I had the opportunity to teach at Church recently. I chose Luke 8:4-15, The Parable of the Sower. My dad was a farmer so I really enjoy when Jesus uses stories related to farming to teach spiritual lessons. Jesus uses metaphors that engage the imaginations of His listeners, which prepares them to receive His teaching—like the farmer prepares the soil.
 
At the end of this story we get the main point when Jesus says, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” He urges His listeners to pay attention to the word of God and the result is they will have a fruitful life. He points out 3 things that will keep some from paying attention to the word: the world, the flesh, and the devil.
 
(Here are some more verses that give warnings about these things: 1 John 2:15, 1 Peter 2:11, Ephesians 6:12.)

Pray with us and for us:
Please pray our hearts remain good soil for the word of God, able to produce abundant fruit, and not fall to the world, the flesh, and the devil. Our goal is to help train isolated church leaders. Pray we can help them cultivate their heart-soil to produce abundant fruit.