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

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