WELCOME ICEBREAKER What radio stations do you have your car radio set to? WORSHIP Encourage the group that worship will clear their minds to hear God’s word. 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. 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. - The first type of listeners, as seen in verse 15 are those with a CLOSED MIND. The seed, which is the word of God, can’t get in because of the hardness.
- 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?
- The second type of a listener are those with a CLOUDY MIND. These are those with no root. They have had an experience with God, know that God is real but have never taken the time to put down roots in their faith. Read Colossians 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?
- The third type of a listener are those with a CLUTTERED MIND. 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 sitting down to read the Bible or at a church service?
- With what matters does Satan clutter your mind?
- The fourth type of a listener are those with a COMMITTED MIND. 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. Also pray for the upcoming Celebrate Recovery meeting this Friday and be sure to promote it in your group. Give the CR team some big support! Thanks! Has this lesson helped you? Please
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! Bravo, GOD, bravo! Gods and all angels shout, “Encore!”
In awe before the glory,
In awe before God’s visible power.
Stand at attention!
Dress your best to honor him! Psalm 29:1-2 — MSG
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