A Fruitful Hearer of God’s Word

This sermon is from Grace Fellowship Church in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. To access other sermons or to learn more about us, please visit our website at graceedmonton .ca.

It's so good to see everyone. It's great to have visitors. Welcome to Grace Fellowship Church. This week, we're going to continue in a study that we've been doing over the last number of weeks, I think probably months now, in the Gospel of Mark.

And for the sake of today, because we have send-offs and baptisms and new memberships, we have to be really efficient with our time. And so I'm going to be very efficient. For those men that have been learning homiletics, the art of preaching, we talk about having a good introduction.

I apologize. I'm not going to have a good introduction. We're just going to dive right into it, and my brothers can score me afterwards. But today, what we're going to do is we're going to look at a parable, the first parable that Christ brings up in the Gospel of Mark in chapter 4.

If you have a red-letter Bible where the words of Christ are in red letters, in your particular Bible, you'll see that chapter 4 is glowing with red letters. There are two sections in the Gospel of Mark that are primarily concerned with the teachings of Christ, the words of Christ.

Those are Mark chapter 4 and Mark chapter 13. Mark chapter 13 is all about Christ's teaching of the end times, his second coming. And Mark chapter 4 today is all of Christ's teaching on the parables. We find this same account in Matthew chapter 13 and also in Luke chapter 8.

And today, for the sake of time, we're going to do things a little bit differently. As we go through this, what we find, again, for those of you that have been learning the art and the science of biblical interpretation, is that we have a parable that Christ puts before us.

But he does us a really great favor in that he interprets the parable for us here. And so half of our work is already done just in reading the parable. When I told our brother Sam that I was going to be preaching on the parable of the sower, he said, what are we going to do?

Preach the parable of the sower this week and then preach the interpretation next week? And I said, no, we're going to look at all of it. But what that means is that this week we're going to look at the parable of the sower.

Christ is going to give us a case study or four case studies of four different people as they receive the gospel word. And then he's going to give us the interpretation. And so we're going to read each of these parables through.

We're going to look at Christ's interpretation of the parable. And then we're going to illustrate and apply that. And so we're going to spend much less time on interpretation and much more time on illustration and application, with the bulk of the application coming at the end.

And so if you're not here and you don't know what it's like when we usually, or if you're new to us or visiting us, usually I always start with the main idea of the text. And so the main idea, what Christ is trying to do in this particular parable is that he wants to show us what it looks like to be a fruitful hearer of God's word.

A fruitful, a faithful hearer of God's word. Now let me ask you, does that describe you? If you think about it honestly, you're Bible reading. You're having heard the gospel. You're sitting through preaching, sometimes long preaching like we do here.

Are you a fruitful and are you a faithful hearer of God's word? Or is it possible that you're a distracted hearer of God's word? A confused hearer of God's word? Are you a worldly hearer of God's word?

Today Christ is going to show us what this looks like. And then he's going to put before us what it means to be a fruitful and faithful hearer of God's word. So that's my introduction. We're going to dive right in then to Matthew.

The Parable of the Sower in Mark 4

Mark, Mark chapter 4 in verse 1. Mark writes in verse 1,. 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.

And he was teaching them many things in parables. And in his teaching he said to them. We're going to look at that in a moment. Mark begins by transporting us into the setting in which Christ is going to teach these parables.

When the crowds began to gather around Christ at the edge of the Sea of Galilee. He got into a boat and there he addressed the great crowd. Now we're not told exactly where this occurred. But many Bible scholars, many Jewish historians and maybe geographers.

That's the word I'm looking for. I believe that it was in a bay that was about one kilometer west of Capernaum. Capernaum was a town on the north side of the Sea of Galilee. And it's here that the rolling hills on the edge of the Sea of Galilee form a natural amphitheater.

That has become known as the Bay of Parables. Now I went on to Google Maps this week and I looked this up. And if you look, I encourage you to do this. Type in Cove of the Sower in Google Maps. And you will see the spot at least from the highway.

Where it's likely that Christ taught these parables. And it's interesting, at least I found it interesting. It would appear that God designed. I thought about you Matt and your artistic mind. That God would artistically and specifically design this little piece of geography.

This little bay on the north side of the Sea of Galilee. For a singular event in human history. The shape and the acoustics of this bay act almost like an amplifier. And allow a person to speak at a comfortable volume.

And there, speaking at a comfortable volume. That person could be heard by thousands of people. That are seated on the hillsides. The gradual hills that rise above the bay. So here Christ sat down in a boat.

At least sitting down, it was customary for Jewish teachers in his day. He called his listeners attention to himself. And he began to speak. And this is what he said in verse 3. Verse 3 reads, We'll start there.

Christ begins this section with a word. With two words that introduce the whole theme of this parable. He says, listen. The ESV translation puts an exclamation mark at the end.

