6. THE RADICAL MESSAGE

This is the last week of this series. What have you been challenged about in this series and what is the most radical thing you have done over the last six weeks?

Worship

Psalm 84:

1 How lovely is your dwelling place,
    Lord Almighty!
2 My soul yearns, even faints,
    for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out
    for the living God.
3 Even the sparrow has found a home,
    and the swallow a nest for herself,
    where she may have her young—
a place near your altar,
    Lord Almighty, my King and my God.
4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
    they are ever praising you.

5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
    whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baka,
    they make it a place of springs;
    the autumn rains also cover it with pools.
7 They go from strength to strength,
    till each appears before God in Zion.

8 Hear my prayer, Lord God Almighty;
    listen to me, God of Jacob.
9 Look on our shield, O God;
    look with favour on your anointed one.

10 Better is one day in your courts
    than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
    than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
    the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold
    from those whose walk is blameless.

12 Lord Almighty,
    blessed is the one who trusts in you.

Worship song suggestion: Lord You Have My Heart

Bible

Read Matthew 13:1-23.

Why did Jesus teach in parables? (v10-17)

What is the farmer sowing? (v19)

What is your understanding of the Kingdom of God?

Jesus repeats in verses 9, 12, and 23 a key throughout the passage. What is it? And how does the picture of a seed being planted challenge us to do more than just hear a message?

Nic talked about the first soil being a footpath (v4) - are there any times in your life where you have felt your heart hardening and what did you do about it?

Verses 20-21 shows the problem with shallow roots. Nic talked about plants that grow roots when they search for water. How have you put down roots in hard times that have strengthened you? How have you held to the truth rather than letting the circumstances define you?

The third soil (v22) talks about other things growing up alongside the Kingdom. What are some of these things and how do we seek first the Kingdom of God? (Matthew 6)

Prayer

Response

Do you need to forgive anyone or let go of any offence? Is there any hardening of your heart that you need to allow the gardener to dig up?

In what areas of your life are you needing to trust God’s word at the moment?

Are there any distractions or worries that are creating a divided heart?

Prayer

Pray for each other’s hearts to be radical - soft, trusting, undivided and listening for understanding to the word of God.

From all that we have studied over the last six weeks. Pray for us all to live radical lives for Jesus.