READ | SERMON NOTES
Summary | Discipleship sometimes feels like doing the cha cha! We take a few steps forward and then a few steps back! Why is this? It has everything to do with the heart. We need hearts that are anchored and responsive to the Word of God to enable us to grow more and more like Jesus. This is the key to fruitful discipleship.
In Luke 8 Jesus addresses a big diverse crowd with the familiar Parable of the Sower. However, the parable is really about the soil, because the fruitfulness of our discipleship depends on the state of our hearts.
1. The Hard Heart (5,12) is represented by the path, and is the heart unprepared to receive the Word. Like a path, it has been trampled on by the values of the world, disappointments, hurts, bitterness, our pride and frantic schedules which block out the Word. The hard heart is indifferent to the Word due to familiarity, a casual apathy to sin, a fixation on our own agenda and disenchantment with God because of failed (and often inaccurate) expectations. Only the Holy Spirit can plough and soften our hearts transforming them to flesh instead of stone (Ezekiel 36;26).
2. The Shallow Heart (6,13) – due to thin soil the plant cannot develop roots and quickly with-ers. The Word must take root in our lives so that we can stand faithful in tribulation. Rocks under thin soil are often hidden. What are the rocks? They are the unwillingness to do the hard work of building a relationship with God and giving up the things which hinder obedience and growth. We need to develop spiritual muscle which will give us strength to persevere.
3. The Crowded Heart (7,14) is the thorny soil, where cares of the world choke the growth of the Word and we fail to reach maturity. A weed is a plant growing in the wrong place; not bad in itself, but things become an idol when they take the place which God should occupy in our hearts. The weeds are the attachments to pleasure, values, achievements, careers, health, cares and concerns which are deeper than our attachment to God. Following Jesus is no longer our central focus. We will bear some fruit but will never really mature.
4. The Good Heart (8,15) is the heart which receives the Word readily, roots the Word maturely, responds to the Word steadily and bears fruit through patience and persevering.
How do we get a good heart? As we take a journey through the Wesley Discipleship Model, we nurture a good heart. Significant Circumstances provide occasions to respond with faith in times of testing. Scriptural Obedience builds deep foundations. Spiritual Relationships help us stay faithful and keep our hearts steadfast. Spiritual Disciplines are a means of grace to transform our hearts. Sacrificial Service frees us from thorns which choke our hearts and provokes thankfulness and a pure heart.
We cannot expect to take part in the CORDS action plan and automatically become intentional disciples. Rather, we are invited to commence the journey of allowing God to slowly transform our hearts day by day. We cannot manufacture a good heart but we can humbly come to Jesus and ask for help. Jesus has paid the price to purchase what we cannot create on our own.
PONDER | REFLECTION QUESTIONS
1. Read Luke 8:5-8 slowly and reflectively. What are your observations? Pause where words capture your imagination. Imagine how the audience would have received the parable told by Jesus. What would have been their impressions?
2. Now read Luke 8:11-15. Jesus explains the parable. What about his explanation that resonates with you? What do you find hard to apply from his explanation?
3. The hard heart. Are there areas in your life where your heart is hard towards? Perhaps such familiarity with His Word that we have become indifferent? Perhaps disappointed again and again that we have become apathetic? Ask the Spirit to search and reveal.
4. The shallow heart. Why is it so important to form deep spiritual roots? What are the “rocks” that prevent your discipleship from forming roots such that you falter when you face the trials and tests of life?
5. The crowded heart. Where your treasure is, there your heart will be (cf Matt 6:21). Are there “treasures” in your life that crowd out the rightful place of God? How have you experienced these “weeds” and “thorns” choking your discipleship?
6. How do the faith environments of C.O.R.D.S. help us form a pure and good heart for faithful and fruitful discipleship? Share what inspired you from the sermon or what you have personally encountered in your own journey with C.O.R.D.S.*
7. Pray for each other to have a good and pure heart. A heart for faithful and intentional discipleship.
*You can download a copy of the WDM Booklet to better understand C.O.R.D.S. at https://wesleymc.org/dir2025
