Sowing Seeds

Sowing Seeds

If we think of faith as a large tree that grows into a person’s life over time, we can imagine everything we say about faith to an unbeliever as a seed. One of the most important ways we can sow seeds of the gospel in a person’s life is to discuss common human experiences. These subjects naturally lead to spiritual conversations. These conversations may not contain the whole gospel at one time, they are simply seeds, and it’s God’s job to make them grow (1 Cor 3:6). Jesus was a genius in discussing spiritual realities in familiar, nonreligious language. His message, methods, and mindset are all examples of how to sow seeds.

I. Background information on the parable of the sower. (Mt. 13:3-9; Lk. 8:5-8)

A. Parable based on a real life occurrence that happened every year.

B. When you sow seed, if you want a crop, 2 things are true:

1. you have to be very generous in scattering seed.

2. you have little control over where the seed lands.

II. This parable contains three extremely important lessons.

A. You and I have one of these hearts.

1. everyone of us has either a hard, rocky, thorny, or good heart.

2. We are challenged to look at our own heart; make examination; and change where necessary.

a) how does your heart react to the word of God? 1 Pet. 3:8

B. Seed was sown everywhere.

1. Lk. 8:11 – the seed is the word of God.

2. it is sown to hard, rocky, thorny, and good hearts.

3. John 4:35. Who was Jesus watching when he said that?

C. We learn that 3 out of 4 hearts produced no harvest for God’s word.

III. It has always been this way.

A. Isa. 6:8-13. What was Isaiah’s assignment?

1. 6:9-20 - God gave him an assignment to proclaim truth to people God knew wouldn’t listen.

B. Ezek. 2:3-7. Was his assignment similar to Isaiah’s? How was it like Jesus’?

C. Our assignment is to teach & warn. That’s it!

D. John 3:19-21 - evil people love darkness of evil & hate the light.

IV. So what’s the point?

A. We can scatter the seeds of spiritual truth broadly!

B. We plant seeds by learning to talk about spiritual truth in the common language of our culture, at a level appropriate to the person we’re talking to.

C. We can recognize that different people’s hearts are resistant in different ways, and we can turn to God to soften hard soil and remove the stones & thorns.

V. What is our primary challenge?

A. Convert people to Christ!

B. Our challenge is to encourage REAL faith, REAL trust in God’s work in Jesus’ death & resurrection.

Conclusion:

A. Don’t entrust your salvation to the fact of baptism or church membership.

B. Everyday of your life, work on your heart.

C. What kind of soil would Jesus call you?



Sowing Seeds If we think of faith as a large tree that grows into a person’s life over time, we can imagine everything we say about faith to an unbeliever as a seed. One of the most important ways we can sow seeds of the gospel in a person’s life is to discuss common human experiences. These subjects naturally lead to spiritual conversations. These conversations may not contain the whole gospel at one time, they are simply seeds, and it’s God’s job to make them grow (1 Cor 3:6). Jesus was a genius in discussing spiritual realities in familiar, nonreligious language. His message, methods, and mindset are all examples of how to sow seeds. I. Background information on the parable of the sower. (Mt. 13:3-9; Lk. 8:5-8) A. Parable based on a real life occurrence that happened every year. B. When you sow seed, if you want a crop, 2 things are true: 1. you have to be very generous in scattering seed. 2. you have little control over where the seed lands. II. This parable contains three extremely important lessons. A. You and I have one of these hearts. 1. everyone of us has either a hard, rocky, thorny, or good heart. 2. We are challenged to look at our own heart; make examination; and change where necessary. a) how does your heart react to the word of God? 1 Pet. 3:8 B. Seed was sown everywhere. 1. Lk. 8:11 – the seed is the word of God. 2. it is sown to hard, rocky, thorny, and good hearts. 3. John 4:35. Who was Jesus watching when he said that? C. We learn that 3 out of 4 hearts produced no harvest for God’s word. III. It has always been this way. A. Isa. 6:8-13. What was Isaiah’s assignment? 1. 6:9-20 - God gave him an assignment to proclaim truth to people God knew wouldn’t listen. B. Ezek. 2:3-7. Was his assignment similar to Isaiah’s? How was it like Jesus’? C. Our assignment is to teach & warn. That’s it! D. John 3:19-21 - evil people love darkness of evil & hate the light. IV. So what’s the point? A. We can scatter the seeds of spiritual truth broadly! B. We plant seeds by learning to talk about spiritual truth in the common language of our culture, at a level appropriate to the person we’re talking to. C. We can recognize that different people’s hearts are resistant in different ways, and we can turn to God to soften hard soil and remove the stones & thorns. V. What is our primary challenge? A. Convert people to Christ! B. Our challenge is to encourage REAL faith, REAL trust in God’s work in Jesus’ death & resurrection. Conclusion: A. Don’t entrust your salvation to the fact of baptism or church membership. B. Everyday of your life, work on your heart. C. What kind of soil would Jesus call you?