“The Parable of the Sower” 

Pastor David Moore 

Theme: exploration of the different soil types and how they relate to different types of Christian believers. 

Matthew 13:1-9 

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying: 

“A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.” 

Matthew 13:18-30 

“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” 

Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’” 

Matthew 13:36-43

Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, ‘Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.’ He answered, ‘The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their father. He who has ears, let him hear. 

A Christian defined: 

1. Is somebody whose heart is transformed by the Word of God. God’s Word becomes part of the person’s heart. 1 Peter 1:23 

2. The message of God goes into a person’s heart which will change a life, obedient to God’s Word. Romans 6:17 

Hebrews 12:1: Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 

Three types of Christians: 

1. (a)________________________: a person accepts Christ’s teaching, but God’s Word doesn’t take root in the heart. 

2. (b)________________________: a person’s emotions run hot and cold about their relationship (assurance) with Christ. A person relies on external circumstances to validate their faith and worship style is a basis of their assurances of their salvation. 

3. (c)_______________________: has no intent in the truth or a curiosity to explore God’s Word.  They are a dutiful type of Christian with minimal emotion, and beliefs around specific actions. 

Three signs to recognize an emotional Christian: 

1. Little to do with (d)__________. It de-emphasizes learning. 

2. It (e)__________ people. You can’t keep up the pace forever. 

3. It doesn’t produce lasting (f)__________ in people’s lives. 

Two subsets of the Volitional Christian: 

1. (g)_____________ Christian: God is angry, unless I do the right things. If I step out of line, He will smote me, or I need to do something for God to have Him do something for me. 

2. (h)_____________ Christian: lives by a list of rules. If I follow God’s rules then God loves me, then I will get what I want. An example is: A finger wagging about see what happens to you because of unconfirmed sin, God punished you. 

This week: think about what type of soil that is in your life (heart). Has God’s Word sprouted, and do the roots run deep? This week explore what may be choking out your Christian growth and ask Christ to address those things in your life—relationships, habits, intellectual views, etc. 

God bless. Bask in God’s sun light as your roots go deep into your heart. 

Answers: (a) Intellectual Christians (b) Emotional Christians (c) Volitional Christians (d) truth (e) exhausts (f) change (g) Fear-based (h) Pharisaical