Sermons on Shallow Ears:

True Repentance Series

Contributed by Brad Beaman on Mar 15, 2022

“Come, let us return to the Lord.” (Hosea 6:1) Jesus went to the house of many tax collectors and sinners. The Pharisees saw this and asked why Jesus eats with tax collectors and sinners. In that context Jesus Quotes Hosea 6:6 (found in Matthew 9:13).

The story of the prodigal son gives us a great picture of repentance. The prodigal has messed up big time and ended up in a terrible situation, eating pig slop just to survive. That situation made him turn back to his father. But you don’t have to wind up on skid row to need repentance. A Christian ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 6:1-11, Hosea 5:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

Matthew 13:10-17 – How To Guage Your Spiritual Apathy – Part 3 Series

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Jan 13, 2011

The sounds of the city snatches away our attention and the persistent voice of Christ’s love fights to be heard above the collective sighs of our APATHY. Just like the parable of the Sower and the Soils.

Matthew 13:10-17 – HOW TO GUAGE YOUR SPIRITUAL APATHY – Part 3 We visited the Opera House in Sydney not long ago. Thousands of people on foot! I am reminded that there is a spiritual INDIFFERENCE that walks the concrete footpaths of my city and what Christ has to say is often swept away or ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Are You Listening #6 Series

Contributed by David Swanger on Jan 9, 2024

Like a parent who has an important message, does our Father ever wonder if we are listening?

Great Lessons from the Life of Christ #6 ARE YOU LISTENING (Mark 4:1-20) How many parents have taken their child’s face in their hands and asked “Are you listening to me? Do you hear what I am saying?” And how many children have completely closed out what their parents were saying, but for safety ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:1-20

The Parable Of A Farmer

Contributed by Rev. Duraimony Dickson on Sep 2, 2022

If the word of God is not bearing fruit in your life, you're not studying the word of God; you're not hearing the word of God; you're not receiving the word of God.

Let me ask three questions before we start this message: 1. If the gospel is the power of God—why doesn't everybody that hears the gospel become a Christian? 2. If the Bible is the Word of God—why doesn't the Bible have the same effect on everyone who reads it? 3. If Jesus is the Son of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:3-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Countering Drip-By-Drip Change...

Contributed by Robert Sickler on Jun 10, 2016

Sometime change in our, and our churches, Christian perspective is so slow that we fail to recognize what is happening. It is like the drip-by-drip change, which Nazi ideology brought to Germany.

Countering Drip-by-Drip Change... Illustration We need to take the time to question how the German people could have allowed Nazi fanatics to turn their country into a Satanic tool that killed Jews by the millions? While it is true that early on some Germans openly adopted pagan and irreligious ...read more

Scripture: John 15:1-11

Denomination: Christian Church

You Gotta Have Heart Series

Contributed by David Owens on May 8, 2023

In Mark 4, Jesus taught the parable of the sower, and then explained it. The parable challenges us to sow the word of God and to cultivate our hearts so that we can be the good soil that produces a great harvest.

A. Once there was a man who was having serious heart trouble, so he went to the doctor to see what his options were. 1. His doctor recommended that he have a heart transplant. 2. The patient asked if there were any hearts immediately available and told the doctor that he could pay whatever amount ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:1-20, 1 Corinthians 3:7, Hebrews 4:12, Proverbs 4:23

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Spiritually Healthy Heart Series

Contributed by Rick Duncan on Sep 7, 2005

The heart of the human problem is the problem of the human heart.

The heart of the human problem is the problem of the human heart. That means that the heart of my problem is the problem of my heart. And the heart of your problem is the problem of your heart. Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful and desperately wicked…” Watch over your heart with all ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:4-8

Denomination: Baptist

Parables Of The Kingdom. Conditions Of The Heart. Matthew 13.1-23 Part 1 Series

Contributed by William Akehurst on May 24, 2025

Using the Parable of the Sower, Jesus teaches that the condition of your heart determines the fruitfulness of your life in response to God's Word.

