Thursday, January 29, 2009
BE FAITHFUL!
THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER/SOILS
Matthew 13: 1-9; 18-23
INTRO: In this parable we have the sower, seeds, and soils. The seed is the Word of God. There is a message here for those who sow and there is a challenge to all who hear.
THE FACTS OF THE STORY
The farmer sows his seed by broadcasting it on the field.
Then he plows the field. Quite different from our way!
Before he plowed, birds ate some.
Others were lost, but some produced much grain.
There were four kinds of soil:
The hard packed path where the birds quickly ate
The rocky soil with shallow soil made quick germination, but gave no room for roots, so it soon died out.
Some soil had so many weeds that there was no room for a crop, so the weeds crowded out the grain.
Some soil was just right to receive the seed and produced abundant grain.
LESSONS FOR THE ONE WHO SOWS
The Word of God must be sown.
If it is not sown, there can be no return.
Some will not be received, but some will and people will have changed lives because we share the Word.
One must run the risk of loss in order to change lives.
LESSONS FOR THOSE WHO HEAR
What kind of hearer are you? How do you respond?
The indifferent hearer has so many interests.
The shallow hearer does not let the Word sink in.
The cluttered hearer lets other things crowd out the Word
The receptive hearer listens and lets the Word do its job.
WHERE DOES THIS SPEAK TO YOU? Have you failed to share due to fears of loss and rejection? Do you receive the Word of God and let it have its way in your life?
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Preached at Greenville So Baptist Church, January 25, 2009
