SPECIAL DAYS: Brotherhood/Sisterhood Week

February 15, Lesson: Matthew 13.3b-9, 18-23

SERMON TITLE: Seed and Soils

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INTRODUCTION:

There are good and bad intrusions, positive and negative intruders. Here's an example of the latter:

Francois Mauriac entitled one of his novels The Woman of the Pharisees. It revolves around a certain rich woman who was concerned about the poor people of her village. She felt it was her duty to visit them frequently. She always said a prayer and left behind a little gift suitable to their needs-as she defined them-along with a suggestion that a little more ambition and hard work could improve their lot. She never met anybody she did not try to improve. Of course, she merely depressed the villagers and angered them. They hated her for the gifts she brought, and they hated themselves for taking them.

An epitaph, written by C. S. Lewis, goes:

This stone erected by her sorrowing brothers
In memory of Martha Clay.
Here lies one who lived for others,
Now she has peace. And so have they!

The spirit of the intruder is what makes all the difference in whether it is a welcome intrusion or not.

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  1. As we take up this first parable of Jesus, I hope this is a welcome intrusion.

    1. There are several salient points that are best kept in mind.

    2. In studying the parables of Jesus it is most important to follow sound principles of interpretation.

      1. These principles may be briefly summarized as:

        1. A parable is a mirror by which truth can be seen; it is not truth itself.

        2. The context in which a parables is given--the place, circumstances, persons to whom it was spoken, and the situation under discussion--must be taken into consideration and made the key for understanding.

        3. Jesus' own introduction and conclusion to the parable generally make its fundamental purpose clear.

        4. Every parable illustrates one basic point of spiritual truth. Details of a parable are important only as they contribute to the clarification of that particular point of truth.

        5. Before the meaning of a parable in the biblical material can be understood it is necessary to have some understanding of the situation described in the parable, in terms of Oriental customs and ways of thinking and expression. Parables are vivid word pictures that must be seen, so to speak, before they can be understood.

        6. In view of the fundamental fact that a parable is given to illustrate truth, and usually one particular truth, no doctrine may be based upon the incidental details of a parable.

        7. The parable, in whole and in part, must be understood in terms of the truth it is designed to reveal, as set forth in the literal language of the immediate context and elsewhere in Scripture.

    3. Perhaps we also need to be reminded of the true nature of the Intruder and what is being said.

      1. THE SOWER IS JESUS

        1. Who is he?

        2. Are there any flaws of which we ought to be aware in his character or in his purposes?

        3. Perhaps we have already answered this question to our satisfaction, but there are several biblical passages that serve as reminders.

Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin, (Hebrews 4:14-15, NRSVA).

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people...And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth....From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father's heart, who has made him known, (John 1:1-4, 14, 16-18, NRSVA).

      1. THE SEED IS THE WORD OF THE SOWER

        1. Is there any flaw in the seed of which we ought to aware?

        2. Can the seed by fully trusted to accomplish its purpose.

You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God, (1 Peter 1:23, NRSVA).

Those who have been born of God do not sin, because God's seed abides in them; they cannot sin, because they have been born of God, (1 John 3:9, NRSVA).

        1. In this case the seed is not like the seed that we plant.

          1. Our seeds produce only one kind of crop.

            1. I gave the children some old seed packets.

            2. Tomato seeds produce tomatoes.

            3. Onion seeds produce onions.

            4. Carrot seeds produce carrots.

          2. The seed that is being sown has the capacity to produce multiple results.

            1. THE FRUIT OF THE SEED (SPIRIT)

By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, (Galatians 5:22-23b, NRSVA).

For this reason, since the day we heard it (faith in Jesus Christ), we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God's will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God, (Colossians 1:9-10, NRSVA).

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  1. If there is a type of perfection in the SOWER and the SEED, then where results of the seed sowing?

    1. They are to be seen in the reception and growth of the seed in the individual.

    2. To this end Jesus speaks of four differing situations of reception and growth.

  2. THE HARD HEARTED OR HARD HEADED RECIPIENT.

    1. THE PATH

    2. Larry Davies, "New Car Rudeness." (1)

The bright red finish and the cardboard license plates were clear indicators that the car in the restaurant parking lot was new. The owner must have panicked when he saw me park right beside his new toy. Quickly he ran out, gave me a dirty look, then moved his car and parked it again at an odd angle, blocking three parking places.

The plot thickens at this point because the manager of the restaurant quietly asked the man to park his car correctly. He arrogantly replied: I don't want some jerk hitting my brand-new car. Besides, your food is awful. (Colorful language edited.) The manager smiled and offered to refund his money. The man continued his cursing, snatched the refund and left in a huff.

Unfortunately, the rude guy was accompanied by three young teenagers who were watching and giggling. When told to leave, they crammed the rest of the awful food in their mouths while laughing about the way their father tough-talked a restaurant manager and received a free meal.

Later the manager commented: I don't get upset when people are rude to me. It's my job to deal with all kinds of customers. As a grandfather, however, I cringe to think what lesson the children received from their father's intimidation tactics. They will likely learn to behave like their father.

    1. Undoubtedly they will.

    2. The seeds of love and kindness, compassion and caring have no root in such an experience.

  1. THE SHALLOW RECIPIENT.

    1. ROCKY SOIL

    2. Again an illustration from Larry Davies, "Pianos, rats and born again," (2)

The musicians at the nightclub were complaining about an old piano. The keys would often stick, and the sound was truly hideous.

After months of listening to the grumbling and whining, the owner finally decided to do something about it ... he sent the piano out to be painted.

Painted? Painted? What good would that do?

Yet as Christians we often settle for a paint job when we need a tune-up.

