Parable of the Sower
Audio Recording Parable of the Sower Rev. Scott Strickman Download Due to technical difficulties, there is no video of the sermon. Sermon Outline Speaker: Rev. Scott Strickman Sermon Series: Parables of the Kingdom in the Gospel of Matthew Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 (ESV) 1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 2 And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, 6 but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8 Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears, let him hear.” 18 “Hear then the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. 22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.” Sermon Outline Jesus and his message produce fruitful lives, but we need to watch for what prohibits hearing and understanding it (v19, 23). 1. Hardness v4 “some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them.” v19 “When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart.” 2. Shallowness v5 “had no depth of soil… when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away.” v20-21 “when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.” 3. Oversaturation v7 “the thorns grew up and choked them.” v22 “the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.” 4. Fruitfulness v8 “Other seeds… produced grain” v23 “the one who hears the word and understands it” v9 “He who has ears, let him hear” Prayer of Confession Our good and mighty God, you have revealed yourself and made your ways known. There is so much we don’t understand. Instead of learning with humility, we respond with pride, apathy and resistance. We have taken what we have wanted from you, choosing to accept what already appeals to us or what we already agree with. We have adopted the desires, values and goals of those in our world who do not put you first. Rather than fruit of the Spirit, our thoughts, words and actions have been filled with weeds and thorns. We admit our sin and ask for forgiveness. We thank you that the message of your kingdom is a message of grace and mercy. Today we open our hearts to you, praying that you would feed and strengthen us so that the fruit of your Spirit manifests itself in our lives. Amen. Questions for Reflection Where do you observe hardness towards Christianity in yourself? What attitudes, instincts, responses, etc. evidence an innate resistance to some aspect of Jesus and his message? How can you move past Christian sh