TEXT:  Mat. 13:1-9, 18-23

INTRODUCTION:

A.      RESULT OF ANY BIBLE STUDY DEPENDS ON ATTITUDE COMING IN.

B.      IMPORTANT FACTORS.

          1.       Desire for truth.

          2.       Willingness to learn - STUDY/WORK !

          3.       Reverence & respect for God's word.

          4.       Recognition of need.

I.      IMPORTANCE OF RIGHT ATTITUDE POINTED OUT IN THE

        NEW TESTAMENT.

A.      PARABLE OF THE SOWER - WHO PRODUCES?

B.      NOBILITY LINKED TO READINESS TO HEAR & MEASURE( Acts 17:11 ).

C.      GOD PROMISES TO BLESS THE RIGHT ATTITUDE( John 7:17;  Mat. 5:6 )

II.     DOES OUR ATTITUDE STAND BETWEEN US AND THE

        TRUTH?  NOTICE THE BAD:

A.      MANY STUDY WITH IDOLS IN THEIR HEARTS(Ez. 14:3-5; 2 Thes.2:10-12).

          1.       Personal opinion( Deut. 12:8;  Prov. 28:25-26 ).

          2.       Worldly wisdom( 1 Cor. 3:18-19 ). "Bro. So & So says.."

                   a.       Does our faith stand in man's personality?( 2:1-5 )

                   b.       Be careful of human philosophy( Col. 2:8 ).

          3.       Ecclesiasticism.  "Our church teaches..."

                   a.       Churches can be wrong( Gal. 1:6-9 ).

                   b.       Who's the boss around here anyway?( Eph. 1:22-23 ).

          4.       Human creeds. If God's word's accepted, no need( 2 John 9 )

          5.       Tradition. "Give me that old time religion!" "Good enough for my folks..."

                   "You mean Aunt Sally was lost?"( Mat. 10:37;  15:3, 6-9 ).

B.      MANY ARE PREJUDICED( Mat. 12:22-24; 13:14-15; John 5:39-40 ).

C.      MANY COME WITH A SELF-WILLED DISPOSITION.

          1.       Stubborn like the Jews( Mat. 23:37;  John 8:31-37 ).

          2.       We must desire to know the truth & do it( John 7:17;  2 Pet. 2:9-10 ).

D.      MANY STUDY THINKING GOD DOESN'T MEAN WHAT HE SAYS

          ( Psa. 50:16-21;  Num. 23:19-20 ).

CONCLUSION:  ATTITUDE MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE.

A.      ARE WE SEEKING THE TRUTH?

B.      ARE WE HONEST ENOUGH TO HUMBLY ACCEPT IT?

C.      ARE WE READY TO OBEY IT?( James 1:22 )