Sown

Jesus’ Discipleship Approach

Read Luke 8:1-15 and pause for a second to consider how (vv 1-3) Jesus had performed miracles for many who followed Him, (vv 4-8) He gives a lesson on producing good fruit, (vv 9-10) He explains to the disciples WHY he speaks in parables, and (vv 11-15) He gives an explanation of his lesson on seeds bearing good fruit. (1) How do parables help us understand things we may not understand intuitively? What are some modern-day examples of parables in academia, society, and within our culture? (2) How do you see Christ’s miracles and other supernatural actions acting as “parables in action”? What purpose do they serve?

Jesus had a very distinct way of doing ministry that so many Christians today overlook: serve, then teach.

Serving opened the doors for people to be able to hear.

Look at how Christ uses this approach when telling the parable this sermon series is named after.

Luke 8:1–15 CSB

1 Afterward he was traveling from one town and village to another, preaching and telling the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary, called Magdalene (seven demons had come out of her); 3 Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward; Susanna; and many others who were supporting them from their possessions. 4 As a large crowd was gathering, and people were coming to Jesus from every town, he said in a parable, 5 “A sower went out to sow his seed. As he sowed, some seed fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the sky devoured it. 6 Other seed fell on the rock; when it grew up, it withered away, since it lacked moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns; the thorns grew up with it and choked it. 8 Still other seed fell on good ground; when it grew up, it produced fruit: a hundred times what was sown.” As he said this, he called out, “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen.” 9 Then his disciples asked him, “What does this parable mean?” 10 So he said, “The secrets of the kingdom of God have been given for you to know, but to the rest it is in parables, so that Looking they may not see, and hearing they may not understand. 11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12 The seed along the path are those who have heard and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 And the seed on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy. Having no root, these believe for a while and fall away in a time of testing. 14 As for the seed that fell among thorns, these are the ones who, when they have heard, go on their way and are choked with worries, riches, and pleasures of life, and produce no mature fruit. 15 But the seed in the good ground—these are the ones who, having heard the word with an honest and good heart, hold on to it and by enduring, produce fruit.

Mary, Joanna, and Susanna: Three women who were healed

But WHY does Jesus heal? Goodwill? IF… it’s about goodwill, then why doesn’t he heal everyone?

Jesus’ miracles serve the same function as parables… helping us understand. Note verses 9-10

Luke 8:9–10 CSB

9 Then his disciples asked him, “What does this parable mean?” 10 So he said, “The secrets of the kingdom of God have been given for you to know, but to the rest it is in parables, so that Looking they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.

God wants us to know Him, but God also understands that our ability to learn, experience, and observe may be limited. This is why He has revealed himself to us in many ways.

To some, we hear and believe. To others, there is a journey.

In both cases, the keys are FAITH and PERSEVERANCE.

The two keywords for Christ’s use of parables or miracles is FAITH and PERSEVERANCE. Paul gives many examples of this in Hebrews 11:3-12, 17-30, and 39-40. (1) What examples of FAITH stick with you the most in these sections? What about PERSEVERANCE? (2) How have you seen faith and perseverance in Christians around you? (3) How is faith and perseverance critical in our ability to become “disciples”, understanding God’s Will in our lives and the truth He has left us in His Word?

In today’s world, it is sometimes suggested that God must not be real because if He wanted His presence known, He’d just do some more miracles. What we see consistently across the scriptures is that faith and perseverance are key ingredients.

As we read from Paul in his letter to the Jewish Christians in Hebrews...

Hebrews 11:3–12 CSB

3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible. 4 By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was approved as a righteous man, because God approved his gifts, and even though he is dead, he still speaks through his faith. 5 By faith Enoch was taken away, and so he did not experience death. He was not to be found because God took him away. For before he was taken away, he was approved as one who pleased God. 6 Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. 7 By faith Noah, after he was warned about what was not yet seen and motivated by godly fear, built an ark to deliver his family. By faith he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. 8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and set out for a place that he was going to receive as an inheritance. He went out, even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he stayed as a foreigner in the land of promise, living in tents as did Isaac and Jacob, coheirs of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 By faith even Sarah herself, when she was unable to have children, received power to conceive offspring, even though she was past the age, since she considered that the one who had promised was faithful. 12 Therefore, from one man—in fact, from one as good as dead—came offspring as numerous as the stars of the sky and as innumerable as the grains of sand along the seashore.

