1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:04,600 Speaker 1: Let us pray, and when it is sown, it groweth 2 00:00:04,680 --> 00:00:09,479 Speaker 1: up and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out 3 00:00:09,520 --> 00:00:13,160 Speaker 1: great branches, so that the fowls of the air may 4 00:00:13,280 --> 00:00:16,919 Speaker 1: lodge under the shadow of it, Mark four thirty two. 5 00:00:17,800 --> 00:00:22,600 Speaker 1: Those who have ears to hear here these words are 6 00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:26,799 Speaker 1: the staples in which I am listening to to day's reading. Lord, 7 00:00:26,880 --> 00:00:29,760 Speaker 1: I thank you that you have given me the Bible 8 00:00:29,880 --> 00:00:32,600 Speaker 1: to help lead and guide me in the way that 9 00:00:32,640 --> 00:00:37,240 Speaker 1: I should live my life. Jesus, thank you for being 10 00:00:37,280 --> 00:00:42,720 Speaker 1: the personification of the living Word here on earth. As 11 00:00:42,760 --> 00:00:45,479 Speaker 1: I meditate on to Day's truth found in Matthew thirteen 12 00:00:45,840 --> 00:00:49,199 Speaker 1: and Mark fourth one through thirty two, I realize that 13 00:00:49,320 --> 00:00:53,000 Speaker 1: your word is the seed in which all my purpose 14 00:00:53,159 --> 00:00:59,480 Speaker 1: and destiny will blossom and come forth. Therefore, my heart 15 00:00:59,680 --> 00:01:02,200 Speaker 1: will not be like the soil that allowed your seed 16 00:01:02,240 --> 00:01:05,800 Speaker 1: to lay unprotected, so that other people around me can 17 00:01:05,840 --> 00:01:10,440 Speaker 1: steal what You've deposited in me. My heart will not 18 00:01:10,560 --> 00:01:13,720 Speaker 1: be like the shallow soil that could not allow the 19 00:01:13,800 --> 00:01:17,080 Speaker 1: root of your word to take hold, so that when 20 00:01:17,120 --> 00:01:20,160 Speaker 1: the trials of life come, it withers under the heat 21 00:01:20,200 --> 00:01:25,720 Speaker 1: of pressure. I also declare that I will not let 22 00:01:25,760 --> 00:01:29,000 Speaker 1: your word fall on the thorns of life and become 23 00:01:29,160 --> 00:01:33,360 Speaker 1: so focused on my trials that they choke your promises 24 00:01:33,400 --> 00:01:39,120 Speaker 1: out of my thoughts and speech. I declare that my 25 00:01:39,360 --> 00:01:44,840 Speaker 1: heart and my life is good soil. I declare that 26 00:01:44,920 --> 00:01:49,280 Speaker 1: I'm healthy and ready to have your word produce a 27 00:01:49,360 --> 00:01:58,160 Speaker 1: crop of abundance thirty sixty a hundredfold in Jesus name. Amen. 28 00:02:00,960 --> 00:02:04,280 Speaker 1: Thank you for praying with us today. Continue your time 29 00:02:04,320 --> 00:02:08,120 Speaker 1: with God by listening to today's Bible story brought to 30 00:02:08,160 --> 00:02:11,440 Speaker 1: you by Bible in a Year dot com. 31 00:02:11,600 --> 00:02:14,800 Speaker 2: Many choices in life can be scary, but your healthcare 32 00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:17,720 Speaker 2: shouldn't be one of them. Did you know that traditional 33 00:02:17,800 --> 00:02:20,560 Speaker 2: insurance isn't your only option to take care of your 34 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:25,880 Speaker 2: medical costs? Christian Healthcare Ministries is created for you. Believers 35 00:02:25,919 --> 00:02:30,200 Speaker 2: who expect more from their healthcare. Embrace a faith based 36 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:35,200 Speaker 2: alternative that puts you in control, plus experience flexibility to 37 00:02:35,280 --> 00:02:38,440 Speaker 2: pick your provider of choice with programs as low as 38 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:45,480 Speaker 2: ninety two dollars per month. Enroll today at Cchministries dot org. 39 00:02:45,840 --> 00:02:53,839 Speaker 2: Slash pray. 40 00:02:55,160 --> 00:02:59,679 Speaker 3: The four soils. In our last story, Jesus accepted a 41 00:02:59,720 --> 00:03:03,880 Speaker 3: cull and broken woman who had been scorned by the world. 