Scripture Reading: Luke 8:1-15

Opening Question:

What part of this passage stands out most to you?

Core Question 1:

How is this parable helping to explain what Jesus is doing in His ministry? If Jesus is the sower, what groups of people do the different types of soil represent?

Core Question 2:

Jesus goes on to explain the parable to his close followers, but seems to be saying that He’s purposely keeping things confusing for everyone else. Why would Jesus do that?

Core Question 3:

In His ministry, Jesus sets out to renew peoples’ hearts and draw them back to God. For a variety of reasons, many hearts remained unchanged. Though seeing, they did not see. Though hearing, they did not understand. But there are a few who saw and heard and responded to His message. Why do you think some people decided to follow Jesus while others didn’t?

Core Question 4:

According to A.W. Tozer in The Wisdom of God:

“…the Lord whispers faith to the poor in spirit, to those who are childlike in heart, those who hate their sin and long after God, those who have heard the ancient whisper, and through the Word of the living God, they know, and they don’t have to have any proof.”

According to Tozer, what are some important qualities of Jesus’s followers? What else would you add to the list?

Concluding Question:

How can we maintain ‘good soil’ in our spiritual lives, so that we can see and hear clearly?