Change of Heart – Part 3: The Weedy Soil

The Weedy Soil
Change of Heart – Part 3
May 15-16, 2021
Dennis Thomas

(Series Key Verse) ”And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. Ezekiel 36:26 (p.655)

”The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity.” Matthew 13:7 (p.744)

”The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced.” Luke 8:14 (p.789)                                                                          

• Our Faith Can Be Crowded Out.

Don’t get easily distracted.                 

Protect against God’s #1 competitor: money.

“Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” Matthew 6:21 (p.737)

“’Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me!…you have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me…Bring all the tithes into the storehouse…If you do,’ says the Lord…’I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!’”
 Malachi 3:8–10 (p.729)

Next Step: __ I will trust God and take the Three-Month Tithe Challenge.

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Discussion/Groups Guide from the Weekend TalkFrom the Weekend Talk of May 15-16, 2021
Change of Heart – Part 3: The Weedy Soil

Use this guide to discuss the Weekend Talk with your family or friends.

When Lif­e Groups are in session they use questions like these to go deeper into what we talked about on the weekend. Find out more about Groups (in person and online) at alivechurch.com/groups.

Conversation Starters

• What distracts you?
  • When are you most likely to be distracted?
  • Are you good at multi-tasking?
  • Does money ever dominate your thoughts?
  • Who is a generous person you know or have known?
    • What made them that way?

Qui­­ck Review

Looking back at your Talk Notes, was there anything you heard in the service that stood out, challenged, or maybe even confused you?

Discussion Starters from the Weekend Talk

Refer to the Talk Notes and related Bible verses from this Weekend’s Talk Notes.

• Series key verse: Ezekiel 36:26 (p.655)
• Read Matthew 13:1-23 (p.744)
  • Farmer: Jesus
  • The Seed: God’s Word 
  • The Heart: Our Response – the difference in the results is in the soil.

In his Weekend Talk, Dennis Thomas, a retired pastor, and missionary who is a part of Alive Church challenged us to remember that …

• Our Faith Can Be Crowded Out.
  
  • Read Matthew 13:7, 22 (p.744)
  • In Bobby Mcferrin’s classic hit song Don’t Worry Be Happy he sings, “in every life we have a some trouble, when you worry you make it double.”
    • Worrying just increases anxiety and it is extremely bad for your health and relationships. Jesus said in Matthew 6:25-34 (p737-8) not to worry – why because God loves you and worrying can do nothing instead go all-in with God and he will look after you.
    • Dennis gave us a couple of actions to lean into to help us effectively navigate this “weedy” soil in our lives…
• Don’t get easily distracted.
  • See 1 Peter 5:8 (p.937)
    • How can we help each other to stay on track and focused on God?
• Protect against God’s #1 competitor: money.
  • See Matthew 6:21 (p.737) and Malachi 3:8–10 (p.729).
    • How does money compete with God?
    • What other competitors can crowd out or focus on God?
    • Sometimes the most innocuous things can be the most dangerous things to derail us from being all-in with God.  How can we support each other to avoid this?
    • Talk about it: everything we have comes from God so we should hold lightly to it but also be responsible with it, be it money, work, or family.

Next Step

___ I will trust God and take the Three-Month Tithe Challenge.

Use the link on the app or go to your Connection Card at www.alivechurch.com/card to indicate you are taking this Next Step so that we can pray for you.

What’s Ahead

• This weekend we continue our series: “Change of Heart.” What does it take to grow as a follower of Jesus? We must open our hearts, and allow the seed of God’s Word to be planted there, and share it with others through discipleship.
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