a drop of water

when enough gathers, you have to fall somewhere

Extravagant Faith – A Message from Matthew 13:1-9; 18-23

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Extravagant Faith (A Message from Matthew 13:1-9; 18-23)

March 8th, 2000 – Coast Vineyard - Jamie Wilson

A Spiritual Check-Up: Which kind of soil are you?

  • The dry path question: Am I closed to, open to, or learning to follow the messaage of Jesus?
  • The rocky field question: Am I willing to sacrifice to see more of God’s kingdom?
  • The thorny soil question: Is there a fear or desire in my life choking God’s work?
  • The good soil question: How much multiplication do I want?

Living for Maximum Return

  • Our job description is to sow the message of the kingdom.
  • Most of the seed won’t bear fruit.
  • We get the highest yield when we sow everywhere (the sower does not know where the wind, weeds, rocks and thorns are…)
  • It takes a long time to see real results.
  • There is plenty of supply.  There is much room for extravagance in sowing.

The question that I am left with is this: how do we sow, what does it look like?

Maybe that has an obvious answer, and I’m just missing it.  I think that sowing looks different for everyone and must be integrated with your personality, your occupation, your culture, and your calling.  For me it seems like a lot of sowing would be sharing / painting the vision of the Kingdom of God for other people to see.  This leaves a huge blank canvas for each of us to creatively color in, because each of us experiences the Kingdom of God uniquely within our contexts.  I invite you to comment on how you sow the vision of the Kingdom of God in your work place, in your family, with your friends…

Written by ddhoffman

March 11th, 2009 at 10:58 am

Posted in Sermons

Tagged with , , , ,

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  • There are definitely points that you list from this message that I agree with. However I don't really think that sowing the seed will look that different. Each of us has different lives, but the seed is the Good News. We are to speak the word to any, and we are not to be concerned about the outcome. I don't think that it has anything to do with who we are as people (culture, personality, etc) because the seed doesn't change based on that. It is the Good News, and sharing that alone is sowing the seed.

    So praying before a game is sowing a seed, but it is not sowing the seed that is referenced here. On the other hand, telling someone about the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ would be.
  • Good point Derek. In this context the seed is the good news, that the Kingdom of God is near (Mark 1:14-15). I truly do believe though, that praying before the game is a statement that the Kingdom of God is near. Its acknowledging that God is real, that God is here, and that our prayers matter.

    What I mean by saying that sowing the seed might be different for individuals is that the manifestation / realization of the Kingdom of God will be different for people, but you are right, in the end the original seed grows into the same thing, the Kingdom of God, through grace, saved by Jesus' death on the cross.

    Thanks for your comment though Derek. I'm really thankful that we can finally have some discourse on what I'm writing.
  • Ok, let's see... you're both wrong. JK, thanks for your thoughtful insight, Derek (I figure I comment enough that I can thank people for posting here).

    I see good points in what both of your are saying. Derek, I agree that the Good News itself does not change, no matter what/when/where/who. At the same time, I think Daniel's point that how we approach and experience the Good News personally will frame how we sow it to others is if not ideally true (in a perfect world...), it is quite true as a reality. The Good News is good, but if I live it as drudgery, and walk around talking about how hard obedience to God is, my sowing will be fruitless*. Daniel framed this much more positively in his post, noting that we have a plethora of exciting ways that we can convey the Gospel to others; through my mindset, I would say we have an onus to be enticing ambassadors for Christ.**

    *I think all three of us would agree that how we share the Gospel is not what will save souls, God's got that under control, so I don't think that needs to enter into the discussion

    **If I put words in anyone's mouth... whoops
  • I refuse to write your posts for you!

    So let's say this is a situation you find yourself in: you coach a softball team, and it's not a church league team, but you tell your team the team is going to pray before the game, but it's totally optional, you won't get benched if you don't, etc. The whole team except one person joins in. Some are known Christians, some are known not (join to be nice, presumably; potentially curious), the others including the one abstainer is unknown. What's the sowing procedure? Annnnnnd go!
  • I think by the fact that you are praying before the game is sowing the vision of dependence on prayer. What about asking people if they have anything they need prayer for as well? I think also engaging the person who abstains can help too, like specifically asking them if they have anything in their life they'd like you to pray for. I think sowing seeds is often asking the right questions or giving opportunity for people to discover and grow in the Kingdom of God.
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