42 00:03:04,440 --> 00:03:08,880 Speaker 3: He rebuked the Pharisees for their judgment. Now, Jesus reveals 43 00:03:08,919 --> 00:03:11,600 Speaker 3: more about the Kingdom of God through the story of 44 00:03:11,639 --> 00:03:14,880 Speaker 3: the Four Soils inspired by the Gospels. 45 00:03:17,320 --> 00:03:20,160 Speaker 4: Hello, this is Jack Graham with today's episode of the 46 00:03:20,160 --> 00:03:24,760 Speaker 4: Bible in a Year podcast. In yesterday's episode, Jesus was 47 00:03:24,800 --> 00:03:28,200 Speaker 4: shown extravagant love and honor by a sinful woman who 48 00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:30,560 Speaker 4: entered a home and wiped the Lord's feet with her 49 00:03:30,600 --> 00:03:35,520 Speaker 4: tears and hair before bathing them in expensive perfume. Jesus 50 00:03:35,640 --> 00:03:38,600 Speaker 4: used this occasion to teach those gathered with him, many 51 00:03:38,600 --> 00:03:41,240 Speaker 4: of them religious leaders who felt that they were righteous 52 00:03:41,280 --> 00:03:45,000 Speaker 4: and justified by their good deeds, a lesson about forgiveness 53 00:03:45,360 --> 00:03:48,800 Speaker 4: and the proper response of those who have received that grace. 54 00:03:49,440 --> 00:03:53,000 Speaker 4: Today we'll hear Jesus teaching about different ways in which 55 00:03:53,040 --> 00:03:56,360 Speaker 4: God's word is received and what happens to the seeds 56 00:03:56,400 --> 00:03:59,320 Speaker 4: planted in different kinds of soil. It's one of the 57 00:03:59,320 --> 00:04:03,400 Speaker 4: most famous stories Jesus ever gave, so let's hear it now. 58 00:04:03,640 --> 00:04:06,920 Speaker 4: From the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 59 00:04:06,960 --> 00:04:10,480 Speaker 3: The seagulls flew gracefully across the face of the calm ocean. 60 00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:14,720 Speaker 3: The gentle breeze rocked the anchored boats slightly. As Jesus 61 00:04:14,800 --> 00:04:17,600 Speaker 3: sat at the front of a ship, thousands of people 62 00:04:17,680 --> 00:04:20,839 Speaker 3: sat on the shore listening to his words and wisdom. 63 00:04:21,320 --> 00:04:24,880 Speaker 3: They were enraptured by him. Jesus smiled and began to 64 00:04:24,960 --> 00:04:28,400 Speaker 3: speak of a farmer and his seed. There once was 65 00:04:28,440 --> 00:04:30,760 Speaker 3: a farmer, and he went out to sow his seed 66 00:04:30,800 --> 00:04:34,640 Speaker 3: among his land. Some of the seeds fell along the roadside. 67 00:04:35,040 --> 00:04:37,920 Speaker 3: They were vulnerable and easily swept up by the birds. 68 00:04:38,560 --> 00:04:42,119 Speaker 3: Other seeds fell on rocky soil. They sprung up quick 69 00:04:42,240 --> 00:04:45,320 Speaker 3: with water and sun, but they died just as quickly 70 00:04:45,360 --> 00:04:48,279 Speaker 3: because their roots could not go deep enough. Some of 71 00:04:48,320 --> 00:04:52,160 Speaker 3: the seed fell among thorny soil. Once they grew, the 72 00:04:52,160 --> 00:04:56,039 Speaker 3: weeds choked the life out of the planets. Jesus paused 73 00:04:56,040 --> 00:04:58,839 Speaker 3: for a moment and looked around the crowd. He stood 74 00:04:58,839 --> 00:05:01,880 Speaker 3: to his feet and lift did his fingers, saying, but 