Remembering Your Value

Our Scripture passage today comes to us from the Gospel of Mk 4:3-9 and 13-20.

Mark 4:3–9 ESV

“Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil. And when the sun rose, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.” And he said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

and moving down to verse 13

Mark 4:13–20 ESV

And he said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? The sower sows the word. And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy. And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.”

These are the Words of Our Lord, Thanks be to God.

What do you value?

The NBA playoffs are happening right now. And the Miami Heat trails the LA Lakers 2-3 with a game today, and if necessary one more on Tuesday. I confess I don’t follow basketball, so I had to go searching for this information. In the midst of Pandemic 2020 sports have sort of been the last thing on our minds. Except when we get to cheer on our Seahawks now on Sundays.

It’s hard to believe it was 40 years ago that the Seattle Supersonics won the NBA Championship in Seattle. My friend Alan and I would catch the bus down to the Kingdome to see the games and we were caught up in the playoff hype. One night they gave away basketballs with the Sonic Logo on them. We stood courtside and were thrilled to collect the signatures of Jack Sikma, Lonnie Shelton, Freddie Brown, Dennis Johnson, John Johnson, Wally Walker, Gus Williams, Paul Silas, and others. We were thrilled when coach Lennie Wilkins said he’d sign them after the game.

We won that night and so the playoffs continued. Alan and I didn’t make it down courtside to get Lennie’s signature, but we waited outside near the players exit for him to leave. And we waited, and waited. Finally a security guard approached us and asked what we were doing there. We told him that Lennie had promised to sign our basketballs after the game. The guard told us Lennie used a different exit. The chase was on!

Alan and I sprinted around the Kingdome we saw Lenny and his wife heading toward a purple Lincoln Continental. “Lennie!” we screamed, probably looking like two maniacs as we continued our sprint, “You said you’d sign our ball!” Looking back now, I don’t know what he said to his wife, but she scurried to the car and probably locked the doors. Finally catching up to him, we breathlessly said, “you said you’d autograph our basketballs.” He did!

I don’t know what happened to Alan’s but mine sat in the back of a closet for years. It moved around with me a few times until I gave it to the Goodwill. My friends couldn’t believe I’d given it away because of its value. Yet to me it was a win-win-win. It was a win, because I no longer had to pack it up when I moved. It was a win because the Goodwill got a donation. It was a win to whomever found the ball - either a collector who was thrilled, or a kid who just wanted a ball to play with and was equally thrilled. And, I still have the story!

Our first question today is, What do you value?

If you’re not sure what you value take a look at your bank account and your calendar. They give us pretty clear indicators of where we spend our time and our treasure.

What is our value?

In our parable today, as Jesus tells us of a sower. The sower is sowing seed - the see is God’s Word. And we see that some of it falls along the path and is immediately taken away. Other falls in rocky ground - they receive it with joy, but have no root and so when things get rough they fall away. Others see is among the thorns of the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and desires for other things and it chokes out God’s word. But the good soil, it finds root, it finds nourishment, it finds a place to grow. And it produces fruit, thirty, sixty, and hundredfold!

We at Mission Woods refer to ourselves as a growing place.

Mission Woods Church: Growing closer to God, closer to one another, and closer to our community.

During this pandemic, the challenges have been great. We have been separated on so many different levels, even now we sit in our vehicles separated from one another, or perhaps you’re listening to this online and separated from us. Our church has endeavored to support you in growing closer to God through our ongoing sermons, online Bible studies, and Bible software and even Christian programming available to you through Faithlife TV for every member of our congregation. We know that not everyone has used this, or taken advantage of it.

I want to help you in that, and if you’re struggling on how to take advantage of these tools, please let me know.

Our church has worked to try and remain in contact with one another even though we’re apart. Phone calls, letters, cards, that you all have been making, and writing, it makes a difference. I have received several calls and cards of encouragement and it means a lot to me. I hope that those I’ve made and sent have meant as much.

And to our community. Through your generosity I know that our Elf Squad has continued to shop and make donations to our local foodbank providing for many who would likely go without.

And there is more we can do. There are many needs throughout our community, and sadly in this time of pandemic we are not always as aware of them.

What are you sowing?

In our parable this morning the sower goes out to sow. And note how the sower sows. He sows here and there and everywhere. It’s not like when we’re reseeding our lawn and we’re so careful that it all lands where it’s supposed to. No. This sower is sowing seed everywhere - it lands on the path, it lands in the rocky soil, it lands in amongst the weeds, and it lands in the fertile soil. And it bears fruit.

There is not a concern about the return that soil will give. And the good soil, of course bears fruit. This reminds me of Paul’s letter to the Galatians: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.

Is that what you’re sowing?

After dealing with a rather short tempered individual one of my co-workers commented: “I think because we’ve been locked up with our families for so long, some people have forgotten how to be polite in public. You know how you can say things to your family and they have to love you anyway, because their family. That doesn’t work out in the world.”

Some people are spreading bad fruit, they’re spreading: hate, gloom, anxiety, resistance, callousness, infidelity, rigidity and overindulgence. Hmmm…sounds like an evening of television!

My challenge to you and to myself frankly, is that we might always be acting as children of the Light and sowing the fruit of the Spirit God has given to us wherever we might go.

The fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control) should not only be evident in your life, it is also a way that we spread the Gospel - fruit bears seed. And remember the sower was not particular about where the seed was sown - it went everywhere. We can’t be selective with where we sow.

As we go from here today take with you the seed of God’s Word that has been planted in you, and let it bear fruit. No matter what is happening around you may you respond in love and with joy. May you speak words of peace with patience and kindness. May you bring goodness to bad situations. May you be the faithful friend. May you be the one who is able to correct with gentleness. And may you be able to have self-control.

This is God’s Word to us this morning. Thanks be to God. AMEN!