The Parable of the Sower

Short Stories

The Parable of the Sower

We are in week 2 of our series “Short Stories”.

We are talking about the parables of Jesus.

Two weeks ago, I talked about the parable of the Unmerciful Servant.

This week we are going to take a look at the Parable of the Sower found in

In this parable Jesus is going to talk about 4 different kinds of soil.

Many scholars believe it actually makes more sense that this be called the parable of the soils.

The goal is to read this parable, see what the 4 soils are and then ask yourself which one you are.

“That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

So again Jesus is telling a story that the people could definitely connect with.

Back then you pretty much had to grow everything you wanted to eat. Farming was a big deal

I know today most teenagers probably think that vegetables come from Meijer.

So these people know about seeds and the different soils.

And back then a lot of time you didn’t plow before they planted.

They would walk around the field and scatter them around.

So the seed being thrown and blown by the wind could easily land on these different types of soil.

Verse 18-23 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

Notice this parable is a little different.

He doesn’t say, “the kingdom of God is like…”

This parable is about HOW we receive the message of God.

Did you notice what it said about the sower? NOTHING

It doesn’t matter who’s giving the message or planting the seed.

There are 4 ways to receive it. 4 kinds of soil.

So let’s look at these 4 a little deeper and see what one you are.

The Soil on the Path

Show Picture of Soil on the Patch

The path that Jesus would be talking about is the path that people would walk on and trample the ground.

They would make a natural path as they walk.

So naturally because the ground was compacted down so hard the seed would just sit at the top.

This allowed the birds to come and just pick it up.

This represents people who have hard hearts toward God.

They pretty much want nothing to do with him.

No matter what you say to them or what evidence you use to prove God exists, they still won’t believe it.

Maybe you’re here and that’s you?

Maybe you want nothing to do with God but you’re here because your spouse wanted you to come.

Or maybe you’re a teenager and your parents forced you to come?

You see you hear the Word but because your heart is hard the devil is able to come and snatch the truth from you.

He tells you lies about how this is all a joke.

That this whole God thing is crazy.

And you believe it.

The Rocky Soil

Show Picture of Rocky Soil

This is the soil that the seed sprouted up right away but because of the rocks couldn’t grow the roots it needed so when the sun came out or storms came it was destroyed.

This represents the people who hear the Word of God and gets excited about serving Jesus but when trials and storms come their faith is gone.

It’s because they haven’t established any roots in the Word and they have a misconception of God.

Because they made this decision based on an emotion.

“Unless truth takes deep root in the human heart it will be recanted as soon as it meets any opposition. Thin soil produces superficial commitment.”

You see a lot of people think when they give their heart to the Lord that means that their life is just going to be full of blessing and nothing bad will ever happen to them.

So when trials come they think, this isn’t what I signed up for.

Because if they would’ve rooted themselves in the Word they would know that living for the Lord doesn’t mean the absence of storms.

NLT “Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. 13 Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.”

“ Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”

YOUR ARE GOING TO FACE TRIALS IN YOUR LIFE

But those trials can make your faith stronger.

What we tend to not realize is that stress or resistance on us can actually help us.

Think about our bodies.

When we workout and lift weights what are we doing?

We’re causing resistance or STRESS on our muscles, but by doing that we are actually making our bodies stronger.

The thing is I can choose to workout or not.

You see I HATE working out.

So I choose to not workout.

But I know my body would actually thank me if I chose to put myself through that pressure.

We don’t choose when our trials come.

But maybe that’s why James tells us to consider pure joy when they do come.

Because he knows that our faith will actually become stronger because of it.

Don’t let trials cause you to give up on God.

Use it as an opportunity for God to show you what He can do IN you if you let him.

But the problem is people come to God based solely on emotions and eventually your emotions change.

After the excitement runs out they stop serving the Lord and they’ll say things like, “I tried the whole Christian thing but it just wasn’t for me.”

