Sermon Series: Getting to Know Jesus 

What's the Condition of the Soil of Your Heart? 

Mark 4:3-9; 14-20

PSBC 2/3/02 AM

In a nutshell: In every instance where the Word of God is taught, there will be four heart conditions present-a hard heart; a shallow heart; a cluttered heart; and a prepared heart. The question is, which one are you?

I. Introduction

A. Film clip from City Slickers

Many of you have seen the movie "City Slickers". In that movie, one of the most profound theological truths known to humans, is revealed in a conversation between the two main characters-Billy Crystal and Jack Palance. If you're not familiar with the movie, Billy Crystal played a city slicker who went out west to a cattle ranch for vacation. And Jack Palance, played a crusty old cowboy who works for the ranch. Here's how their conversation went: (show movie clip…)

Palance: "How old are you? Thirty-eight?" Crystal: "Thirty-nine." Palance: "Yeah. You all come out here about the same age. Same problems. Spend fifty weeks a year getting knots in your rope, then you think two weeks up here will untie them for you. None of you get it. (Long pause) Do you know what the secret of life is?" Crystal: "No, what?" Palance: "It's this." (Holds up his index finger) Crystal: "Your Finger?" Palance: " One thing. Just one thing. You stick to that and everything else don't mean nothing." Crystal: "That's great, but what's the one thing?" Palance: "That's what you've got to figure out."

Well, friends, Jack Palance was right about the "one thing". But he was wrong about having to figure it out. Because this morning, as we'll see, we don't have to figure it out. That's because Jesus tells us what the one thing is in the Parable of the Sower. If you have your Bibles, would you please turn to Mark, chapter 4.

B. About the Parable

As we'll see the parable is divided into 2 sections: first it's presented to the large crowd in verses 3-9, and then it's explained to the disciples in verses 14-20.

II. 4 Elements

Mark 4:3-8 3 "Listen! 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, so that they did not bear grain. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times."

There are four main elements in this story…

A. Farmer

First, there's the farmer. The farmer is the one who does the work of sowing or planting the seed.

B. Method

Second, there is the method of planting the seed. The method this farmer uses is not like farmers use today. Today farmers have machines that plant the crops for them. Some of today's machines even have global positioning satellite guidance systems built into them so just the right amount of seed and fertilizer is dropped into the ground at just the right depth, so the best possible crop is produced.

But this farmer in Jesus' parable was using a different method. It wasn't modern. It was very ancient. It was called the Broadcast Method. He simply carried a bag of seed on his shoulder, and as he walked through the field, he threw the seed out in front of him, and to either side.

C. Seed

The third element of the story is the seed. This is what the farmer carried in his bag and what he broadcast all over the entire field. All we know about this seed is that it was some sort of grain seed. But what kind of grain it was, isn't all that important.

D. Soil

Then the fourth element of the story is the soil. But there's not just one kind of soil, there are four kinds.

1. One kind of soil was the soil of the path. We would call this hardpan soil.

Illustration: When I was growing up, we would have permanent paths that ran along the side of a field. This path enabled us to get from one end of the field to the other without trampling the crops that were growing in the field. We called them field road paths. (That sounds rather redundant, doesn't it? It probably should have been called the field road, or the field path. But in typical Dutch fashion, we went for overkill and opted for "field road path".) Anyway, the ground on the paths were packed down so hard from years of use that nothing could grow there.

Seed that fell on this soil, never even germinated. Eventually the birds came along and ate it, and it was gone.

2. A second kind of ground that is mentioned in the parable is the rocky ground. Now it isn't talking about the kind of ground that we encountered in Upland, California when we lived there. Upland is at the foot of Mt. Baldy. And down through the centuries, rocks of all shapes and sizes had rolled down off that tall mountain and became imbedded in the soil throughout that town. So, when you'd go to plant a tree or dig a swimming pool, you never know what lay beneath the surface of the soil. It could vary from rocks as big as your finger to rocks as big as a wheelbarrow.

But that's not the kind of soil Jesus had in mind when He told this story. The kind of rocky soil He was talking about was the kind where there would actually be a large flat rock surface just below the top soil. It would be something like the dirt that accumulates in the cracks of our driveways-very shallow with an impenetrable rock surface immediately below.

In this soil, the seed sprang to life, but as soon as the sun came out, it scorched the plants and they withered and died, because they didn't have a significant root system to bring it water and nutrients.

3. The third kind of soil in this field was the thorny soil. Now friends, were not talking about something that was overgrown and had never been taken care of. The kind of place where weeds were growing out of control. This was ground that at first glance looked pretty good.

