Mark 4:1-20 | Well Tended Hearts
1) Pray
Church of the Week
Petaluma Christian Church & Pastor Ryan
Missionary of the Week
Shalom Christian Center on Mfangano Island, Kenya
2) Accountability: Invite your group to share their successes and failures from valuing those in poverty, suffering, weeping, and rejection this week.
3) Opening Discussion Question: What’s one practical area of your life, right now, that is easy for you to neglect maintenance of? Why?
4) Read: Mark 4:1-20 Encourage your group to open their Bibles and follow along while one or two people read the passage aloud.
5) Discussion:
What stuck out to you from the message this week?
Use the discussion questions to spur on conversation.
Which of the four soils (path, rocky, thorns, good) do you see in your heart right now? What are the contributing factors to that condition?
What are some signs that your heart might need some maintenance spiritually? How can you tell when your faith isn’t bearing fruit?
What can you do to let your roots grow deeper in faith? How can you keep your response to Jesus from only being an emotional one?
What are some of the “thorns” in your lives that can keep you from being fruitful? How can you start clearing those out?
6) Apply: Memorize Psalm 139:23-24.
Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”
Personalize it as your own prayer to God.
Cross References:
Ezekiel 36:26-28 — God gives us a new heart and His Spirit.
Hebrews 3:13 — Encouragement in community keeps us from hardening our hearts.
Psalm 1:3 — The fruitful tree is planted by streams of water.
Psalm 139:23-24 — God, show me what’s in my heart.
Galatians 6:7-9 — We reap what we sow in time. Be patient and keep going.
Proverbs 4:23 — Guard your heart, for everything flows from it.
1 Corinthians 3:6 — God brings the growth.
Ephesians 3:20 — the Holy Spirit is bringing fruit.
Find the latest discussion guide online at www.calvarypetaluma.org/discussionguide