Listen.

And his second word reinforces this.

Listen, behold.

Christ wants us to look and listen. So that we would learn what it means to be fruitful hearers of God's word. And here Christ introduces us to a sower of seeds. Now children, I want to ask you. If you were a farmer.

And you had a massive field to plant. How would you plant your seeds? Yes, Scarlett.

Make a row. You could write a book.

That's excellent. That is excellent. You did learn about it. I can tell. I can tell you learned about it. And for some people. I think of Noah for instance. Who likes to drive things. Or like quads. He might want to get in a farm tractor maybe.

And have a big sower. That I think maybe Mr. Neal in the back might drive. That shoots seeds into the ground. Maybe with a little burst of air. Or something like that. But before that kind of technology.

In Christ's day.

What would happen is a farmer or an agricultural worker. Would go out into their field. Either plowed or sometimes even unplowed. And with a bag of seeds. They would reach into the sack. Grasp a handful.

And toss it.

Scatter it abroad.

As far as they could. And what would happen is. Because the soil was often uneven. They would take it to the very edge of their land. They would cover as much as possible. It was the best method that they had at the time.

But very often it was a wasteful means of planting their crops. Some three quarters of the seeds that fell. Would fall among rocks and weeds. And never produce a harvest. And so Christ takes this same fact.

Something that perhaps even as the disciples. And the people listening would have been sitting on the hills. Maybe there was a sower in the distance. We don't know. But it would have been something that was familiar to them.

And he says in verse 4. And he sowed some seed. And as he sowed. Excuse me. Some seed fell along the path. And the birds came and devoured it. I'm going to make four points today. The first point that I want to make is this.

Here we see a deceived hearer of God's word. Now how do we get that? A deceived hearer of God's word. I want to transport us to verse 15. Where Christ is going to interpret this parable.

He says.

And these are the ones along the path. Where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan immediately comes. And takes away the word that is sown in them. And so here we have. A seed that's cast. Perhaps it was on a roadway that had been trampled down.

On the edge of the field. Where the soil was just too hard to germinate. And we see not just a deceived hearer. But we see a deceived heart. It makes me wonder. How many people come here on Sunday. With a deceived heart.

With a heart that is hardened to the gospel. How many of us approach the reading of the word. And are not prepared to receive the good that God has given us in it. You know I love historical illustrations.

So I had a lot of fun with this sermon. Because it's interpreted. We get to illustrate it. And I'm going to rely on some of those. We see such a deceived heart. Such a deceived hearer of God's word. In the life of Adoniram Judson.

Now you might say I know Adoniram Judson. He was a missionary. This is about Adoniram Judson's friend. If you don't know. Adoniram Judson was an American Baptist missionary. To the people of Burma. That's modern day Myanmar.

In the early 1800's. Judson had what I would characterize as a wonderful early upbringing. He grew up as the son of a pastor. In a faithful Christian home. His father was a man of integrity and conviction.

When he read the word of God and had a conviction about it. He held to it. Even if it cost him his life or his livelihood. His mother was an attentive and faithful woman. And under his mother's care. Adoniram Judson learned to read the Bible.

Kids listen to this. Adoniram Judson learned to read the Bible when he was three years old. But when Adoniram Judson. And kids listen to this as well. When he was in his teens. He became acquainted with a young man named Jacob Eames.

And Jacob Eames had heard the truth of the gospel many times. In that time. People were not as gospel ignorant as they are today. And so Jacob Eames had heard the gospel preached. And the kernel of gospel truth would often fall on the soil of his heart.

But before it could take root. The devil would snatch it up again. And instead of believing in the gospel word. Jacob Eames became heavily invested in a kind of deism. That rejected Christ. And that rejected the biblical view of God.

And not only was Jacob Eames self-deceived. And children this is often the case. Not only was he self-deceived. But he was a deceiver of others. And so when Adoniram Judson was 16 years old. He met Jacob Eames.

And Jacob Eames showed him. Introduced him to all of these intellectual type of people. And over time he convinced Adoniram Judson. To become a deist himself. This was much to the dismay of Adoniram Judson's parents.

And unwillingly they sent him away once he had graduated from college. To New York City. Reading almost like the story of the prodigal son. Adoniram Judson went to New York City. To live a debaucherous life.

A fast paced sinful lifestyle. All the while in the back of his mind. Hoping that he would run into Jacob Eames. But when he didn't find Jacob Eames. And when the luster of New York City. Lost its glamour.

He decided that he would travel around by horseback. From town to town. Looking for a good time. And on one particular occasion. As he was coming into a town. He went to stop at an inn. And found that the innkeeper told him.

That there was no more room in the inn for him. And I'll read. This is Adoniram Judson's words.

He said.

