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Statistics show 90 percent of high school graduates who attended church in the 12th grade will have dropped out by the time they graduate from college. We live in day of church dropouts, and it's occurring in your late teens and early twenties. Unevangelized college students
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Statistics show 90 percent of high school graduates who attended church in the 12th grade will have dropped out by the time they graduate from college. We live in day of church dropouts, and it's occurring in your late teens and early twenties. Unevangelized college students By DANIEL AUSBUN, First Baptist Church, Moreland daniel@fbcmoreland.org
The Parable of the Soils Luke 8:4-15
Connecting Questions “Why does the same message bear incredible fruit in some lives and not in others?” …or… “What obstacles prevent growth of spiritual fruit in a person’s life?”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jlc1c5rObY ScriptureLuke 8: 4-8 4 While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: 5 “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. 6 Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.”
“Parable” • A parable is a succinct story, in prose or verse, that illustrates a lesson • The word "parable" comes from the Greek (parabolē), meaning "comparison, illustration, analogy", • Analogy is a cognitive process of transferring information or meaning from a particular subject (the analogue or source) to another particular subject (the target).
The Four Major Elements • Sower = • Seed = • Soils = • Fruit = ??? the Word of God various responses people have to the Word the outward product of our lives that glorifies God
ScriptureLuke 8:11-15 11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.
Soil #1 • Parable – v5 • Explanation – v12 Description:Impenetrable Obstacle:Active opposition of Satan to blind the minds of unbelievers
1 Peter 5 8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (NIV) Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. (The Message) 8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.
How and what does Satan do? Why is he able to steal the seeds sown on the footpath type soil?
ScriptureLuke 8:11-15 13 Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away.
Soil #2 • Parable – v6 • Explanation – v13 Description:Shallow Obstacle:No perseverance because the Word has not sunk in deeply
Rom 5:1-5 1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, wehave peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And weboast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
ScriptureLuke 8:11-15 14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature
Soil #3 • Parable – v7 • Explanation – v14 Description:Crowded Obstacle:The Word is choked out by worldly worries, riches, and pleasures
Soil #3 • What things tempt us to turn away from God? • Notice that these people have joy over God’s Word. What don’t they have. • Why aren’t feelings enough? • What could have prevented their falling away?
Soil #3 College Transition Project: The Fuller Youth Institute's current data seems "to suggest that about 40-50% of students in youth groups struggle in their faith after graduation.“ Lifeway Research: Although they only represent 30 percent of those who attended a Protestant church in high school, young adults who stay in church through ages 18-22 see the relevance, benefits and purpose of the church now and for their future.
ScriptureLuke 8:11-15 15 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.
Soil #4 • Parable – v8 • Explanation – v15 Description: Hears w/ an honest and good heart Holds fast to the Word Bears fruit with perseverance