75 00:05:01,960 --> 00:05:05,240 Speaker 3: there were some seeds that fell on good soil. It 76 00:05:05,320 --> 00:05:09,039 Speaker 3: was soft, pleasant, and yielded great fruit. Some of the 77 00:05:09,080 --> 00:05:15,160 Speaker 3: crops increased thirtyfold and sixtyfold, some even one hundredfold. Whoever 78 00:05:15,240 --> 00:05:19,840 Speaker 3: has an ear to truly hear here. Then the people 79 00:05:19,920 --> 00:05:22,520 Speaker 3: left back to their homes, and Jesus was by the 80 00:05:22,520 --> 00:05:26,760 Speaker 3: campfire with his disciples. Silence fell among the disciples as 81 00:05:26,800 --> 00:05:29,880 Speaker 3: they gazed at the stars. The flames flew up to 82 00:05:29,920 --> 00:05:33,600 Speaker 3: the skies. The sound of popping wood and crashing waves 83 00:05:33,720 --> 00:05:37,400 Speaker 3: filled the silence. Do you understand the story I told 84 00:05:37,440 --> 00:05:41,080 Speaker 3: them today? Jesus asked his disciples. They looked up at 85 00:05:41,120 --> 00:05:44,080 Speaker 3: him if they were being honest, none of them truly 86 00:05:44,160 --> 00:05:48,000 Speaker 3: knew what he was saying. Jesus laughed, how will you 87 00:05:48,080 --> 00:05:51,800 Speaker 3: understand if you don't ask, he said, in jest, He 88 00:05:51,880 --> 00:05:55,200 Speaker 3: picked up a stick and poked the fire. The soil 89 00:05:55,279 --> 00:05:58,880 Speaker 3: represents the Word of God, Jesus said, the seeds that 90 00:05:58,960 --> 00:06:02,279 Speaker 3: fell on the road, and those that hear, but Satan 91 00:06:02,520 --> 00:06:06,279 Speaker 3: swoops up the truth like the birds. The rocky soil 92 00:06:06,400 --> 00:06:09,479 Speaker 3: represents those that receive the Word with joy at first, 93 00:06:09,880 --> 00:06:12,919 Speaker 3: but when hard times fall, their root is shallow and 94 00:06:13,000 --> 00:06:17,560 Speaker 3: they fall away. The disciples began to nod. They were 95 00:06:17,640 --> 00:06:21,960 Speaker 3: understanding Jesus as he explained. The thorny soil represents the 96 00:06:22,040 --> 00:06:25,480 Speaker 3: cares and worries of the Word. Some are so anxious 97 00:06:25,640 --> 00:06:28,920 Speaker 3: that they are unable to truly receive truth. They are 98 00:06:29,000 --> 00:06:32,479 Speaker 3: choked by the worries and cares of the world. Jesus 99 00:06:32,520 --> 00:06:35,839 Speaker 3: grinned from cheek to cheek. Then there's the good soil. 100 00:06:36,480 --> 00:06:39,160 Speaker 3: For those that hear the word and accept it. They 101 00:06:39,200 --> 00:06:43,400 Speaker 3: do not toil or worry. They simply receive with gladness. 102 00:06:44,080 --> 00:06:46,680 Speaker 3: These are those that will bear much fruit for the 103 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:47,640 Speaker 3: Kingdom of God. 104 00:06:50,279 --> 00:06:53,200 Speaker 4: Our reading today is an illustration of the kinds of 105 00:06:53,279 --> 00:06:56,440 Speaker 4: hearts that receive God's truth, and how the seeds of 106 00:06:56,520 --> 00:07:01,000 Speaker 4: truth grow or wither in each kind of soil. Jesus 107 00:07:01,160 --> 00:07:03,880 Speaker 4: is speaking to his followers, a larger crowd at first, 108 00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:08,359 Speaker 4: and he's using an agricultural image. This is something his 109 00:07:08,400 --> 00:07:12,040 Speaker 4: audience would have understood well. He spoke to the crowd 110 00:07:12,080 --> 00:07:14,560 Speaker 4: telling them of a farmer who went out to spread seed. 111 00:07:15,240 --> 00:07:18,160 Speaker 4: Farming was much different in those days. No high tech 112 00:07:18,240 --> 00:07:21,920 Speaker 4: farming