September 27, 2026
OPENING:
“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” — Proverbs 4:23 (NLT)
INFORMATION: Consumed By Life
“The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced.” — Mark 4:18-19 (NLT)
3 Points:
1. Nobody plants thorns.
- When you plant a crop you don’t have to plant weeds — the thorns were already there. They didn’t require a decision, a rebellion, or a bad week. They sneak up on good and unsuspecting people.
- Jesus said, “Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain.” — Mark 4:7 (NLT)
2. Jesus names three thorns.
Three things that distract us, pull us away from trust, and prevent spiritual growth — worries, wealth, and wanting other things.
- Worry steals our joy and peace, and eventually it steals our life. Jesus said, “Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?” — Matthew 6:27 (NLT)
- Wealth — no one would agree they love money, but what do we spend so much of our life concerned about? Jesus said, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” — Matthew 6:33 (NLT)
- Wanting — we’re not talking about needs. James wrote, “Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.” — James 1:14 (NLT)
3. Thorns kill the fruit.
- A few thorns won’t kill the plant; they prevent it from producing fruit. Divided ground still grows something — it just never produces. The plant is alive. You’re still here. You still love God.
- Jesus told us why: “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.” — Matthew 6:24 (NLT)
INSPIRATION: A Focused Heart
David prayed, “Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth! Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor you.” — Psalm 86:11 (NLT)
1. You’re crowded.
- Maybe you’ve been beating yourself up, convinced something is wrong with you. It’s not backsliding — there’s just something growing that needs uprooted.
2. You can’t see all your thorns.
- Everything on that list has a good reason attached to it — that’s what makes it a thorn instead of an obvious sin. The Holy Spirit is the one who walks you through your own field and puts his hand on the one thing you’ve been defending.
MOTIVATION: Uprooting
Obstacle 1 — Worry doesn’t feel optional.
“I’m not choosing to worry. I’ve got real things going on, and you don’t know my situation.”
- Jesus never told you to stop caring. He separated caring from worry — worry is an attempt to control.
- Paul said in Philippians 4:6-7, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (NLT)
Obstacle 2 — Fear of the empty space.
“If I pull that out, what am I supposed to do with all that space?”
- The Father isn’t clearing ground to leave it empty. He’s clearing it because he’s got something beautiful to plant there.
- Jesus said, “Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.” — Matthew 7:20 (NLT)
How do we actually do this? Paul said in Galatians 5:16, “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.” (NLT)
TRANSFORMATION: Clear The Ground
We plowed the hard ground. We dug out the rocks. Don’t stop here, because crowded ground grows nothing.
THREE CALLS TO ACTION:
- Today — Name one thing out loud, the “good thing” that’s choking out growth.
- This Week — Offer that time to the Lord, cancel the “good thing” or hand it off, or set it down — and give that time back to the Lord in the same week.
- This Month — Somebody around you is crowded and they know it. Be Aware of it without judging them for it, Care by taking one real thing off their plate, and Tell them what the Father has been clearing in yours.
Following Jesus, Sent On A Mission
The Community