Planting The Word

"PLANTING THE WORD"

TEXT: LUKE 8:1-56/HEB 4:12

INTRODUCTION

In Hebrews 4:12 we read;

"THE WORD OF GOD IS LIVING AND ACTIVE. SHARPER THAN ANY DOUBLE EDGED SWORD, IT PENETRATES EVEN TO DIVIDING SOUL AND SPIRIT, JOINTS AND MARROW; IT JUDGES THE THOUGHTS AND ATTITUDES OF THE HEART..."

Turn in your Bibles to Luke 8:1;

"After this" -- After what? After that great encounter where the sinful women crashed the party that Jesus was having with some pharisees -- Remember, she anointed his feet with perfume, dried his feet with her hair, and left with her sins forgiven... This was the encounter where Jesus said, "THEREFORE I TELL YOU, HER MANY SINS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN -- FOR SHE LOVED MUCH. BUT HE WHO HAS BEEN FORGIVEN LITTLE LOVES LITTLE.."

8:1-4

The word parable comes from the greek word "parabole" and literally means that which is cast along side," or something placed parallel. Someone has described parables as " earthly stories with heavenly meanings."

When Jesus taught in parables he placed spiritual truths in familiar settings, in every day settings that people could both understand and relate too. And by so doing Jesus fired up the imaginations of the people, allowing them to view the truth from a different perspective...

Another advantage of teaching in parables was that by positioning spiritual truths in a neutral setting, people would not be immediately threatened by what Jesus was saying and turn him off -- but rather they would have their attention grabbed by the story and before they even realized it; they would be involved. A great example of this in scripture is the parable that the prophet Nathan told to King David -- in 2 Samuel chapter 12.

Like a master artist, Jesus’ Parables skillfully framed the truth in a form that was easily remembered (of all the messages that Jesus gave and taught -- most of us remember the parables best)... His parables are like sticks of dynamite that are disguised as candy bars - They are time bombs planted in the minds of the listeners --- they sneak up on us and before we know it; they grab us and hit us square between the eyes, with a powerful spiritual truth.

Today we are going to talk about the "Parable of the Sower" sometimes called the Parable of the soils. God has a great spiritual truth for those who have ears to hear.

I. THE PLANTING OF THE WORD

Let’s read the parable, LUKE 8:4 - 8

Now, this parable of the soils was something Jesus’ audience could easily relate too. Many of them probably were farmers and themselves had sowed seed, and those who were not no doubt had seen farmers walking the land with a grain sack over one shoulder throwing seed to the right and to the left. Perhaps even as Jesus spoke he was able to point to the hills above or the valley below, to a farmer doing just that.

And the seed that was being in Jesus parable landed on 4 different types of soil.

SOME FELL ON THE PATH

Now he path was that plot of ground that separated the different fields. It was where the people walked and therefore the soil would have become compacted and hardened. So, the seed that landed here -- never even had a chance to penetrate the surface. And it was not too long after the farmer had sowed the seed, that birds came flying in eating up the seed. And it was gone.

The essential characteristic of this type of soil is the fact that it remains precisely the same after the sowing, as it had been before.

OTHER SEED WE ARE TOLD FELL ON ROCK

And for us to understand the picture Jesus is painting here we need to realize that in many parts of the Holy Land you will find shallow layers of topsoil covering a huge slab of rock. And the seed that is sown here >> though it spouts quickly >> it will whither and die just as quickly because it’s roots have no depth to them >> and are unable to reach down deep to receive the proper moisture and nutrients. HERE TODAY - GONE TOMORROW.

AND STILL OTHER SEED FALLS AMONG THE THORNS.

Now, the seed that is cast here -- is able to penetrate the surface and it has enough soil depth so that it’s roots can dig down deep. However, it is surrounded by weeds and thorns that crowd out and block the seed’s light, choking off it’s very life.

BUT FORTUNATELY FOR OUR FARMER SOME SEED DOES FALL UPON GOOD SOIL

Soil that is rich and fertile. And the seed takes root and sprouts up into new life, yielding a crop that Jesus says >> is 100 times more than what was sown....