WELCOME

What was your highlight of the past week?

WORSHIP

Follow the Biblical protocol and come into God’s presence with thanksgiving. If possible, take time to sing or read a Psalm of praise or share praise reports of God’s goodness.

WORD

The purpose of this lesson is to study the importance of the way we listen. The words that we listen to are seeds. The soil is our heart. Our hearts will produce whatever seed we put in it, good or bad. Not only do we want to plant the seed into our hearts, we want to see that seed flourish and produce fruit. It is possible to have heard the seed and not have it produce (see Jer. 2:21, Ezk. 17:10a).

It is not just what we hear but how we hear. Numerous times Jesus declared: “He who has ears to hear let him hear.” We will see from this parable that there are four different ways to hear. The way we listen will determine the way we live. The way we live will determine the way we are blessed.

As a group read Mark 4:13-25.

1. The first type of listener as seen in verse 15 are those on the wayward. The seed which is the word of God can’t get in because of the hardness, indifference or lack of understanding.
   
   
   • How do we close our mind to hearing God’s word?
   • Why do people chose not to listen to the word?
     
     

   Read Proverbs 23:23
   
   

   • How do we buy the truth?
   • How do we know the truth?
   • How does Satan put a bid on it?
     
     
2. The second type of a listener are those on rocky soil. These are those with no root. They have had an experience with God. They know that God is real but have never taken the time to put down roots in their faith. Read Col. 2:6-8. (What types of seeds mentioned here will cloud your mind?)
   
   
   • How do we get rooted in God’s word?
   • What issues of your faith still seem cloudy?
   • Where do you feel you need to be deeper rooted?
   • What questions about your faith have you had trouble answering?
     
     
3. The third type of a listener are those with thorns. These are those who have so much on their minds that their minds can’t sit still to hear God’s word. They, like Martha, are in the presence of Jesus, but are too worried and preoccupied to hear.
   
   
   • How can we clear the clutter in our minds before a service?
   • With what matters does Satan clutter your mind?
     
     
4. The fourth type of a listener are those with good soil in their hearts. They purpose not to just hear but to accept the word. Luke 8:15 says they delight in it.
   
   
   • How does a committed mind listen?
   • How does Joshua 1:8 apply?

WORK

In your prayer time ask if there are those who need to ask God to remove the cloudiness or clutter from their minds. It may be beneficial to break down into groups of three and pray for each other.