Planting

Introduction

Good evening and welcome!

Tonight we are going to begin a new series centered on the idea of being “Rooted” in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I actually stumbled across the topic for this series by accident, but the more I read and studied the more I felt that this topic really falls in line with where our church is right now in time.

I also feel like this is a very appropriate topic for a Sunday Night series because this group, you, other than a few here and there that have other obligations or are sick are pretty much the core of the Church.

Our pandemic has really changed the landscape of the Church quite a bit and like I mentioned a few weeks ago, we have essentially started a new church and those attending right now are the core group of that new congregation.

And one thing that all new congregations need is a strong reminder that we need to all be firmly rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

We need to remember that the seed of the gospel is available to all.

It is sown generously no matter the heart condition of the individual.

Its ability to take root and grow when planted is dependent on the condition of the “soil” of one’s heart.

And if we are going to be the sharers of the Gospel then we must have the ability to make life choices that ensure that our hearts are fertile soil for the truth of the Gospel to take root in.

We have got to develop a deep sense that our connection to the Kingdom of God is directly correlated to the condition of our heart.

And we have to make a conscious choice to adjust our lifestyle, by the help of the Holy Spirit, in order to to create the kind of environment where our relationship with God can grow.

Which can only be done when we are willing to put in the work.

And tonight we are going to begin in Matthew 13 looking at the idea of being planted.

Firmly planted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Psalm 1:3, tells us that wen we are firmly rooted in the faith then . . .

Psalm 1:3 NIV - Anglicised

He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

But how does that seed grow?

It first has to be planted.

Who is in charge of planting?

The disciples of Jesus Christ.

You and me.

It is our job and we are all responsible to carry it out.

But to give us a better idea of what I’m getting at, I do want to look at a parable found in Matthew 13.

The parable starts in verse 1, but ends starting in verse 19, which says this . . .

Scripture Focus

Matthew 13:19–23 NIV - Anglicised

When 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. The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. The 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. But 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.”

The Types of Seed (vs 1-9)

Now, a pretty familiar parable to us.

I’ve probably covered it a few times myself over the years.

I know we’ve studied it many times.

But it is very important to understand what Jesus is talking about here.

He is talking about our role in being the the bearers of the Gospel.

Those responsible for sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with our world.

But in this parable Jesus says this . . .

Matthew 13:3–9 NIV - Anglicised

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

So, why in the world would Jesus tell them a parable about a farmer planting seeds as a way to help them understand the Gospel and the importance of having a strong understanding and foundation in the Gospel?

It’s actually very simple. Planting seed is something that they would all be familiar with.

They lived in rural and farming communities so if there is something they knew about it was sowing seed and growing things.

And this is actually one of the reasons why Jesus used parables concerning things like farming and building houses, because the people could understand the practical aspect, even if they didn’t quite get the spiritual aspect.

So, he starts by telling them about this farmer who goes out to plant his crop and this happens . . .

The real life application of this was probably a pretty common occurrence for these people.

They didn’t have modern and precise equipment like we have today and they spread their seed by hand.

You can try and get it all in the right place but there is some that is going to miss the mark, if you will.

Some of the seed fell on the path they were walking.

Nothing was going to grow there because as soon as it fell, the birds were right there for supper!

Then there were places that was not really good ground and was very rocky and some of the seed ended up there.

Guess what, seed can’t grown in the rocks because there are not enough nutrients in the soil.

It may spring up but because there were no deep roots to nourish and protect it, as soon as the sun came out that’s all she wrote. Withered and died!

Then there was some seed that fell in the thorn bushes and weeds.

Well it couldn’t grow because the thorns and thistles stole all the nutrients and sunlight. No go there either!

However, finally there was seed that feel on the good soil as well.

And that seed grew and multiplied, yielding multiple times what was actually sown.

And Jesus finishes the parable this way . .

Matthew 13:9 NIV - Anglicised

He who has ears, let him hear.”

In other words, “listen to what I am saying because it is important!

And to those who have been in church many years and who have probably heard this parable time and time again, the meaning is pretty obvious.

And to Jesus’ disciples at this point the meaning was pretty obvious.

But apparently the people didn’t entirely get it. Look what happens next in verse 10 . . .

The Question Asked (vs 10-17)

Matthew 13:10 NIV - Anglicised

The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”

And the reason they are asking this is because they think “we get it, so everybody else should to.”

And they are also thinking that things would be much quicker and much more efficient if Jesus just told them plainly and not got into all these stories.

They were sort of putting the cart before the horse a bit.

And also, how do we remember better, if someone ties an illustration to a concept or just tells us?

