Which Soil am I on?
Notes
Transcript
Self Awareness
American Idol- how do some of these people get all the way to this point and no one has told them they are just not American Idol Worthy—- they are horrible!
Sometimes I hear these folks and I have got to wonder- do they really not realize how bad they really are? And if they do not, do they not have anyone in their lives that loves them enough to tell them the truth?
Now, you may be wondering what this has to do with today’s passage- well today in our passage Jesus is telling a story in hopes that we will develop and practice a bit of self awareness in our spiritual lives.
-This is one of multiple stories shared in this chapter known as the Kingdom Parables. Jesus is giving his audience a glimpse into how the Kingdom of God functions.
-Jesus spoke according to the agricultural customs of the day. Seed was scattered first and then it was plowed into the ground.
-In this parable, God is the farmer and the 4 soils represent the different responses people have when they hear and experience the gospel of the Kingdom. We can know this because this is one of the few parables where Jesus turns to his disciples and actually gives them his own explanation of what it all means. Wouldn’t it be insanely helpful if while you were reading the Bible, Jesus would sit in a chair next to you and explain all the parts you don’t understand? That’s exactly what we have here.
Jesus tells this parable to encourage his followers to take time and the effort to do a bit of self evaluation.
So today I want to take some time to talk a bit about these soils and I would like to challenge each of us to really focus in and take a moment to really reflect on where you are at this moment and what the soil of your heart is really like today.
The Path= Not interested
The Path= Not interested
Some people hear the good news of the Gospel and they are simply not interested. Maybe they do not see their own need for salvation; maybe they do not understand the Gospel; or maybe they think its all hogwash; no matter the reason Jesus equates this like seed being sown on a hard path. Have you ever dropped seed or something like it on a hard path? The seed does not take any root in the dirt- it just sits there and does nothing. I bet that all of us in this room have been the hard path before-sermons that fall on deaf ears; hearts that are too hard to allow the Word of God to penetrate.
Now, to make things worse, Jesus says that as this seed falls upon the ground the birds come and snatch it away. Friends, Satan takes no chances and quickly he aggressively attack that word and attempt to prevent it by taking root by any means possible.
The Rocks= Too Shallow
The Rocks= Too Shallow
One of the most frustrating things in the world is trying to dig holes in rocky ground- and here is ROCKingham county I’m betting we have all experienced this. Just when you think you have a good spot- WHACK rock- move a bit- dig a littler further= WHACK rock again.
Some people’s hearts are like those rocks. Don’t get me wrong, they have really good intentions. When they started out they really did and at some level still do want to see Jesus in their life. They came to church for a few weeks; maybe they even bought a new Bible or a devotional; they came to a Bible study or 2; but then something unexpected or hard happened- and it always does- and now they are abandoning their new faith.
Anyone can follow Jesus for a week
Most people can follow him for a month
Some people might even follow him for a year
But to follow him for a lifetime takes real transformation.
The Thorns= Too Busy
The Thorns= Too Busy
Let’s face it; many people do not intentionally turn away from Jesus. They get busy, they get distracted. After all, weeds are a lot less obvious than rocks.
Also remember that sometimes weeds don’t instantly destroy good plants; many times they prevent good growth but small life remains.
And weeds are not always bad things friends; I have seen many people that I love and care about have their spirituality choked out by things that are not inherently bad- in fact they are good.
Their super talented kid makes the travel team- but tournaments are every weekend
They do a great job at work and get a promotion- but the new schedule keeps them away
They finally buy the boat they dreamed of- but every weekend is at the lake.
Good Soil= Fruitful
Good Soil= Fruitful
Now, we are all sitting here today because at some point in your life the Word of God fell on good soil in your heart. You responded to the call of Jesus with affirmation and you began a life that had Jesus in it and it has taken root enough for you to be here today.
However, there is something else to notice here and it is actually what I want to emphasize today- you are also here today because there was someone in your life who had good enough soil to grow fruit that reproduces.
So, let’s pull out three thoughts on good soil today:
First, we should all strive to be on good fruitful soil
First, we should all strive to be on good fruitful soil
I have never met a Christian who wants to be rocky or weedy, or hard. Not one time has someone told me- my goal for my relationship with God is to be shallow and sparse.
But friends, like regular gardening; spiritual gardening takes intentionality.
OUR FAMILY MOVING TO RAISED BEDS
Friends we must be very careful with what we plant alongside the Gospel of Jesus. Because Spiritual development is not guarenteed.
Second, the only Description Jesus gives of good soil is Multiplication
Second, the only Description Jesus gives of good soil is Multiplication
Jesus does not say good soil comes to church X amount of times. Or good soil tithes; or good soil is happy all the time-
No, good soil multiplies.
Think about it church, we are starting off gardening season, and for those of you planting this year, where do the seeds come from? We do not make seeds in factories, right? There is not a tomato seed fabrication business. No, tomato seeds come from a healthy tomato that grew from a healthy tomato plant. The only way to get a tomato is for another tomato to produce a seed.
The only way to get a Christian is for another Christian to produce seed.
Is your fruit healthy enough to produce another believer?
STEAK SO GOOD A VEGAN WILL EAT IT....
Multiplication takes Intention
Multiplication takes Intention
I know I have said this before from this pulpit- no one is accidentally discipled. Discipleship is intentional.
The problem for most of us is that we are so busy that our Spirituality is often the most ignored thing in our lives.
In the book The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry the author shares that Michael Zigarelli from the Charleston Southern University of School of Business conducted a survey of over twenty thousand Christians across the globe about obstacles to spiritual growth. He identified busyness as a major distraction from spiritual life. Listen carefully to his hypothesis.
It may be the case that (1) Christians are assimilating to a culture of business, hurry and overload, which leads to (2) God becoming more marginalized in Christians lives, which leads to (3) a deteriorating relationship with God, which leads to (4) Christians becoming even more vulnerable to adopting secular assumptions about how to live, which leads to (5) more conformity to a culture of busyness, hurry and overload. And then the cycle begins again.
So for the month of May we are focusing on Changing Soils.
Next week- Praying like a Disciple Maker
5/18- Engaging the Lost
5/25- Once I’ve Found Someone to Disciple
