1. A farmer went out to sow (1-8)

Jesus was like a farmer who sows seed. The crowd was like a field with all kinds of soil. The crowd stood on the shore, while Jesus used a small boat as a pulpit. In the parable, the seed scattered by the farmer fell on four kinds of soil. Three kinds proved unfruitful--the path was too hard, the rocky soil too shallow, the thorns too profuse. Only the seed sown on the good soil produced an abundant harvest.

2. The secret of the kingdom of God (9-12)

Most people enjoyed listening to Jesus' parables, but they did not really understand them. The Twelve were different from the crowd. They really wanted to learn, so they came and asked. To them was given the secrets of the kingdom of God. They were good soil. They had a commitment to follow Jesus and to obey him. Those without such a commitment cannot know the secrets of the kingdom of God.

Application: Lord, I want to follow you. Teach me the secrets of the kingdom of God.
One Word: He who has ears, let him hear