Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
Scriptures: Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
Jesus' parable of the Weeds Among the Wheat
• Kingdom living, what Jesus is talking about, is a funny line to walk, being in the world but not of it… Kingdom living requires humility, obedience, and discernment.
• The Parable of the Weeds Sown Among the Wheat. Jesus tells it, the disciples ask for an explanation. Last week we talked about our responsibility to sow seeds, invite people indiscriminately to experience the kingdom and about some ways to overcome some deterrents to the word. This week Jesus gets a little more specific about the different parts of the parable. Let’s take a look.
• In this telling, who’s responsible for sowing the seeds? (God. Specifically the Human One, the Son of Man, the Promised One, the second person of the Trinity, Jesus Christ.)
Anybody else? (The devil sows seeds too).
• Why does the Human One sow seeds? (for a harvest! For God’s own pleasure)
• What does the Human One sow? (good seeds, wheat, useful stuff. Followers of the kingdom)
• Then what? (weeds appear. We’re told they’re sown by the evil one, and they grow into followers of the evil one)
• Who notices? (the servants) What do they want to do? (get rid of the weeds). What do you think about that? (sounds reasonable) Why don’t they? (The sower, the Lord, says not to)
(by the way, has anyone ever grown wheat? The weed that Jesus mentions in this parable is called zizania in Greek, Lolium temulentum in Latin, and darnel or cockle or “false wheat” in English. It looks a lot like the real thing, until it matures, when it’s pretty easy to distinguish the weed from the wheat. And if the zizania is harvested and milled with the wheat it’ll ruin the flour.
So Jesus says Let the wheat and the weed grow together. He would rather the good seed grow with the weeds than the wheat be damaged by the removal of the weeds.
(by the way, that means that God chooses to allow good and evil to coexist in the world because the growth of the intended harvest is important)
Jesus says Let it grow, and other workers, reapers, angels will work the harvest and will separate the good from the bad.
• In the meanwhile, there’s a few things we can learn from the servants…
• Be eager to serve God.
• Be eager to learn. Understand that there are things beyond our knowledge, and that God appoints us tasks within our abilities…
• … therefore since our understanding is limited, while being eager to serve God and to learn, be slow to judge
• and be obedient to God.
• Jesus said in the sermon on the mount You shall know them by their fruits.
We cannot necessarily tell whether the “good Christian” is truly a good Christian or merely looks like one, but we trust God and we are obedient to God and we learn about the fruits of the Kingdom and look for those.
We can’t necessarily say that the one who does not come to church is “saved” or not, but we trust God and we are obedient to God and we look for the fruits of the kingdom.
• And you know what? Some things are best left to God, who is most capable…
And therefore I want to let God rule my life, let my decisions come from learning and obeying God’s will… Sow be it.
(pray for God’s spirit to reign in us so we’ll be found faithful disciples and bear kingdom fruit)
• Hymn 604 Savior Again to Thy Dear Love
Warm but comfortable.
Worship Attendance: 151
Showing posts with label sower. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sower. Show all posts
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Sunday, July 10, 2011
"Sow Far, Sow Good"
Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
Scripture: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
• The Parable of the farmer, or the Sower. Mural on the wall of the cafeteria at the small private Lutheran elementary school I attended. I remember the plants, but it’s not about plants. We know that. Jesus explains the 120-word parable pretty quickly and concisely.
• First off, the seeds are the word of God (clearest in Luke 8:11 – Matthew’s is roundabout ... [the word t]hat was planted in their hearts, 13:19)
The word of God is the word of life, the invitation to abundant life, the promise and hope of forgiveness and reconciliation, the word is that life in and with loving relationship with God is infinitely better than life apart from God... THIS is the word that God seeks to plant and grow in people... any people, all people. The seeds are the word of God.
• Second thing Jesus tells us is that God’s word is not the only word out there – God’s word is in competition with any number of other things. Folks need to discern what they’re going to listen to, and it isn’t always going to be God – there are countless other advertisements and stations to direct our attention to, and if a person can’t clearly hear or understand The Word for all the interfering noise, ain’t no fruit gonna grow.
Also the Evil One is. There are forces out there designed to drown out the gospel.
