Podcasts about sower

We call it the Parable of the Sower, but Jesus' focus is really on the condition of the soil—and the state of our hearts. In today's episode, we continue our sermon series from the archives, The Gospel According to Mark, as Paul explains how to listen to God's Word with humility and faith, and how to avoid living like rocky soil.To hear more sermons from Paul, visit PaulTripp.com/Sermons

God is always at work, generously sowing His word. The question is not whether God is speaking, but whether we are ready to receive. In this parable, Jesus invites us to examine the condition of our hearts and how we respond to what we hear. Life in the Kingdom grows where hearts are open, receptive, and willing to put Jesus' teaching into practice.⚫CONNECT WITH US:

“Can you interpret the Sower parable?” This question opens a discussion on the meaning of Mark 4’s parable, touching on themes of public teaching and predestination. Other topics include the claim by Islam regarding the corruption of the Bible, the church’s interpretation of Genesis, and whether Mary knew of Jesus’ resurrection after the Crucifixion. Join the Catholic Answers Live Club Newsletter Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com Questions Covered: 01:11 – I've heard that a small group of Jews are the real church based on the Acts of the Apostle and the Jews who were called “the way”? 13:07 – Can you explain the Sower parable of Mark 4? Why can I interpret the idea of public teaching and predestination? 13:07 – Can you explain the Sower parable of Mark 4? Why can I interpret the idea of public teaching and predestination? – IF you Like the question 18:35 – Can you explain why Islam claims that our bible is corrupt, but they also use certain books? 29:01 – Can you explain the church's doctrinal literal interpretation of Genesis? Is there any consideration of young Earth creationism? 38:58 – Can someone interpret Genesis trees as literal trees and places? It seems it could be based on Mose's miracles? Varied 48:00 – Is there a reliable bible commentary for an average reader not scholar? 52:51 – After Jesus is Crucified did Mary know He was going to rise in 3 days?

Persevere in Faith: The Parable of the Sower trains you for perseverance. Faith must endure hardship, distraction, and opposition. The same perseverance required for Christian life is required in pro-life work.

Science fiction isn't one-size-fits-all.Some readers love big ideas and long-term strategy.Others want emotional depth, character-driven stories, or fast, cinematic action.And here's the thing: your personality plays a huge role in the kind of sci-fi you love.In this episode of Fantasy for the Ages, I'm matching science fiction reading recommendations to common Myers-Briggs personality types. Using the same framework as our fantasy episode, I take 10 of the most common personality types and pair each one with two sci-fi series that align with how those readers tend to think, feel, and engage with speculative ideas.Whether you're a systems thinker, a people-first reader, a big-picture strategist, or someone who just wants sci-fi that moves, there's something here that fits you.

Read Online“And some seed fell on rich soil and produced fruit. It came up and grew and yielded thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.” He added, “Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear.” And when he was alone, those present along with the Twelve questioned him about the parables. Mark 4:8–10The Parable of the Sower is one of Jesus' foundational teachings. When preaching from a boat to a large crowd, Jesus used parables to reveal the mystery of the Kingdom of God. Afterward, His disciples questioned why He spoke in veiled language rather than directly. Jesus responded, “The mystery of the kingdom of God has been granted to you. But to those outside everything comes in parables, so that ‘they may look and see but not perceive, and hear and listen but not understand, in order that they may not be converted and be forgiven'” (Mark 4:11–12).At first, this response might seem perplexing. Why would Jesus teach in a way that some would not understand, potentially hardening their hearts further? To understand this, we turn to the Prophet Isaiah, whom Jesus quoted (cf. Isaiah 6:8–13). God commissioned Isaiah to preach to a people who were stubborn and unrepentant, saying they would “look and see but not perceive” and “hear and listen but not understand.” Despite Isaiah's zeal, God permitted their hardness of heart so they could face the consequences of their refusal to repent. This prophetic action sheds light on Jesus' use of parables.God “wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4). However, for those who refuse His Word, God sometimes permits their obstinacy as an act of mercy. Parables serve a dual purpose. For those open, they invite reflection and reveal deeper truths that lead to greater faith. For those closed, parables expose their resistance, deepening their awareness of spiritual emptiness. This process, though painful, is a merciful act, meant to confront individuals with the consequences of their sin and lead them to repentance.The Parable of the Sower, in particular, invites us to examine the “soil” of our own hearts. God, in His generosity, spreads the seed of His Word widely, offering grace and Truth to everyone. What kind of soil are you? Are you like the path, where the Word is quickly devoured by distractions, pride, or indifference, leaving no room for growth? Are you like the rocky ground, receiving the Word with enthusiasm but lacking the roots to endure trials and tribulations? Or are you like the thorny ground, where worldly anxieties, the lure of riches, and divided priorities choke the Word before it can bear fruit?Ideally, we are none of the above. Jesus calls us to cultivate rich soil—a heart receptive to His Word, where His grace takes root and bears abundant fruit. Only when we are receptive to grace and nurture the truths we have received through fidelity can we see God's Word flourish in our lives.This parable also teaches us how to respond to those who appear closed and obstinate. It is tempting to grow discouraged or angry and give up. But that is not what Jesus did, nor is it what Isaiah did. Isaiah fulfilled his mission to preach, even to those who rejected him. Similarly, Jesus continued to preach, using parables to reach all people, knowing that rejection would come. Reflect today on the soil of your heart and the hearts of those whom you are called to evangelize. Through prayer, nourish the Word of God within you so it can bear fruit. Persevere in sharing God's Word with others. When Isaiah asked how long he should continue preaching, God responded, “Until the cities are desolate, without inhabitants, Houses, without people, and the land is a desolate waste.” In other words, do not stop, even in the face of rejection. Even when all hope seems gone. Sow the seed of God's Word faithfully, trusting that even the hardened soil of obstinate hearts can one day bear good fruit. My relentless Lord, You sow Your Word with superabundant generosity, showering Your Truth upon all in the hope of their repentance. Grant that I may be among those who listen attentively, cherish Your Word, and nourish it within my heart. As my faith takes root and grows, use me as an instrument of Your grace to reach out to others, tirelessly sowing Your Truth in those You have entrusted to me. Strengthen me to persevere in this mission until the end of my days on earth. Jesus, I trust in You.  Image: Parable of the Sower by Lawrence OP, license CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.Source: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

Please note: This episode was recorded on Friday, January 23 2026. Recently, Dog-Eared Books shared a reading list designed to help deepen our understanding of fascism, full of titles we believe are essential for thoughtful learning. We paired that list with a quote from George Orwell's 1984 as part of a window display at the store, and the response was overwhelming. Comments poured in from across the country and around the world. Today, we're taking a closer look at that reading list of both fiction and nonfiction books, and reflecting on why their ideas remain so urgent and important. Ellyn's Currently Reading | The Typewriter and the Guillotine by Mark Braude Amanda's Currently Reading | Abby Offsides by Anna McCallie & We the Women by Norah O'Donnell Where to Donate to Support Minnesota:  Community Aid Network MN to provide food, diapers and essential supplies. @communityaidnetworkmn or @CANMN on Venmo. MIRAC – MN Immigrant Rights Action Committee, responding to ICE threats and providing resources to immigrants. Miracmn.com. Immigrant law center of Minnesota – free immigration legal representation Books for Learning About Fascism: How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them by Jason Stanley The Project by David A. Graham Erasing History: How Fascists Rewrite the Past to Control the Future by Jason Stanley Fiction as Windows and Mirrors: 1984 by George Orwell Prophet Song by Paul Lynch Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah The Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman Books About What to Do: On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder Mutual Aid: Building Solidarity During this Crisis (and the Next) by Dean Spade Giving Up Is Unforgivable by Joyce Vance How to Stand Up to a Dictator by Maria Ressa The Separation of Church and Hate by John Fugelsang Reading for Joy in Challenging Times: Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman Theo of Golden by Allen Levi “The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.” -George Orwell, 1984 ______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames Shop Dog-Eared Books and pick up your books in store or have shipped HERE. Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE. Interested in e-books? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE. Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE. Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com      

On this episode of We Can't Do It Alone, Nōn sits down with Amil Niazi, author of The Cut's parenting series "The Hard Part", to explore why it's important to allow your kids to see and understand your change, the vulnerability of dogs, giving each other more space and grace to be human, why we've been drawn to reading dystopian fiction lately, and Amil's new book, Life After Ambition: A "Good Enough" Memoir.Helpful things mentioned during this episode:Life After Ambition: A "Good Enough" MemoirThe Hard PartAmil on InstagramParable of the Sower by Octavia ButlerSwan Song by Robert McCammonEarlyON Child and Family CentreEnjoy the podcast? Here are some ways to support to Nōn:Leave a 5-star rating and a wildly glowing review for We Can't Do It Alone on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your pods.Order The Feely Cards on Bookshop.org, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or your local indie bookseller for yourself and literally everyone you know.Listen to You, Me, Empathy, Nōn's previous podcast about mental health, empathy, and big feelings.Need some help with your podcast, or thinking about starting a podcast? Get in touch!Connect with Nōn at nonwels.com and on Instagram @youmeempathy.Thank you for listening to We Can't Do It Alone! Don't forget about the helpers. We all need help. Even you.xoxonōn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Other Six podcast, we wrap up our Kingdom First series by exploring the Parable of the Sower. Jesus shows how the same Word can produce different results, not because the seed is flawed, but because the condition of the heart matters. We walk through the four types of soil, unpacking why spiritual growth takes time, how emotion differs from depth, and how distractions can quietly choke faith. The good news? Your soil isn't permanent. God desires to cultivate your heart so His Word can take root and bear lasting fruit.

