May-June 2006 Syllabus Introduction & Lesson 1 Lesson 2 Lesson 3 Lesson 4 Lesson 5 Lesson 6 Lesson 7
Thorny Soil And Good Ground Lesson 8
Part 1
(This lesson has three parts)
Cares Of This World
1. Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with ____ ____ and _________ of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. (Luke 8:14)
Do You Love this World?
In your heart of hearts, do you love this world? Do you dream of being rich? Do you long for beautiful things, lavish vacations, and perpetual entertainment? Do you study the latest fashion and long to be like the stars? Do you want to stay young forever and live on this earth eternally? Do you shun thoughts about eternity and avoid people and situations who remind you of death’s certainty?
Are You Stressed By The Cares Of Life?
Perhaps you are not caught up with any of the above. You are just too busy and too burdened with life to think about God and eternity. Does your mind swirl with thoughts of making ends meet and worrying that they won’t: "What if the car breaks down? The kids need dental work done. Where will I find money to buy my niece a wedding gift? I need a new coat. The lawn mower won’t work. I need to work two jobs. If I went back to school, I could make more money. How will I go back to school, work two jobs, take care of the kids and do all my household chores? Maybe if we turned off the air conditioner and only bathed once a week, we could make it, if I only worked one job and went back to school. How are we going to survive until the kids are grown? How will we survive after retirement? Where on earth will we get money to buy a new car when this one wears out? Worry, worry, worry, worry, worry, stew, stew, stew............."
They Are Both Evil
In the parable of the soils, we learn that the person who loves this world and the one who is anxious about everything possible, are unfruitful for the Lord. They both do evil in the sight of the Lord.
Can He Give Us Bread?
In Psalms 78, we read how God provided for the Israelites in the wilderness. Read verses 12-20, 24-33 to learn all the wonderful things He did for them.
Yet they complained, "Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?" (Ps. 78:19)
"Can He give bread also? Can He provide meat for His people?" (Ps. 78: 20)
A Fire Was Kindled
In verses 21-22, we learn of God’s reaction to their lack of trust in Him:
"Therefore, the Lord heard this and was furious; So a fire was kindled against Jacob, And anger also came up against Israel; because they did not believe in God and did not trust in His salvation...."
I Need His Pity
I don’t know about you, but when the car breaks down, the washing machine quits working, your child breaks his arm and the filling falls out of your tooth all on the same day and then there’s not enough money to make the mortgage payment, I don’t need God angry with me on top of it all.
I need His pity, His compassion and His help. It is crucial that we realize how important it is to trust Him and to thank Him for His help.
Stewing and worrying are not profitable uses of our time, thoughts and energy. Stewing and worrying never solved a problem. Stewing and worrying cause us to be unfruitful. Stewing and worrying causes God to be angry.
The Providence Of God
I believe the Bible teaches that miracles have ceased, but I do believe that God somehow in His providence still provides the needs of His children when We trust Him and petition Him for Help. How do I know? Here are some scriptures that comfort me and sustain me during difficult times:
2. No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and _______ the other; or else he will be loyal to the one and ___________ the other. You cannot serve God and ___________. (Mat. 6:24)
3. Therefore I say to you, do not __________ about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; now about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? (Mat. 6:25)
4. Look at the birds......your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more ________ than they? (Mat. 6: 26)
5. Which of you by _____________ can add one cubit to his stature? (Mat. 6: 27)
6. So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies.....Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of _______ _________ ? (Mat. 6: 28-30)
7. Therefore do not _________, saying, "What shall we eat?" or "What shall we drink?" or "What shall we wear?" For after these things the Gentiles (people of the world) seek. For your heavenly Father _________ that you _______ all these things. But _________ first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and _______ these things shall be ________ to you. (Mat. 6:31-33)
8. Therefore do not worry about ____________, for tomorrow will _________ about its own things. _______________ for the day is its own trouble. (Mat. 6: 34)
9. Be ________ for ___________ , but in _________ by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests by made known to God. (Phil. 4:6)
A key word in this passage is "thanksgiving". "Thanksgiving" thoughts should replace our "worrying" thoughts. You will be amazed at how things come together, and the peace that it brings, when you do.
10. And the ________ of God which ________ all understanding, will ________ your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Phil.4:7)
11. Phil.4:8-9 is a prescription for ridding ourselves of worry. What does it say?
Don’t let worry cause you to be unfruitful. Learn to trust God. Don’t be choked out by the thorns of care.
One Thing Is Needed
And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.
But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:41-42)
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Part Two
The Deceitfulness Of Riches
And Pleasures Of Life
We Are Full
We live in a country where most of our citizens are rich in comparison to the rest of the world and in comparison to any people who have ever lived. We are full. We are content. We do not need God.
They Hunger For Spiritual Riches
My husband is in a foreign country as I type this (2003). Most of the citizens there are poverty stricken. Many go to bed hungry. This is his second trip to this country. He was eager to go back because though they are poor in this world’s riches, they are hungering for spiritual riches. They are yearning to hear God’s Word. They are ready to obey.
Wretched, Miserable, Poor, Blind, Naked
Riches have a way of blinding people to their spiritual poverty.
12. "Because you say ‘I am _____, have become ________, and have need of nothing’- and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked-I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see...." (Rev.3:17-18)
13. What did Jesus say our attitude should be toward all that we have? (Luke 14:33) Do you think He really means this? Do you practice this?
14. What did the wise man say about possessions:
A. Proverbs 15:16
B. Ecc.4:6
15. Do not love the world or the ________ of the world. If anyone loves the ___________, the love of the Father is ______ in him. For all that is in the world-the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life- is not of the Father but is of the ________ . (1 Jn. 2:15-16)
16. The Apostle Paul by Divine inspiration said of the widow, "Now she who is really a widow and left alone, _________ in God and continues in supplications and __________ night and day. But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives. (1 Tim.5:5-6)
17. What did the inspired James say would be the plight of the rich in the end? (James 5:1)
Let’s Review
Let’s consider the whole list of things that can cause us to be unfruitful:
· A hard heart
· No root
· Tribulation
· Persecution
· Cares of this world
· Riches
· Pleasures of life
Examine your heart. To which one are you most vulnerable?
18. Can we all say with the Apostle Paul: "But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the ___________ has been ___________ to me, and I to the ____________." (Gal.6:14)
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Part 3
Good Ground
But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty. (Mat.13:23)
The three aspects of good soil:
A. One hears the Word
B. Understands It
C. Bears Fruit
Is Your Heart Good Soil?
Are you a hearer of the Word:
19. So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to ______, slow to _________, slow to _________.... (Jms. 1:19)
20. He who has an ____, let him ______ what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death. (Rev.2:11)
21. What is the evidence that a person is a real "hearer" of the Word? (Jms. 1:21-25)
Open your heart to know and understand God’s Word
22. _____ , and it will be given to you, _______, and you will find, _________ and it will be _______ to you.... (Matt. 7:7)
23. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of _____ have their senses ______________ to __________ good and evil. (He.5:14)
God will help us to understand
24. For You will ________ my lamp; The Lord my God will ________________ my darkness. (Ps.18:28)
25. The __________ of Your words gives ________; It gives ______________ to the simple. (Ps 119:130)
26. If any man lacks wisdom, let him ______ of God, who gives to all _____________ and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. (Jms. 1:5-6)
Dear fellow student of His wonderful Word,
Go and bear much fruit to the glory of our Father! Let the world see Him shining through your life.
Make it your goal to have the most love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness and faithfulness, gentleness and self-control that is humanly possible.
Let us walk together with God in the fruit of righteousness.