Week Sixty One - February 8, 2014 Steve's Bible Study
Why do "Christians" abandon the faith? The parable of the Sower / Four Soils
......................................................................................................
[Jeremiah 49:4; Matthew 7:15-23; 13:1-23]
 
Back to Main Page
Why do Christians abandon the faith?

Parable - a long analogy in the form of a story
"FOUR SOILS": 
1) Wayside  - refuse to hear the gospel
- didn't penetrate the heart
2) Rocky ground  - superficial, surface-level, no root
- abandon when trials come
3) Thorns  - "choked" with cares, riches, worldly pleasures
- hearing without obeying, no repentance
4) Good soil  - hears, understands, bears fruit
- ONLY true believer, committed
- 100-fold, 60-fold, 30-fold
Backsliding - apostate, turn away/back
- faithless, be repulsed
What can "I" do?
1) PRAY
2) Learn, teach, train
3) Provide assurance
4) Be examples / Be consistent / Be honest
5) Wait for a window
6) Give a "defense" ('apologia')
7) Don't exceed your role
8) PRAY