One night I stopped at an inn. But I was told that there was no room. After begging the innkeeper. For lodging of any kind. I was allowed to share a room. With a dying man. The innkeeper had hung a sheet.

To divide the room in half. But all through the night. I heard the loud groans. Of this dying man. He sounded like he was afraid to die. Judson could barely sleep. Imagine that. Being in a hotel room.

Just with a thin veil. Between you and a man. Who's gasping with his last breaths. He listened to the whispers. Of those who cared for the man. And he contemplated his own life. As he listened to this man.

Labor to breathe.

And in the morning.

As Adoniram Judson. Checked out of the inn. He inquired about the man's condition. The innkeeper looked. Straight into Adoniram Judson's eyes. And he said. He is dead. Now one biographer writes. Judson was struck.

With the finality of it all.

On his way out.

He asked. Do you know who it was? And the innkeeper said.

Oh yes.

A young man.

From the college in Providence. An intellectual young man. His name.

Was Jacob Eames.

Judson froze. He could not believe.

Where am I?

Sorry.

He could not even bring himself to leave. The inn for hours. As he considered. The terrible end. Of his old classmate. Judson thought to himself.

If his friend.

Eames.

Were right. Then this was a meaningless event. But Judson could not. Believe it. And another biographer writes.

That hell.

Should open.

In that country inn. And snatch Jacob Eames. His dearest friend and guide. From the next bed. This could not. Simply could not be. Pure coincidence. And God used this event.

Among others. To bring.

Adoniram Judson. To saving. Faith in Christ. And then to send him. Across the world. As a missionary. But for Jacob.

Eames.

He was a deceived. Hearer of God's word. He had heard the gospel. Many times. But it never took root. And he died. In his sin. Now let me ask you.

Does that.

Describe.

You.

In this room.

Are you.

A deceived.

Hearer.

I think that probably.

Most of us.

Wouldn't describe it that way.

But let me.

Frame it a different way.

Can you read.

The Bible. And not understand it.

And be completely.

Content. In your confusion. Can you come and hear the word of God preached. Every Sunday. And you listen. But it doesn't make sense.

Or it doesn't affect.

Anything in.

Your heart.

And can you remain.

Satisfied. In that way.

Does the word of God seem.

Old and tired. To you.

Are you more impressed.

With a podcast.

Than the word of God. Are you more impressed with the words.

Of a man.

Or even the words of a devil.

Than God's word. Are you satisfied. Reading God's word. Hearing the gospel. And feeling. Absolutely nothing. You just might be. A deceived.

Hearer.

Of God's word. Christ turns next. In verse five.

He says.

Other seed fell on. Rocky ground. Where it did not have much soil. And immediately it sprang up. Since it had no depth of soil. And when the sun rose. It was scorched. And since it had no root. It withered.

Away.

The second case study that Christ gives us here.

Is a shallow.

Hearer.

Of God's word. We have a deceived.

Hearer.

And now a shallow.

Hearer.

Of God's word. And Christ interprets this. In verse sixteen.

He said.

And these are the ones.

Sown on rocky ground.

The ones who.

When they hear the word. Immediately. Receive it. With joy. And they have no root. In themselves. But endure for a while. Then when tribulation. Or persecution arises. On account of the word. Immediately. They fall.

Away.

Find it interesting. In many parts of Israel. There are large areas of land. That are made up. Almost entirely. Of limestone.

As a matter of fact.

If you wanted to go online today. You could buy. Sixty-eight different types of limestone. That is exported. Just from Israel alone.

Including.

One that's called.

Jerusalem limestone. And if you go to many of the landmarks. In Jerusalem. You'll find that. Many of them are made.

With this Jerusalem.

Limestone. But one of the challenges.

With so much rock.

All over Israel.

Is that.

A farmer may. Inadvertently. Sow seeds. On a thick slab of limestone.

If it's covered.

With just a small amount of dirt.

And so it's possible.

For an agricultural worker. Who isn't familiar with the land. To sow seed.

Thinking.

This is wonderful. Fertile soil. But it can gain no root. Because under an inch.

Or two.

Or even a half a foot. It's just solid rock. There is no water.

There's no.

There's no. Room for the plant. To grow.

Now this.

Type of hearer. A shallow hearer. Of God's word.

You might call it.

Conference conversions.

Or.

Summer camp. Christianity.

Is when people.

Hear the gospel.

They hear the word of God. There's an enthusiastic. And an emotional. Response. But ultimately. It is superficial.

Just as.

As the previous seed. Fell on a deceived heart. This seed falls. On a shallow heart. It does not. Have room. To grow. And take root. And in John Bunyan's book. The Pilgrim's Progress. We read about. One character.

In his allegory. Who perfectly illustrates. The shallow hearer. Of God's word. In the early pages of the book.

We read.

About.

