Can You Hear Me Now? | Pastor Bryan Carter | Mark 4:1–34

Main message: Jesus’ parable of the sower shows that the real issue is not whether God is speaking, but whether we are hearing and receiving his word. The sermon calls listeners to cultivate a fruitful heart—one that accepts the word, stays focused, and produces spiritual growth, justice, and discipleship.

Key points:

• The seed represents the word of God, and the main question is, “Can you hear me now?”
• A hard heart rejects the word, and Satan quickly steals it away.
• A shallow heart receives with excitement but has no root, so it falls away when trouble comes.
• A crowded heart is choked by worries, wealth, and desires that distract from God’s word.
• A fruitful heart continually hears, receives, and obeys the word, leading to harvest.
• The sermon urges practical preparation for hearing: prayer, Scripture reading, arriving on time, paying attention, and reducing distractions.
• Fruitfulness should show up in transformed character, justice, and making disciples.

Scriptures mentioned: Mark 4:13-20, 1 Peter 5:8, Galatians 5:22-23, Amos 5:24-25, Matthew 28:18-20, Psalm 24:7-10, Isaiah 40:28-31