Hebrews 11:17–30 CSB

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. He received the promises and yet he was offering his one and only son, 18 the one to whom it had been said, Your offspring will be traced through Isaac. 19 He considered God to be able even to raise someone from the dead; therefore, he received him back, figuratively speaking. 20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. 21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and he worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. 22 By faith Joseph, as he was nearing the end of his life, mentioned the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions concerning his bones. 23 By faith Moses, after he was born, was hidden by his parents for three months, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they didn’t fear the king’s edict. 24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter 25 and chose to suffer with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasure of sin. 26 For he considered reproach for the sake of Christ to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, since he was looking ahead to the reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt behind, not being afraid of the king’s anger, for Moses persevered as one who sees him who is invisible. 28 By faith he instituted the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn might not touch the Israelites. 29 By faith they crossed the Red Sea as though they were on dry land. When the Egyptians attempted to do this, they were drowned. 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after being marched around by the Israelites for seven days.

Hebrews 11:39–40 CSB

39 All these were approved through their faith, but they did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, so that they would not be made perfect without us.

Seeds on Good Soil

Consider this specific parable of the seeds and the explanation Christ provides in Luke 8:11-15. In here we see seeds which are trampled (v 12), withered (v 13), and choked (v 14). (1) How do these parallel different types of Christians we see today? How do we avoid being those categories of believers? (2) What does verse 15 tell us is an indication of a believer on good soil? How is that reflected practically in the lives of Christians?

Looking back at the parable of the sower, we can see FAITH and PERSEVERANCE in the seeds which fell on good ground.

Luke 8:4–8 CSB

4 As a large crowd was gathering, and people were coming to Jesus from every town, he said in a parable, 5 “A sower went out to sow his seed. As he sowed, some seed fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the sky devoured it. 6 Other seed fell on the rock; when it grew up, it withered away, since it lacked moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns; the thorns grew up with it and choked it. 8 Still other seed fell on good ground; when it grew up, it produced fruit: a hundred times what was sown.” As he said this, he called out, “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen.”

Numerous seeds fail

The Trampled - Those seduced by Satan (Lack of faith)

The Withered - Immense initial joy, but no foundation (Lack of perseverance)

The Choked - Overcome by the world’s promises (Lack of perseverance)

The key indicator of seeds which took good root: Fruit

The “Choked” seeds were called out for not producing good fruit, but those with good soil produced “a hundred times” what was sown.

Showcases why would should be discerning of what we do… not “doing Christian work” doesn’t mean you aren’t a Christian, but never “doing Christian work” may indicate that you are not seeds on good soil.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Christ’s explanation in verses 11-15 are to his disciples while the rest of his discourse is to the crowds; he provided understanding to those who sought it.

THIS IS WHY BIBLE STUDY IS SO IMPORTANT. —> If you’re a “I don’t understand the Bible” person, then making the effort is the first step.

Simply SEEKING understanding is an act of perseverance which stresses your faith.

Church is Fertile Ground; We are Promising Seeds

We all want to be seeds on fertile ground, producing good fruit —> That’s the dream

Many spend their entire spiritual life blaming the ground they are on instead of changing which ground they stand.

OUR CHURCH RESPONSIBILITY: To provide good soil and fertile ground for individuals to yield good fruit. The focus is the harvest, not the planting.

OUR INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY: To assess upon which soil we are attempting to grow. If we desire to be individuals who see God working fruitfully in our lives, we must have FAITH and PERSEVERE. Strive to understand and seek God’s wisdom. In doing so, God will open our eyes and allow us to hear and follow His better path for our lives.