EP 272: In this episode of Revival Town Podcast, Andy King & Chuck Tate sit down with returning guest J.D. Walt to talk about his newest book, Romans: From Sin Management to Love Unleashed, part of the Daily Seeds Bible study series.J.D. is the Pastor of The Gillett Methodist Church in Arkansas and the Founder and Sower-in-Chief of Seedbed. Drawing from his daily Wake-Up Call—read by more than 40,000 subscribers—J.D. shares why Scripture was never meant to be managed, but lived.Together, they explore a fresh way of reading Romans—not as a theological checklist, but as a personal letter that invites believers into deeper formation, daily rhythms with God's Word, and a life shaped by love and surrender.This is J.D.'s third appearance on Revival Town, and the conversation is both practical and stirring—calling listeners to let Jesus have the first and last word in their day.If you're hungry for spiritual renewal and a deeper walk with God through Scripture, this episode is for you.

Living Stones Church - Pine Trees - Our passion at Living Stones Church is to be the kind of church described in the Bible: A Culture of Faith. Together we love to actively pursue Spirit and Truth.

The Sower provides a missional model for us. The parable & explanation Jesus teaches in Matthew 13:3-9; 18-23 is like two sides of the same coin. What type of soil are you? As disciple-makers caught up in the mission of God, how can we sow quality seed to everyone, everywhere we go?

If you will remember… last week…we began talking about the parable of the seed sower. And in that parable …we said that the seed sower was who? The seed sower was Jesus Christ right? And the seed was the Word of God. And the emphasis last week was on the fact that… when Jesus was sowing seeds…He sowed them with a generous hand! He just scattered them everywhere! He wasn't attempting to be a soil tester...He was simply sowing seed…and that's what we're supposed to do. But this morning… we're gonna discuss the main emphasis in this parable. And the main emphasis of this parable… is the soil! Now there are four different kinds of soil in this parable. And the soil represents the hearts of men and women. It represents the hearts of those who hear the word!

Topical Sermons / Speaker:Berry Kercheville Be Careful How You Hear (2) How to Understand the Message  Introduction: Last week we looked at the emphasis Jesus placed on hearing. He accused the multitudes of having the same dullness and hard heart as their forefathers in Isaiah's time. However, it is a peculiar rebuke considering the sermon was merely 5 stories without any mention of explanations or applications. Therefore, in this lesson we will explore the method of of the Master Teacher. Jesus used a method that is uncommon today but was common in the first century.  Consider Luke 2:46-47 when Jesus at age 12 was in the temple. “After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.” The text reflects the method of teaching and learning. The scribes are questioning Jesus; they are not simply giving him information. It is not a one-way street. Jesus is listening and asking, but the teachers are also asking Jesus questions. They are testing his knowledge and his desire to learn. Why continue a conversation if he loses interest? Therefore, to understand Jesus and the biblical message, we must understand Jesus' method of teaching, a method that is usually unfamiliar to the modern reader.    Understanding Begins with How Jesus Taught There are many messages in the Parable of the Sower. One of those messages is how aggressive our minds must be in order to learn. Television and other types of media have caused us to be lazy listeners. It is noteworthy that Jesus refers to the secrets/mysteries of the kingdom. When we read a mystery book or watch a mystery movie, what happens? The joy of the mystery is trying to see the clues given in the story in order to find the answer to the mystery. That is what Jesus has done in telling parables, not just the Sower, but 9 parables, five to the multitudes and four more to those who came in the house wanting answers. Add the parables up, meditate on them, and we come to a very good picture of what Jesus has planned for his kingdom. Therefore, this sermon of parables was used by Jesus to engage dull minds in discovering a secret. Isn't that in many ways the whole method in scripture? There are always embedded messages. Why did God rest on the seventh day? What is marriage about? Why do we read an elaborate story of the Exodus? Mysteries and secrets are echoed time and again and God is urging us to work at discovering the answer. We should say to ourselves, “Wow! How exciting! The God and Creator of the universe is bringing us into an eternal reality show. Want to play?  Consider Mark 4:13, “And he said to them, ‘Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?'” Obviously, it was not impossible to understand the parable without Jesus giving an explanation. Challenging, yes, but not impossible. Jesus gave them clues: this is a parable about the coming kingdom (of which the Jews had the wrong belief) and it is a parable about “hearing.” The only other ingredient needed was a knowledge of farming—seed responds differently to different soils and that's the way the kingdom of God is! That's not rocket science, but it does need careful meditation.  The point is, the possibility of understanding was present in the parable. One of the themes of Mark's account is the dullness of the apostles and the Jews in general. However, though Jesus gives a mild rebuke to the disciples in the house, he commends them for asking in order to learn and condemns the multitude for not pursuing an answer. With the above knowledge, “why did Jesus speak to them in parables?” Did he expect the multitude to understand? No way! Not even the apostles understood. In fact, at the moment Jesus does not intend for the multitude to understand: “but for those outside everything is in parables, so that they may indeed see but not perceive, hear but not understand…” (Mark 4:11-12). He is looking for people who desire to know and learn; people who will come and ask and pursue the greatest offer made to mankind, the Kingdom!—“to you it is given to know, but to those outside it is not given!”  Therefore, Jesus purposely does not make everything perfectly understandable to every person on every point.  Does that surprise you? We would be appalled if a preacher today gave a sermon of five parables without explanation! The expectation was and is that each person would bring their brain to the study and go into discovery mode and draw conclusions from what they heard and then ask questions and seek answers. Jesus was testing their hearts, testing their desire for the Kingdom of God! Consider some examples; Example: Exodus 3:6 “I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Jesus strongly rebuked the Sadducees for not understanding the resurrection based on this verse. Listen to his words, “Is this not the reason you are wrong, because you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God?” (Mark 12:24). And in Matthew's account, “Have you not read what was said to you by God?” (22:31). Example: Matthew 22:41-46 Jesus asked the Jews a question they could not answer. Why didn't the Master Teacher go beyond the question and give them the answer? We would never have left the conversation at that point! When Jesus went away after the question, there would have been two kinds of soil left behind. Some would have been so predisposed to the Messiah being a mere human, they wouldn't have cared. They had already made up their minds. But others would not have been able to get the question off their minds and they would have gone to the scriptures to find the answer. It is these latter people who would be saved and who Jesus was interested in saving. Therefore, the message for us is critical—we need to learn aggressive listening, not simply with a sermon, but primarily with our own personal study. Jesus' Expectation of Aggressive Listening, Mark 4:21-25 This is Jesus' immediate followup to the interpretation of the parable of the Sower. Do you understand verses 21-23? This is such an interesting few verses because we easily skip them in favor of the simplicity of Jesus' explanation of the parable in the previous verses. But is Jesus finished with his explanation? Obviously not. He is giving the final explanation point on the message of the parables. The purpose of the parable is to bring everything that is hidden to light. In the Lord's Kingdom everything that is secret must be revealed. Nothing will be hidden any longer. Therefore, in the parable what is hidden that is being brought to light? It is the hearts of men and women! When Jesus preached his word throughout the entirety of scripture, it became a lamp. And the purpose of a lamp is to reveal and expose all that is in the room. When Jesus again repeats the words, “If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!” we are able to get the primary message of the parable. The parable illustrates exactly what happened after Jesus preached it. Some went away without a thought of what Jesus said (wayside ground). Some had a measure of belief, but never pursued any further so that they became “rooted” in Jesus' teachings (stoney ground). Others believed, but allowed the other desires and cares in their life to take precedence over the pursuit of the kingdom (thorny ground). And those who came into the house and asked for more and put following Jesus and bearing fruit the priority in their lives are the good ground. Do you see it? Jesus has exposed hearts—all of our hearts. And of the four types of soil/hearts only one is good. With this we can conclude that Jesus' is not trying to keep people from being saved by giving the parables, he is weeding out people who do not have the heart he desires. Therefore, consider what Jesus is doing—and I would say is always doing in his preaching and in the biblical text—he is testing us as hearers and revealing our hearts! Just think how much God has revealed in his word. But how often have we looked briefly just like the multitudes and just shrugged it off because it did not immediately peak our interest or we did not immediately understand. There are eternal consequences to dismissing biblical truths that do not interest us or we do not understand. Verse 24 “Pay attention to what you hear.” Jesus is the teacher and the Holy Spirit revealed everything in our Bibles. Pay attention to what you hear! If we don't, we have failed the test, and even what we have will be taken away from us. Jesus Destroys Our Excuses, Luke 11:5-13 The context is Jesus teaching the apostles how to pray. We read it easily; we read it simply, but we miss the point!  The parable: God is not like a friend who does not want to be bothered by another friend seeking bread at midnight. The friend gives the bread, but only because his neighbor won't stop banging on the door!  God is different. He loves people who ask, seek, and knock. And to those who do, it will be given, they will find, and the door will be opened. What kind of Father do you think God is! He is ready to give! Oh goody, we say. I can ask God for “things,” the things I've always wanted. That's not what Jesus is talking about. Verse 13 “…how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Jesus just took away all our excuses. “It's too hard! It's too deep! I'm not a scholar!” Sorry, that doesn't work. Jesus just gave us two keys to understand even the most obscure of his teachings. The best Bible student always asks questions while reading. Don't just read and don't just listen. Ask questions—that's what a seeker does. If you are not asking questions and desiring a fuller understanding, then you are not seeking. God rewards seekers—that is the promise Jesus gives in his application of the parable.  Most importantly, when you have the desire of a seeker, nothing in scripture becomes too “deep” or too hard for you. Two reasons: Jesus just made a promise to us that if we ask, seek, and knock, he will give abundantly to us. Therefore, the seeker is not trusting his or her own mental intelligence, but trusting God. Further, to convince ourselves that there are parts of scripture “too hard” for us, is to indict God. We are accusing God of not delivering his word in an understandable way. Is this not the the main point of the parable? There is nothing wrong with the seed! It is the ground that is the problem! We simply cannot buy into the idea that there are books of the Bible that are just too deep, too hard to understand. [Harrison is a new Christian, but nothing is too deep for Harrison. David and I can teach him anything and everything that is in a text. Harrison doesn't know that something in the Bible is too hard—and so he asks, seeks, and knocks, and the result is he always understands. And when he understands, he asks for more.  A hungry person eats differently than a person who has filled themselves with cake, pie, and deserts. Conclusion: The Bereans (Acts 17:11) are the perfect example of proper connection between teacher and listener. Paul preached a message to them that they had never heard before in spite of their knowledge of the scriptures. Their response is what made them more noble than the Jews in Thessalonica. Those Jews immediately rejected preaching that was new and different. But the Bereans searched the scripture. That is what Luke is commending and that is what God is commending when he inspired Luke to record those words.  Berry Kercheville The post Be Careful How You Hear (2): How To Understand The Message appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.

