Sermon Tone Analysis

Purpose of the class:

ïReview parable

ïAnalyze which ground we are

ïGive kids the encouragement and opportunity to ask God to change the soil of their hearts

Materials needed

ïUncooked beans

Gravel

Rock

Thorns or weeds

Cup of soil

Illustrations?

One about the perception of different people and what they do with it

Have each kid make a list of areas in their life that are within the gospel circle.

NOw make a list of areas outside of the gospel.

Check for overlap

The Job Applicant

Back when the telegraph was the fastest method of long-distance communication, a young man applied for a job as a Morse Code operator.

Answering an ad in the newspaper, he went to the office address that was listed.

When he arrived, he entered a large, busy office filled with noise and clatter, including the sound of the telegraph in the background.

A sign on the receptionist’s counter instructed job applicants to fill out a form and wait until they were summoned to enter the inner office.

The young man filled out his form and sat down with the seven other applicants in the waiting area.

After a few minutes, the young man stood up, crossed the room to the door of the inner office, and walked right in.

Naturally the other applicants perked up, wondering what was going on.

They muttered among themselves that they hadn’t heard any summons yet.

They assumed that the young man who went into the office made a mistake and would be disqualified.

Within a few minutes, however, the employer escorted the young man out of the office and said to the other applicants, “Gentlemen, thank you very much for coming, but the job has just been filled.”

The other applicants began grumbling to each other, and one spoke up saying, “Wait a minute, I don’t understand.

He was the last to come in, and we never even got a chance to be interviewed.

Yet he got the job.

That’s not fair!”

The employer said, “I’m sorry, but all the time you’ve been sitting here, the telegraph has been ticking out the following message in Morse Code: ‘If you understand this message, then come right in.

The job is yours.’

None of you heard it or understood it.

This young man did.

The job is his.”

Perception/Acceptance

Rice, Wayne.

Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks: 100 Attention-Getting Stories, Parables, and Anecdotes (Youth Specialties)

IF YOU HAVE EARS TO HEAR

The wo!!

He who has ears to hear let him hear.

This is much like the language that the prophets used back when they were trying to get the attention of God’s people who were falling away.

It seems that the women that are following him were sold on the good news of the Kingdom of God.

Had all been healed of the evil diseases

Supporting ministry out of their own means

We see Mary Magdalene, and Joanna at the tomb after Jesus’ death

They were the ones who went and told the disciples

This time, the Sower is not the main character in the story(Jesus)

It’s the different soils

Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem that three of the soils are ones that we want to be part of

(Like Willow and Eden.

50/50 odds you will guess which ones which.

You have a 75% chance to get this wrong and 25% otherwise)

Seed on Path

Gets trampled on and birds eat it

No time to germinate, to grow

Seed hit something hard and unwelcoming.

There was not a chance for this one because the elements, nature itself, would make sure that it could not survive

The Word has hit a hard heart.

A protected one

One that already has all the answers

One that has a hard shell, that is not receptive

Devil takes the word away

Seed on Rock

There’s a little something there….but

only a little

There’s a little something there….but

only a little ïNot enough to hold on to ïIt will not sustain life ïThis heart is easily swayed by the elements outside of itself oYou see some life, and then it quickly disappears ïTime of testing, they fall away oThey have no root

Not enough to hold on to

It will not sustain life

This heart is easily swayed by the elements outside of itself

You see some life, and then it quickly disappears

Time of testing, they fall away oThey have no root

Seed on Thorns

The seed grows with the thorns.

Doesn’t seem like a healthy plant

In fact, you might not even be able to see it very well, or even distinguish it from the thorns.

The seed grows with the cares of this world

Your heart is receptive, but you also allow everything else around you to affect and live in your heart

You as well will not make it ïWord does not mature in peoples life due to life’s:

Worries o

Riches o

Pleasures o

Sports o

Entertainment o

Friends o

Media o

Jobs

Good soil

Yields one hundred fold

How do we know if we are the good soil?

Good question

What are our fruits?

What is your fruit?

Noble and good heart

Hear the word

Retain it

Through perseverance produce a crop

Where do you find yourself.

If you had to be honest, what heart are you?