First, let me tell you how good it is to be back in the saddle. (That’s my new ranch terminology creeping up on me there.) It was so good to hear from George Johnson last week and for you to have an opportunity to get to know him and His heart for Pathways and church planting. It was also great to allow John to have a couple of weeks to share with you. He is an incredibly insightful teacher and I’m sure that you understand why it is that we will be sending him out to plant a church within the next two years - Pathways’ first baby!
We are jumping into a new series this week that we will call Pictures of Reality. Jesus is constantly bringing truth to people he comes into contact with through different means. His miracles speak of truth and His sermons are a direct communication of truth. Jesus also uses story to paint a picture of that which is true. Theses stories, or parables, are able to be mined in the depths for meaning or skimmed from the surface for practical wisdom. Our goal is to find both as we study “Stories from within The Story”.
This week we turn to Matthew 13:1-23 for the Parable of the Sower. There is much more to this parable than what you probably remember if you are already familiar with this one. You will especially find great stuff to chew on in Jesus’ interaction with his disciples following the parable and His explanation of it.
A couple of questions to get us kicked off this week:
How have you always heard this parable applied?
What are your thoughts about Jesus’ explanation of His use of parables?
Have you ever identified with the “sower” in this parable?
August 16th, 2006 at 1:48 pm
I just had another thought. Matthew 13:1 begins by saying, “That same day…” Looking back at the previous text, I would guess that Jesus’ day probably started in Matthew 12:1. Does reading that prior to Matthew 13 give you any additional insight into the parable that Jesus tells?
August 21st, 2006 at 12:00 am
Hello,
Is sure is great to study the word of God and to be fellowshipping with all the great people of Pathways Community Church.
I am, as profession, a graphic artist, and thus so, as I saw from an early age that our dear and loving Lord, Jesus, was the best at whatever He did. He was the Best Homeless person, the Best Carpenter, The Best Healer, The Best Fisherman, Our Best Example and by any other word the Best Designer there ever was or is to be. He not only spoke words but also drew pictures with those words, and as you have probably heard, a picture is worth a thousand words. His pictured word usage in parable form was intended to address the immediate person or people He was speaking to, but more so it is speaking loudly to those who have a heart for the hearing as I believe the ears of that which hear our Lord speaking to them, by parable, or through emotion, conscience, even guilt is controlled by one’s humility and is heard in the heart. As it is stated in Hebrews when a loving relation (a loving relationship of knowledge) of God happens He writes His commandments (His Character) on the heart and in the mind.
Parables are used throughout the Bible as there are no pictures but through the stories told (as fathers handed down to sons) one can clearly see visions and pictures in their minds eye. I think it helps the reader (hearer) to identify with the time frame in which they live. Again, a picture is worth a thousand words and there is truth to that as we see through Jesus’ parables.
The sower is such a great one as it has such a vastness of meaning and clarity. Take for example the seed itself. Let us think as this seed as Grace, the soil as man, the sower as faith and the seedling (sprout) as love, which bears the fruit of Hope and this being our Hope in Christ Jesus. This sprout could be compared to perfection in each of it’s stages as we look to the changing man (James refers to works being the old man into the new), making each stage of growth perfect in it’s own accord.
1 Peter 1:7 says the trials of ones faith is more precious than fire refined gold. Just think of the pressures the seedling faces as it first breaks through the soil, then it continues to reach for the sun. We as active Christians by doing and not just saying face equal opposing forces and our growth comes from a continued of reaching for the Son!
May we all be blessed with the Holy Spirit for the wisdom needed to Love God as much as He loves us.