Our Election in Christ (3) (audio) David Eells, 1/14/26 I'm going to continue to speak on our election in Christ and how God has chosen Israel, and who Israel is in the New Testament. In (1Co.15:22) For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. Everybody who abides in Christ is going to be made alive, so it's important for us to know what it means to be “in Christ.” Does it mean, “I accepted Jesus as my Savior”? It could be, but it might not be. Some people truly want Jesus to be their Savior. They are truly repenting and believing, while other people are merely parroting words. Did you know that the Bible says salvation and eternal life were not given to you? (Gal.3:16) Now to Abraham were the promises spoken, and to his seed. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. The promise that God gave to Abraham was only to Abraham and Christ. And the promise of eternal life was given to Christ; it was not given to us. The gift of eternal life is in Christ. God didn't give the gift of eternal life into your hand outside of Christ. He gave that gift in Christ and only if you are abiding in Christ do you have that gift. The “once saved, always saved” believers think that they have been given a gift of eternal life which is outside of Christ, but that's not Biblical. (1Jn.5:11) And the witness is this, that God gave unto us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. The eternal life that God gave us is in Jesus. The only way you can have it is to be in Jesus because the promise wasn't to you, it was to the seed of Abraham, “as of one.” That seed is Christ. (12) He that hath the Son hath the life; he that hath not the Son of God hath not the life. Let's face it, some only have religion. Jesus said, (Joh.15:1) I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. No man is going to pluck you out of Jesus' hand; the Father is the Husbandman and He is the One Who is going to pluck up the plant. (2) Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he taketh it away.... There are people whom we have considered to be Christians who are not Christians. They may have started out with Christ, but they have not come to Him. (2) Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he taketh it away: and every [branch] that beareth fruit, he cleanseth it, that it may bear more fruit. (3) Already ye are clean because of the word which I have spoken unto you. (4) Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; so neither can ye, except ye abide in me. (5) I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit: for apart from me ye can do nothing. (6) If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch.... He is “cast forth” from where? He is “cast forth” from being in Christ. He said, “Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he taketh it away.” If you are bearing fruit (Galatians 5:22,23; Ephesians 5:8-10), you are in Christ and have nothing to worry about. If you are not bearing fruit, it's because you are not abiding in Him. “To abide” means “to endure,” “to persist,” “to continue,” “to remain,” “to be steadfast.” To abide in Christ is to abide in His Word. It is to have ears to hear His Word (Matthew 11:15; Mark 4:9; Romans 11:8; etc.) (Joh.15:6) If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. (7) If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatsoever ye will, and it shall be done unto you. (8) Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; and [so] shall ye be my disciples. It's in bearing fruit that you are proven to be a disciple. You can come into Christ, but you won't stay there if you don't bear fruit. (2Jn.9) Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God: he that abideth in the teaching, the same hath both the Father and the Son. The “once saved, always saved” crowd believes that after you step over the line, that's it, but Jesus said that if you don't bear fruit, you are not My disciple and you are going to be cast forth as a branch. The word translated “elect” and the word translated “chosen” are the exact same word. The Greek word eklektos is translated sometimes as “chosen” and sometimes as “elect.” It's many who are called but few who are chosen. Jesus speaks about the man who made it into the marriage feast, but didn't have on the wedding garment. (Mat.22:11) But when the king came in to behold the guests, he saw there a man who had not on a wedding-garment: (In Rev 19:8 the wedding garment was “the righteous acts of the saints”, which also represents our fruit.) (12) and he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding-garment? And he was speechless. (13) Then the king said to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and cast him out into the outer darkness; there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. (14) For many are called, but few chosen. Those who are abiding in the Kingdom are the ones who are bearing fruit and are chosen, or eklektos, or “elect.” The elect are all called and once they are saved, they are always going to be saved, but “many are called.” Among the called, there are those who don't bear fruit and there are those who bear fruit. Those who bear fruit are chosen. God said in (Hos.11:1) When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt. You say, “He was talking about Jesus.” No, He was primarily talking about the children of Israel and then it was used of Jesus. He called them out of Egypt and into the wilderness, and then He tried or tested them. Some bore fruit and went into the Promised Land, and those were the elect. Those who died in the wilderness, in type, had been called, but they were not the elect; they were not chosen. (Num.32:11) Surely none of the men that came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob; because they have not wholly followed me: (12) save Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite, and Joshua the son of Nun; because they have wholly followed the Lord. Joshua and Caleb bore fruit and were chosen. Here's a good example of this: (Rom.11:26) And so all Israel shall be saved.... Is that all of natural Israel? No, because (Rom.9:27) … If the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, it is the remnant that shall be saved. So, who is “all Israel” who is going to be saved? (Rom.11:19) Thou wilt say then, Branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in. The “branches” that were broken off are the natural Jews who would not believe. (20) Well; by their unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by thy faith. Paul is talking about the Gentiles who are standing in the vine by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: (21) for if God spared not the natural branches, neither will he spare thee. So, where is unconditional eternal security?? (22) Behold then the goodness and severity of God: toward them that fell, severity; but toward thee, God's goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. (23) And they also, if they continue not in their unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again. In the New Testament, “all Israel” is those natural Jews who believe and those Gentiles who are grafted into the vine by their faith. All the people who were broken off for unbelief were not Israel, but all of true spiritual Israel is going to be saved. Look what Paul said about the end of the Jewish Covenant: (Rom.11:5) Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant (This is speaking of a remnant of Jews.) according to the election of grace. (6) But if it is by grace, it is no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. (7) What then? that which Israel seeketh for, that he obtained not; but the election obtained it, and the rest were hardened. He said a remnant of natural Israel was elect, but Israel as a whole did not obtain grace. The called who were not the elect were hardened and the elect obtained grace because they believed. This was at the end of the Jewish Covenant. Now we are coming to the end of the mostly Gentile Covenant, and today “Israel” is the Gentile church and the few Jews; I.e., all who are “circumcised in heart.” (Rom.11:7) What then? that which the “Israel of God”(As a type of this Church) seeketh for, that he obtained not; but the election obtained it, and the rest were hardened. Is that Scriptural? Yes, because the Bible plainly says that the lukewarm are going to be spewed out of the body (Revelation 3:16) and there will be a great falling away (Revelation 12:4). Pagans can't fall away. Those people who fall away have to have been believers first, or they could not have fallen away, and the Lord is not coming until the falling away comes to purify the Church. (2Th.2:2) To the end that ye be not quickly shaken from your mind, nor yet be troubled, either by spirit, or by word, or by epistle as from us, as that the day of the Lord is just at hand; (3) let no man beguile you in any wise: for [it will not be,] except the falling away come first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition who was reprobated. The same statement can be made of the Gentile era because the elect are going to obtain grace to bear fruit and the rest are going to be hardened. The rest are going to fall away, exactly as Jesus showed in the Parable of the Sower. This should really give you the fear of the Lord. By the faith that God has given us, we are responsible to take God's grace and put it to work in our lives. We are responsible for obeying what we see in the New Testament, not in “Church.” Everybody who abides in the vine, which is Jesus, whether it's the remnant of natural Israel or whether it's the remnant of the Gentiles, is true Israel. And “all Israel” shall be saved because all true Israel is the elect, regardless of race. At the end of the Jewish Covenant, Jesus came to prove who the elect remnant was among the Jews. Jesus said, (Joh.16:21) A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but when she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for the joy that a man is born into the world. (22) And ye therefore now have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no one taketh away from you. Our personal man-child is born to us as the fruit of Christ being manifest through us to the world. All who exercise faith in the promises will bear His fruit, which looks like Him. In these days, the corporate Man-child body, in whom is the full manifestation of Jesus, is coming to prove who the first fruits elect remnant is in the Church, and the Man-child is going to use the same method that Jesus used to bring this nature to the Church. What was Jesus' method? (Mat.13:10) And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? In other words, “Why are you saying things to them that are so hard to understand?” (11) And he answered and said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. (12) For whosoever hath, to him shall be given.... “Whosoever hath” what? Well, if we go back three verses, we'll find the answer: (9) He that hath ears, let him hear. It's like when something makes perfect sense to you, but when you try to explain it to other people, somehow they just can't understand what you're saying unless they have the gift of faith. You see, Jesus' method for separating the elect from the non-elect was to preach the Word and when He preached the Word, the elect understood because they had ears. (Mat.13:12) For whosoever hath, to him shall be given (If you have ears, it's going to be given to you. Sometimes we do not hear the word of the Lord with the respect that we should have. God is speaking.), and he shall have abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that which he hath. People who don't have ears to hear are going to lose what understanding they do have. Remember what happened to the servant who was given the one talent? (Mat.25:14) For [it is] as [when] a man, going into another country, called his own servants (The Greek word there is doulous and it actually means “bondslaves.”), and delivered unto them his goods. (15) And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to each according to his several ability; and he went on his journey… (24) And he also that had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou didst not sow, and gathering where thou didst not scatter; (25) and I was afraid, and went away and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, thou hast thine own. (26) But his lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I did not scatter; (This servant had no ears; his knowledge was false. His Lord did scatter it, to him. He didn't realize that all was given to him by grace. It did not come by their works. Many think they own what they have.) (27) thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back mine own with interest (or fruit). The servant with the one talent didn't bring forth any fruit from what was given to him. The Lord took away the one talent from him and gave it to the servant who had the 10 talents. (Mat.25:28) Take ye away therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him that hath the ten talents. (29) For unto every one that hath (ears) shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not, even that which he hath shall be taken away. Again, a person who doesn't bear fruit is not “harkening,” which means “to hear and obey,” unto the voice of the Lord, and even what they do have is going to be taken away from them. Jesus told us, (Mat.10:34) Think not that I came to send peace on the earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. That “sword” separated the righteous from the wicked, and the wicked from their demons. That was a good thing because a little leaven leavens the whole lump (Matthew 13:33; Luke 13:21; 1 Corinthians 5:6; Galatians 5:9). (Jer.48:10) Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord negligently; and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood. Now, there are a lot of preachers who are not going to cut anyone with the Word; it's too easy to lose tithes that way and so they aren't going to step on anyone's feet. Your sword is supposed to separate. The Word of God is sharper than any two-edged sword and it divides. (Heb.4:12) For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart. The Word divides the carnal from the spiritual. Jesus wasn't trying to explain things to people who didn't have ears to hear. Even if He had given it to them, as we've seen, they could not have kept it. (Luk.13:23) And one said unto him, Lord, are they few that are saved? And he said unto them, (24) Strive to enter in by the narrow door (Many pass up the narrow door of grace until it is too late.): for many, I say unto you, shall seek to enter in, and shall not be able. (25) When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, open to us; and he shall answer and say to you, I know you not whence ye are; (26) then shall ye begin to say, We did eat and drink in thy presence, and thou didst teach in our streets; (27) and he shall say, I tell you, I know not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. Well, they were walking with Jesus, but they had not come to Him, just as Judas walked with Him and did miracles and signs but was an unrepentant thief until he couldn't turn back. Jesus warned us (Mat.7:21) Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven. (22) Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy by thy name, and by thy name cast out demons, and by thy name do many mighty works? (23) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. How could they do these miracles if He didn't “know” them? It's because Jesus gave them authority to do those works (Matthew 28:18-19; Luke 9:1). You see, “knowing about” someone is not the same as “knowing” someone. “Knowing you” is like the relationship Adam had with Eve. He knew Eve. This is a personal relationship with the Lord, like a husband knows his wife. “I never knew you” is what Jesus will say about a person who was doing the work of God, but was not giving good ground to the seed. Some people think they surely must be acceptable to God because they are doing the work of God. No, you can do the work of God and yet totally fail in your personal relationship with God. Personally, someone can be a total failure in their life of obedience to God, but they can still go cast out demons and do many mighty works. It's not gifts that open the door to the Kingdom, folks, it's fruit. He said that many are going to seek to enter in, but they will not be able. When the five foolish virgins came to the marriage feast after the door was shut, they called out, (Mat.25:11) … Lord, Lord, open to us. (12) But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Were they Christians? Yes, they were Christians and they did start out and seek to enter in, but they did not bear fruit. In a way, at the end of the Jewish Dispensation, the Lord was getting up to close the door, and Jesus was a part of God closing that door. Though all of those Jews, according to the Old Testament, were Covenant people, all but a remnant were rejected at that time, and God closed the door. Here we are at the end of the Gentile Covenant and the exact same thing is getting ready to happen again, which lets us know that we have to bear fruit. What's the difference between the called who don't bear fruit and the called who do bear fruit? The called who do bear fruit are the elect among the called because they abide in Christ by their faith, and therefore they receive more grace. Those who don't abide in Christ eventually lose even what grace they have. Hopefully, they will return when they receive the greater knowledge that is coming. Grace comes by faith. The only difference between those who bear fruit and those who don't bear fruit is that some walk by faith in the truth and some do not. There's no use in worrying, “Am I the elect or am I not the elect?” The only way you are going to prove that you are the elect is to walk by faith. You have that choice; everyone who is among the called has the choice to walk by faith or not to walk by faith. Why did Jesus rebuke His disciples for their unbelief? Did Jesus rebuke them because they couldn't walk by faith? Did He rebuke them because they weren't the elect? No, He rebuked them because they could walk by faith, but they were not walking by faith at that moment. He does the same with us sometimes when we are not walking by faith. But notice that they repented and He didn't remember their sins against them. (Joh.17:6) I manifested thy name unto the men whom thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them to me; and they have kept thy word. He said that they were obedient disciples. Jesus doesn't remember our sins against us, either, but He wants us to repent and walk by faith. So don't get caught up in, “Am I just called and not elect?” All you have to do is walk by faith because, if you walk by faith, you will bear fruit and you will be the elect. We are here in this wilderness to walk by faith and to prove that we are ‘Joshua and Caleb'. The Jews who convert to Christianity have no problem with predestination, calling and election because that's what they have been taught all of their lives. It's the Gentiles who have a problem with it because it's so foreign to their thinking. (Deu.7:6) For thou art a holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a people for his own possession, above all peoples that are upon the face of the earth. (7) The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all peoples: (8) but because the Lord loveth you, and because he would keep the oath which he sware unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. There are answers here to some theological problems if you believe that history repeats. As Jesus said, (Mat.5:18) … Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the law, till all things be accomplished. And Paul told us, (1Co.10:11) Now these things happened unto them by way of example; and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come. One theological problem is all the prophecies we've heard about the coming great revivals because people feel that God has failed unless He converts a large number of humanity. We can see here, if God has failed in the New Testament, He certainly did fail the Old Testament, but God wasn't going after large numbers. In fact, He picked the fewest of all peoples to be His people. He was after quality and not quantity. Some people think that God is out to convert the people of the world, yet Jesus prophesied, (Mat.7:13) Enter ye in by the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many are they that enter in thereby. (14) For narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leadeth unto life, and few are they that find it. Even though Jesus will “compel” many to come in, He didn't prophesy that great masses of humanity would be running into the Kingdom of Heaven over the course of time. Another theological problem for people is the classic question, “What about the heathens in deepest, darkest Africa? What is God going to do about them?” Well, we just saw that back in the days when God chose Israel and even all through the Old Testament, they were a small group of people compared to the rest of the world. If you had asked one of them that question, they would have replied, “What are you talking about? Don't you understand that God has chosen Israel?” And if you repeated your question, “Yes, but what about the heathens in the deepest, darkest Africa who have never heard about God?” They would have replied again, “Don't you understand? God has chosen Israel.” The Jews understood this. If you give people this answer today, they don't understand, but the Jews did understand because they were raised with the predestination doctrine. Now, I do have a couple of answers for this problem: one is election and the other is conscience. Let me point out that God said He was going to judge people according to their conscience, but first, I'd like to clarify something here. He's talking in this Scripture about Christians coming to God, as opposed to the Jews who were with God under the Law. And so He says, (Rom.2:15) In that they show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness therewith, and their thoughts one with another accusing or else excusing [them]; (16) in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men, according to my gospel, by Jesus Christ. A person's conscience is either going to accuse or excuse them. We know this text is talking about Christians because they are the only ones “who show the work of the Law written in their hearts.” But the rest of the world is going to be judged according to conscience, too, and conscience won't put any of us in Heaven. Jesus said, (Mat.24:37) And as [were] the days of Noah, so shall be the coming of the Son of man. If God did the same thing He did in the days of Noah, some would find grace and the rest would find justice. Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord (Genesis 6:8). He was elect; he found grace and the rest found justice. God did no wrong for the rest had defiled their conscience they were born with. Remember what Jesus spoke in the Parable of the Husbandman, who went out at different hours and hired people to work in his vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16). The people who were hired last worked for only one hour, while the rest of them worked through the heat of the day. When it came time to pay the people, the husbandman called the last first and paid them a shilling and then He paid everyone else a shilling. But those who were hired first were unhappy. (Mat.20:11) And when they received it, they murmured against the householder, (12) saying, These last have spent [but] one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat. (13) But he answered and said to one of them, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a shilling? (14) Take up that which is thine, and go thy way; it is my will to give unto this last, even as unto thee. (15) Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? or is thine eye evil, because I am good? That's the Lord's reasoning. God is never going to do less than justice, and in fact, God is almost always merciful. He doesn't have to be merciful, but at the least, He's always going to do justice. We've received God's grace, but we don't deserve it; it's a gift of God. When God judges, the world will receive righteous judgment (Acts 17:31), but true Christians will receive grace. Praise the Lord! So the answer to “What about the heathen in deepest, darkest Africa?” is that the heathen in Africa are going to be judged according to their conscience. Their conscience will either condemn them or excuse them. Everyone in the world has a conscience, but for some, their conscience has condemned them until it became quiet and just gave up condemning them. Their conscience finally became hardened, you see, because they rebelled against it. God has chosen the few and He's always chosen the weak among men in the next two verses. (1Co.1:25) Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (26) For behold your calling, brethren, that not many wise after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: So we see that God is clearly speaking of calling weak men. Then the translators, who probably didn't consider themselves weak and foolish, added things in the text over and over in the next three verses, which they italicized, showing it was not in the original text. Clearly, God is not speaking of things but MEN. So when we read them without things but with minor corrections from the Numeric Pattern, the text fits together and makes sense. (27) But God chose the foolish things of the world, that he might put to shame them that are wise; and God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put to shame the things strong; (28) and the base things of the world, and the things despised, did God choose, [yea] and them things that are not, that he might bring to nought those things that are: (29) that no flesh should glory before God. Clearly, He chose weak and the base men so no one can brag. He wants to prove His power to save. He has always chosen small and weak Israel. Even in the New Testament, spiritual Israel, those who are after the same faith as Abraham, is still the only one who is chosen. (Psa.147:19) He showeth his word unto Jacob, His statutes and his ordinances unto Israel. (20) He hath not dealt so with any nation; And as for his ordinances, they have not known them. Praise ye the Lord. Not showing the nations His ordinances and statutes in the Old Testament is the equivalent of not giving someone “ears to hear” the Gospel in the New Testament. Jesus told the Jews in (Joh.6:44) No man can come to me, except the Father that sent me draw him... And (37) All that which the Father giveth me shall come unto me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. God is not wrong by giving mercy to some and reaching out with the good news to bring them into the ark, no more than He was wrong when He brought those few into the ark in Noah's day. God is not wrong. And in many cases, God does not open the ears of people and He hardens hearts, and He hides things from “the wise and capable.” (Isa.45:15) Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour. You may ask, “What's His method of hiding things?” Well, the devil is one. (2Co.4:3) And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled in them that perish: (4) in whom the god of this world (The devil is the god of this world because the world copies and thus worships him.) hath blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn [upon them]. The devil has permission to do this. Also, (Mat.11:25) At that season Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou didst hide these things from the wise and understanding (This is speaking of the Pharisees, Sadducees and their students.), and didst reveal them unto babes: (26) yea, Father, for so it was well-pleasing in thy sight. (27) All things have been delivered unto me of my Father: and no one knoweth the Son, save the Father; neither doth any know the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son willeth to reveal [him]. So it pleased the Father to hide some things, and in this text, He talks about hiding them even from religious people. There truly is a supernatural blindness on people. You've probably seen it when you try very simply to share the Gospel or a revelation from God with people, but somehow they just can't see it. And you look upon them almost in awe, wondering, “Why can't they see it? It's so simple.” Of course, it's simple to you because you have a gift they don't have. You have the gift of hearing.