• Another thing Jesus keys us into is the rocky soil where the word takes root quickly but lacks strong roots. When they experience distress or abuse, they fall away. “Wait a minute, following Jesus Christ means submitting my will to his? No thanks.” “I didn’t know it was going to be hard to be Christian... catch you later.” Or the ones who just silently fade into the background...
• Then Jesus tells of the thorny ground, the soil that grows everything well... fruits and weeds alike. Where the seeds on the path don’t get a chance to grow because of stress and distractions (and the evil one), the seeds on the thorny ground get a chance to test their wings but compete with other things that choke ’em out. “I don’t want to go to Bible study b/c I don’t have time, b/c there’s a game on, b/c I’ve got other things more important. I wish God would help me out here.”
• And of course Jesus tells of the good soil, where people hear and understand the word and they bear fruits of righteousness, a good and plentiful harvest, which is the point of sowing seeds in the first place.
• Jesus tells the parable and then explains it, but he leaves out one thing: who is the farmer? Who is sowing the seeds?
Well certainly on the one hand it’s God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, calling us as individuals and communities into new life, planting in us the seeds of abundant life and shalom.
But on the other hand, the seed-planter is you and it’s me. Remember the seed is the word of God, and the farmers, the seed-planters are those who are fulfilling God’s command to teach others.
The Parable of the Sower is a word to disciples, to those who love Jesus Christ and seek to be like him, to sow seeds far and wide. To Sow Far and Sow Good.
• Funny thing about seeds, though, is you have a certain quantity of them, a bushel or a packet or something, we think in limited ways, and you can run out of seeds. But not everything can be quantified like seeds... for example: I could give out smiles all day and never run out. I could give you a hug – I always keep one in this pocket – and still have a hug to give to the next person. You can share invitations and words of encouragment and words of kindness and not run out. When God the Sower allows seeds to fall on the path and the rocky soil and the thorny soil and the good soil, God’s not concerned about running out of seeds. We can share the word of God, the good news of God all day every day for the rest of our lives and not run out. So you don’t have to ration it. You don’t have to hold it back. It’s able to be given freely and in abundance.
• Funny thing about the farmer is that he doesn’t care where the seeds go, he just spreads the seeds, and THAT is where we limit ourselves the most. We look at a path and say “Not gonna bother spreading seed there, it’ll never get a chance to grow.” We look at a person and say “Not gonna bother telling them the good news, it’ll never grow in them.” !!! We look at rocky or thorny soil and say “why bother? This seed’ll never take root strong enough to withstand the wind or weeds.” Can you imagine saying that about people? “I won’t tell them about our prayer force or our mission trip or about how Jesus feeds my soul because they have too many other things going on, or because they told me they were raised in the church and they had a bad experience or they felt no connection...”
• You know what? TELL people why you come, tell people how you feel after worship or after a prayer meeting or a Bible study meeting, TELL people how you can’t explain it but you experience the peace of God when you gather in faith and when you commit to being there, TELL people how knowing Jesus makes a difference in your life, how he saves you, how he inspires you, how life with Jesus is infinitely better than life without.
Don’t answer for them before you tell ’em, TELL ’em.
• And thank God Jesus tells us of the deterrents. Gives us a chance to prepare. Somebody on the path, where the word has little chance to take root? Guide them to fertile soil by patient endurance. Are they on rocky soil? Nurture them with words of encouragement (unlimited). Surrounded by thorns and weeds? Pray WITH them, teach them spiritual discipline and accountability. Tell, guide, nurture, accompany, sow far and sow good. Bear fruit for God.
Prayer (opportunity, faithful witness, also nurture us)
• Hymn 270 Wonderful Words of Life
Comfortable temp today. praise band. powerpoint for entire service
142 in attendance
Scripture: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
• The Parable of the farmer, or the Sower. Mural on the wall of the cafeteria at the small private Lutheran elementary school I attended. I remember the plants, but it’s not about plants. We know that. Jesus explains the 120-word parable pretty quickly and concisely.
• First off, the seeds are the word of God (clearest in Luke 8:11 – Matthew’s is roundabout ... [the word t]hat was planted in their hearts, 13:19)
The word of God is the word of life, the invitation to abundant life, the promise and hope of forgiveness and reconciliation, the word is that life in and with loving relationship with God is infinitely better than life apart from God... THIS is the word that God seeks to plant and grow in people... any people, all people. The seeds are the word of God.
