Monday - June 13, 2016

Woodlawn Family Bible Study

Monday

BIBLE READING:  Matthew 13: 3-9, Luke 8:5-15

MAIN IDEA: “Parable of your heart”

DISCUSSION:
In Christ’s parable written in Matthew 13 and Luke 8, neither the skill of the sower nor the power of the seed is the issue. The seed is the word of God (Luke 8:11). This parable is about our hearts. The importance of having a tender heart, not calloused. Christ is comparing our hearts to four possible types of soil; 1- Along the roadside, 2- Rocky places, 3- Thorny places, 4- Fertile soil. Three of the four types of soil represent the heart of the hearer that falls short of fully committing to God’s word. Only the heart that is tender (good) will please God.

To understand what causes a calloused heart, we should learn how we get a tender heart. Are we born with a tender heart?

After the flood when Noah offered a sacrifice to God, we read in Genesis 8:21- Jehovah smelled a sweet odor. And Jehovah said in His heart, I will never again curse the ground for man's sake, because the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth. And I will not again smite every living thing as I have done.

So from youth, we must learn to control the evil things that come into our hearts. Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 2:22- flee youthful lusts, and follow righteousness, faith, love, peace, with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 

That is really nothing new is it? Aren’t we exposed to the temptations of Satan early in life? (Lying, slander, covetousness, greed, envy, gossip.)  This week let’s look at 4 ways to grow a tender heart in a calloused world.

APPLICATION: Take a few minutes to share one thing in your life that doesn’t help make your heart tender.

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