The Good Soil

Goals for this Week’s Study:

• Review Pastor Daniel’s sermon from Sunday morning.
• Help group members (especially new members) get to know one another.
• Share how God has been groing you through the next steps you have been taking!

Getting Started:

Open your group with prayer.

SHARE: What was your favorite dish from thanksgiving dinner?

Scripture:

- “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed. As he scattered it across his field, some of the seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it. Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn’t have deep roots, it died. Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” Then he said, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” Later, when Jesus was alone with the twelve disciples and with the others who were gathered around, they asked him what the parables meant. He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secret of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables for everything I say to outsiders, so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled: ‘When they see what I do, they will learn nothing. When they hear what I say, they will not understand. Otherwise, they will turn to me and be forgiven.” Then Jesus said to them, “If you can’t understand the meaning of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables? The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others. The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away. The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced. And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” – Mark 4:3-20

- “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” – Galatians 6:9

- “for we walk by faith, not by sight.” – 2 Corinthians 5:7

- “As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.” – Luke 8:15

Sermon Notes: Take time to let everyone share some of the notes they took or anything that stood out to them from the message. Use this time to get everyone in your group talking (a good tip for this situation would be to go around the room and have everyone share one thing that stuck out to them from Pastor Daniel’s sermon)! Keep in mind, not everyone may feel comfortable talking yet, so try your best to help assist them in any way you can!

Study Questions

1. Read Mark 4:3-9. What are the four soils that we covered in this parable? (Hard soil, Shallow soil, Cluttered soil, Good soil)

2. Pastor Jacob stated his main point at the beginning of his sermon. What was it? (When I am actively listening to Jesus, Jesus is actively working in me!)

3. What does it mean to be “actively listening to Jesus”? What are some ways we can do that?

4. What was the analogy of the Chinese Bamboo tree that Pastor Jacob shared? (You plant it but it doesn’t break the surface for four years. In the fifth year it breaks the surface and grows 80 feet within six weeks!)

5. Do you find it hard to believe growth is happening when you cant see it on the surface? Why or why not?

6. Pastor Jacob shares 3 ways to help produce fruit in your life. What were they and how can you apply them to your life this week? (Hear it – put yourselves in position to hear, Retain it – keep on hearing it, Wait for it – keep waiting, He is faithful!)

7. How can your Group help you with this?

Final Thoughts:

• Without testing our faith will never grow!
• God wants to produce fruit in your life if you don’t stop hearing!
• God never promises the timing of the Harvest, he just promises the Harvest!
• God can move in any area of your life if you’re faithful!
• He is faithful even when I am not!

Pray Over Your Group!

Pray over all prayer requests and the next steps that will be taken this week. Get everyone active in prayer! Go around the room and have everyone pray for at least one thing for the person on their right!