• Second thing Jesus tells us is that God’s word is not the only word out there – God’s word is in competition with any number of other things. Folks need to discern what they’re going to listen to, and it isn’t always going to be God – there are countless other advertisements and stations to direct our attention to, and if a person can’t clearly hear or understand The Word for all the interfering noise, ain’t no fruit gonna grow.
Also the Evil One is. There are forces out there designed to drown out the gospel.
• Another thing Jesus keys us into is the rocky soil where the word takes root quickly but lacks strong roots. When they experience distress or abuse, they fall away. “Wait a minute, following Jesus Christ means submitting my will to his? No thanks.” “I didn’t know it was going to be hard to be Christian... catch you later.” Or the ones who just silently fade into the background...
• Then Jesus tells of the thorny ground, the soil that grows everything well... fruits and weeds alike. Where the seeds on the path don’t get a chance to grow because of stress and distractions (and the evil one), the seeds on the thorny ground get a chance to test their wings but compete with other things that choke ’em out. “I don’t want to go to Bible study b/c I don’t have time, b/c there’s a game on, b/c I’ve got other things more important. I wish God would help me out here.”
• And of course Jesus tells of the good soil, where people hear and understand the word and they bear fruits of righteousness, a good and plentiful harvest, which is the point of sowing seeds in the first place.
• Jesus tells the parable and then explains it, but he leaves out one thing: who is the farmer? Who is sowing the seeds?
Well certainly on the one hand it’s God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, calling us as individuals and communities into new life, planting in us the seeds of abundant life and shalom.
But on the other hand, the seed-planter is you and it’s me. Remember the seed is the word of God, and the farmers, the seed-planters are those who are fulfilling God’s command to teach others.
The Parable of the Sower is a word to disciples, to those who love Jesus Christ and seek to be like him, to sow seeds far and wide. To Sow Far and Sow Good.
• Funny thing about seeds, though, is you have a certain quantity of them, a bushel or a packet or something, we think in limited ways, and you can run out of seeds. But not everything can be quantified like seeds... for example: I could give out smiles all day and never run out. I could give you a hug – I always keep one in this pocket – and still have a hug to give to the next person. You can share invitations and words of encouragment and words of kindness and not run out. When God the Sower allows seeds to fall on the path and the rocky soil and the thorny soil and the good soil, God’s not concerned about running out of seeds. We can share the word of God, the good news of God all day every day for the rest of our lives and not run out. So you don’t have to ration it. You don’t have to hold it back. It’s able to be given freely and in abundance.
• Funny thing about the farmer is that he doesn’t care where the seeds go, he just spreads the seeds, and THAT is where we limit ourselves the most. We look at a path and say “Not gonna bother spreading seed there, it’ll never get a chance to grow.” We look at a person and say “Not gonna bother telling them the good news, it’ll never grow in them.” !!! We look at rocky or thorny soil and say “why bother? This seed’ll never take root strong enough to withstand the wind or weeds.” Can you imagine saying that about people? “I won’t tell them about our prayer force or our mission trip or about how Jesus feeds my soul because they have too many other things going on, or because they told me they were raised in the church and they had a bad experience or they felt no connection...”
• You know what? TELL people why you come, tell people how you feel after worship or after a prayer meeting or a Bible study meeting, TELL people how you can’t explain it but you experience the peace of God when you gather in faith and when you commit to being there, TELL people how knowing Jesus makes a difference in your life, how he saves you, how he inspires you, how life with Jesus is infinitely better than life without.
Don’t answer for them before you tell ’em, TELL ’em.
• And thank God Jesus tells us of the deterrents. Gives us a chance to prepare. Somebody on the path, where the word has little chance to take root? Guide them to fertile soil by patient endurance. Are they on rocky soil? Nurture them with words of encouragement (unlimited). Surrounded by thorns and weeds? Pray WITH them, teach them spiritual discipline and accountability. Tell, guide, nurture, accompany, sow far and sow good. Bear fruit for God.
Prayer (opportunity, faithful witness, also nurture us)
• Hymn 270 Wonderful Words of Life
Comfortable temp today. praise band. powerpoint for entire service
142 in attendance
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