The Parable of the Sower, Part 3: The Thorny Soil and the Neglected Heart
- The Love Church
- Nov 2
- 5 min read
Stay Focused and Expect Transformation
In Mark 4, Jesus tells the Parable of the Sower — a story about how the condition of our hearts determines how fruitful we are for God. We’ve already looked at the hard soil (the trampled heart) and the stony soil (the shallow heart).
Today, we’re digging into the thorny soil — the neglected heart.
Before we begin, I want to challenge you: Grab your notebook or open your phone (and put it on airplane mode if needed). Don’t just listen to this and move on. Let the Word take root and bring transformation, not just inspiration.
At Love Church, we believe that every sermon should challenge us to grow — not just make us feel good. And what I’m sharing with you today is something God is also working in my own heart. We’re in this together. Amen?
Review: Four Soils, Four Heart Conditions
In Mark chapter 4, Jesus describes four kinds of soil — each representing a condition of the heart:
The Hard Soil – The Trampled Heart (hardened by wounds and neglect)
The Stony Soil – The Shallow Heart (filled with sin and compromise)
The Thorny Soil – The Neglected Heart (choked by worry, wealth, and distractions)
The Good Soil – The Cultivated Heart (intentionally fruitful and responsive to God)
Each heart condition is the result of choices and habits, not chance. Even good soil requires cultivation and care.
The Thorny Soil: When Weeds Take Over
“Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain.” — Mark 4:7 “Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.” — Mark 4:18–19
Jesus explains this third kind of soil Himself — making it clear that weeds and thorns represent the distractions that crowd out God’s Word in our lives.
Let’s talk about those weeds.
Weeds: The Enemies of Growth
Anyone who’s ever pulled weeds knows — they come back again and again. You can pull, spray, and mulch, but unless you stay consistent, they’ll return and overtake everything.
The same happens in our hearts. Weeds grow where there’s neglect.
If we don’t tend the soil of our hearts, these spiritual weeds begin to dominate. They steal nutrients, crowd the seed, and choke out fruitfulness.
The Three Weeds Jesus Warned About
1. The Worries of This Life
Worry, fear, and anxiety are like fast-growing weeds that suffocate our faith.
You may pull them out one week, but they’ll try to sprout again. Jesus reminds us in Matthew 6:25–34 not to worry about food, clothing, or tomorrow:
“Look at the birds of the air. They do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”
Worry steals your peace, wastes your energy, and replaces trust with fear.
As Christian artist TobyMac put it:
“You worry too much for someone God has never failed.”
God has never failed you — not once. His timing may not be yours, but His track record is flawless.
Like a loving parent who always feeds their child, God will meet your needs — not always your wants, but your needs. So let’s stop trying to carry burdens He already promised to handle.
2. The Deceitfulness of Riches
Money itself isn’t evil — but its deceitfulness can lead us astray.
The pursuit of wealth can:
Consume your time and attention.
Promise happiness but never deliver it.
Numb your dependence on God.
When things are going well, we tend to drift. But in lack, we often draw near to God again. That’s why Jesus said,
“You cannot serve both God and money.” — Matthew 6:24
We’re called to steward wealth, not worship it.
One of the best weed-pulling tools for greed is generosity. As Proverbs 11:24 says:
“One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.”
Live with open hands, not clenched fists. When you give freely, God replenishes. You reap so that you can sow again — not to hoard, but to multiply blessing.
The Rich Young Ruler Example
In Mark 10:17–22, the rich young ruler asked Jesus how to inherit eternal life. Jesus, in love, told him to sell all he had and follow Him.But the man walked away sad — choked by the weeds of wealth and comfort.
It’s a sobering reminder: the more attached we are to material things, the harder it becomes to follow Jesus fully.
3. The Desire for Other Things
This is the broadest and sneakiest weed of all.
“The desire for other things” can include:
Hobbies that consume your time
The pursuit of recognition or comfort
Entertainment and distractions
Relationships or passions that eclipse your love for God
It’s not that these things are evil. But when they take the top spot in your heart, they become thorns that choke spiritual growth.
“Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” — Matthew 6:21
Your treasure isn’t just money — it’s your time, energy, and focus. Where those go, your heart follows.
How Weeds Steal Fruitfulness
All three weeds — worry, wealth, and worldly desire — have the same goal: to crowd your heart so you bear less fruit for eternity.
They make you busy but not effective, distracted but not devoted. They consume time, energy, and focus that should be invested in the things of God.
When this life ends, only what we’ve done for Christ will last.
Pulling the Weeds: How to Reclaim a Fruitful Heart
Prioritize God over everything else. Reevaluate your schedule and energy. Are you investing more in temporary things than eternal ones?
Say no to what drains your soul. Every “yes” costs time. Make sure your “yes” aligns with your calling.
Practice spiritual maintenance. Pray daily. Read the Word. Stay sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading.
Stay aware of the season. Some weeds are seasonal. When life changes, new distractions emerge — deal with them quickly before they spread.
Be bold in your faith. Don’t let fear, comfort, or culture silence your witness. Let the fire of your first love burn again.
Now Is the Time
We don’t know what tomorrow holds — but we do know this: today is the day of salvation. Don’t wait to deal with the weeds of sin, distraction, and compromise.
Jesus is coming back for a pure, fruitful bride. Let’s be ready.
“Lord, give me back the fire of my first love. Burn within me again.”
Take time today to examine your heart. Are there weeds — worries, wealth, or misplaced desires — choking your fruitfulness?
Pull them up by the roots. Make space for the seed of God’s Word to thrive again.
If this message encouraged you, share it with someone who needs renewal.
You can also read Part 1: Understanding the Hard Soil and Part 2: The Stony Soil and the Shallow Heart.
If this message inspired you, would you consider sowing into what God is doing through Love Church? Every gift helps us nurture hearts, grow faith, and impact lives for eternity.
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