equipment, of course, precise planting of seeds and neat 113 00:07:21,920 --> 00:07:25,520 Speaker 4: little rows. This farmer was just walking across his plot 114 00:07:25,560 --> 00:07:30,680 Speaker 4: of land, scattering seeds. It almost seemed haphazard. I picture 115 00:07:30,680 --> 00:07:32,600 Speaker 4: a man with a bag of seeds in one hand, 116 00:07:33,080 --> 00:07:35,440 Speaker 4: dipping his other hand into the bag and pulling out 117 00:07:35,480 --> 00:07:38,320 Speaker 4: a handful of seed that he tosses here and there, 118 00:07:38,560 --> 00:07:42,320 Speaker 4: letting them land where they may. So as he walks along, 119 00:07:42,360 --> 00:07:45,920 Speaker 4: the seed falls on four different kinds of soil. Some 120 00:07:46,120 --> 00:07:48,640 Speaker 4: doesn't even make it to the ground. It hits the 121 00:07:48,640 --> 00:07:52,239 Speaker 4: path and birds quickly eat it up. Some falls among 122 00:07:52,440 --> 00:07:56,200 Speaker 4: rocky ground, and though they sprouted, the seeds lacked nutrients 123 00:07:56,200 --> 00:07:59,720 Speaker 4: and water, so the plants withered. A third bunch fell 124 00:07:59,760 --> 00:08:02,880 Speaker 4: among the thorns. The soil was good enough for the 125 00:08:02,920 --> 00:08:06,440 Speaker 4: plants to grow, but the environment around them was hazardous 126 00:08:06,680 --> 00:08:10,480 Speaker 4: and toxic, and the thorns choked out the crops. But 127 00:08:10,600 --> 00:08:13,760 Speaker 4: some of the seed fell in a good soil. It 128 00:08:13,800 --> 00:08:17,239 Speaker 4: grew strong and healthy and produced a great crop, yielding 129 00:08:17,360 --> 00:08:21,720 Speaker 4: one hundredfold. That's the good stuff. Jesus then said to 130 00:08:21,760 --> 00:08:24,960 Speaker 4: the crowd, whoever has ears to hear, let him hear. 131 00:08:25,840 --> 00:08:28,880 Speaker 4: The disciples asked why he spoke in parables, and he 132 00:08:29,040 --> 00:08:31,640 Speaker 4: responded that the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven had 133 00:08:31,680 --> 00:08:34,640 Speaker 4: not been given to them, but to the disciples. In 134 00:08:34,679 --> 00:08:38,120 Speaker 4: other words, Jesus was going to give these men special 135 00:08:38,200 --> 00:08:41,360 Speaker 4: insight into the things of God, into the Kingdom of God, 136 00:08:41,760 --> 00:08:45,600 Speaker 4: to prepare them for what is to come. Jesus also 137 00:08:45,720 --> 00:08:48,320 Speaker 4: said he spoke in parables to reveal truth to those 138 00:08:48,320 --> 00:08:51,520 Speaker 4: who would respond to it and receive it. He said 139 00:08:51,520 --> 00:08:55,760 Speaker 4: in Matthew thirteen, sixteen and seventeen, blessed to your eyes 140 00:08:55,840 --> 00:08:59,320 Speaker 4: because they see in your ears, because they hear. For truly, 141 00:08:59,360 --> 00:09:02,120 Speaker 4: I tell you any prophets and righteous people long to 142 00:09:02,160 --> 00:09:05,040 Speaker 4: see what you see but did not see it, and 143 00:09:05,080 --> 00:09:07,760 Speaker 4: to hear what you hear, but did not hear it. 144 00:09:08,640 --> 00:09:12,719 Speaker 4: The disciples were hungry for understanding, so Jesus explained this 145 00:09:12,840 --> 00:09:16,920 Speaker 4: parable to them. The seeds represented the word of God 146 00:09:17,360 --> 00:09:22,000 Speaker 4: and the soil represented human hearts. Some hear God's word, 147 00:09:22,280 --> 00:09:25,720 Speaker 4: but the enemy comes and snatches away the word. It 148 00:09:25,800 --> 00:09:28,120 Speaker 4: never takes root in the heart, so it never grows. 