Parable of the Sower

Mark 4: 1-20, also Matt. 13: 1-23 & Luke 8: 4-15
From August 2

Background. This parable comes immediately after the previous chapter - Jesus was meeting in a house and in a synagogue. And He had to deal with constant questions from the religious leaders of the day.

Now the location has switched to the open air by the sea. Why? He was reaching another group of people and more of them. People who were maybe less religious but more receptive to His message of the kingdom. And there were more of them, so many that He had to get into a boat to be able to teach them better. The message also switched to a parable, the first one in Mark. This story is about everyday experiences; agriculture and dusty paths; weeds, fields and crops; work. All things that the people had experienced and seen and been a part of on their way to Him.
After Jesus told this parable the people close to Him asked for an explanation. Do you? Do I? Is our belief based on traditions or opinions? How does the Word of God answer our questions? What does Jesus say?

The farmer sows the Word, or seed, which lands on the soil of hearts. How the hearts are prepared determine how the seed will grow. What training did the farmer have? I doubt that he went to Ag College, or even to the Skill Center. He probably learned from his father, or another mentor. He was a blue collar guy like most of us. Sowing the Word does not depend exclusively on a minister. We all can sow, and we all do. We even sow the Word into our own lives. This seed was scattered everywhere, extravagantly even wastefully. Wow!

Path - the seed is removed as soon as it lands by Satan. But what about the choices we make that make our hearts like a path? What do we use as excuses for not hearing the Word? Galatians 6: 7-10 says that a man reaps what he sows.

Soil Over Rock - warms quickly and cools off quickly; persecution takes it away. What persecution do you face? How much of it is self-induced because we don't want to give anything up?

Weeds - grow up and choke it out. Worries of life (the poor), deceitfulness of wealth, desires for other things (everyone else!) make it unfruitful. This is the opposite result of living the Jesus Creed - Love God, Love Others.

Good Soil - Extravagant seeding, extravagant results! Beyond imagining.

More Application - What is involved in raising a bumper crop of anything?

1. Seed - the Word
2. Care - Plants do not grow in darkness they need light and water and nutrients to grow. So do we! What choices are you going to make?
3. Harvest - the result is fruit.

What is the condition of your heart right now? Has it ever been a stony path? Are there parts of your life that you have given to the light? Are there any parts that are still in the darkness?
Where is Gods' Kingdom trying to take root right now in your life, in AC Church, in Allendale?
How do we improve the soil of our hearts?

Tim