Illustration: We raised onion sets on our farms in Indiana and Illinois. Before herbicides were perfected, it was a regular practice for us and some of the hired help to go out into the fields and methodically hoe and pull out the weeds that the cultivating machine missed. And my dad always told us to make sure we got the roots when we hoed out the weeds. Because if you didn't get the roots, then in just a few weeks the weeds would return.

Well, that's what Jesus is talking about when He talks about the thorny soil. Soil that looks good, but underneath is a maze of weeds just waiting to spring back to life.

And once the good seed starts to grow, so do the weeds. And as weeds do, they eventually used up all the nutrients and competed for the water in the ground, and the plants were never able to grow healthy and strong.

4. The fourth kind of soil was the prepared soil. Weeds, rocks, hard packed places were not found in this soil. This soil had been cultivated properly and was ready to receive the seed, and provide an environment that was conducive to good plant growth.

III. Planting the Seed

A. The Warning

Then Jesus adds an interesting warning after He tells the crowd this story…

Mark 4:9 9 Then Jesus said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

You see, friends, Jesus knew that the point of this parable was going to be missed by most of the people who were listening to Him. We saw last week that these are the people Jesus called, "on the outside". They weren't interested in truth. They just wanted to have their needs fulfilled.

And in essence, Jesus is saying what Jack Palance was saying in the City Slickers film…"It's this." (Holds up his index finger) "One thing. Just one thing. You stick to that and everything else don't mean nothing."

So, what is that one thing? Well, the crowds that had gathered didn't seem to care. They went off without even asking a single question of Jesus. But when the disciples-the 12 chosen ones, and the others who were really interested in what Jesus was teaching-got Jesus alone, they were eager to learn. They asked the question, "What did you mean, Jesus?" Look at verse 13 for Jesus' reply…

Mark 4:13 13 Then Jesus said to them, "Don't you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable?

Now, the word translated "any" in our Bibles is the Greek word PAS. Pas means "all" or "every". In the Greek language, when PAS is used with a plural noun-like the phrase, "any parable", it literally means ALL of those things.

So, in reality Jesus is saying, "If you don't understand this parable, then you won't understand any of the parables I teach." In other words, you won't understand anything about a relationship with God!

So, because this is so important, Jesus takes the time to explain this parable more than any other parable He ever spoke.

Mark 4:14-20 14 The farmer sows the word. 15 Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. 16 Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17 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. 18 Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. 20 Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop-thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown."

B. Explain the first three elements of the story

Let's consider the first three of the four elements we identified earlier and look at Jesus' explanation for each…

1. First, there's the seed. The seed is the Word of God. The Word of God is truth, both for now and eternity.

2. The second element is the method of planting. Every explanation of the seed falling on a particular type of soil in this parable has the phrase receive or hear attached to it. That's because hearing is the method where the Word of God is given out most often and is most effective.

3. Third, there's the farmer. Now, this is the only element that Jesus doesn't specifically identify. That's because this person can be anyone of a number of people and a number of venues. In Jesus' mind this is so obvious it doesn't need explanation. This is the person who broadcasts the Word so it is heard.

In my opinion, identifying the farmer is a "no brainer". The farmer in the story is any person who preaches, teaches or explains the Word of God so people hear it-so, that can be pastors, Sunday School and Adult Enrichment teachers, AWANA leaders, Nursery workers, Flock group leaders, radio and TV preachers, and so on.

IV. Soil Conditions

If you understand the first three elements, then you're ready to grasp the meaning of the fourth element-the 4 kinds of soils. Each soil represents a person's heart at the time he or she hears the Word of God. That means, this morning, every person in this room is the represented by one of those 4 kinds of soils. Which one are you? Do you know? Let's take a look…

A. Hard Heart

The first soil condition is the hard heart. This ground was unbroken and packed down tight. And the truth in God's Word has no opportunity to be imbedded into it. This heart, according to Jesus, is the kind of heart that's in some of you, this morning. You're not receiving the seed of the Word of God at all. The seed is just bouncing off the hard surface of your ground and it just lays on top of it. Eventually, the birds of the air-Satan and his demonic forces-will pluck it out of your memory.

If this is your heart, it is closed right now to God's truth. This heart is so hard that it won't even consider what I'm saying right now. In most cases, this is because sin has hardened it. If this is you, God knew all about you centuries before you were born. He says,

John 3:19 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.

You see the main thing that builds a wall between a hearer of truth and the God of truth, is sin.

If this is your soil this morning, by the time you start driving home, the Word you heard today will be stolen from your heart. That's because Satan does not want the word to remain near you for very long. He will steal it away through human reasoning, by humanistic thinking, by secular ideas, and through pride that tells you, you don't need God. What a tragedy that is, if this is the condition of your heart!

