Where Falls The Seed

Where Falls the Seed

Matthew 13: 1 - 9

Intro: (Open a pack of seeds on the communion table.) The Greek word for seed is SPERMA. Seeds are compared of 3 parts: Seed coat, embryo, and stored food for the embryo. I want you to think for a few minutes about the following questions? WHAT DO THESE SEEDS REPRESENT? WHAT DO YOU ACTUALLY SEE WHEN YOU LOOK AT A SEED?

I “A farmer went out to sow his seed.” Some believe that Jesus is talking about himself. Is Jesus really the farmer?

A The farmer in this parable is not overly cautious. He throws the seed everywhere apparently confident there will be a harvest in spite of the losses.

B If Jesus is indeed the farmer we realize looking at his ministry that he wasn’t cautious about where he preached. He wasn’t picky about his audience; nor did he offer explanations. Jesus kept on sowing.

C This is an example for us to follow. Though we are weary and feel we have done our part or are too old to plant seeds, we must continue on; this applies to Individuals as well as churches.

II If we follow the example of Jesus, it raises another question. Exactly, what is the “seed”?

A What did Jesus embody? --- I believe the “seed” that Jesus left for us is to live as he lived and preach what he preached not necessarily with words; but, with our lives.

B The “seed” Jesus planted is the love of God. We must love God because God loved us first.

C We must sow the love of God wherever we are. We must love others as God loves us. There is no distinction made about who we are to love. We must show love.

III The problem is that we expect everything to be fast, easy and cheap. We want our faith to be like a fast food drive thru window. You place your order, drive up to the window, make your offering and get what you want. Then drive off.

A We want to come to a pretty building, sit in a comfortable pew, have our ears tickled with pretty music and a short message and then drive away as though nothing has changed.

B The Christian life is not like that. Only those who are prepared to go the distance are going to last until the end and make it to the finish line.

C The seed of the gospel of love, the gospel of Christ Jesus has been planted in your life. Will you help it grow or put it in your pocket and let is shrivel and die?

Concl: This parable tells us that there will be struggles and failures in human life and it tells us of the attempts to proclaim and share the love of God. The love of God is the “seed” that contains forces of life and transformation, potential and future; but, only when it is planted and nurtured. What do you do with the “seed”? Where falls the seed you have been given?