In an average lifetime :- • Beats approx 3,000 million times • Pumps 48 m gallons of blood • In one hour, produces equivalent energy to raise a ton of weight 3 feet off the ground
In an average lifetime :-
• Beats approx 3,000 million times
• Pumps 48 m gallons of blood
• In one hour, produces equivalent energy to raise a ton of weight
3 feet off the ground
Series – ‘Serving God with our whole body’
Today
A heart in tune with God
Matt 13:1-9, 18-23
Series theme verse
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one
of you is a part of it
1 Cor 12:27
God looks at the heart
‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him.
The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward
appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart’
1 Sam 16:7
The Seed is the Word of God - The Bible
• Seed has life in it - Heb 4:12a
• Seed is powerful – Heb 4:12b
• Seed produces fruit – 1 Cor 3:6
1. The Hard heart
A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path,
and the birds came and ate it up
Matt 13:3b-4
1. The Hard heart
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
Matt 13:19
2. The Shallow heart
Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil.
It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.
But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they
had no root – Matt 13:5-6
2. The Shallow heart
The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 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
Matt 13:20-21
3. The Crowded heart
Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked
the plants
Matt 13:7
3. The Crowded heart
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
Matt 13:22
4. The Fruitful heart
Still other seed fell on good soil, where it
produced a crop – a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown
Matt 13:8
4. The Fruitful heart
But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by
persevering produce a crop
Luke 8:15
What does it mean to be fruitful?
• Reaching others for Christ
• Living a Christ like life which produces the fruit of the Spirit
Which soil represents the condition of your heart?
• Hard heart
• Shallow heart
• Crowded heart
• Fruitful heart
How do I develop a heart in tune with God?
Learn God’s ways Teach me your way, O LORD - Ps 86:11a
Live out God’s truth I may walk in your truth – Ps 86:11b
Lay aside all distractions give me an undivided heart - Ps 86:11c
“You can have as much of God as you want. The questions is –
how much do you want?”
Alan Redpath