What type of heart do you have?
Responses of the Heart
- We make common reactions to similar events.
- What are some common reactions we make to: tripping?, getting dumped?(Ginger punching me), scoring a winning goal?, acing a test?(History of Africa – crashing the truck out of joy), Wedding Day(some cry, some get cold feet), death.
- We make similar reactions to varying events.
- Turn to Mark 4:1-9
- Let’s describe the different soils…path-hard, rocky-shallow, weeds-cluddered, good soil-soft and receptive.
- Vs. 9 – “those who have ears…” – why say it? People don’t have to listen. Those that have humility. Vs. 10-12 – God wants only the right kind of hearts in heaven.
- Vs. 13-14 – lets look at the common reactions of the heart to the word of God.
Hard heart :
- What is unique about soil along the path? It is hard. Why?
- Vs. 15
- What are the characteristics of a hard heart?
- Cynical, hurt, shut down, in pain, afraid, proud, reserved, etc…
- Have you ever been hardened to something? (marriage and relationships, I never wanted to get married, it didn’t work, etc…)
- Sometimes the most driven people are the most hardened. Looking for something to fill the void.
- Hebrews 3:12-14, there is a way to change a hard heart, got to recognize it and then surround yourself with the right kind of people.
- Shallow heart:
- What is unique about the soil with rocky soil?
- It is shallow. Why?
- What makes a shallow heart shallow?
- No conviction.
- The heart of the quick reaction, like being Italian, we react to millions of things with such joy and depth of emotion, yet moments later it is forgotten.
- Anyone here ever had a shallow heart towards something?
- OPPOSITE OF A SHALLOW HEART: Mt 15: 21-28
- What characterized her reaction? Wouldn’t take no for an answer.
- What are things that make a heart shallow?
- Not wanting to get real, or have to deal with our lives.
- Not wanting to do the work to build conviction.
- Distracted heart:
- Vs. 18-19 – weeds choke out the word.
- What are some of the most enjoyable aspects of life? What are the things that you enjoy more than any other thing? (my wife, sports, fun, food, vacations, etc…)
- These are not bad things. However, if used improperly these things could be the things that prevent us from loving Jesus.
- What are some of the most important things in your life?(school, family, etc…)
- Lk 14:25-27 – HATE
- Good /soft heart:
- Vs. 20 – The good heart hears, accepts, and produces fruit.
- Why do you think Jesus tells the 4 different types of reactions possible with the word?
- So we can choose to be the right soil.
- Being the good soil is a choice, make the right choice, and study the bible.
