Jesus tells the parable of a sower in Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23; Mark 4:3-8, 14-20; Luke 8:5-15. A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. This story would’ve been common knowledge for the people of that day, and something they could easily relate to. Jesus used the sowing of seed to speak of the spreading of the gospel. He speaks of the different types of ground that the seed encounters. The seed is the gospel, the very word of God. The ground represents the heart of man. He goes on to explain four different heart conditions of man.

First is the shut heart that is far from God, and the enemy can easily remove the seed before it has any effect.

The second is the shallow heart. When trial and tribulation come, the word quickly falls away.

The third is the worldly heart. When the temptation and entanglements of this world come, the word is ignored or forgotten.

The fourth is the good heart. This soil describes the heart prepared and open. This is the only soil that produces fruit.

Much like John 15 Jesus reveals the importance of bearing fruit. God expects His follows to bear much fruit for His glory. This creates a reproducible model and fulfills the Great Commission until Jesus comes. Which heart do you have? “You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and [that] your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask of the Father in My name, He may give to you.” John 15: 16 76 As we have seen throughout the G3 model, we can only become a disciple if we daily “give up” through surrendering, sacrificing and listening. Then we will strive to “give in” through abiding, obeying and lighting, which enables us to “give out” through loving, serving and sharing. This will bring us to a place where God can use us to produce fruit. We must always remember that no matter how great your discipling process may be, only God can produce eternal fruit through us. To God by the glory!