Or that we read. That the main character. Christian. Flees the city. Of destruction.

I've told.

I've told you enough. About Pilgrim's Progress. That if you haven't read it. Up to this point. You're going to be able. To piece it together soon. But he flees. The city of destruction. Of the direction.

Of another character.

Evangelist.

And on his way.

Out of the doomed city. He's met with.

Sneers.

And the revilings. Of his neighbor.

And in the midst.

Of this.

Two men. Mr. Obstinate. And Mr. Pliable.

Step out.

Of the crowd.

We've been doing.

All of this reading.

About crowds. I find it interesting.

Two people.

Step out of the crowd. To approach. Christian. Obstinate.

Opposes.

Christian. To his face.

He calls him.

A crazed.

Fool.

He says.

Away.

With.

Your book.

Perhaps he was.

Deceived.

Here. But Mr. Pliable.

Children.

We could call him. Mr. Bendy. Mr. Flexible. He's able. To twist.

And be.

Distorted.

He listened.

Carefully.

To Christian. And he was.

Quickly.

Convinced.

That he.

Should follow.

Christian.

Out of the city. To the wicked gate.

And beyond. To the celestial city. And John Bunyan. Tells us. That Mr. Pliable. Considered the news. Of the celestial city. So pleasant.

That it.

Uplifted his heart.

That he said. His own heart.

Was ravished.

With his own. Imagined visions.

Of this.

Heavenly city.

So much so.

That.

Mr. Pliable.

As he walked. With Christian. Toward the wicked gate.

Quickly.

Exceeded. Christian.

In his zeal.

To reach the wicked gate. He encouraged.

Christian.

He said.

Hurry. Hurry. Hurry.

We must get there.

Faster.

And before long. Pliable complained. That Christian. Walked too slow.

He said.

Mend your pace. But Christian. Walked slowly.

Because.

He had a burden. On his back.

Because. He was.

Dealing with.

The guilt.

Of his own sin.

Something.

That Mr. Pliable. Knew nothing of. And when Christian.

And Pliable.

Reached.

The first.

Tribulation.

The first.

Sign of.

Hardship.

On their journey.

The dreaded.

Slew of despond.

At the first.

Sign of difficulty.

As Pliable.

Sunk into the mud.

Of grief.

And melancholy.

He cursed.

Christian. Pliable said.

Is this.

Happiness.

Is this.

The happiness.

That you told.

Me about. If our pace.

Is so slow.

At.

Our first setting out.

What may we expect.

Between this. And the journey's end.

May I get out. Again.

With my life. And you.

Shall possess.

The brave country.

Alone.

Bunyan writes. And with that.

He gave.

A desperate. Struggle.

Or two.

It didn't take long. For him.

To get.

Out of the narrow way. And he got.

Out of the mire.

On the side.

Of the slew.

Which was next. To his own.

House.

So that away.

He went.

And Christian. Saw him.

No more.

Therefore Christian.

Was left.

To tumble. In the slew. Of despond.

Alone.

Now with help. Christian. Later escaped. The slew of despond. And when he was.

In the company.

Of another pilgrim. Named faithful. He heard.

An update.

From faithful's. Or from.

Pliable's. Life.

Mr.

Pliable. Faithful said. To Christian.

On the road. On the way.

He said.

Pliable has. Since his going back.

Been had.

Greatly.

In derision. That means he was.

Despised.

And ridiculed.

Some do mock.

And despise him. And scarce. Will any hire him for work. He is now. Seven times.

Worse.

Than if he had never.

Gone. Out. Of.

The city.

This is what it looks like.

Dear friends.

To be a shallow.

Hearer.

Of God's word. This type of man.

Or woman.

Neither.

Belongs to Christ.

Nor do they belong.

To the world. They have become the most. Unfruitful. Kind of person.

The shallow.

Hearer.

Of God's word.

Wants all.

Of Christ's.

Benefits.

Without any of his cross.

And so they get neither. I'm reminded of a story. That I once heard. From a brother. When he lived in Wales. Where he grew up. He had a friend. Who became a believer. Around the same time as him. And he quickly outgrew.

Everyone.

In his zeal.

I'm sure. You know people like that. Don't you? People that become.

New believers.

And it seems.

That they.

Hit the ground. At a full sprint. And so this man. Became a believer. He quickly outgrew.

Everyone.

In his zeal. In his knowledge. In his boldness. For Christ's sake.

And I remember.

This brother saying.

Well we.

Were memorized.

Memorizing.

Verses. He was.

Memorizing. Chapters.

He was the one.

Who initiated. The Bible studies.

He was that.

Awkward kind of friend. And we all know that kind of friend. When you're at a. A restaurant. Or with someone else. And you're sitting there. And they just.

Blatantly.

Share the gospel. And you go.

Oh!