Sermon Index
The Sixth Sunday after Pentecost, July 12, 2020
And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear.”
“Hear then the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”
Today’s Gospel reading is one of the most famous parables of Jesus, “The Parable of the Sower.” Let’s look at the parable two times: from the viewpoint of Evangelism and from the viewpoint of our own hearts.
At his Ascension, Jesus told his Disciples to preach the Gospel to the ends of the earth. They spread the Gospel Seed everywhere they went and with the results that Jesus prophesied. There were deaf ears, but of those who did hear the Good News, some had no roots, some had fierce opposition, some had many temptations, and some were deceived by the things of this world. But some heard and understood and believed and produced the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Jesus told his Disciples to make new disciples, and they spread the seed of the Gospel so that today it has come to us and we have born faith and fruit.
The Sower in the parable sowed the seed all over the place. And so the church preaches the Gospel all over the place. Radio and internet evangelism is like that, it goes all over the place, all over the world. We are surprised when there might be a small patch of good soil in the middle of road, among the thorns, between the rocks. In our church parking lot, there are small flowers like violets that grow and bloom in the cracks of the pavement. Likewise, there are people in all sorts of places and situations that hear and believe the Gospel. In the midst of thorns they cling to Jesus. There are Evangelism methods that target certain soil conditions, certain social and economic conditions. That is good, when they can bring the Gospel to those people.
My personal philosophy is that we should spread the Gospel and give everyone the chance to respond to the calling of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus is the Word of God Incarnate. John Chapter One says, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” Like sown seed, Jesus came to the hard packed road of hard packed hearts and minds that would not listen to him. Like birds eating his words, the words of love and forgiveness and peace had little chance to grow. Like sown seed, Jesus came to people who showed interest in his miracles and healings, but the joy was short lived because it did not believe in Jesus as the Savior. Like seed, the thorns choked Jesus. They bound him and hung him on the cross. Yes, they killed him, but in his resurrection he was the seed of life. He gave life to all who believed him. And the harvest was plentiful.
We have to ask today, what happens when the seed of the Gospel is sown in us? For most of the adults here today, we have heard the Word and have come to faith in Jesus. For some of the children here today, the message of Jesus is still being sown in their young hearts.
One of the frustrating things of a Christian’s life is that we find that we don’t always seem to be growing in the “good soil.” There are times when our life is rocky, when the worries and troubles of this life are choking us. Sometimes, like a hard packed road, there are certain Christian teachings that we do not want to accept, especially when they interfere with the road we want to follow. When the thorns of worry and disease and fighting surround us, there may be times of doubt. When we see the sinners in church, we want to move on. When we have doubts and worries and fears, perhaps the words of St. Paul in today’s epistle reading can help us.
Epistle Lesson: Romans 8:12–17 [You received a spirit of sonship.]
So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
We are children of God. At times of fear we cry, “Abba! Father!” “Abba” is the children’s word for “father,” like “papa” or “daddy.” And so we cry to our Father in heaven as children call to their father in times of fear. My Bible commentary suggested that “Abba Father” might mean the Lord’s Prayer, “Our Father who art in heaven.” I like that idea. The Lord’s Prayer is a confession of faith, therefore there is confidence; a confession of sin and absolution, therefore there is comfort and relief; it is trust that the Will of God is to protect the members of His Kingdom from temptation and evil, therefore there is strength; and it is to thank the daily love of our Father who provides everything we need to live, therefore there is security and peace.
So, when life is rocky, when the weeds seem overwhelming, pray to Jesus. In Him there is life “a hundred fold.”
Amen.
Michael Nearhood, Pastor
Okinawa Lutheran Church
マイケル・ニアフッド、牧師
沖縄ルーテル教会
