Engage the Heart

June 6, 2023

Engage the Heart

Scripture

  • 1 Thessalonians 2:8

    We cared so much for you that we were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.

  • Matthew 6:21

    For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

  • Isaiah 55:10-11

    10 For just as rain and snow fall from heaven

    and do not return there

    without saturating the earth

    and making it germinate and sprout,

    and providing seed to sow

    and food to eat,


    11 so my word that comes from my mouth

    will not return to me empty,

    but it will accomplish what I please

    and will prosper in what I send it to do.”

  • Luke 8:4-15

    The Parable of the Sower

    4 As a large crowd was gathering, and people were coming to Jesus from every town, he said in a parable, 5 “A sower went out to sow his seed. As he sowed, some seed fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the sky devoured it. 6 Other seed fell on the rock; when it grew up, it withered away, since it lacked moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns; the thorns grew up with it and choked it. 8 Still other seed fell on good ground; when it grew up, it produced fruit: a hundred times what was sown.” As he said this, he called out, “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen.”


    Why Jesus Used Parables

    9 Then his disciples asked him, “What does this parable mean?” 10 So he said, “The secrets of the kingdom of God have been given for you to know, but to the rest it is in parables, so that


    Looking they may not see,

    and hearing they may not understand.


    The Parable of the Sower Explained

    11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12 The seed along the path are those who have heard and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 And the seed on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy. Having no root, these believe for a while and fall away in a time of testing. 14 As for the seed that fell among thorns, these are the ones who, when they have heard, go on their way and are choked with worries, riches, and pleasures of life, and produce no mature fruit. 15 But the seed in the good ground—these are the ones who, having heard the word with an honest and good heart, hold on to it and by enduring, produce fruit.

The discipleship journey is deeply relational. Paul says in his first letter to the Thessalonians that he not only shared the good news of the Gospel with them, but he also shared his life (1 Thessalonians 2:8). Life-on-life relationships like these go below the surface. They Engage our hearts. The Bible describes the heart as the very core of who we are and reveals the things we treasure most (Matthew 6:21). What can we learn from Jesus about how to Engage the heart?


Ask Pointed Questions: The greatest conversation starter is a good question. Jesus was the master at asking pointed questions to Engage the heart. A good question invites someone to open up about the important things in their life. It creates space to discuss deeper truths that point to Jesus. Pointed questions reveal a person’s receptivity to the Gospel.


Share Powerful Stories: Nothing sticks with us like a powerful story. Jesus was constantly telling stories and using illustrations that Engage others. Stories convey truth and are easy to relate to. They stir our emotions and our thoughts. Consider sharing a short personal testimony or one of Jesus’ stories to open the door for deeper relationships.


Sow Seeds Broadly: Jesus describes the Word of God like a seed, and the hearts of people like soil. We share God’s Word like a farmer planting that seed in people’s hearts (Luke 8:4-15). We don’t have control over what type of soil the seed will land on, but we do have control over the amount of seeds we plant. God calls us to share His Word often and everywhere. Like a seed, it starts small, but God promises that His Word will take root and bear fruit (Isaiah 55:10-11).


TAKE ACTION

  1. Engage the heart by asking pointed questions.
  2. Engage the heart by sharing powerful stories.
  3. Engage the heart by sharing God’s Word.


TOOLS