GDLC Audio

The second type of soil that Jesus describes is soil that shallow and full of rocks that don't allow the roots to grow very deep. The immediate growth leads to excitement, joyful praise and acceptance but the moment trouble arises they quickly abandon faith. This soil needs to be cared for as God tills up the false trusts of their lives to allow room for deeper and richer growth of roots that can withstand in times of trouble.   

The second type of soil that Jesus describes is soil that shallow and full of rocks that don't allow the roots to grow very deep. The immediate growth leads to excitement, joyful praise and acceptance but the moment trouble arises they quickly abandon faith. This soil needs to be cared for as God tills up the false trusts of their lives to allow room for deeper and richer growth of roots that can withstand in times of trouble.   

The first type of soil that Jesus describes is soil that has been hardened by the treading of the world. The Sower throws seed on this heart soil, and it is instantly snatched away by Satan and never allowed to grow. Suffering of the world, sin in ourselves and from others, and the constant treading of others has a hardening effect on our hearts. This ground needs love, care and attention to be softened, tilled and receptive to the new growth of the Kingdom of God.   

The first type of soil that Jesus describes is soil that has been hardened by the treading of the world. The Sower throws seed on this heart soil, and it is instantly snatched away by Satan and never allowed to grow. Suffering of the world, sin in ourselves and from others, and the constantly treading of others has a hardening effect on our hearts. This ground needs love, care and attention to be softened, tilled and receptive to the new growth of the Kingdom of God.   

God stands alone without an equal or a rival, “His light shines in the darkness” and will not be overcome (John 1:5). The desire of God is that we would place our full faith in His character, power and love and yet we have an enemy who seeks to deceive us and lie to us about God's character, God's power and God's love. While God stands victorious through the resurrection power of Jesus, we are prone to give up the battle of faith and give into fear and temptations. How will we learn to trust God's promises over what we see with our eyes in trials and temptations? God calls us to put on His armor, to stand strong on His Word, and the Lord will fight for you. Will we heed the command of the Word from Hebrews 12:2 “look to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith”.  

God stands alone without an equal or a rival, “His light shines in the darkness” and will not be overcome (John 1:5). The desire of God is that we would place our full faith in His character, power and love and yet we have an enemy who seeks to deceive us and lie to us about God's character, God's power and God's love. While God stands victorious through the resurrection power of Jesus, we are prone to give up the battle of faith and give into fear and temptations. How will we learn to trust God's promises over what we see with our eyes in trials and temptations? God calls us to put on His armor, to stand strong on His Word, and the Lord will fight for you. Will we heed the command of the Word from Hebrews 12:2 “look to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith”.  

God knows the hearts in all of humanity and is not ignorant of our sinful/selfish ways. Over and over the Bible speaks of God being holy, He's entirely opposed to sin and death. Yet God comes to us in Jesus and claims to have a solution. His solution was not to avoid us, or punish us, but rather to deal with our sin. God shows us His law so that we would clearly know His expectations, and we must agree with Him that we have utterly failed. But the good news in Jesus is that God loves you enough to pay the penalty for your sins on the cross. God's full and final Word is a “sword to pierce your soul”, to bring you healing for your sins with His truth and His love. While sinners need a diagnosis to admit the filth that's in our hearts, God's Word from the cross is our only hope. Will we grow in our trust that only grace can save me, or will we insist on proving that we're good enough by our works? 

God knows the hearts in all of humanity and is not ignorant of our sinful/selfish ways. Over and over the Bible speaks of God being holy, He's entirely opposed to sin and death. Yet God comes to us in Jesus and claims to have a solution. His solution was not to avoid us, or punish us, but rather to deal with our sin. God shows us His law so that we would clearly know His expectations, and we must agree with Him that we have utterly failed. But the good news in Jesus is that God loves you enough to pay the penalty for your sins on the cross. God's full and final Word is a “sword to pierce your soul”, to bring you healing for your sins with His truth and His love. While sinners need a diagnosis to admit the filth that's in our hearts, God's Word from the cross is our only hope. Will we grow in our trust that only grace can save me, or will we insist on proving that we're good enough by our works? 

God is the source of all wisdom in this world, greater than any science, philosophy, or university. People will spend thousands upon thousands of dollars towards education, but God offers personal lessons of wisdom in His Word. His desire is that human beings would flourish, that we would be our best in life. The trial and test that all of us face is deciding what defines “success”. The biblical word for success is righteousness - living rightly in relationship with God and with one another. But God says money and achievement and status are idols, they are prone to lead sinners astray. When we hear from God's Word we can grow in wisdom, but will we be humble ourselves to learn His ways?  

