LEAD2018 | NIGHT SESSION 1 NOTES | 31 MAY 2018 Title : THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER” (Matthew 13:1-23) Speaker : Rev Edmund Chan =================================================== Introduction 1. One of the most critical issue for discipleship today is spiritual maturity. Key Question: What is the opposite of Spiritual Maturity? 2. A Fresh Look at the Parable of the Sower: A foundational parable! The three existential realities of life - Our Pursuits. Our Pains. Our Pleasures. The first 3 soils represent the three great enemies of the soul – A. THE FALLACY OF PRIDE IN OUR PURSUITS (vv.4,19) Matthew 13:4 “and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road …” Matthew 13:19 “When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away…” B. THE FORGETTING OF GOD IN OUR PAINS (vv.5,20-21) Matthew 13:5 “…fell upon the rocky places…” Matthew 13:5-6 “…..because they had no depth of soil. But when the sun had risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.” C. THE FORSAKING OF VALUES IN OUR PLEASURES (vv.7,22) Matthew 13:7 “fell among the thorns…” Matthew 13:22 “…. and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. Focus. What is the ANTIDOTE to the poison of the enemies of the soul? THE FRUITFULNESS OF LIFE IN THE WORD (v.8,23) Matthew 13:8 “And others fell on the good soil and yielded a crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty. (v.8) Matthew 13:23 “And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit….” Conclusion. God’s Word: Taking It IN And Living It OUT!!