2025.05.25.Sermon Notes. Parables of the Kingdom. Conditions of the Heart. The Heart of the Matter_Matthew 13.1-23 PART 1 William Akehurst, HSWC Scriptures: Matthew 13:1-23, Isaiah 6:9-10, Galatians 6:7-8, Jeremiah 4:3, Colossians 2:6-7, Psalms 1:1-2, Jeremiah 17:7-8, Isaiah 55:6-7 Big Idea: ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-23, Isaiah 6:9-10, Galatians 6:7-8, Jeremiah 4:3, Colossians 2:6-7, Psalm 1:1-2, Jeremiah 17:7-8, Isaiah 55:6-7  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Sufficiency's Of Grace

Contributed by Stephen E. Trail on Sep 5, 2021

The grace of God on displlay in the life of Paul.

The Sufficiency’s of Grace 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 Introduction: It is appropriate this morning that since we are looking at the sufficiency of God’s grace that we consider grace on display in the life, ministry and death of the Apostle Paul. He is the Apostle of grace and uses this term more than ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Good Things Come To Those Who ... Wait. Series

Contributed by Ken Pell on Jan 16, 2007

Our tendency to procrastinate, even over matters related to the soul, is challenged by Jesus’ sermon of the soils.

GOOD THINGS COME TO THOSE WHO … WAIT. Mark 4:1-20 From the Sermon Series: “Ten Cultural Myths that Drive America” We are in the throes of our sermon series, “Ten Cultural Myths that Drive America.” It is taken from the first six chapters of Mark. We are highlighting different adages or aphorisms ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:1-20

Denomination: Nazarene

A Lesson In Farming Series

Contributed by Kerry Bauman on Jul 28, 2005

A look at the four conditions of the human heart and the receptivity of each to the Word of God

A Lesson in Farming Text: Luke 8:4-15 Introduction: For the next several weeks we’re going to be looking at the parables of Christ as they are found in the Gospel of Luke. The word for "parable" means, "to throw alongside." Therefore, a parable is a type of illustration thrown alongside of an ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:4-15

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Parable Of The Sower

Contributed by Freddy Fritz on Feb 2, 2014

A study of the responses of the different soils to the seed illustrates different responses to the word of God.

Scripture As Jesus was coming to the end of his Galilean ministry, which some say lasted about 16 months, he drew vast audiences to his ministry. He also experienced growing opposition to his message about the good news of the kingdom of God. Although he had previously illustrated his preaching ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:4-15

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Love God With All Your Heart Series

Contributed by John Dobbs on Oct 2, 2025

One person asked Jesus a question that I think is one of the most important questions one can ask. He was a teacher of the law. His question was one that should concern all of us: What is the greatest commandment?

LOVE GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART Introduction If you could sit down with Jesus and a cup of coffee, what would you most like to ask him? -Why is there suffering in the world? -What happens after death? -Why do bad things happen to good people? -What is the meaning or purpose of life? -Is there life ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:28-34

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

How Is Your Soil

Contributed by Douglas Vincent on Dec 9, 2003

I describe four types of soil in Matthew 13 with an emphasis on changing the condition of our soil.

When Watching the Krispy Kreme Donut machine, or as I like to call it the “Dream Machine.” I noticed something that made me very upset. At the end of the conveyer they were throwing away a bunch of the donuts. First there is the dough plopper that makes the doughnut shape. But as I watched I ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-23, Galatians 5:22-23

Denomination: Methodist

The Four Soils Series

Contributed by Charles Salmon on Feb 18, 2002

Sermon on the parable of the sower. One’s response to the Gospel depends on the personal inclination of his will.

The Four Soils Mark 4:1-20 INTRO.: Why do different people respond differently to the same message? Why do some reject the Gospel of Christ and others accept it and live Christian lives? Jesus provides an answer to this question in the passage before us. We will become more effective and joyful ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:1-20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