Sermon Recap Questions (5/3)
Read Mark 4:1-20
Have you ever planted a garden? If so, what was it like? Was it hard? Was it easy? Was it successful? In your opinion, what does it take to have a healthy vegetable or fruit garden?
The sower, Jesus, is generous with the seed which is the word of God. How does the word of God show up in your life?
Jesus began his parable by saying, “Listen.” Do you think you are a good listener? Do you think other people would say you are a good listener?
How can we become better listeners to God’s word and to the people around us?
How do you best hear God? For example some people hear God best through the word while other people hear God in other ways like nature or worship or through other people.
Jesus talks about the hard ground where Satan steals the word. Maybe it's unbelief or indifference or unwillingness to surrender our will to God. Before you committed your life to Jesus, what kept you from deciding to follow Jesus?
Jesus talked about the rocky ground that keeps the roots from going deep. What area of your life is keeping you from going deeper with God?
Have you ever watched a fellow Christian walk away from their relationship with Jesus? If so, what did it look like? Was it a quick pivot or a slow fade?
In Mark 4:17 talking about the rocky ground, it says, “When trouble or persecution because of the word, they quickly fall away.” What is it about the word that you struggle with the most? Where do you find it difficult to submit to the word?
Pastor Steve mentioned a Honeymoon period when we first come into a relationship with God. Was that your experience? If so, when did you feel like the honeymoon phase was over?
In Mark 4:18-19 Jesus talks about the crowded heart. It’s about the worries of life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desire for other things that choke out the word. Is there something in your life that sometimes chokes out the word of God?
Pastor Steve talked about the American dream and how if we are not careful the American dream can squeeze the life out of our relationship with Jesus. How do you view the American dream? Is it possible to live the American dream and have a healthy relationship with Jesus?
In Matthew 6:33 it says, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.” In what area of your life do you find it most difficult to surrender to God?
Read Mark 4:11-12? How do you interpret what Jesus is saying?
How do we grow the roots of our faith deeper? A. Stay in the word? B.Go to church faithfully? C.Make yourself accountable to a life group or some Christian friends to help you on your faith journey? D. Be consistent with your prayer life? E. All the above?
What does the soil of your heart look like today? Kind of hard? Kind of rocky? Full of weeds? Or is it good soil, ready to receive the word and produce fruit, 30, 60, or 100 fold?