      1. It's easy to play Christian without actually acting like one.

      2. We seek comfort...instead of a challenge.

      3. You want rest...not responsibility.

      4. I all too readily accept peace...and surrender my passion for God.

      5. We look for a paintbrush rather than a toolbox.

      6. What happens when the paintbrush does not work.

      7. We are tempted to move on to the next paint job.

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  1. THE DISTRACTED RECIPIENT

    1. THORNS AND THISTLES

    2. Tired of Larry Davies here is another of his marvelous illustrations: "All I Want Is a Bag of Mulch." (3)

All I (he writes) wanted to do was purchase some mulch at the discount store and go home, but the checkout cashier discovered a hole in the bag so someone was sent to bring us another bag of mulch. Meanwhile, we waited. Then, another item was missing a price tag so once again someone was sent to find the correct price. We waited some more. While we waited the cashier talked ... boy did he talk.

While filling out the check, I asked: What is today's date?

I don't know. I don't care. All I know is that today is Friday! he said with emphasis and a grin.

In a feeble attempt to be polite, I replied: So, you like Fridays?

Oh yeah, he said with obvious enthusiasm. I love Fridays ... because it's party time and I love to party! I live to party!

Before I could respond ... he continued: I drink and party all night long! Yep! My friends and me love to have a good time. We try to do it every night. That's what I live for: friends, drinking and partying.

I thought to myself: Why is he saying this to me? Should I respond? Should I tell this young man he's making a big mistake? Should I tell him there is another way to enjoy life? Should I talk about God in a crowded department store to a stranger? I really don't want to be a witness right now Lord. I just want to make my purchase and go home. Is there anything wrong with that?

Yet, if I say nothing it looks as if I approve or at least condone his outrageous behavior. But if I say something ... how do I say it without sounding judgmental and arrogant? In essence, I was in a fix. ...

After a pause, I looked at the young cashier and flashed my biggest smile. I want to thank you for telling me about your parties. You just made my day!

This time, it was his turn to pause. What do you mean? he asked with a look of confusion.

Well, I'm a preacher looking for someone who needs prayer ... and my friend, you are the one!

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  1. THE FERTILE OR PRODUCTIVE RECIPIENT

    1. THE GOOD SOIL

    2. The Nobel-prize winning American playwright Eugene O'Neill wrote a drama called The Great God Brown (1925) that reveals the nature of the "good soil." (4)

      1. The first of four acts opens with two young men, on the night of their graduation from high school, asking the question: What's it all about? The whole play is centered on their search for the answer to that question. One of the two, Dion Anthony, wants to become an artist. But he doesn't make it. And he dies of a broken heart. The other boy, Billy Brown, becomes an architect - a successful businessman, highly respected in the community.

    As the play comes to its conclusion, Billy Brown, like Dion Anthony, has not found out who he is either . When Billy is dying, he finds himself with a woman named Cybel. She is, perhaps, the only person in his life who ever understood his problem. Billy is very frightened, and this woman becomes a kind of mother-figure to him in the last moments of his life. Although he is now a grown man, she says to him, almost as if he were a child,

    Cybel: Sshh! Go to sleep Billy.

    Brown: Yes, Mother. (then explainingly) It was dark and I couldn't see where I was going and they all picked on me.

    Cybel: I know. You're tired.

    Brown: And when I wake up...?

    Cybel: The sun will be rising again.

    Brown: To judge the living and the dead! (frightenedly) I don't want justice. I want love.

    Cybel: There is only love.

    Brown: Thank you, Mother. (then feebly) I'm getting sleepy. What's the prayer you taught me - Our Father - ?

    Cybel: (with calm exultance) Our Father Who Art!

    Brown: (taking her tone - exultantly) Who art! Who art! (suddenly - with ecstasy) I know! I have found Him! I hear Him speak! 'Blessed are they that weep, for they shall laugh!' Only he that has wept can laugh. The laughter of Heaven sows earth with a rain of tears, and out of Earth's transfigured birth-pain the laughter of Man returns to bless and play again in innumerable dancing gales of flame upon the knees of God! (He dies)

      1. Cybel is a person who produces good from Brown.

      2. She can be our example what it means to be productive.

      3. Some produce a hundred-fold, some produce sixty-fold, and some only produce thirty-fold.

        1. We are not to be envious on one another.

        2. We are not to criticize one another.

        3. We are to encourage and celebrate on another.

        4. It is not how much that is produced that is important, it is the production.

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    CONCLUSION

    1. So we have some idea of the nature of the SOWER, the SEED, and the SOILS.

      1. Now comes the tough question.

      2. What are we going to do with all this information>

    2. Listen to the Piano Teacher (5)

    A piano teacher taught many students over a lifetime career.

    When she got them ready for recitals, she would encourage them to perfect their endings.

    She insisted they practice the endings over and over again.

    When her students grumbled that it was boring going over and over these last few measures, she would answer:

    "You can make a mistake in the beginning or in the middle or in some other place along the way. But all will be forgotten when you manage to make the ending glorious."

    1. There is always hope, and there are hearing aids and study guides, and there is always room for improvement.

1. Larry Davies, New car rudeness: An object lesson, Sowing Seeds of Faith, April 3, 2002, sowseeds@nesbeonline.com.

2. Larry Davies, ""Pianos, rats and born again,"" Sowing Seeds of Faith, August 13, 2002, sowseeds@nesbeonline.com.

3. Larry Davies, All I want is a bag of mulch, Sowing Seeds of Faith, sowseeds@nesbe.com.

4. Eugene O'Neill, The Great God Brown, act 4, scene 2, in Complete Plays: 1920-1931 (New York: Library of America, 1988), 532.

5. As quoted in Paul J. Wharton, Stories and Parables for Preachers and Teachers (Mahwah, N.J.: Paulist Press, 1986), last page.

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