B. Shallow Heart

The second soil condition that's in this room this morning is the shallow heart. On the surface, this soil looks good. It looks cultivated, it looks eager to receive the seed of God's Word. But where no one but you and God can see-in the deep recesses of your life-you're shallow.

The book of Acts talks about a group of people called the Bereans. Their characteristic was that they searched the Scriptures to see whether the things they heard were true. Well, the heart condition of the shallow heart, isn't this way. In fact, it is quite opposite. If shallowness is your heart condition, then you are a person who is quick to accept, and quick to reject, because you were never really convinced in the first place. Theologian Francis Schaeffer said "A man should not become a Christian until he was convinced Christianity is true. There are many good and sufficient reasons for accepting the validity of Christianity." And the fact is that God has provided those good and sufficient reasons in His Word. The evidence is there for any thinking man or woman to examine.

Jesus says that people of this kind of soil received the Word of God with "gladness". In other words, it makes you happy. But I'm sorry to burst your bubble, that's not what Christianity is all about. Now, the Christian life is guaranteed to bring you joy, but no where are you guaranteed happiness. In fact, there is a price to be paid for a relationship with God: -we will be persecuted. -we have to give up some wants. -we have sacrifices to make. -and we have crosses to bear.

Listen friends, this is why many in our day and age try faith in Jesus, but eventually turn away. Because there is a very wrong belief that is taught by some churches that says you will never have troubles if you follow God.

The truth of the matter is that God is with you on the mountaintop and in the valley. He is with you in good times and in bad. He has promised never to leave us or forsake us. But He has never promised us an easy time of it.

If you have a shallow heart this morning, when persecution comes, or difficult times take place, you won't ask questions like, "What is God trying to tell me or teach me?" Or "How is He trying to mold and shape me?" Instead you'll ask the question, "Why me?" Shallow-soil-people want Jesus on their own terms. If this is you, you probably haven't even considered that faith in God will demand sacrifice and commitment and accountability. So, when things begin to get too hot, and uncomfortable, you'll shrivel up and die. Because your roots don't go deep into the truth about a relationship with God.

C. The Cluttered Heart

According to Jesus, the third soil in this room are those who have a cluttered heart. If this is you, the soil of your heart is soil that's filled with weeds and thorns.

This is not a hard one to understand. If your heart is cluttered, that means you're caught up in the affairs of this world. The focus of your life is pulled in all kinds of different directions-Material things; activities, and constant busy-ness. And faith in Jesus is just one more "thing" in your life

This kind of heart is different from the first two we've looked at. Because if you have this kind of heart, you do want a deep relationship with God. You're not shallow or unable to put down roots. Your problem is that you want it all.

-Jesus talks about in terms like the worries of the world. These are things like raising your family, earning a living, being with friends. These are the routines of daily life that everyone goes through. But you've elevated them to occupy first place in your life.

-Then He says you've bought into the deceitfulness of wealth. In other words, the devil has sold you a bill of goods about what money will do for you. You believe that all your problems will be solved if you can just get that extra thousand, or ten thousand, or fifty thousand. But it's a lie. Going after wealth will just take up your time, and keep you from intimacy with God.

-Third, Jesus says you have a desire for other things. These are all those things you want to possess which end up possessing you. These are the things you think you owe yourself. This is the entertainment, which pushes God out; the debt you incur that robs God of what belongs to Him. These are the activities you choose which wind up coming before the services of the church. These are all choices on your part. And the bottom line to it is that your choices choke out the Word of God from making a difference in your life.

D. Prepared Heart

Then the final soil is what I call the "prepared heart". And friends is you have this kind of heart, you're living the "one thing". You don't have to search for it-because, it's right here. The key to understanding any and all of Jesus teachings; and the key to experiencing the abundance in living that Jesus promised to give, is just one thing-having a prepared heart-being prepared soil.

V. Conclusion

We call that concept… following Jesus as the leader of your life-In other words: He has first place in your life.

I've never heard a better explanation of what that means than the piece that's on the front of your WIG's this morning, called the Fellowship of the Unashamed.

I am part of the "Fellowship of the Unashamed." I have Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I've stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of His. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. I am finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tame visions, mundane talking, chintzy giving, and dwarfed goals! I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by presence, learn by faith, love by patience, live by prayer, and labor by power.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few, my guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, diluted, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won't give up, shut up, let go, or slow up until I've preached up, prayed up, paid up, stored up, and stayed up for the cause of Christ.

I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops. And when He comes to get His own, He'll have no problems recognizing me. My colors will be clear. -- Anonymous 

Amen.