First listen to the sermon (posts Sun. afternoon). Then use the ideas below to help you and your group apply what the Lord is teaching you.

Icebreaker idea: Introduce (or reintroduce) yourself to the group. What is something you enjoyed this summer?

A way to pray: Join us in praying that we'll be able to double involvement in Grow Groups this year, moving from about 30-40% of Sunday attendance connecting in groups to about 60-80%.

• Treasuring God: What does each of the four soils seem to value most? How does this relate to what happens to the seeds?

• Being Transformed: Why is understanding the gospel so important for growth? What's one way understanding the gospel has changed my life?

• Loving Others: How can we show love to the different kinds of people represented by each of the four soils?

• Pursuing Unity: What are some practical ways we can help each other and others both to hear and to understand the gospel?