Loosening the soil requires it to be turned over again and again.
MATTHEW 13:1-23 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.”
10 The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”
11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables:
“Though seeing, they do not see;
though hearing, they do not hear or understand.
14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:
“‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
15 For this people’s heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’
16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.
18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
God doesn't just want you to live faithful lives, he wants to empower you to live fruitful lives
JOHN 10:10 (NIV) 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
If we successfully shut ourselves off from the world we have inadvertently eliminated our ability to reach the world.
It’s time christians started bearing fruit and stopped showing it.
Don't base your Christian walk on occasional experiences with God and not a daily lifestyle.
MATTHEW 17:20 (NIV) 20 He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
We need to live in anticipation and expectation not obligation.
We Bring GP2RL Action Point:
Take steps this week to go deeper in what God is calling you to do.
DISCUSSION GUIDE FOR COMMUNITY GROUP LEADERS
Click here for a downloadable pdf file of this guide.
THE PLANTING OF THE LORD
UNDERSTANDING THE SEASON: Over these next several weeks we are pressing into the idea that God is the ultimate conversationalist. Words are meant for more than mere communication. God uses words to create. He created the fabric and existence of the entire universe with his words. Jesus came to open the dialogue between each of us and our God. It was as if the Father said, “I’d like a word with you” so He sent His Word, Jesus to come and initiate a conversation at his table. When we are engaged in conversation with God our lives and the world around us is transformed.
This year in our Community Groups we want to start each group with the first and primary question:
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
Where are you reading in your Bible and what are you sensing from God?
In John 12 Jesus identified himself as a seed that would die and produce many seeds. The nature of the seed is to die before it produces a harvest. No wonder we are considered the planting of the Lord.
Isaiah 61:1-4 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners... They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. NIV
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Name some ways the Lord is inviting you to model His sacrificial example so others can experience a deeper more meaningful life?
What are some ways we can purpose to grow deeper in our sacrificial pursuit of God on a regular basis?
Ps 1:2-3 (Our) delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. 3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers. NIV
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
God is constantly desiring our attention so He can more effectively have a conversation with us. How can you more effectively lean into listening more intently to his voice?
As we are focusing in on a time of fasting and prayer as a congregation this becomes a tremendous way for us all to become more attentive to the voice of God.
It is such a simple statement David makes:
Ps 35:13 …I humbled my soul with fasting…
Fasting is a powerful weapon of humbling ourselves before the Lord. God never says in his word that he will humble us. He always tells us in Scripture to humble ourselves.
A gluttonous, indulgent, entertainment-addicted, social media age filled with illicit desire has produced bored and boring people who lack the purpose for which we were created!
1 Pet 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; (NAS)
May we rise to greater levels of influence to serve our generation more effectively in God’s power and presence together as a church family!
We Bring GP2RL Action Point:
Take steps this week to go deeper in what God is calling you to do.