God is the source of all wisdom in this world, greater than any science, philosophy, or university. People will spend thousands upon thousands of dollars towards education, but God offers personal lessons of wisdom in His Word. His desire is that human beings would flourish, that we would be our best in life. The trial and test that all of us face is deciding what defines “success”. The biblical word for success is righteousness - living rightly in relationship with God and with one another. But God says money and achievement and status are idols, they are prone to lead sinners astray. When we hear from God's Word we can grow in wisdom, but will we be humble ourselves to learn His ways?  

God is the author and director of your story, though most of us want to be like Invictus: “I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.” When we approach God's Word and submit to His authority, we find a God who chooses to use us. He meets us in our brokenness and calls us to greater purpose. To Moses, God said “Go and free my people from slavery in Egypt”, but Jesus says to you “Go and make disciples”. In a world where our culture says “go and write your story”, the Bible says “God has bigger plans for you". Will we go on living for ourselves, or will we listen to the author of life?  

God is the author and director of your story, though most of us want to be like Invictus: “I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.” When we approach God's Word and submit to His authority, we find a God who chooses to use us. He meets us in our brokenness and calls us to greater purpose. To Moses, God said “Go and free my people from slavery in Egypt”, but Jesus says to you “Go and make disciples”. In a world where our culture says “go and write your story”, the Bible says “God has bigger plans for you". Will we go on living for ourselves, or will we listen to the author of life?  

God is the main character of the biblical story. He is the Creator, and we are His creatures. But our God is not like other “gods” people know. The fact that He's sovereign means that He is in control, and yet this God is personal and cares about our troubles. So much so that He entered our world as humanity and made Himself known through the person of Jesus… “Who is this, that even the wind and the waves obey Him?” The Ruler of the Universe is personal and powerful, and He has a Word for you: “Cast all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7) Will we submit our lives to His authority, or will we believe that we're competent on our own? 

God is the main character of the biblical story. He is the Creator, and we are His creatures. But our God is not like other “gods” people know. The fact that He's sovereign means that He is in control, and yet this God is personal and cares about our troubles. So much so that He entered our world as humanity and made Himself known through the person of Jesus… “Who is this, that even the wind and the waves obey Him?” The Ruler of the Universe is personal and powerful, and He has a Word for you: “Cast all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7) Will we submit our lives to His authority, or will we believe that we're competent on our own? 

 This week we'll be reminded of the truth…the truth that is at the heart, the soul, the center of the book of Ruth.  This book is about redemption!  Boaz paid the price to redeem Ruth…and in doing so, redeemed Naomi too!  And of course, his actions in their lives point us to the price our Lord Jesus would pay to redeem us…not just in time, but for eternity!  

 This week we'll be reminded of the truth…the truth that is at the heart, the soul, the center of the book of Ruth.  This book is about redemption!  Boaz paid the price to redeem Ruth…and in doing so, redeemed Naomi too!  And of course, his actions in their lives point us to the price our Lord Jesus would pay to redeem us…not just in time, but for eternity!  

We're planners at heart.  Even the least planning person in our midst has some amount of plans in the works.  Sometimes however, that can be our undoing.  Are we making plans without consulting, leaning into, and trusting what God has planned?  Are we running ahead of Him and His will for our lives?  This week we'll remember that we need to seek God first and then trust Him and trust His plans for us since His plans are always, always perfect! 

We're planners at heart.  Even the least planning person in our midst has some amount of plans in the works.  Sometimes however, that can be our undoing.  Are we making plans without consulting, leaning into, and trusting what God has planned?  Are we running ahead of Him and His will for our lives?  This week we'll remember that we need to seek God first and then trust Him and trust His plans for us since His plans are always, always perfect! 

This segment of Ruth is especially interesting because Naomi says something that is something we would think or say if we were in her shoes. She was bitter about her life, and she was straight up about her bitterness. So, what do you do when the world deals you a lousy hand? What do you do when it seems as if even God is against you? Do you proclaim "Just all me 'bitter'"? No, this week we'll remember that, in fact, God is for us, even when it seems He's not. Remembering that wonderful truth, we'll gain some perspective on handling and managing the inevitable pain that comes our way.

This segment of Ruth is especially interesting because Naomi says something that is absolutely something we would think or say if we were in her shoes. She was bitter about her life, and she was straight up about her bitterness. So, what do you do when the world deals you a lousy hand? What do you do when it seems as if even God is against you? Do you proclaim "Just all me 'bitter'"? No, this week we'll remember that, in fact, God is for us, even when it seems He's not. Remembering that wonderful truth, we'll gain some perspective for handling and managing the inevitable pain that will come our way!