12-29-24 Setlist: Look At What The Lord Has Done Run To The Father Good Plans Goodness of God Sermon Notes: "The greatest enemy to the life you want, may be the life that you're currently living." - Craig Groeschel Key Verse: Then Jesus said to them, “If you can’t understand the meaning of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables? Mark 4:13 Key Passage: “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed. As he scattered it across his field, some of the seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it. Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn’t have deep roots, it died. Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” Then he said, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” Mark 4:3-9 Key Passage: The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others.The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away. Mark 4:14-15 Enemies of growth: 1. Hard hearts Key Verse: “They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.” Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭18‬ ‭(NIV‬‬) The seeds of many species do not germinate immediately after exposure to conditions generally favorable for plant growth but require a “breaking” of dormancy, … Commonly, the embryo will develop after the seed coat is removed or sufficiently damaged to allow water to enter. - Encyclopedia Britanica Enemies of growth: 2. Shallow roots Key Passage: The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. Mark 4:16-17 People can work for a what, but they will give their life for a why. Real growth isn’t based out of behavior modification. Real growth is based out of spiritual transformation. Key Passage: “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment … ‭‭ Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭3‬-‭5‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Enemies of growth: 3. A crowded life Key Passage: The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced.  Mark 4:18-19 Key Verse: And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” Mark 4:20