In this episode of Growing In Grace from Grace Bible Church in Hutchinson, Kansas, Pastor Bart Horton continues teaching Mark 4:1–20 in “Soil Samples Part 2A.”
Jesus’ parable of the soils shows that the seed is the Word of God, and the decisive issue is the condition of the heart. In this message, Pastor Bart focuses on the rocky ground—where the Word is received with immediate joy, but because there is no depth and no root in Christ, the response proves temporary.
Pastor Bart warns that salvation is not a feeling or a sentimental moment, but a real relationship with Jesus Christ received through repentance and faith. And when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the Word, those with shallow roots fall away—not because the gospel failed, but because their hope was anchored in something other than Christ.

Passage: Mark 4:1–20Series: Gospel of Mark

In this episode of Growing In Grace from Grace Bible Church in Hutchinson, Kansas, Pastor Bart Horton continues teaching Mark 4:1–20 in Part 1B of “Soil Samples.”
Jesus’ parable of the sower shows that the seed is the Word of God, and the decisive issue is the condition of the soil—our hearts. In this portion, Pastor Bart focuses on the hard-packed path, where the Word is heard but never received, and Satan immediately takes it away.
This message warns that hardened unbelief can appear as open rejection of Christ, but it can also be disguised as proud religion—being around Christianity without truly submitting to Jesus. Pastor Bart also explains how ongoing, unrepentant sin hardens the heart, and why the call of the gospel is not “get better before you come,” but to come to Christ in humility and repentance, trusting Him alone to save and to change.

Passage: Mark 4:1–20Series: Gospel of Mark

In this episode of Growing In Grace from Grace Bible Church in Hutchinson, Kansas, Pastor Bart Horton begins teaching in Mark 4:1–20 in Part 1A of a message titled “Soil Samples.”
Mark highlights one of the rare extended teaching sections in his Gospel as Jesus teaches in parables beside the Sea of Galilee. Pastor Bart explains what a parable is, why Jesus uses parables to both reveal and conceal truth, and how this moment fits into the growing rejection of Jesus by Israel’s leaders.
Jesus’ parable of the sower shows that the seed is the Word of God, and the decisive issue is the condition of the soil—our hearts. In this first portion, Pastor Bart begins unpacking the hard-packed path, where the Word is heard but never received, and Satan immediately takes it away. The call is to listen, to heed, and to come to Christ with humility, repentance, and faith so the Word takes root and bears fruit.

Passage: Mark 4:1–20Series: Gospel of Mark