Sermons on The Soil With Thorns:

Grace: It’s So Much More Than God’s Favor

Contributed by Barry O Johnson on Apr 8, 2017

In 2 Corinthians 12:9 the Lord tells Paul "My grace is sufficient." If God's grace is all Paul needed to deal with the messenger from Satan, perhaps there's more about grace that we need to know and understand.

I have been reading 2 Corinthians 12 about the Apostle Paul and his pleading with God three times to handle “a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan” sent to stop him from preaching the gospel. The Lord’s response gives me goosebumps. “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:9, Ephesians 2:8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sunshine And Shekels Or Scars?

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Jan 21, 2018

The Christian life may have many roses, but it also has many thorns that scar.

I can remember before I was saved hearing that your life will be full of sunshine,rainbows etc when you gave your life to Christ. And there is the problem, we tell people that and even after they are the prosperity preachers pile on that lie and when it doesn't pan out people get discouraged and ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 1:4-8

Denomination: Baptist

Behold The King: The Cross Before The Crown

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Mar 26, 2018

God’s desired will — with omissions and out of sequence — is no longer God’s will. The cross could not be bypassed. Jesus had to wear the crown of thorns before He could wear the crown of the Kingdom.

Behold The King: The Cross Before the Crown (Various Portions of the Gospels) 1. One blogger writes, “Today, I was waiting at the bus stop and noticed a girl that I played netball with. I ran across the road to meet her and she ran across the car park to meet me. We hugged and looked at each other ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:41-44, John 18:33-38, John 19:1-3, John 19:19-22, John 6:13-15  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Will You Dethrone Him? Series

Contributed by John Dobbs on Apr 1, 2022

William Barclay wrote, “There is no escape from a personal decision in regard to Jesus; we must ourselves decide what we will do with him, accept him or reject him.”

What Will You Do With Jesus? Will You Dethrone Him? John 19:1-22 Introduction William Barclay wrote, “There is no escape from a personal decision in regard to Jesus; we must ourselves decide what we will do with him, accept him or reject him.” What will you do with Jesus? As we have explored ...read more

Scripture: John 19:1-22

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Lay Upon The Head Sprinkle Upon The Altar

Contributed by William R. Nabaza on Nov 27, 2015

To show that the our sins has been laid on the head of the LORD JESUS CHRIST and His blood sprinkled on our hearts for our redemption. Hebrews 12:24 (Amplified Bible) And to Jesus, the Mediator (Go-between, Agent) of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled

I. EXORDIUM: Are you redeemed by the Lamb? Yes. Through His blood. Colossians 1:14 Colossians 1:14 (Amplified Bible) In Whom we have our redemption through His blood, [which means] the forgiveness of our sins. II. AUDIENCE PROFILE: Believers/unbelievers III. OBJECTIVES: To show that the ...read more

Scripture: Leviticus 3:8

Denomination: Pentecostal

Snake Bite Lesson 48 Series

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Oct 19, 2018

Snake bite

A. INTRODUCTION 1. The trip to Rome is mandated. “This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar” (Acts 26:32). 2. Paul was under the supervision of Julian of the Augustan Regiment. 3. Paul’s physical problems flared up – the “thorn in the flesh” woe. a. Migraine ...read more

Scripture: Acts 28:30-31, Romans 8:28

Denomination: Baptist

Let's Be Good Ground For Jesus

Contributed by Randall Long on Apr 4, 2020

This message uses Jesus' Parable of the Sower to encourage believers to face the obstacles that hinder us from spiritual growth in our lives.

ALL RIGHT, EVERYONE! PAY ATTENTION! THIS IS SOMETHING YOU NEED TO HEAR! Have I aroused your interest? Are you at least curious what I'm about to say that can justify such verbal arm-waving? Will you be upset (or at least disappointed) if I proceed to tell a story about some guy who has a ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:3-9, Mark 4:13-20, Galatians 5:22

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

How Good Is The Dirt In Your Life?

Contributed by Terry Blankenship on Apr 30, 2007

Jesus teaches in this parable about the SOWER, the SEED, the SOIL, and the STATE you are in. Is the soil of your heart prepared?

Matthew 13:1-9 How Good is the Dirt in Your Life? Introduction - My wife and were enjoying a cruise on a recent vacation. At the dinner table that second evening, that dreaded question came up regarding my occupation. (Now I am not ashamed of being a minister, but telling people I am a minister ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

Spiritual Farming

Contributed by Joshua Blackmon on Jun 29, 2022

Jesus's parable of the four soils is filled with rich principles of how we can become fruitful Christians that we sometimes miss because they take work on our part.

Mark 4:3-9 (William Barclay) "Listen! Look! The sower went out to sow. As he was sowing, some seed fell along the roadside; and the birds came and devoured it. Some fell upon rocky ground where it did not have much earth; and it sprang up immediately, because it had no depth of earth, but, ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Sower Series

Contributed by John Knight on Apr 14, 2003

In spite of 3 out of 4 soils failing the sower keeps on sowing.

Series: The Parables of Christ Topic: The Sower Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat there; and the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-9, Matthew 13:18-23

Denomination: Holiness

The Trampled Triumphant (An Ash Wednesday Sermon)

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Mar 5, 2025

The beginning illustration is a about a fern that won't grow because of its soil. Like the fern in the soil of hardened clay, we need a new beginning in the soil of God's grace!

THE TRAMPLED TRIUMPHANT Text: II Corinthians 5:20b – 6:10 2 Corinthians 5:20-21  So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.  (21)  For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:20-21, 2 Corinthians 6:1-10

Denomination: United Methodist

0302 Pre-Lent Ii (Sexagesima): Parable Of The Sower Series

Contributed by Mark Woolsey on Jan 28, 2008

Exegesis of the Parable of the Sower. How does one aquire "good soil"?

Sermon: Parable of the Sower Text: Luke 8:4-15, II Cor 11:19-31 Occasion: Sexagesima Who: Mark Woolsey When: Sunday, Jan 27, 2007 Where: Providence Reformed Episcopal Church Luke 8:4-15, NKJV: "A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:4-15

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Sowing In Hard Places

Contributed by Maurice Mccarthy on Aug 6, 2012

SOWING BY ITS VERY NATURE IS ABOUT GETTING WHAT YOU WANT TO HAVE, NOT WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE. You sow into dirt because you want strawberries. Three principles that show how hard sowing can be: The principle of death; delay; and the principle of deceit.

Sowing in Hard Places How many of you have heard a preacher somewhere tell you that you want to sow your seed into good soil so that you can receive a good harvest? Makes sense that we should sow our seed into the best soil possible doesn’t it? No farmer in his right mind sows seed into bad soil. ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 11:6

Denomination: Pentecostal

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

Just Give Me The Dirt Series

Contributed by Thomas Swope on Feb 9, 2012

A study of the Gospel of Luke chapter 8 verses 1 through 15

Luke 8: 1 – 15 Just Give Me The Dirt Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him, 2 and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities—Mary ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:1-15

Denomination: Calvary Chapel