07/12/2026
Today during worship, we will be looking at Matthew 13:1-9,18-23: If you would like to participate in our brief Spiritual MRI (Soil Assessment) survey, it is included here.
The Spiritual MRI (Soil Assessment)
Take a few moments of quiet to review these four soils that Jesus mentions in Matthew 13. There is no judgment here—only the Good Gardener’s grace. We often have a mix of all four soils in our hearts at any given time. See which one resonates most with you today.
1. The Beaten Path (The Guarded Heart) Seed falls on the path and is snatched away before it can sink in.
• What it feels like: Cynical, protective, or closed off.
• The Check-In:
o [ ] Have I built walls to protect myself from past spiritual hurt or exclusion?
o [ ] Do I struggle to believe that God's extravagant love actually applies to me without conditions?
o [ ] Am I hesitant to trust this community with my real, messy self?
• The Prayer: Good Gardener, soften my edges. Show me that it is safe to let Your love land here.
2. The Rocky Ground (The Exhausted Heart) Seed sprouts quickly but withers because it has no deep roots to sustain it.
• What it feels like: Burning out, running on fumes, or feeling deeply isolated when hardship hits.
• The Check-In:
o [ ] Do I feel a quick burst of joy on Sundays, but feel utterly drained by Tuesday?
o [ ] Am I trying to carry heavy boulders (grief, transition, doubt) all by myself?
o [ ] Is my faith lacking the deep roots of a supportive, daily community?
• The Prayer: Good Gardener, clear the rocks. Give me the courage to let you and others help carry my heavy things.
3. The Thorny Patch (The Overwhelmed Heart) Seed grows, but the cares and anxieties of the world choke it out.
• What it feels like: Distracted, anxious, or overwhelmed by the noise of life.
• The Check-In:
o [ ] Is the 24-hour news cycle or the stress of daily survival draining my spiritual energy?
o [ ] Am I so busy hustling and surviving that I have no space for quiet reflection?
o [ ] Are the legitimate anxieties of this world choking out my capacity for hope?
• The Prayer: Good Gardener, w**d out the noise. Help me create boundaries that protect my peace and my roots.
4. The Good Soil (The Nourished Heart) Seed falls on good soil, takes deep root, and produces a beautiful, shared harvest.
• What it feels like: Grounded, open, connected, and growing.
• The Check-In:
o [ ] Am I allowing myself to receive love and support from my chosen family/church community?
o [ ] Am I making space to actively listen to God's affirming word?
o [ ] Am I stepping up to be a "co-gardener" for someone else in this group?
• The Prayer: Good Gardener, nourish this soil. Keep me rooted in Your indiscriminate love so I can bear fruit for others.
Ask the Good Gardener to grow the Fruits of the Spirit within you: “By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.”- Galatians 5:22-23 New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
