruit.

These 4 different types of soil correspond to 4 different conditions of the human heart when hearing God’s word: (1) the hardened heart (2) the superficial heart (3) the crowded heart and (4) the good heart.

Question: What is the condition of my heart? How would the soil of our heart be characterized this morning?

II. First type of soil – the hardened heart

Some people’s hearts are like seed along the path; the seed lays on the surface - as soon as it is heard, Satan comes, like the birds, and takes it away.

Satan is successful because the heart is hardened, unresponsive and unbelieving. It is our sin that hardens our heart; that numbs our heart.

Question: how does one detect whether his or her heart is hardened?

III. The 2nd type of soil – the superficial heart

Some fell onto rocky soil. It sprang up quickly because the soil it was planted in was shallow. The words of God are not allowed to penetrate deeply.

More questions: have you allowed God’s words to go deep into your heart? Do you have a depth of root to hold you when the sun comes out, when the pressure comes?IV. The 3rd type of soil - the crowded heart

Some fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants so that they could not bear fruit. Jesus explained that the thorns are the worries of this life; the cares and concerns of life prevent the planting from becoming fruitful.

Question: Is there something that is choking my heart? Is there some ordinary, legitimate concern of life that is preventing the fruitfulness of God’s word in my life?

V. The last type of soil - the good heart

The good soil, a heart that is tender, humbled, receptive, responsive to the seed being planted within, soil that is teachable, yielded to its master. It is a heart that is obedient.

VI. Consider the Sower of the seed!

Any farmer knows that though he must labor to grow his plants. He plants his seed in places where it has the best opportunity for producing crops. But Jesus scatters his seed, even on hearts that are hard! Such is the compassion and love of our Savior!