Prepare the Ground!

1. There is seed “A message” “A Gospel” a product your must give to others!

(What is your seed that you will scatter?) Luke 8:5-15 “A farmer went out to plant his seed. b. (Where is the best place to put your message, gospel, or product?)
• Footpath: As he scattered it across his field, some seed fell on a footpath, where it was stepped on, and the birds ate it.

• Rocks: 6 Other seed fell among rocks. It began to grow, but the plant soon wilted and died for lack of moisture.

• Thorns: 7 Other seed fell among thorns that grew up with it and choked out the tender plants. 8

• Fertile Soil: Still other seed fell on fertile soil. This seed grew and produced a crop that was a hundred times as much as had been planted!” When he had said this, he called out, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”

2. There is a vision, a dream, a desire, your gospel! (What is the vision for your company that makes your gospel important to the world?)
     a. What is the vision? Make sure your disciples get the Gospel! 9 His disciples asked him what this parable meant.

     b. The Vision is exclusive to followers, to those committed to the Kingdom. 10 He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of God.

     c. The vision should make others wonder, and seek to want to become followers. But I use parables to teach the others so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled: ‘When they look, they won’t really see. When they hear, they won’t understand.’

3. Prepare the ground.
     a. What do others need to know that will motivate them to carry your vision in their hearts?

     b. This is God’s word about your company. It is Your Gospel! It is the most important message everyone in your kingdom should be able to share! 11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is God’s word.

• The Footpath: Sowing your vision here means people will hear it but something will prevent your customer from believing it. (What is preventing customers from receiving your gospel? Is someone taking away or preventing customers from believing in your gospel, or product? How do you identify what is preventing and inhibiting the message?) 12 The seeds that fell on the footpath represent those who hear the message, only to have the devil come and take it away from their hearts and prevent them from believing and being saved.

• The Rocks: Sowing your vision here means people will hear it and be excited about it. They may very well buy your vision and become a customer. However along the way they will begin to lose interest in your gospel, your product and fall away. They lack the depth, or understanding of what makes your product so valuable. (What necessary information do customers need to grow deep roots? How can you break up the rocky soil and make it softer for those who lack understanding and need more information about the gospel? What are some of the temptations people who don’t understand will face regarding your business?) 13 The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation.

• The Thorns: Sowing your vision here means people will love what your vision is. They will join you and become your customer. However, they will face challenges because there will be many other companies with similar gospels or messages and they may well become confused about your gospel and vision over time. They will wonder what the benefit is for staying with your company? (How can you make your vision more distinctive? Can you clearly state the benefits and compare your vision to others? In what ways is your business in a crowded field? How have and how can the cares of this world and pleasures of this life diminish your vision for your company? What thorns are choking you out? Are there any benefits for customers who carry your vision for a period of time? How can you grow your customers too maturity? What defines a mature customer? 14 The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity.

• The Good Soil: Sowing your seed here means that you have identified the people who will receive your gospel, and will carry your vision! These are the gospel clingers of your company, and they intern bring you new customers! (What reward is there for bringing a new customer to you? How can you encourage others to carry your gospel? Have you identified what companies, and organizations are best capable of using your gospel and carrying your vision? What customers cling and bring you new customers?) 15 And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.

Have a great product to talk about. Share the message and vision for that product in the right places, with the right people, and they will buy the product, talk about it, and carry your vision to others!