CULTIVATING

It is amazing how much knowledge you can gain if you just listen. A guest pastor spoke today and what a lesson we were given. The lesson came from the “The Parable of the Sower” taken from Matthew 13 (3-9, 16, 17, 18-23). He titled the sermon "Cultivating."

Matthew 13:3-9 Parable of the Sower

3Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.6But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9He who has ears, let him hear."

In order to grow healthy plants you need:

1. Good Seeds - The seed is the Word/Gospel and it is ALWAYS ready to be planted
2. Good Soil - The soil is the Listener. The question is “Is the soil ready to receive the seed?”

Types of soils - Matthew 13:18-23  Parable of the Sower Explained

18"Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. 22The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. 23But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."

• Along the Path speaks of soil hardened by much human and animal traffic; thus it failed to allow penetration of the seed, leaving it fair game for the birds  - the listener does not understand what’s being said
• Rocky Places refers to a shallow soil resting on a shelf of rock. The thin layer of dust or dirt accelerates the seed’s growth under the hot sun, but the plant could only live a short time because of the shallow soil.  - the listener quickly accepts the word, but stumbles with any tribulation
• Among the Thorns suggests good soil occupied with wild growth - the listener accepts the word, but the worries of this world and/or love of money chokes the word from them. -- Unfruitful
• Good Soil refers to prepared or tilled soil that allows prosperous growth - the listener hears and understands the word -- Produces Crops
• Not all Christians are equally fruited, but all are fruitful in some way

We can never receive more than we believe, and we can’t believe more than we understand. The differences are not found in the Word but in the preparation of the soil to receive the Word.