Homes without people are empty. We open with that hard truth and follow the thread through marriage, Scripture, history, and national character, asking what kind of legacy we're really building. Jesse reflects on the blessings of children and the quiet cost of chasing comfort over covenant, showing how a culture that sidelines family winds up with full garages and hollow tables. From the romantic urgency of the Song of Solomon to the everyday grit of sustaining a household, we paint a practical picture of what faithful love looks like when it is tested by time.The heart of the episode digs into the Parable of the Sower. Are our lives rocky, thorny, or fertile? We examine how worry and the lure of wealth starve spiritual growth, how shallow roots can't survive heat, and how good soil multiplies life—discipleship, service, even the courage to welcome children. Scripture from Psalm 17 and Proverbs sharpens that vision, reminding us that upright homes attract blessing while pride invites ruin. It's a blueprint for daily faithfulness: prayer, humility, and the steady embrace of sacrifice.History adds weight. A brief Medal of Honor profile highlights Alexander Bradley's leap into a strong tide to save a shipmate—a snapshot of courage that still convicts. Then Theodore Roosevelt's fiery words about “the foes of our own household” push us to consider how nations unravel from the inside before they fall to threats abroad. Selfishness, comfort addiction, and moral drift are not private vices; they are public hazards. We connect those warnings to today's challenges and make the case that strong families, rooted in faith, are a frontline of national renewal.If this conversation meets you where you are—questioning priorities, hungry for deeper roots, ready for a braver love—tap play, share it with a friend, and leave a review. Subscribe for more faith-centered reflections on marriage, culture, and character, and tell us: what seeds are you planting this week?Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe Countryside Book Series https://www.amazon.com/Countryside-Book-J-T-Cope-IV-ebook/dp/B00MPIXOB2

