The Sower Series

There are a whole lot of reasons not be a follower of Jesus. Some people just reject the message of Christ altogether. They think it’s nonsense. Some think having a relationship with God is a great idea, but they’re too shallow to really let God into their hearts. Others accept the Gospel and embrace Jesus, but the pressures of life and the pursuit of money or entertainment or soccer games or fishing trips are always just a bit more important to them and they never give Jesus any room in their hearts. If this parable is any indication of real life, then 75% of the time God’s Word won’t take root because the soil just isn’t ready for it.

But notice that the farmer indiscriminately scatters the seed over every kind of soil anyway. No wise farmer would sow seed in thorns or on a footpath, right? Is he just careless, wasteful, or stupid? No—I think this farmer knew that some of the soil would be unproductive, but in order to get the best possible coverage, he willingly and liberally scattered the seed on it anyway.

Just like that farmer, God allows his words and his love to fall on many who will not receive it. He wants everyone to have the opportunity to hear the Gospel and accept Jesus. Christians sometimes tend to pull back from those who are uninterested or indifferent—but God doesn’t. In God’s eyes, he’d rather be rejected 3 out of 4 times, than to miss the one who might embrace him.

Even though God’s message to humanity will meet rejection more often than not, there are still “honest, good-hearted people” who will listen—who are eager to hear about God’s love and willing to put their faith in Jesus. According to a study by Barna Research 25% of unchurched Americans say that they would be very likely to attend church if a friend would make the effort to invite them! Think about that… that’s 1 in 4 of your friends who would be willing to come to church and hear the Gospel if you, not some stranger, invited them to go with you.

Conclusion:

With our revival coming up at the end of this month, now is a great time to plant some seeds and maybe invite some people to church. When we become as committed to sowing the seeds of God’s Word as John Pemberton was to selling soft drinks, we’ll begin to see a huge harvest. So what seeds have you been planting? Who do you know that you’ve never shared God’s message with? There’s good soil out there. We just have to keep spreading those seeds in order to find it.

Invitation:

If you haven’t believed the Gospel and received Jesus already, I want to invite you to do it today. Walk down that Roman Road to Salvation and receive eternal life and peace with God through Jesus Christ. Apart from him we die. With him we live. Choose life. Choose Jesus!