Yesterday was our last time to fill-in at Parkwood Baptist Church in Gastonia, as their search for a full-time worship pastor has finally come to a close. But man, we're sure going to miss being out there. I think we were there a total of 6 times since March, and yesterday was a great way to finish out. Pastor Jeff Long preached a powerful message from Mark 4, The Parable of the Sower. Here are a few great takeaways:
- "According to the parable of the sower, three-fourths of the people in our churches are lost." - Billy Graham
- In context, the sower is not you and me; the sower is Jesus.
- The first three soils described in this passage (the road, the rocky places, and the thorns) are all written in the Greek using the same verb tense--the aorist, which means they hear once, they obey once, they respond once but then never again--Not true believers! But, the fourth soil, the good soil, is described using present tense verbs, which indicates an initial hearing and obeying and responding, followed by continuous action of those same verbs. They hear and keep on hearing. They obey and keep on obeying.
- So, the key question is, "What does my ongoing response to the Gospel reveal about the kind of soil I am?"
1. Word of God Speak (Mercy Me)
2. O, Worship the King (Chris Tomlin version)
3. Hosanna (Paul Baloche)
4. Ancient Words (Lynn DeShazo, Michael W. Smith version)
5. God of This City (Bluetree, Passion version)
6. Speak, O Lord (Keith and Kristyn Getty)
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