149 00:09:28,960 --> 00:09:32,439 Speaker 4: The rocky ground represents the hearts that accept the word quickly, 150 00:09:32,800 --> 00:09:36,760 Speaker 4: but without any depth. The root of truth doesn't establish itself, 151 00:09:37,080 --> 00:09:41,000 Speaker 4: and so when troubles arise, those people fall away from 152 00:09:41,040 --> 00:09:46,120 Speaker 4: the word. Still others represented by the thorny ground, receive 153 00:09:46,240 --> 00:09:48,880 Speaker 4: the word and it sprouts in their heart, but worldly 154 00:09:49,080 --> 00:09:52,600 Speaker 4: worries choke them out and they never produce any fruit. 155 00:09:53,559 --> 00:09:57,040 Speaker 4: The good soil represents the heart that receives the word 156 00:09:57,080 --> 00:10:00,160 Speaker 4: and bears much fruit. This is the heart of the 157 00:10:00,160 --> 00:10:04,160 Speaker 4: believer who understands God's word. The truth of the Gospel 158 00:10:04,200 --> 00:10:06,559 Speaker 4: grows in their heart, and they yield fruit for the 159 00:10:06,679 --> 00:10:11,120 Speaker 4: kingdom because they believe what God has said. That's an 160 00:10:11,160 --> 00:10:14,600 Speaker 4: important word for us here as believers today. We are 161 00:10:14,600 --> 00:10:17,480 Speaker 4: to be sowers of seeds. We are to give the 162 00:10:17,520 --> 00:10:20,280 Speaker 4: Gospel to the world and spread it to the hearts 163 00:10:20,320 --> 00:10:24,439 Speaker 4: of men. The yield does not depend on us, and 164 00:10:24,480 --> 00:10:26,360 Speaker 4: we are not to pick and choose where we sow 165 00:10:26,440 --> 00:10:29,840 Speaker 4: the seed. We are to share all the Gospel with 166 00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:34,920 Speaker 4: all men, until the whole world hears. Some will receive 167 00:10:35,000 --> 00:10:39,160 Speaker 4: the truth and yield fruit, but others, for various reasons, 168 00:10:39,200 --> 00:10:44,280 Speaker 4: will either never receive the word or will never bear fruit. Nevertheless, 169 00:10:44,559 --> 00:10:47,040 Speaker 4: it is the calling of every one of us who 170 00:10:47,160 --> 00:10:49,680 Speaker 4: name the name of Christ, who are followers of Jesus, 171 00:10:50,080 --> 00:10:53,320 Speaker 4: to be witnesses of the Gospel, to sow the seeds 172 00:10:53,400 --> 00:10:57,760 Speaker 4: of truth, and to trust God for the harvest. God, 173 00:10:57,800 --> 00:11:01,200 Speaker 4: we thank you that your word is always effective, that 174 00:11:01,280 --> 00:11:07,160 Speaker 4: it always accomplishes your purposes. May we boldly proclaim your truth. 175 00:11:07,640 --> 00:11:10,280 Speaker 4: Thank you that we have been called to participate in 176 00:11:10,320 --> 00:11:13,240 Speaker 4: the ministry of the Gospel by sowing seas among men 177 00:11:13,280 --> 00:11:16,400 Speaker 4: and women, that as many as will receive Christ can 178 00:11:16,440 --> 00:11:19,400 Speaker 4: be saved by your grace and your love. Because of 179 00:11:19,440 --> 00:11:24,000 Speaker 4: your cross and resurrection, we pray in the name of Jesus. Amen. 180 00:11:24,640 --> 00:11:27,040 Speaker 4: Thank you for listening to Today's Bible in a year. 181 00:11:27,559 --> 00:11:31,240 Speaker 4: I'm Pastor Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas. You can download 182 00:11:31,240 --> 00:11:33,880 Speaker 4: the pray dot Com app and make Bible study and 183 00:11:33,920 --> 00:11:37,920 Speaker 4: prayer the priority of your life. And if you appreciate 184 00:11:37,960 --> 00:11:41,640 Speaker 4: this podcast, please share it with someone else. I also 185 00:11:41,679 --> 00:11:44,280 Speaker 4: want to encourage you to go to Jack Graham dot org. 186 00:11:44,840 --> 00:11:50,280 Speaker 4: That's Jack Graham dot org for information. God bless you.