Sermons on Hardened Soil:

Are We Predestined - Part 2 Series

Contributed by Barry O Johnson on Dec 19, 2023

This is the second and last lesson in this two-part series on the doctrine of predestination.

NOTE: New Light Faith Ministries and Barry Johnson Ministries, founded by Rodney V. Johnson and Barry O. Johnson, respectively, are partnering to offer Bible studies for Christians who are seeking to grow in their relationship with Jesus. This is a Bible study lesson, not a sermon. The Bible ...read more

Scripture: James 1:13-17, Exodus 1:8-10, Exodus 3:18-22, John 3:16, John 14:6, Acts 2:21, Ephesians 2:8, 1 Timothy 2:4, 1 Peter 3:9, Revelation 22:17, Ephesians 1:5, Ephesians 1:11  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Are You Ready To Listen? Series

Contributed by John Hamby on Jun 9, 2002

In each case the seed is the same, but the soil into which the seed falls is what makes the difference. In this story four different responses are given, along with four different causes and having four distinct results.

A Study of the Book of Luke Sermon # 19 Are You Ready To Listen? Luke 8:1-15 After over twenty years in the ministry there is one thing that I am absolutely convinced of and it is that there variety of listeners in every ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Little Engine That Could

Contributed by Bruce Ball on Jul 7, 2005

Sermon preached the morning before we sent another team of missionaries to foreign soil. Discusses what is needed to have missions trips.

Have you ever wished that you could do something to make changes in the world around you? Have you ever said, "If I had my way… if only I could, if only I could?" Most of us would like to have some kind of positive impact on our surroundings in some way or other, wouldn’t we? But think for a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20

Denomination: *other

Be A Doer Of The Word

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on May 13, 2025

The difference between a victorious Christian life and a defeated one lies in the doing of the Word. The Word is a seed, but obedience is the soil where it bears fruit.

BE A DOER OF THE WORD By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: James 1:22 – “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” Supporting Texts: Matthew 7:24-27, Luke 6:46, Romans 2:13, John 13:17, Joshua 1:8 INTRODUCTION: In an age of information, hearing the Word of God ...read more

Scripture: James 1:22, Matthew 7:24-27, Luke 6:46

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Three Ways To Hinder Your Spiritual Growth Series

Contributed by Hal Seed on Oct 3, 2008

The Parable of the Soils describes four ways to respond to God. Three of them hinder spiritual growth. In this parable Jesus is saying, "You must take responsiblity for your personal spiritual growth."

[This sermon is contributed by Hal Seed of New Song Church in Oceanside, California and of www.PastorMentor.com. Hal is the author of numerous books including The God Questions and The Bible Questions. If you are interested in The Bible Questions Church-wide Campaign, please visit and watch Hal’s ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

Why Did Jesus Teach In Parables?

Contributed by William Mouser on Jul 24, 2005

By teaching in parables, Jesus simultaneously revealed truths to his disciples, and concealed truth about himself from those whose hardened hearts had already rejected it.

Isaiah 6:1-10, Romans 11:1-11, Matt. 13:1-3, 10-16 Why Parables? In preparation for today’s homily, I went to Amazon on the internet and punched up all the titles they had with the word “parable” in them. I got about a thousand hits. Next, I requested a listing of all the titles they had ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:10-16

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Rebellion And Rest

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 2, 2024

The psalmist looks back at Israel’s history. He tells us that He wants us to hearken to His voice. Specifically, we must not harden our hearts.

The Rebellion in the Desert, and in Our Hearts The New Year 2024 is just a few days old, but one thing is pretty clear to me. Although we live on the juncture between two cities that each have noise and anti-fireworks ordinances, everyone agrees that the fireworks explosions heard as the old year ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 21:4-9, Hebrews 4:8-10

Denomination: Catholic

David's Faith (1 Samuel 17)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 13, 2025

What kind of faith does it take for a young man to do what hardened soldiers were afraid to do? Let's look at 1 Samuel 17.

How did a young man come to so much faith? How did he conquer a giant problem that had all of Israel cowering? Do we have that kind of faith? Let’s look in 1 Samuel 17. Was the Philistine threat a seemingly insurmountable problem? The Philistines got ready for war and brought their troops ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Sower's Diagnosis

Contributed by Kyle Meador on Nov 13, 2000

In this simple parable the great physician offers listeners a straight-forward heart exam.

(A note to those reading this material: This manuscript follows the presentation of the material as it was originally given. What may be difficult to tell by just reading the original text is the presence of a thick, southern accent – deliberately used in the introduction to make the material more ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:2-20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Tour Of A Greenhouse

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Jan 24, 2003

In pursuit of a vision of discipleship, this sermon explores the picture of the church like a greenhouse: growing, nurturing, and transplanting. Concluding with a call to examine the soil of our soul.

Becoming a Greenhouse pt 2: Tour of a Greenhouse Matt. 13:1-9; 18-23 The Parable of the Sower (Matt. 13:1-9; 18-23): “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-23

Denomination: Baptist

Sowing The Seeds Of Love

Contributed by Pat Cook on Sep 8, 2003

A brief wedding message about being the right kind of soil, not letting problems choke out the joy, and keeping God’s Word in the marriage.

Homily I’d like to share a brief word to you from God’s Word, encouraging you in your new life. Jesus told a story once about 4 kinds of soil that a farmer scattered some seeds in: 1) on a footpath - birds came and ate the seeds 2) in shallow soil - it grew up quickly but soon wilted for lack of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-23

Denomination: Baptist

How's Your Hearing?

Contributed by Martin Wiles on Sep 14, 2010

God's Word encounters various types of heart soil as it preached and taught, and a person's response is determined by what kind of preparation has taken place.

HOW'S YOUR HEARING? MATTHEW 13:1-9 INTRODUCTION Some know firsthand what it is to have a hearing problem. Those who have one are often required to have a hearing aid. Others choose not to. Losing our hearing or even a part of it is a very serious and aggravating thing. Some have what is termed ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

A Pattern For Powerful Prayer

Contributed by James Chandler on Jun 13, 2018

This message walks through the "disciple's prayer" as given to them by Jesus. The message identifies several elements that will create a proper soil for a rich prayer life.

Jesus' disciples come to him and ask him to teach them to pray. Matthew 6 records Jesus' response: “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:5-13

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Three Deadly Thorns

Contributed by Shawn Miller on Mar 14, 2016

A message about our spiritual priorities, showing the danger of the thorns of worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desire of other things in the parable of the sower/soils.

Three Deadly Thorns Introduction: The parable of the soils is found in three of the four gospels, but for the purposes of our sermon this morning, lets look at the fourth chapter of Mark. In the parable of the four soils, Jesus paints a visual picture of a farmer scattering seed around and it ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:4-20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

They That Wait

Contributed by Larry Grant on Jun 28, 2025

The seeds of comfort often take root in the soil of pain. When your life seems to be falling apart, wait on the Lord and God will strengthen you.

Isaiah 40:28-31 “They That Wait” 6-29-2025 Isaiah 40:1 “Comfort ye, comfort ye my people,” saith your God. The book of Isaiah makes a dramatic shift at this point. Chapter 40 refers to the restoration after the Exile. Judah still had 100 years of trouble before Jerusalem would fall, then 70 years ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:28-31

Denomination: Baptist