In an average lifetime :-

• Beats approx 3,000 million times

• Pumps 48 m gallons of blood

• In one hour, produces equivalent energy to raise a ton of weight

3 feet off the ground

Series – ‘Serving God with our whole body’

Today

A heart in tune with God

Matt 13:1-9, 18-23

Series theme verse

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one

of you is a part of it

1 Cor 12:27

God looks at the heart

‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him.

The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward

appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart’

1 Sam 16:7

The Seed is the Word of God - The Bible

• Seed has life in it - Heb 4:12a

• Seed is powerful – Heb 4:12b

• Seed produces fruit – 1 Cor 3:6

1. The Hard heart

A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path,

and the birds came and ate it up

Matt 13:3b-4

1. The Hard heart

when anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes

and snatches away what was sown in their heart

Matt 13:19

2. The Shallow heart

Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil.

It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.

But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they

had no root – Matt 13:5-6

2. The Shallow heart

The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no

root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because

of the word, they quickly fall away

Matt 13:20-21

3. The Crowded heart

Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked

the plants

Matt 13:7

3. The Crowded heart

The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word,

but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word,

making it unfruitful

Matt 13:22

4. The Fruitful heart

Still other seed fell on good soil, where it

produced a crop – a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown

Matt 13:8

4. The Fruitful heart

But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by

persevering produce a crop

Luke 8:15

What does it mean to be fruitful?

• Reaching others for Christ

• Living a Christ like life which produces the fruit of the Spirit

Which soil represents the condition of your heart?

• Hard heart

• Shallow heart

• Crowded heart

• Fruitful heart

How do I develop a heart in tune with God?

Learn God’s ways Teach me your way, O LORD - Ps 86:11a

Live out God’s truth I may walk in your truth – Ps 86:11b

Lay aside all distractions give me an undivided heart - Ps 86:11c

“You can have as much of God as you want. The questions is –

how much do you want?”

Alan Redpath