being focused

1. being focused mark 4

2. being focused • He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: • “Listen! 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. • 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…

3. being focused • Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, • so that they did not bear grain. Still other seed fell on good soil. It • came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or • even a hundred times.” Mark 4: 2 - 8

4. being focused • …Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How • then will you understand any parable? The farmer sows the word. • 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. Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the • word and at once receive it with joy.

5. being focused • 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. Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 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.

6. being focused • 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.” Mark 4: 13 - 20

7. being focused • What kind of mud are you?

8. being focused • the pathway • As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the • birds came and ate it up… 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

9. being focused • the shallow soil • Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang • up quickly, because the soil was shallow…others… hear the word • and at once receive 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

10. being focused • the infested soil • Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, • so that they did not bear grain… still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 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

11. being focused • the good soil • Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a • crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times…

12. being focused • the farmer has to go ahead and plant the seed • irrespective of the condition of the soil!

13. being focused • Planting seeds

14. being focused • Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or • what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, • which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. Yet when • planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with • such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade.” Mark 4: 30 - 32

15. being focused • 2 Kings 5: 1 – 3, 17

16. being focused • The potential of growth and fruit lie in the seed • NOT • in you or me!

17. being focused • The perfect storm

18. being focused • That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go • over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him • along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with • him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, • so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a • cushion. The disciples awoke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t • you care if we drown?”

19. being focused • He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” • Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his • disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They • were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and • the waves obey him!” Mark 4: 35 - 41

20. being focused • What Jesus says – will happen… • Don’t let your eyes dictate your faith!

21. being focused • Unclear priorities

22. being focused • Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 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 Mark 4: 18 - 19

23. being focused • Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 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 Mark 4: 18 - 19

24. being focused • Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 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 Mark 4: 18 - 19

25. being focused • Unclear Commitments

26. being focused • …let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily • entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for • us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, • who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its • shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. • Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that • you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12: 1 - 3

27. being focused • My confidence in myself - pride - gives me a divided heart

28. being focused • My confidence in myself - pride - gives me a divided heart • My confidence in Christ – humility - gives me a focused heart

29. being focused