[Luke 8:11-15]

“This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is God’s word. The seeds that fell on the footpath represent those who hear the message, only to have the devil come and take it away from their hearts and prevent them from believing and being saved. The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation. The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity. And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.”

While all of us wish the world was a little bit better of a place to live in, the only thing I can actually work on is me. Truthfully, the biggest threat to the happiness of my life isn’t outside of me but INSIDE of me and I’m not sure I can fix that.

• Francis of Assisi said that each of us have a God-shaped hole in our heart than can only be filled by God

[Romans 3:23]

“For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.”

[Romans 3:19-20]

“Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God. For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we really are.”

[Hebrews 9:27]

“And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment.”

[Ecclesiastes 12:14]

“God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.” That scares the tar out of me because I know how much “bad” I’ve done

[2 Peter 3:9]

“The Lord isn’t really being slow about this promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed but wants everyone to repent.”

[John 3:17]

“God sent his Son into the world, not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.”

[Romans 3:24-26]

“Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life.”

[1 Peter 1:3-5]

“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, 4 and we have a priceless inheritance – an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay, 5 And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.”

• Three additional reasons why I believe:
  • Started in Jerusalem where everyone could DISprove it if it didn’t happen?!
  • Christianity spread faster during the lifetime of eyewitnesses than any other time
  • The martyrs! No one dies for a lie they made up!!!

I love what CS Lewis said, “Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”

[Matthew 16:24]

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.”