Mark 4:1-20

Mark 4:1-20

1. We are taught that there are some hearers of the Gospel, whose hearts are like the path.
2. We are taught that there are some hearers of the Gospel whose hearts are like the stony ground in a field.
3. We are taught that there are some hearers of the Gospel, whose hearts are like the thorny ground in a field.
4. We are taught that there are some hearers of the Gospel, whose hearts are like the good ground in a field.

"SIN will be truly hated, mourned over, resisted, and renounced. CHRIST will be truly loved, trusted in, followed, and obeyed. HOLINESS will show itself in all their life, in humility, spiritual-mindedness, patience, meekness, and charity. There will be something that can be seen. The true work of the Holy Spirit cannot be hidden."

Questions:

1. There is only one question that really needs to be asked: am I bearing fruit? Are we growing in hatred of sin? Are we growing in love for Christ and seeking to obey Him? Are we growing in holiness shown in such things as humility, spiritual-mindedness, patience, meekness, and charity? As a side note: sometimes we are bad judges of such fruit, and it is important to be in community where brothers and sisters can point out fruit in one another’s lives. There would be no greater encouragement to the believer, to hear from another believer that they are seeing certain fruits in their lives. This produces two questions:

a. Am I living in community in such a way that I can observe fruit in others lives?

b. Do I make it a ministry to encourage others when I see fruit in their lives?