In this episode, we hear from Caleb Morgan, Ronnie Morris, and Gracie Wells as they consider evangelism through the paradigm of the Parable of the Sower.

You know…I sure do enjoy watching a garden grow . About this time of year every year… as the cold winter weather sets in… I start thinking about the spring. And the further along we go into the winter… the more I long for it. And one of the things that really stokes that fire… is when I get those first seed catalogs. I start thinking about tilling up that garden and sowing some seeds. I just absolutely enjoy watching… as God makes those little ol' bitty things… spring up and grow! I just absolutely love to watch a garden grow. And as I thought about that this week… I began to think about something else. Did you know that we as Christians are gardeners? Did you know that we… as Christians… are seed sowers? This morning and next Sunday… I want to spend some time… taking a look at a parable… that we haven't visited in a while. So… if you have God's Word… turn with me to Matthew 13 … and let's begin talking about this subject, "Sowing seed!"

What kind of soil is your heart? In this first Sunday message of the year we open Mark chapter 4 and study the Parable of the Sower. Jesus reveals four types of soil that represent how people respond to God's Word and why only one kind of heart produces real spiritual fruit. This sermon will challenge you to go deeper in discipleship pull the weeds of distraction and live with a Kingdom mindset that produces a 30x 60x and 100x harvest. If you want your faith to last grow and multiply, this message is for you.

