One major problem with the many proposed methods of
church growth so prevalent among Evangelicalism today, is that it seeks to make
the Word of God more palatable to the carnal tastes of men. However, this is a
vain effort of the human mind to use fleshly means to reach the spiritually
dead. 1 Corinthians 2:14 states, “The natural man receives not the things of
the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them,
because they are spiritually discerned.”
If “church-growth gurus” would study the Parable of the
Sower, they would quickly learn the problem is not with the seed, it is with
the soil. In other words, there is nothing wrong with the Word, nor can it be
genetically altered to appease lost sinners. The heart of the issue is an issue
of the heart.
This is one of the rare parables that is found in all
three Synoptic Gospels (Matthew 13, Mark 4, and Luke 8.) Its repetition among
the inspired writers confirms its importance.
In one of His very first parables, Christ compares those
who share the Gospel to a sower out sowing seed in his field. The Master
Teacher then goes on to say that the seed is the Word and that the soil
represents the heart or soul of the individual. Other significant details shared
in the parable are noteworthy, yet I will caution my reader not to try and make
too much of every character mentioned and miss the basic lesson that Christ is
teaching. It is tempting to allegorize the parables (and many do) and overlook
the main point.
Christ is using this earthly story to teach a heavenly
lesson. He is preparing His disciples for the
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| The Sower by James Tissot |
They will go out and sow the seed. Some of it will fall
on the beaten path as hard as concrete. Before that seed has any hope of rooting,
the birds of the air come and snatch it away. Others will seemingly receive the
seed and sprout up quickly, but when the sun rises and the heat of the day
bears down, the shoot will fade away not having enough earth to nourish it. Further
yet, several will appear to have life and be growing, but the weeds and thorns
will choke out the seed, and it will become barren. Lest His fledgling
evangelists lose hope, Christ encourages them by saying, “But some of the seed
fell on good ground. And it sprang up, increased and yielded fruit. Some
thirty-fold, some sixty-fold, some a hundred-fold.”
This was Christ’s illustration, and behind closed doors
He gave its interpretation to the Apostles.
Jesus explains some will reject the message instantly. That
is just a fact of life. Others may seem to be committed converts, but when
trials or troubles come, they quickly turn away showing they were not true
believers. There are also those, who seem to have spiritual life, but when they
must choose between serving God and serving this world it becomes evident they
too were just make-believers. BUT, (and thank God for it) there are some who will
hear the Gospel message. The seed will fall on good ground and they will become
faithful and productive Christians. Even though not all will yield the same
harvest, or are not as faithful as another, still the continued crop of fruit
bears evidence that they are true believers.
The lesson our Lord would have us learn, is this; even
though not all will hear, some will. So, don’t stop sowing the seed! We don’t
need “bait-and-switch Gospel gimmicks,” we just need to sow the seed. There are
some who God the Holy Spirit will prepare their hearts to receive the Word and
we need to be faithful to sow the seed that He may give the increase.
Dear reader, has the Word of God taken root within you?
Has your faith stood the test of trials and temptations? Do you continue to
bear fruit for the glory of your Maker? If not, I pray that the Holy Spirit
would break-up the barren ground of your heart, so that you are able to receive
the glorious Good News that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners.
Pastor Lewis Kiger
Memorial Heights Baptist Church
svdbygrace2@roadrunner.com
svdbygrace2@roadrunner.com
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