Sermon: The Parable of the Seed

The Parable of the Seed

This morning we are going to look at the Parable of the Seed, I have always loved this parable because it explains for me a question. All my Christian life I can’t understand why everyone doesn’t believe as I do. I’m serious, Christ is the best thing that has ever happened to me and I can’t understand why others don’t see the same thing.

Christ has changed my life; he has taken away all the junk that plagued my life early on. He has forgiven me of my sins and I have become a “new creation”. My encounter with Christ changed me forever and why would everyone want the same thing? Yet millions hear the word of God and reject it out of hand. Many like what they hear but for whatever reason they never commit. This morning we are going to see four ways people react to the Word of God.

Mark 4:15-20

Again we see this crowd following Jesus, this time the crowd pushes him to the waters edge and he gets into a boat and teaches the masses along the shore. Jesus taught the people by parables, he used stories of everyday life, he used pictures they could understand. He tells a story of a farmer sowing seed. In Jesus time seed was planted by hand. As a farmer walked across the field, he threw handfuls of seed onto the ground from a large bag slung across his shoulders. The plants didn’t grown in neat planted rows as we see them today. No matter how skillful a farmer was he could keep some of the seed from landing a footpath, or from being scattered among the rocks or thorns, or from simply being carried off by the wind. So the farmer would throw out the seed liberally, hoping enough would fall on the good ground to ensure a harvest. So this was a picture everyone was familiar with, they had seen it all their lives.

The farmer sowed the good seed, but not all the seed sprouted, and even the plants that grew had varying yields. Lets look at this parable from two angles… Firstly…

How others respond…to the Word of God.

As we share our faith, we can expect one of four responses. When we share our faith some people who hear the gospel some people will totally reject the message out of hand. In fact this person is so harden to the gospel, they have become a footpath. It’s interesting the Bible says Satan comes along and never allows the seed to grow. The word of Jesus has the potential to save if it germinates in a person's heart, something the devil is very much against

The second person hears the word among the rocky soil. In parts of the Middle East there is a limestone base that runs right under the surface. So the person hears about Christ and loves the story, they received with ‘joy’ but as soon as they are questioned about their faith, or realize the changes evolved, this is because they lack depth or a root, their faith dies.

The third group receives the word and they grow, but their lives never allow them to produce fruit. The Bible says, “but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. This person want to follow but cannot, they are so wrapped up into their own lives they never produce fruit. Many people fall into this camp or at least have visited this camp from time to time.

The last group, the seed lands on good soil and grows, they produce spiritual fruit in their lives and for the Kingdom of God. You will notice out of the four possible results of sharing the gospel, only one result in the person producing fruit.

The point we can take from this, is not to get discouraged if you don’t see results every time your share your faith. We need to understand that some people will not understand God’s truth because they are not ready for it. God reveals truth to people who will act on it and make it visible in their lives. When we talk to people about Christ be patient, take every opportunity to

share more about what Christ is doing in your life. Tell them more about God and pray that the Holy Spirit will open their minds and hearts to receive the truth and act on it. Remember productivity is in God’s hands, and not in ours.

Here is something to think about to encourage you to share…Fact and Trends did a polled 1402 adults who had not attend church in the pervious six months. Though some of the information is negative in nature, there are two very interesting answers…the first was 71% of the people surveyed believed Jesus makes a positive difference in a person’s life. And the second was 78% said, “if someone wanted to tell them what he or she believed about Christianity, they would be willing to listen.”

The second way we can view this parable, is how you and I receive the Word of God. Some of us will dismiss what God tells us to do, through his word, or through prayer, right out of hand. It’s not for us….can’t do it. Satan has silenced this person and they never share or produce fruit.

The second person hears the Word of God and because they never have learned to live the Christian life, they never where disciple, the first time they are challenged or persecuted about there faith they wither and remain quite.

The Brazilian walnut tree is majestic in size and strength. But this beautiful tree has one enemy, the strangler fig. When a strangler fig seed lands on the walnut tree, its roots begin to descend to the ground. As it grows, the vines of the fig squeeze and choke the walnut tree. The fig’s grip on the tree becomes so great that the vine-encased tree slowly dies. Over time, all that is left are twisting vines in the form of a tree. The tree itself has long since disintegrated. Only a vine structure in the shape of a tree remains, while the inside is hollow and lifeless.

The third group can become like the Brazilian walnut tree, they hear the word and just like
someone hearing the message for the first time, receives the word and they want to respond, but their lives never allow them to produce fruit. Again this person want to follow but cannot, they are so wrapped up into their own lives they never produce fruit. Over time they have played church for so long, been involved with church programs…but long ago left the relationship with Christ and can not longer hear his voice. They hollow and lifeless and shell of there former self.

The last person hears the word of God and obeys, he listens and follows…they are ‘doers’ of the word. Their lives are patterned around the fruit they produce… love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness…

Lastly, the way other view and react to the word of God and we receive and act to the word of God go together, which brings me to the “Easter Challenge”, Jesus command us to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." We are command to share the gospel, you will respond to this command in one of four ways…and we looked at each one this morning.

This Easter I want to challenge you to bring a someone else to church…That is the Easter Challenge…

I know some of you right now are thinking I don’t know how to share my faith; I want to help you…the best way to share your faith, starts with one word. That word is Hello, it’s that simple starting a conversation with someone is the first and most important step to sharing Christ. The second step is to share what Christ has done and what he is doing in your life, in other words, your testimony. Your personal story of how you met and how Christ changed your life, is the greatest way to share our faith.

-ps