Most of us remember better when there is some sort of illustration that we are familiar with that we can tie the concept back to.

So, Jesus explains to them . . .

Matthew 13:11–12 NIV - Anglicised

He replied, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.

Now, this statement in itself can seem sort of confusing but it doesn’t have to be.

First, Jesus tells them as his close disciples they are privileged to be with him all the time and because of this he is able to tell them and teach them things that he simply can’t tell or teach others in the time he has.

That is really what verse 11 means. However, verse 12 is a bit different.

Again Jesus says . . .

Matthew 13:12 NIV - Anglicised

Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.

Now, what Jesus is really referring to here is the spiritual condition of the one hearing the parable.

The disciples understood Jesus because they were spiritually in the right place.

Other people who Jesus taught with parables also understood him because their heart was “turned toward God,” or spiritually they were where they needed to be to hear and understand him.

However, to those who does not have, as Jesus says, they do not have the spiritual awareness or spiritual condition to hear or understand him.

And what they think is their own self-justification and self-saving attitude, what they have, will be taken from them as well.

And Jesus is primarily talking about these religious leaders who think they have it all together and that they know what’s right.

It is just like people today.

Many people who have a lot of fame and power according to human standards are out of touch with the vast majority of humanity as well as being out of touch with God.

They have “made their own way,” and their faith is in themselves, and many times they don’t understand all of this “Jesus business.”

The Pharisees and Sadducees were like this.

But the ordinary people were not, and they were able to understand what Jesus was saying.

Which is what Jesus explains next through Isaiah’s prophecy . . .

Matthew 13:13–15 NIV - Anglicised

This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “ ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’

In other words, they have done it to themselves.

Jesus continues though . . . .

Matthew 13:16–17 NIV - Anglicised

But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

So, Jesus then explains to them the parable . . .

The Parable Explained (vs 18-23)

Matthew 13:18–23 NIV - Anglicised

“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When 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. The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. The 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. But 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.”

And this is really means for us . . .

1. A hardened or oblivious heart is a barren wasteland.

Some are opposed to the good news and there are those that are oblivious to it.

Whether by personal volition or innocent omission, this parable is clear that seed will not grow where there is inhospitable soil.

In fact, the enemy will come and snatch the seed away because he doesn’t want the seed to have any opportunity to take root and grow in a person’s life.

This kind of soil will never reproduce because it cannot reproduce.

2. A troubled heart produces shallow roots.

Life is a long, and at times, difficult journey.

A heart that is troubled by the obstacles and adversity of life will fail to produce deep roots.

These individuals have an interest in the Gospel and even seem to embrace it at the beginning of the journey.

However, over time without tending to the growth of the seed of the Gospel they will fall away during the tough times and tribulations that all disciples of Christ experience.

Jesus actually warned us, in John 16:33 that . . .“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Shallow roots will not sustain a person through the adverse and difficult seasons of life.

It takes deep and strong roots growing in healthy soil to weather the stormy seasons.

3. A distracted heart bears no fruit

A distracted heart cannot grow the roots needed to sustain life.

A heart that cares more for the things of the world than for the things of the Kingdom is not the healthy soil necessary to experience kingdom growth.

Money, status, popularity, and other worldly endeavors choke out the ability of the seed to get the nutrients and care necessary to grow roots.

Unhealthy and distracted soil is not the place for seed to grow, and definitely not the place to find a harvest of healthy fruit.

4. A fertile heart sustains life

A heart that is fertile is one that readily accepts the Gospel seed and does the hard work of nurturing it to grow.

This heart is one that is open to the Truth of God’s Word and open to the transformation that will take place.

This heart is made ready by the prompting of the Holy Spirit AND the participation of the individual.

This heart does not just experience growth for themselves, but actually impacts those around them.

Healthy soil is where seeds have the most opportunity to grow into life giving plants, trees, etc…

For instance, a single healthy apple tree can bear enough fruit to feed dozens of people.

It’s shade gives rest to those who pass by on hot days.

It’s flowers nourish thousands of pollinators every spring.

And it’s seed spreads and multiplies into an immeasurable amount of other apple trees over the course of its lifetime.

Altar/Challenge

So, What kind of soil describes your heart today?

Are you indifferent to the good news of Jesus Christ?

Are you needing to spend some time on the condition of your heart so that the seed of the gospel can grow deep and healthy roots?

Are you distracted?

Are there too many things in your life clamoring for your attention and care?

Which kind of heart do we have and how has that impacted the root or lack of root of the Gospel in us?

Let’s pray . . .