THIS EPISODE   In this episode, we welcome in the new year by replaying a very important Livestream that Rob did in 2024, highlighting the Gospel and the Mission of the Church, specifically by looking at Jesus' Parable of the Sower, and understanding how the Parable provides insights into why the Church is in such peril today.    Connect with Determinetruth on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/determinetruth FOLLOW THE PODCAST Subscribe to be notified of our new episodes (each Monday).  Want to help us expand the Gospel of the Kingdom? Leave a review, “like” the podcast, or share it with others.   CONNECT WITH DETERMINETRUTH MINISTRIES The Determinetruth Podcast is a ministry of Determinetruth Ministries. We offer free resources to equip pastors, leaders, and the body of Christ in the US and worldwide for service in the kingdom of God. You can visit us online at https://www.determinetruth.com   SUPPORT DETERMINETRUTH MINISTRIES Determinetruth is a non-profit 501(c)(3), and relies completely on the financial support of our partners around the world.  Please consider partnering with us and making a tax-deductible donation https://tithe.ly/give_new/www/#/tithely/give-one-time/3648601   Want a FREE CHAPTER from Rob's latest book? Sign up for email updates from Determinetruth.   https://mailchi.mp/5672d33f2b95/dt-podcast Music: “Love is Against the Grain” (Dime Store Prophets)   #BiblePodcast #TheologyPodcast #ChristianPodcast #BibleStudyPodcast #BiblicalTruth #FaithPodcast #politics #ChristianNationalism #suffering #thechurch #paul #timothy #ecclesiology #Fellowship #Mutual encouragement #Service #Corporateworship #Teaching #theWord #Communion #pastors #missions #women #complementarian #egalitarian #authority #colossians 

In Week 1 of our parables series, Jesus opens the Kingdom of God to us through the Parable of the Sower. Parables are not moral lessons about how to be better people. They are stories Jesus tells to reveal what He is like as King and what His Kingdom is like. Here, we see His extravagant generosity as He scatters His Word widely, offering His gifts even where they will be rejected.Jesus also diagnoses what threatens that Word in our lives. The evil one seeks to snatch it away, hardship can scorch it, and the cares and riches of this world can choke it out. Yet the good news is that we do not make ourselves “good soil.” The Holy Spirit cultivates hearts to receive Jesus' Word, and God brings the harvest. As people who are being shaped by the King's generosity, we are also sent to reflect that generosity by sharing His Word with others. Isaiah 55:6–11 1 Corinthians 3:5–9 Matthew 13:1–9, 18–23

On this first Sunday of 2026, we continue our Gospel of Mark Series by turning to a passage of Scripture that helps us lay a strong foundation for a fruitful spiritual year. Together, we explore Jesus' Parable of the Sower and reflect on what the four soils reveal about our hearts and our lives of faith. Scripture Referenced: Mark 4:1-9

What does it actually mean to grow as a Christian? In Part 1 of our new sermon series Growth: The Work of God, we begin at the very beginning — with seeds. Using Jesus' Parable of the Sower from Matthew 13, this message explores how spiritual growth starts, why it sometimes stalls, and what it takes to flourish in Christ no matter the season. From the Garden of Eden to the cross of Christ, Scripture reveals that God is a God of planting, cultivating, and multiplying life. While salvation is a gift, growth is intentional — and the condition of the soil matters. In this message, you'll discover: Why every follower of Jesus starts as a seed What prevents spiritual growth from taking root How Jesus restores access to abundant life Why church, Scripture, and prayer are essential for growth How your life was designed to bear fruit that blesses others Whether you're new to faith, returning to church, or have followed Jesus for decades, this message reminds us that there is always more — more life, more freedom, more flourishing in Christ

This sermon introduces the new year series, "My Job Depends on Ag," using agriculture as a metaphor for spiritual growth. The pastor begins with a confession about struggling to trust God with finances (both for the church's summer camp and the Amigo Row building project) and how asking for help led to miraculous provision. He emphasizes that spiritual growth is not like technology—it doesn't happen instantly with the push of a button. Instead, it's like farming: slow, incremental, often invisible, and dependent on creating the right conditions.Scripture References1 Corinthians 3:18: "And we all... are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory."Romans 8:28-30: God's purpose is for us to be "conformed to the image of his Son."Luke 8:4-15: The Parable of the Sower, illustrating four types of soil and the importance of perseverance for a harvest.1 Thessalonians 5:23-24: "The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it."Key PointsDon't Settle for Less: The pastor's confession highlights the temptation to settle when tired of contending. Whether in finances, relationships, or faith, God often calls us to press on rather than accept the status quo. We need community to spur us on when our own faith is weak.Growth is Like Agriculture, Not an App: Spiritual transformation is not a "zap" or a flash. It is organic, often invisible to the naked eye, and happens over time. Jesus used agricultural metaphors (soil, seed, harvest) because they accurately reflect how the Kingdom of God works.Intentionality vs. Accident: No one accidentally gets a great marriage, a fit body, or a deep relationship with Jesus. While growth ultimately comes from God (like a tree growing), we must be intentional about creating the conditions for that growth (planting, watering, tending). We cannot drift into spiritual maturity.The Parable of the Soils: Jesus explains that the same seed (God's Word) produces different results based on the soil of our hearts.Path: The enemy snatches the word away.Rocky Ground: No root; faith withers in testing.Thorns: Choked by worries, riches, and pleasures; does not mature.Good Soil: Hears, retains, and perseveres to produce a crop.ConclusionGod has a plan for your growth in 2026. He desires your transformation even more than you do. While we must be intentional, we can rest in the promise that "The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it." We are invited to partner with Him, tending the soil of our hearts so that His Word can produce a harvest.Calls to ActionAssess Your Intentions: On a scale of 1-10, how intentional are you about your spiritual growth? Move from hoping for accidental growth to planning for intentional formation.Refuse to Settle: identify areas where you have stopped contending for God's best (marriage, health, faith) and ask Him for renewed faith to press on.Tend Your Soil: As we begin this series, prepare your heart to receive God's Word. Identify any "rocks" or "thorns" (worries, distractions) that might be choking your growth. Support the show*Summaries and transcripts are generated using AI. Please notify us if you find any errors.

Jesus begins His parables with a call to listen. In the Parable of the Sower, He shows that God'sWord is powerful and life-giving, but its impact depends on the condition of our heart. Today, we'reinvited to examine whether our hearts are truly receptive to Jesus and the transforming power ofGod's Word.

What's In My Heart? Do you roll your eyes when you hear about Jesus?  Did you "used to" believe until tragedy struck or God did not answer your prayers like you wanted? Do you have very little time for the things of God because of work, family, sports or hobbies?  Join us today as Jesus explains the Parable of the Sower and the Seeds as we look within our own hearts to see which soil, or state of our heart, we have!

What's In My Heart? Do you roll your eyes when you hear about Jesus?  Did you "used to" believe until tragedy struck or God did not answer your prayers like you wanted? Do you have very little time for the things of God because of work, family, sports or hobbies?  Join us today as Jesus explains the Parable of the Sower and the Seeds as we look within our own hearts to see which soil, or state of our heart, we have!

This class explores Jesus' Parable of the Sower as a framework for personal transformation. Students will examine how the condition of their hearts affects their ability to receive God's Word and produce lasting fruit.   Through Scripture and honest reflection, we address hardened places caused by hurt, rocky areas formed by obstacles, and thorns created by the worries and distractions of life. This class invites students to partner with God in healing, perseverance, and cultivating “good soil” where real transformation can grow.   If you have any questions about this topic, or about the School of Transformation, email us at info@transformationschool.org

Send us a textIt's the last day of 2025, so Hannah and Laura are sharing their favorite books, movies, and things of the year! Thanks so much for listening and supporting OWWR podcast in 2025!*CW for the episode: discussions of infertility, mental illness, grief, depression**This episode contains minor spoilers for The Pitt and Severance.Media Mentions:Sinners---HBO MaxOf Monsters and Mainframes by Barbara TrueloveFrankenstein---NetflixVinland Saga by Makoto YukimuraJujutsu Kaisen by Gege AkutamiBlack Sun by Rebecca RoanhorseThe Bloodsworn Saga by John GwynneSeverance---AppleTVUp---Disney+Coco---Disney+The Pitt---HBO MaxThe Wayward Children series by Seanan McGuireNghi Vo's worksThe Memory of the Ogisi by Moses Ose UtomiAnimus Paradox by Adam BassettDigital Extremities by Adam BassettHollow Knight: Silksong the videogameAzul the board gameCascadia the board gameWingspan the board gameA Gentle Rain the board gameCalico the board gameThe Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, the trick-taking gameFlamecraft the board gameRoot the board gameDisney Villainous the board gameA Place for All My Books the board gameHowl's Moving Castle---HBO MaxKPop Demon Hunters---NetflixThe Woods All Black by Lee MandeloRevenge Arc by Cat VoleurAnnihilation by Jeff VandermeerThey Came in the Night by Ravi NovaisJester by Tim CarterLightfall by Ed CrockerParable of the Sower by Octavia ButlerKing: A Life by Jonathan EigStephen Graham Jones' worksSchool Spirits---NetflixAndor---Disney+Arcane---NetflixSunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne CollinsGlitter and Greed: The Lisa Frank Story---Prime VideoTaskmaster---YouTubeWould I Lie to You? ---YouTubeN.K. Jemisin's worksTana French's worksJordan Ifueko's worksThe Diplomacy of the Knife by C.M. CaplanCello's Gate by Maurice AfrichJendia Gammon's worksRebecca Crunden's worksAlison Cochrun's worksSoultaming the Serpent by Tar AtorePetition by Delilah WaanHaroun and the Study of Mischief by Lynn StrongAshes Fall at Dawn by Kara M. ZoneOne Shot by A.C. WonderlandThe Dresden Files by Jim ButcherLegenborn by Tracy DeonnSupport the showBe sure to follow OWWR Pod!www.owwrpod.com Twitter (updates only): @OwwrPodBlueSky: @OwwrPodTikTok: @OwwrPodInstagram: @owwrpodThreads: @OwwrPodHive: @owwrpodSend us an email at: owwrpod@gmail.comCheck out OWWR Patreon: patreon.com/owwrpodOr join OWWR Discord! We'd love to chat with you!You can follow Hannah at:Instagram: @brews.and.booksThreads: @brews.and.booksTikTok: @brews.and.booksYou can follow Laura at:Instagram: @goodbooksgreatgoatsBlueSky: @myyypod

Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis w/Christen Blair Horne & Jesan Sorrells---00:00 Welcome and Introduction - Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis.00:10 Belief, Theology, and Worldview.08:32 "Confused Reading Journey"10:44 "Fear of Critiquing Islam"20:01 "Somme: 60,000 British Lost"21:40 "Reflections on War and Legacy"29:44 "Chesterton vs. Lewis: Class & Wit"36:48 "Enlightenment's Law of Human Nature"42:05 "Secular Shift in Christian Education"44:49 "Exploring the Hebrew Roots Movement"49:42 "Revelations, Robots, and Survivalists"58:09 "Towards a Unique American Theology"01:01:26 Critique of Billy Graham's Approach01:07:21 Controversial Reformed Christian Leader01:10:31 "Church vs. State Authority"01:17:04 "Faith, Debate, and Dismissal"01:25:45 "Paul Johnson on Christianity"01:29:41 "Modern Beliefs and Ancient Heresies"01:34:53 "Questioning Moral Relativism"01:41:13 "Parable of the Sower"01:44:22 Rooted Faith or Shallow Ground01:49:03 "Seeking Understanding and Context"01:55:50 "Disagreement Isn't Sinful"---Opening and closing themes composed by Brian Sanyshyn of Brian Sanyshyn Music.---Pick up your copy of 12 Rules for Leaders: The Foundation of Intentional Leadership NOW on AMAZON!Check out the 2022 Leadership Lessons From the Great Books podcast reading list!--- ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ Subscribe to the Leadership Lessons From The Great Books Podcast: https://bit.ly/LLFTGBSubscribeCheck out HSCT Publishing at: https://www.hsctpublishing.com/.Check out LeadingKeys at: https://www.leadingkeys.com/Check out Leadership ToolBox at: https://leadershiptoolbox.us/Contact HSCT for more information at 1-833-216-8296 to schedule a full DEMO of LeadingKeys with one of our team members.---Leadership ToolBox website: https://leadershiptoolbox.us/.Leadership ToolBox LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ldrshptlbx/.Leadership ToolBox YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@leadershiptoolbox/videosLeadership ToolBox Twitter: https://twitter.com/ldrshptlbx.Leadership ToolBox IG: https://www.instagram.com/leadershiptoolboxus/.Leadership ToolBox FB: https://www.facebook.com/

The Parable of the Sower 4 Again he began to teach beside the sea. And a very large crowd gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat in it on the sea, and the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land. 2 And he was teaching them many things in parables, and in his teaching […]

The Sower and the Soils Part 1 - Mark 4:1-20 - Ace Davis

Send us a textIn today's episode, I interview Giovanna Ferrari, director of the animated short film "Éiru," her directorial debut which is currently on the shortlist for Best Animated Short Film for the 98th Academy Awards.Listen to hear about the inspiration for the story that stemmed from Giovanna's own travels around the world, the importance of being willing to see the world through the eyes of people not like ourselves, and whether an entire generation can feel like they lack a voice in the world.Books mentioned in this episode include:Victory City by Salman RushdieParable of the Sower by Octavia E. ButlerThe Handmaid's Tale by Margaret AtwoodQ by Luther BissetFilms and TV shows mentioned in this episode include:"Éiru" directed by Giovanna FerrariSong of the Sea directed by Tomm MooreThe Breadwinner directed by Nora TwomeyWolfwalkers directed by Ross Stewart and Tomm Moore"Screecher's Reach" (Star Wars Visions episode)My Father's Dragon directed by Nora TwomeyPrincess Mononoke directed by Hayao MiyazakiThe Power of the Dog directed by Jane CampionAmarcord directed by Federico FelliniAlien directed by Ridley ScottSilence of the Lambs directed by Jonathan DemmeHamnet directed by Chloé Zhao"Late Afternoon" directed by Louise BagnallJulián directed by Louise BagnallFollow the film on Instagram @eiruofficial and Giovanna @ferrarianimation.Support the show

St. Justin Popovic (+1979) the great Serbian theologian of the 20th century, explains the nature and veracity of God being Judge of all creation. "It is natural for the heavenly Sower," writes St. Justin, "who has abundantly sown the seed of eternal, divine truths in the earth of the human soul, to come and see how much of that seed has rotted in the mire of lust, been strangled by the thorns of passion or withered by the coals of sinfulness, and how much has grown and yielded divine fruit, and, also, to reap and winnow the ripe ears of corn."A reading from The Orthodox Church and Ecumenism by St. Justin Popovic, p. 85-88.NOTE: The meaning of Theanthropic: divine (in Greek theos = God) and human (in Greek anthropos = man); the Theanthropos = the God-Man, i.e. Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God.

This sermon examines Jesus' Parable of the Sower from Matthew 13, emphasizing that understanding this parable is the key to understanding all other kingdom parables. The message focuses on the condition of the human heart and its receptiveness to God's word. Jesus uses the imagery of seed, sower, and soil to illustrate four different heart conditions: the hardened heart (wayside), the shallow heart (stony ground), the divided heart (thorny ground), and the responsive heart (good soil). The sermon challenges listeners to examine their own hearts and recognize that God's grace reaches out first, scattering seed generously, but the condition of our hearts determines whether that seed takes root and bears fruit.

Join guest host Conchi Harris in this enlightening episode as we journey through the compelling narratives of Luke, Chapter 8. This chapter, rich in miracles and teachings, showcases Jesus' profound authority, compassion, and heart for the unseen. Discover how Jesus' actions give insights into His divine power over nature, spirit, and life itself, and how He values individuals who society often overlooks.This episode opens with an exploration of Jesus' travels and the critical role of women in His ministry. Luke 8 highlights the parable of the Sower, describing how the condition of our hearts influences the impact of God's word. As listeners delve deeper into the text, they will encounter the story of Jesus calming the storm, demonstrating His supreme control over nature and His call for faith amidst fear. The episode continues with the dramatic healing of a man possessed by demons, followed by the emotional tale of a woman's faith-driven healing and a child's resurrection. Each narrative reveals a Jesus who is as tender as He is powerful, providing comfort and hope to those burdened with struggles.Key Takeaways:Luke 8 emphasizes the significance of faith and the condition of one's heart in receiving the word of God.Jesus exemplifies authority over nature by calming the storm, urging His disciples to have unwavering faith even in the face of fear and uncertainty.The healing miracles showcase Jesus' compassion towards individuals marginalized by society, highlighting His power over spiritual ailments and physical death.The interaction with the bleeding woman underscores Jesus' recognition of the unseen and the importance He places on individual faith and identity restoration.Through these stories, Jesus demonstrates personal care for each individual, affirming that He is present and active even in personal trials.Notable Quotes:"The disciples forget that Jesus is in the boat with them. Fear takes over and they cry out, master, we're going to drown.""Peace doesn't come when the storm ends. Peace comes from knowing who is with us during the storm.""What moves me the most is what happens next. Jesus stops. He stops the whole crowd and says, who touched me?""She came for physical healing, but Jesus gave her so much more than that.""Luke 8 reminds us all that Jesus doesn't just move towards the crowds. He moves towards you and he moves towards me."Resources:Follow Faith with Friends on Instagram: faithwithfriends_podcast.Explore the Gospel of Luke in the Bible for personal study and reflection on the discussed themes.Discover the transformative power of faith through these insightful reflections on Luke 8. Listen to the full episode for deeper spiritual insights and stay tuned for more uplifting content from Faith with Friend

What if the breakthrough we're desperately praying for isn't coming as a complete package, but as a tiny seed? This exploration of the Parable of the Sower from Matthew 13 challenges our instant-gratification mindset and reveals how God's kingdom actually works in our lives. We learn that when God gives us revelation—that 'aha moment' when His Word pierces our heart—He's not handing us the finished product. He's giving us a seed that requires planting, nurturing, and patient cultivation in the soil of our own hearts. The message powerfully illustrates how we often run around trying to share a single seed with everyone, not realizing we first need to let it take root and produce fruit in our own lives before we can truly become 'sowers' with authority. The four types of soil represent the conditions of our hearts: the hardened path where cultural conformity prevents truth from penetrating, the rocky ground where hidden issues block deep roots, the thorn-infested soil where busyness and worldly cares choke out growth, and finally, the good ground of a hungry, persevering heart. This isn't about condemnation—we all have areas where our soil needs work. It's about understanding that kingdom truth demands room to grow, and that growth requires us to remove the rocks of unaddressed issues, pull out the thorns of distraction, and soften the hardened paths of cultural compromise. The limitless potential in every kingdom seed God plants within us is staggering, but it depends entirely on what we do with it.

