Give God’s Word a Chance How Not to Be Shallow but Instead to Bear Fruit

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Give God’s Word a Chance

How Not to Be Shallow but Instead to Bear Fruit

By Pastor Jim Cymbala of the Brooklyn Tabernacle

Wednesday, July 22, 2026

출처 https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/blog/

듣기 https://youtu.be/OpC8CEZDaTY?si=v_c6jMcDhaIadYmW

When I was fifteen years old, I went /on my first trip /outside Brooklyn.

[All I knew] was Parkside Avenue, the playground, stickball, hooping it up—just playing ball /all day long.

I went /with my best friend /to southcentral Wisconsin /to work on a dairy farm.

I knew Dairy Queen—they made soft ice cream.

But now I was on a farm with forty-five to fifty cows.

My friend’s uncles woke me /every morning /at four thirty.

What human being gets up at four thirty?

“Come on,” they said.

“You’re here to work.

Let’s go.”

Down to the barn we went, walking among the cows.

Then we worked /in the fields /all day.

While we were in the fields, I heard [them] [talking].

“No, the corn’s not good over here. It’s because of the soil.”

I didn’t know dirt from soil.

In Brooklyn there was a tree on the sidewalk in front of my house, with maybe a foot of dirt around it.

Soil is an important aspect of Jesus’ teaching /in the parable of the sower.

This principle is not just about becoming a Christian.

It applies /to all stages of life.

Jesus started the parable, “A farmer went out /to sow his seed. . . . Some fell along the path” (Mark 4:3–4).

This seed fell /on the roadside, and birds of the air came and ate it.

Nothing came /of that seed.

Then “some fell /on rocky places” (Mark 4:5).

So the seed took, and there was life.

But when the sun came out and it got really hot, the plant needed [to go deeper to be sustained].

It couldn’t.

Rocks were blocking the roots, so the plant died.

* 자동사 take : to take effect : act, operate 작동하다, to show the natural or intended effect 영향을 보이다

Then Jesus said, “Other seed fell /among thorns” (Mark 4:7).

Again, plant life came up.

But the thorns choked [it] out.

The good seed died.

Finally, Jesus said, “Still other seed fell /on good soil” (Mark 4:8).

What was good soil?

It was just soil //that received the seed.

So the seed went /deep /into the soil,

and because of the sun and the rain /acting on it over time, it multiplied thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times.

Later the disciples came /to Jesus and said, “What does that mean? We don’t understand.”

“Okay,” Jesus said, “I’m going to explain.”

Jesus told [them] [that the farmer goes out /to sow]—the preacher, the Christian.

We can all sow [seed].

We plant [it] /in other people’s lives.

* 4 형식  told [them] [that~], * 주어 수식인 한정 형용사 all,  

Some seed lands /on the path.

Jesus said, “These are people //who hear the Word, but it never gets /deeper than the ear level or a little bit of the mind”

(see Mark 14:15).

The Word is not really embraced.

It just sits /on the surface, and Satan comes and plucks it /right out.

He and his demonic forces steal the Word.

“The thief comes /to steal” (John 10:10).

The Word of God has power, but it doesn’t have power /unless it gets inside us. (* unless=if not)

Then Jesus said, “Other seed fell /on rocky places.

These are the people //who hear it and receive it /with joy.”

They say, “Yo, I’m down with Jesus.

I want to serve God.” But they’re shallow.

They don’t really think it through.

And their roots don’t go down /very deep.

* be down ; 함께하다, 참여하다

When persecution or hard times come /because of the Word, they bail (see Mark 4:16–17).

I’ve seen [a lot of folks] [stay] and [a lot of people] [go].

Jesus said, “These are the shallow ones.

The rocks were never removed; the soil wasn’t prepared /properly.”

* 5 형식 seen [a lot of folks] [stay]

Then Jesus said, “Other seed fell /on thorny ground.”

Again, the seed has life.

Grain begins [to spring up].

But the thorns are right there.

No one has pulled [the thorns] out.

“The thorns—the cares of life and the desire for riches and so many other competing interests

—begin [to make their move and choke out what God wants to do]” (see Mark 4:18–19).

If the seed is the Word of God, how can thorns choke [it] out?

Because Jesus said () they do.

That’s an odd thing about the Word of God—it has all power, and yet it’s delicate.

In the same way, the Holy Spirit has all power, but He can be grieved if we’re not careful.

Someone will say, “God’s going to do [what He’s going to do].”

Well, not exactly, according to this parable.

The thorns choke out [the good seed], and the rocks stop the roots /from going down deep,

and Satan comes and steals the precious seed //that has all power /before it even gets in.

But then Jesus said, “Some seed fell /on good ground, and it brought forth [life]” (see Mark 4:20).

Isn’t that something?

The seed was embraced—and it brought forth [all kinds of fruit].

How should we react /to all this?

A famous man of God said /to me /years ago,

“You know, Jim, Christianity is going to become a mile wide and an eighth of an inch deep.”

The minute persecution or trouble comes, people will say,

“God really disappoints me. I’m not happy /like I should be. I’m out.” (* 접속사로 쓰인 like)

“Oh, God,” we should pray, “let [Your Word] [get into my heart].

Get [the rocks] out.

Don’t let [me] [be a quarter of an inch deep]. (* 5 형식)

Pull out [the thorns] /so Your Word isn’t choked out.”

You might say, “It’s so hard to believe.” (* 가주어It = to believe)

With God everything is possible.

Let’s give [His Word] [a chance in our hearts]. (* 4 형식)

Prayer

God, get rid of [the rocks in my heart]. Give [depth] /to my life. Do it for me

—I don’t know how.

Make [my heart] [good ground //where things can grow and I can be strong and a blessing to others].

Let [Your Word] [get into my heart and be multiplied thirty-, sixty-, and even a hundred-fold].

If this encouraged you, you can receive [Pastor Cymbala’s weekly blog post] /by email here.

For More Encouragement

• Listen /to the full message by Pastor Jim Cymbala: “For Best Results (Parable of the Sower)”
• Enjoy [other resources to help you draw closer to God]: “Seed Time” and “God’s Word Is Sure”
• Visit Pastor Cymbala’s Facebook page