Week 3: Scripture - Class Outline

Week 3: Developing a discipline of scripture
FOCUS: HOW DO WE BECOME GOOD SOIL?

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the lake. 2Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3And he told them many things in parables, saying: ‘Listen! A sower went out to sow. 4And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. 5Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. 6But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. 7Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9Let anyone with ears* listen!’
18"Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. 22The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. 23But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."

OPENING MEDITATION: Lectio divina on the above passage.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION:
1. What do you believe about the authority of scripture?
2. Where do you struggle with the text? Are there particular sticking points for you?
3. What kind of learner are you? How can the word be sown in you? How do you best receive the word?
4. What are some other sources that help you hear God still speaking?

PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Sharing our favorite bible verses.

TO DO THIS WEEK: Explore some of the Bible readings or inspirational passages as found on the take home sheet or from another source. Share any insights or struggles on the ESMHE blog.

CLOSE: LORD’S prayer