The Dolores star., 1924-10-17
IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
SunndaySchool
' Lesson '
nv REV r Il. FITzwATER. D.D. Desn
or the Evening School. Moody Bible IN
1s Ipst westsrn Newspaper union)
Lesson for October 19
THE PARABLE OF THE sowER

LESSON TEXT-Mark 4:l-co.
GOLDEN TEXT-The sower soweth
he word.-Mark 4:it.
PRIMARY TOPIC-The Garden OF
:he Heart.
JUNIOR ToPIc-Good Soil for Good
Seed
INTERMEDIATES AND SENIOR
rppIc-Hovv TO Receive and Use Gods
Word
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT
rOPIC-How May 1 Improve the Soil
,f My Hearth
The method of teaching by parallels
was not employed by Jesus until the
rulers had set their hearts against
alm. When, in the light Of His won
ierful works, they turned against Him
and attributed His works to the Devil
Mark 3:22) He denounced them In
scathing terms and began to teach
hem by parallels in fulfillment OF
Isaiah $40. The pnrabolic method OF
teaching makes clear the truth to
hose who love ii and conceals 1t from
hose who dislike It,
A great multitude gathered to Him
1t the seaside ". y, so that, in order
% escape the pressure of the crowd,
He was obliged to enter II boat. From
the boat as n pulpit He taught many
t4hings in parallels. In this parable the
sower and the seed nre the same In all
Instances, but the results are entirely
different The difference lies In the
condition of the soil. The central pur-
90 fe r,fil.. fG
| to show that the results of preaching
the Word depend upon the condition
| Of the human heart.
|. The Wayside wv. 4; 15).
The wuyside means the track beaten
down by the hoofs OF animals and the
feet of men. Because the soil was un-
broken and uncultivated the seed
could not get beneath the surface.
therefore was deyoured by the fowls
| that came along ". ~. The great
| truth taught here Is that the heart un-
| broken and hard Is not fit soil for the
| Gospel. Such heart 1t penetrates
not, but lies loosely upon the surface.
II Is not recognized as Gods means
for restoring them unto Himself.
While in this condition the evil one
finds some way to snatch away the
truth. The fowls that devour the seed
represent the agents of Satan ". l5).
| u. The Stony Ground wv. .. g. 10,
10.
This means not stones mixed with
soil. but stones with thin layer of
soil on them. With such conditions n
seed springs up quickly and likewise
scorches quickly. as 1t has not much
| depth. The great lesson Is that hearts
superficially impressed receive the
Word with Joy, but when affllctlon or
persecution arises for the Words sake,
Immediately they are offended. They
wither away and die
III. The Thorny Ground wv. 7; IS,
l9).
In this case the ground Is good but
has thorns in It. 1t is mellow enough
and has sufficient depth. but has not
been cleaned of the thorns Such
really hear the Word, but the cares
Of this world, and the deceitfulness OF
riches, and the lusts of other things
entering in. choke the Word. and 1t
becometh unfruitful" ". 19). The
| thorny ground hearers of this age are
those:
l. Who are so immersed in worldll-
ness, business and anxious cares that
the good seed cannot mature.
.. Who are rich. Anxious care In
business brings riches and the effect
of riches is TO blunt the spiritual per.
ception Of men and women, thereby
rendering them unsusceptible to the
call Of God, to higher things in life
3. Who are running after the pleas.
ures of life. All these things choke
the Word. Many of the enjoyments
of the world may be innocent In them
selves, but they attract so much atten.
tion and consume so much energy and
time that one has not time for Bible
reading, meditation and prayer.
~. The Good Ground wv. s; 2O).
This ground differs from all the rest
1t is soft and mellow, deep and moist
therefore, Is capable of bringing forth
fruit, some an hundred, some sixty
and some thirty-fold. Indicating differ.
ent degrees Of fruitfulness even of the
good ground. In the measure that
the heart is kept free from worldli.
ness, riches and pleasure, the good
seed natures