OUTLINE & VIDEO // Lesson 3: Your Heart – Do You Love Truth?

Teaching:

The Parable of the Sower (Matt 13:1-8, 18-23; Mark 4:1-9, 13-20; Luke 8:4-15)
- Jesus views this as fundamental (Mark 4:13)
- Seed = God’s word (see Luke 8:11)
- Soil = our hearts (see Luke 8:15)
- Meaning: your heart determines the impact and revelation of God’s word
A heart to follow/please God → revelation (John 7:17; 2 Corinthians 3:16; Proverbs 1:23)
- A heart resistant to God → blindness (Romans 1:18-21; 2 Thes. 2:9-12)
- Ezekiel 36:26 (compare with Jeremiah 17:9) – we must seek God for a new/humble heart
Examples:
- Deuteronomy 18:20-22; 13:1-4 – Christian leaders (like prophets) and miracles help reveal truth; the final test is how it lines up with God’s word (the Bible)
- Acts 17:11 – (A) eagerly receive new things, (B) diligently test them with Scripture
- 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 – (A) do not despise new insights, (B) diligently test, (C) keep only what is good
For more on this topic, see “Love the Truth”.
Questions:
- Are you willing to do whatever God reveals to you?
  - What if it means rejecting what parents, friends, and religious leaders (even pastors) have taught you?
  - What if it goes against “experiences” you’ve had?
  - What if it goes against things you feel strongly about?
  - What if it means rejecting what you “knew to be right”? (Proverbs 14:12)

Spend time alone with God reading over these Scriptures (especially the highlighted ones), then pray and consider these questions.
Train at least 1 other person in the same.