^ Click Take A Note ^ Remember to write down some short notes for each of the questions below before heading to life group.

1.

Share 1 thing that stood out to you about Sunday's Message. (1 minute max please) Also press play button in image above to watch or listen to Sundays message if you missed it or just to refresh your memory. (Each Individual)

2. Good Sower, Good Seed, Bad Soil

Matthew 13:3-7

3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, 6 but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.

On Sunday Pastor Ben said the Sower is good and the seed is good so the only question is what is the condition of the soil of our hearts and minds? Pastor Ben described the "well beaten path" soil that seed cannot penetrate, "conflicted, rocky, & weed-filled" soil that seed can't find room to grow in, and "thorny soil" where hurt people can't reach out without pain and they've made it impossible for others to reach in without being hurt.

Which of these soil types best describe your head and heart when Gospel seeds are being sown into your life that don't seem to grow or bear fruit? (Each Individual)

What can we do about this in order to change the unhealthy soil of our heads and hearts so that we can have a harvest and growth and fruit? (Group Discussion)

3. The Generous Sower

2 Corinthians 9:10-13

10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 13 By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others

On Sunday Pastor Ben said that God is a generous sower who has decided to sow unconditional love into our lives. Pastor Ben started with the above passage showing that sowing is God's idea and it includes His expectation that we will sow financially into the kingdom. Our financial sowing changes our hearts, meets the needs of the saints, and causes God to be glorified by many. The passage above alludes to the sowers provision of seed in our lives being connected to how we will then sow into the kingdom and the lives of others.

Have you found it easy or difficult to receive the unconditional love that God has been sowing into your life? Have you found it easy or difficult to sow unconditional love into the lives of others? How has God's financial provision & generosity in your life affected your generosity? What have been some of the blessings and what have been some of the challenges for you and your family in the area of financially sowing into the kingdom? (Group Discussion)

4. The Sower Is The Seed

In John 12:24 Jesus said...

24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.

God has sown the seed of life in His Son Jesus. The death of Jesus has born the fruit of eternal life in millions and millions of people. How does this truth of the Gospel encourage you when it comes to "bad soil" areas in your life? How does this truth of the Gospel encourage you when it comes to "financial stability and generosity" in your life? How does this truth of the Gospel encourage you when it comes to "laying down your life" for others and sharing the Gospel? (Group Discussion)

5. What is 1 area you feel God is calling you to take specific action in, based on Sunday's message and tonight's Life Group gathering? (Each individual)

* Remember to pray for each other before heading home from life group and to stay in communication here in the app throughout the week on your life group messaging thread!