Reset [Part 1] Refocus

/ New Minas Baptist Church/

Pastor Daniel Cormier shares Part 1 in our new RESET series. This week’s message is entitled “Refocus”.

In prayerfully planning and preparing this new RESET series, Pastor Daniel notes, "This time of social distancing, isolation and self quarantine has caused many to reflect on just how over-loaded, over-worked, and over-stressed we have increasingly become. Incredibly, as this global shut down has the world’s attention hopefully many hear the gracious voice that says, “Be still and know that I am God.”  And with this realization, we too can reevaluate our lives and take the opportunity to make some changes so that we don’t go back to a frantic pace of life as before. It’s time for a RESET. Together in God’s Word and in prayer through this new series we will learn wiser ways to a more fruitful pace of life moving forward."

Sermon Outline & Reflection

Download these notes in PDF format.

Sermon Outline

Problem: Being over-loaded, over-worked, over-stressed.
Solution: Forming holy habits by time in God’s life-giving word.
How you receive God’s Word in your life is important.

1. IS THE SOIL OF YOUR LIFE COMPACTED? v. 15
2. IS THE SOIL OF YOUR LIFE SHALLOW? vv. 16-17
3. IS THE SOIL OF YOUR LIFE OVERGROWN? vv. 18-19
4. IS THE SOIL OF YOUR LIFE RECEPTIVE? v. 20

Discussion

Warm-up. What do you do to keep your houseplants alive? Read Mark 4:1-20. Ask God to bless your study.

  1. Was it unfair of Jesus to obscure his teaching from those who rejected him by using parables? Whose fault was it ultimately that they did not understand?

  2. Read Philippians 4:4, Galatians 5:22 and John 15:11. Why is joy so important? How does busyness rob us of joy? How has our culture impacted our pace of life?

  3. It says, “The sower sows the word.” v. 14. Read James 1:18, 21 and 1 Peter 1:23 and discuss how this applies to the parable.

  4. Which kinds of soil do you think are most prevalent today? How does Satan "take away the word" before it can take root?

  5. What troubles or persecutions cause believers to fall away?

  6. How can you make sure that the worries of life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and other desires of the world will not choke out the life of God’s word in you?

  7. Which soil are you most like right now and why? What can you do to prepare your heart and mind for the Word of God so that you will be more receptive and fruitful?