Mark 4:1-3 NIV – “Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge. He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed.

Mark 4:4-9 NIV – “As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they do not bear grain. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times. Then Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.””

The Distracted Heart

The Word begins to grow, but is choked by worries, success, and completing priorities. Growth is crowded out.

Mark 4:9 NIV – “Then Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.””

The Receptive Heart

The Word is welcomed, nurtured, and produces a fruitful life… thirty, sixty, even one hundred times what was planted.

Mark 4:21 NIV – “He said to them, “Do you bring in a lamp to put it u day a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand?””

Mark 30:32 NIV – “Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.”

Mark 4:35-37 NIV – “That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped.”

Mark 4:39-40 NIV – “He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?””

Two types of training

1. Training in Relationships

2. Training in Righteousness