How's Your Soil? #265

Mark 4:9-12

9 And He was saying, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear (or listen).”                                                                                  10 As soon as He was alone, His followers, along with the twelve, began asking Him about the parables. 11 And He was saying to them, “To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but those who are outside get everything in parables, 12 so that while seeing, they may see and not perceive, and while hearing, they may hear and not understand, otherwise they might return and be forgiven.” (NASB)

James 1:22

22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. (NASB)

Jesus was the teacher of all teachers. He often taught in what we call parables. A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. It is a simple story taken from life and life experiences that convey a deeper spiritual or moral teaching. Jesus was a master at telling these parables. One of His most famous parables was the parable of the sower or the soils. In it He taught the principle of listening. It has been called the parable of parables.

Jesus spoke many words. The Gospel of John says the world could not contain the words Jesus spoke. Through the use of simple stories Jesus conveyed deep messages. The parable of the sower told of the scattering of the Word of God, using seeds to represent the Word. The places where the seed fell determined its effectiveness. Some died, some grew quickly then died, some were strangled by the weeds and some produced a crop.

The difference in how the seed developed was in the kind of soil in which it fell. It is much like that with you.  When you are ready to listen and apply the Word of God you will hear a different message; a spiritual one that you can apply to your life. Listen with spiritual ears to hear spiritual messages.   

________________Today's personal note from Dennis

Greetings from Starbucks in beautiful Tempe, AZ.

After a few days in San Diego with its 70 degree weather I almost couldn't write 'in beautiful Tempe, AZ' since it is to be 109 today. Tempe's beauty is mostly experienced in the winter months. 

Sandy and I had a wonderful time in San Diego. We had the privilege of leading a memorial service down on the beach with the family of Betty Tillery. It was a beautiful service. The whole family shared special memories. We then released long stem red roses into the surf. That all happened at sunset. Simply beautiful. 

Wednesday the 4th, Sandy and I celebrate our 47th anniversary. We already did some celebrating by staying over an extra day in San Diego. It is so fulfilling to know that after 47 years she is still the love of my life. I thank God for her. The last seven years have been hard for her because of my cancer, but she has stuck by my side and cared for me. What an incredible blessing she is.

Prayer requests for speaking engagements:

Sandy begins the Book of Ruth at First Baptist Church of Tempe on September 10th at 9:30AM.

Dennis' Schedule:

    September 8th First Baptist Church Tempe: in the LOFT at 9:30AM

    September 15th First Baptist Church Tempe: in the LOFT at 9:30AM

    September 22nd First Baptist Church Tempe: in the LOFT at 9:30AM

    September 29th-October 3 Second Baptist Church Lebanon, MO

    October 13th First Baptist Church Tempe: in the LOFT at 9:30AM

    November 3rd First Baptist Church Tempe: in the LOFT at 9:30AM

    November 17th First Baptist Church Tempe: in the LOFT at 9:30AM

    November 24th First Baptist Church Tempe: in the LOFT at 9:30AM

    December 1st First Baptist Church Tempe: in the LOFT at 9:30AM

    December 15th First Baptist Church Tempe: in the LOFT at 9:30AM

    December 22nd First Baptist Church Tempe: in the LOFT at 9:30AM

    December 29th First Baptist Church Tempe: in the LOFT at 9:30AM

    January 5th 2014 First Baptist Church Tempe: in the LOFT at 9:30AM

First Baptist Church is currently teaching through the Book of Revelation so most of my preaching and STUDY will be from Revelation. PLEASE PRAY!

I still have several openings during the next four months, so please let me know if you have a need for a preacher. I would love to preach in your church or to teach your small group. 

Periodically someone asks permission to use The Encourager in a Sunday School class, a Women's Group, Choir rehearsal, a basis for a sermon, to print and leave on the counter of a business and other things. PLEASE use The Encourager  to encourage anyone, anywhere. It is a blessing to me to know it is being disseminated to fulfill its purpose "of encouraging God's servants."  

If you know someone that you would like for me to send The Encourager please send me their name and email address. 

God bless you this week. May you find a renewed strength from God's Word as you listen and apply it to your life.  ~ DGW