The problem is Christianity isn’t a thing, it’s a relationship.

You can’t base your relationship with Jesus purely on emotions.

That’s why so many people get divorced.

That warm fuzzy feeling they felt when they were first dating isn’t the same as it used to be so I guess that means I don’t love you anymore.

Love is not just a feeling it’s a choice.

We can’t live our lives based on emotions.

That’s why so many people when they serve God are missing what He has for them because they keep searching for that emotion they first felt.

I know people who have had incredible emotional encounters with God but they feel like every day with God should be like that.

So they start searching for an emotion rather than the God who created that emotion.

Root yourself in the Word and your FAITH will lead you, not your emotions. Your emotions will deceive you.

The Soil with Thorns

Show Picture of Soil with Thorns

This is the soil that is surrounded by thorns and weeds so when the seed grows it can’t produce fruit because the thorns choke the life out of it.

Jesus said these are the people that hear the word but the worries of this world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word and make you unfruitful.

These are the people that maybe are following Jesus but at some point they get distracted.

They take their eyes off of God and onto their problems.

They start worrying about what’s going to happen next.

They’re consumed by the stresses of their job or problems at home.

But the word of God says...

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

You’re not meant to carry that worry.

Listen to this verse in Philippians

“ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

We think the next verse will be, “and He will give you what you ask.”

“7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

So I ask for a job and you’re going to give me peace?

Because you think if you get what you ask you will have peace!

God says I’ll just give you peace!

If it’s not worry it’s the desire of wealth.

We get consumed by having enough money and making sure I can buy everything I want because maybe THAT’S what will make me happy.

“Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless.”

Your desire for money is causing you to miss out on what God has for you.

Money WILL NOT buy you happiness.

“The fear of the Lord leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble.”

God is the only thing that can truly make you content.

Then when trouble comes you aren’t fazed by it there for it can’t touch you.

And because we are so consumed by the “thorns” or worries, we can’t bear fruit.

Plants and trees can never bear fruit when they are consumed by thorns and weeds.

There are many believers out there who are doing NOTHING for the kingdom of God.

They are bearing NO fruit because they’re too consumed by the worries and things of this world.

Jesus is saying, this is not the way I’ve called you to live.

The Good Soil

This is the soil that allowed the seed to grow which produced a crop of 100, 60, or 30 times what was sown.

This is the person that hears the word of God and understands it.

They continue to learn more about His word and grow deep roots in Him which allows them to reach a harvest of 100, 60, or 30 fold.

Again, you have to understand who Jesus is talking to here.

If your crops yielded a harvest of 7 to 10 times what was sown you were killing it.

Yet Jesus said if you receive my word and let it sink in and take root, you’ll reap a harvest of potentially a 100 fold!

Jesus is showing us just how POWERFUL His word is.

That we are capable of doing things we NEVER thought we could do.

Think about why Jesus would use a seed as the word of God.

A seed is such a tiny little thing.

It’s because this tiny seed has the power to grow to something bigger than you could imagine.

Take the seed of a REDWOOD TREE for example. (Show Picture)

Now look at the size of an actual Redwood tree.

It seemed to me that it would be impossible for a seed to grow into something that big.

Yet that’s the power of a seed.

And Jesus is saying that’s the power of my word.

He’s telling us, receive what I’m saying and watch the harvest come.

And your harvest may look different than mine.

Your harvest may be of the people you reach for Jesus.

It may be the overwhelming joy and peace that you’ve never had.

It may be healing or financial blessing.

Either way, your harvest will be significant.

So this morning I’m asking us to reflect our hearts.

See what soil you think you are.

Notice that 3 out of the 4 seeds didn’t last.

They didn’t fulfill their purpose and bear the fruit they were intended to.

The good news is you can choose which soil you want to be.

Make the commitment this morning to hear the Word, study the Word, and do what it says.

If you do that you will bear much fruit.

But it all starts by receiving the WORD

Altar Call