In this episode of Space for Life, Tommy and Joe dive deep into one of the most overlooked drivers of personal transformation: the environment you build around your life. Instead of focusing on tips, hacks, or quick fixes, they explore how habits, self-coaching, meaningful relationships, and spiritual spaciousness create the kind of “rich soil” where long-term growth actually happens.Drawing from the Parable of the Sower, Tommy unpacks four types of “soil environments” and shows how they mirror the spiritual, emotional, and practical conditions we create in our lives. The conversation moves through the role of spaciousness, the discomfort that often precedes growth, why self-reflection is essential, and the four kinds of people every person needs around them.If you want deeper relationships, meaningful progress, and a spiritual life that actually transforms you — this episode will help you create the conditions where real growth can finally take root.Key TakeawaysCreating the right environment is more important than any single growth tactic.The Parable of the Sower offers a framework for understanding how environment impacts growth.The three major components of a growth environment are habits, self-coaching, and people.Spaciousness is the foundational habit that enables reflection, listening, and deeper living.Weekly and quarterly rhythms create structure for long-term transformation.Growth requires a willingness to step outside your comfort zone.Self-coaching begins with listening — to patterns, emotions, circumstances, and God.Four kinds of people accelerate growth: mentors, mentees, soul friends, and prophets.A “prophet” (your Nathan) is someone with permission to speak hard truth into your life.ResourcesTommy's Book: Space to Breathe AgainSpace for Life Episode: “30 Minutes to Your Best Week”Space for Life Episode: “The Art of Journaling”Space for Life Episode: "What's the Big Deal About Margin?"Space for Life Episode: "What's a Spacious Life?"0:00 Intro1:46 Why Environment Matters4:26 Parable of the Sower9:42 Four Types of Soil12:49 Three Elements of Growth16:43 Habits of Spaciousness25:06 Weekly + Long-Term Rhythms32:57 Self Coaching + Reflection41:50 People of Growth45:22 4 Types of People You Need in Your Life55:48 Finding Your NathanLove the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! http://tommythompson.org

Minister to Married Young Adults and The4 Venue Pastor, Brad Talbert, explores the four types of hearts that receive God's word differently revealed in Jesus' parable of the sower. The hard heart has no room for spiritual truth to penetrate. The shallow heart receives God's word with initial joy but falls away when difficulties arise. The crowded heart allows worries and material concerns to choke out spiritual growth. The fruitful heart hears, understands, and responds to God's word, producing abundant spiritual fruit. Rather than representing different types of people, these hearts reflect our spiritual condition in different seasons of life.

Romans 8:28-30 — The doctrine of the perseverance of the saints is a contested doctrine. Those who hold to the cherished doctrine of assurance must acknowledge the difficult objections posed and not ignore them. Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones recognizes this and serves as a positive example of an exegete who does not shy away from engaging the most often-cited Scriptures that seem to contradict his personal beliefs. In a manner that not only demonstrates a responsible handling of Scripture, he also demonstrates humility in his exegetical task. In this message on Romans 8:28–30 titled “The Biblical Way,” Dr. Lloyd-Jones outlines his principles of interpretation. He encourages interpreters of the Bible to operate on the principle of Scripture alone. Rather than allowing philosophy to govern one's interpretation, he argues that the Christian should allow Scripture to interpret Scripture. Furthermore, one should start with the unambiguous “proof texts” and then deal with the difficult texts in light of the clear statements. He applies these interpretive principles as he works through famous passages like the Parable of the Sower, Hebrews 6, and 2 Peter 2. Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones lays out interpretive principles that all Christians should implement in their personal study of sacred Scripture. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/603/29?v=20251111

Send us a text This week Greg sat down with Eric Tuffensam. Eric is the Owner of Moonlight Studios, member of the band Sower, and Founder of Biblical Indie Rock. They discussed his time touring with a major label, writing and producing music, and the future for music studios with the wave of AI music on the horizon. Enjoy! Click HERE for your free consultation with Dominion Wealth Strategists Click HERE for the best cigars 1689 Cigars has to offer! Click HERE for your complete seating and furnishing needs from K&K Furnishing Covenant Real Estate: "Confidence from Contract to Close" Facebook: Dead Men Walking PodcastYoutube: Dead Men Walking PodcastInstagram: @DeadMenWalkingPodcastTwitter X: @RealDMWPodcastExclusive Content: PubTV AppSupport the show Get your free consultation with Dominion Wealth Strategists today! The only distinctly reformed wealth company! CLICK HERE! 1689 Cigars: The absolute best cigars on earth! Check out out the Dead Men Walking snarky merch HERE! Build something for God's glory through Covenant Real Estate! Greg Moore Jr. can help you buy, sell, and invest! Call him at (734) 731-GREG or visit www.covenant.realestate

Send us a textThis week Greg sat down with Eric Tuffendsam. Eric is the Owner of Moonlight Studios, member of the band Sower, and Founder of Biblical Indie Rock. They discussed his time touring with a major label, writing and producing music, and the future for music studios with the wave of AI music on the horizon. Enjoy! Click HERE for your free consultation with Dominion Wealth Strategists Click HERE for the best cigars 1689 Cigars has to offer! Click HERE for your complete seating and furnishing needs from K&K Furnishing Covenant Real Estate: "Confidence from Contract to Close" Facebook: Dead Men Walking PodcastYoutube: Dead Men Walking PodcastInstagram: @DeadMenWalkingPodcastTwitter X: @RealDMWPodcastExclusive Content: PubTV App

Fr. Andrew Iskander- Homily for the 2nd Sunday of Hathor. A reflection on the Parable of the Sower and how to be good soil. Click the icon below to listen.

In the final episode of "The Mystery of Seeds," Duane Sheriff concludes his teaching on the Parable of the Sower from Mark Chapter 4, reviewing the four types of ground which represent the conditions of our hearts. Jesus called this parable foundational. By understanding this parable, we can connect with other biblical truths.The Word of God, as seed, faces hurdles in bearing fruit due to hardened hearts, offense from tribulation, and life's distractions such as worry and the deceitfulness of riches. Satan's deliberate strategy is to steal God's Word from our hearts. Be quick to repent from sin to keep our hearts soft, guard against offense that opens the door for the enemy, and cast our cares upon the Lord. When we cultivate good ground—hearts that hear, accept, and act on God's Word—we can expect a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundredfold return on God's precious seed.The Mystery of Seeds - Duane Sheriff Ministries

Listen to Fr. Timothy's Sunday sermon.www.stsa.church

In this Morning Manna, Rick Wiles and Doc Burkhart explore Jesus' own explanation of the Parable of the Sower. Together we see why some hearers lose the Word to distraction, why shallow roots fail under pressure, how cares, riches, and pleasures choke spiritual growth, and how the humble, prepared heart bears enduring fruit—thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold. The call is clear: seek understanding, welcome discipline, expect opposition, and let the Holy Spirit plow the heart so the Word takes root and thrives.Teachers: Rick Wiles and Doc BurkhartYou can partner with us by visiting FaithandValues.com, calling 1-888-519-4935, or by mail at PO Box 399 Vero Beach, FL 32961.MEGA FIRE reveals the ancient recurring cycles of war and economic collapse that have shaped history for 600 years. These patterns predict America is now entering its most dangerous period since World War II. Get your copy today!www.megafire.worldGet high-quality emergency preparedness food today from American Reserves!www.AmericanReserves.comIt's the Final Day! The day Jesus Christ bursts into our dimension of time, space, and matter. Now available in eBook and audio formats! Order Final Day from Amazon today!www.Amazon.com/Final-DayApple users, you can download the audio version on Apple Books!www.books.apple.com/final-dayPurchase the 4-part DVD set or start streaming Sacrificing Liberty today.www.Sacrificingliberty.com

In this Morning Manna, Rick Wiles and Doc Burkhart explore Jesus' own explanation of the Parable of the Sower. Together we see why some hearers lose the Word to distraction, why shallow roots fail under pressure, how cares, riches, and pleasures choke spiritual growth, and how the humble, prepared heart bears enduring fruit—thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold. The call is clear: seek understanding, welcome discipline, expect opposition, and let the Holy Spirit plow the heart so the Word takes root and thrives. Join the live class weekdays at 8:00 AM ET and grow with believers gathering from many nations to study God's Word. Teachers: Rick Wiles and Doc Burkhart You can partner with us by visiting FaithandValues.com, calling 1-888-519-4935, or by mail at PO Box 399 Vero Beach, FL 32961. MEGA FIRE reveals the ancient recurring cycles of war and economic collapse that have shaped history for 600 years. These patterns predict America is now entering its most dangerous period since World War II. Get your copy today! www.megafire.world Get high-quality emergency preparedness food today from American Reserves! www.AmericanReserves.com It's the Final Day! The day Jesus Christ bursts into our dimension of time, space, and matter. Now available in eBook and audio formats! Order Final Day from Amazon today! www.Amazon.com/Final-Day Apple users, you can download the audio version on Apple Books! www.books.apple.com/final-day Purchase the 4-part DVD set or start streaming Sacrificing Liberty today. www.Sacrificingliberty.com

In light of a series of miracles in our readings for today, Fr. Mike focuses on our Lord's compassion and our call to be merciful, as he is. He emphasizes the beauty of God's mercy and his offering of it despite our unworthiness. He also strikes a balance between the goodness of humanity as God's creation and our brokenness due to original sin. Today's readings are Luke 6-8 and Proverbs 26:1-3. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.