While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.”
When he said this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”
His disciples asked him what this parable meant. He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that,
though seeing, they may not see;
though hearing, they may not understand.
This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God.
Luke 8:4-11
I really like this Gospel text, and I've heard it preached on a variety of times.
Today for church, I really focused on the seeds.
The seeds are God's word....God's promises of love TO US. Things like:
You are gifted.
You are gifted.
You are loved.
You have good ideas.
The Spirit of God shines through you.
You are the hands and feet of Jesus.
You are the hands and feet of Jesus.
All are welcome.
Last night I cut out all kinds of giant seeds.
Last night I cut out all kinds of giant seeds.
And the placed them in the pews around church.
During the sermon, we focused on "good soil." We pondered together about how our congregation can be a place of good soil, where all these seeds - all these Words of God - can grow!
If we want people to know that they are welcome, how can we be soil that nourishes that seed?
If we want people to know that they have good ideas, how can we be the soil that nourishes that seed?
If we want people to know that they are Jesus' hands and feet, how can we be the soil that nourishes that seed and sends people out to serve and love in the world?
During the sermon, we focused on "good soil." We pondered together about how our congregation can be a place of good soil, where all these seeds - all these Words of God - can grow!
If we want people to know that they are welcome, how can we be soil that nourishes that seed?
If we want people to know that they have good ideas, how can we be the soil that nourishes that seed?
If we want people to know that they are Jesus' hands and feet, how can we be the soil that nourishes that seed and sends people out to serve and love in the world?
Today, we focused on life in our particular context.
There were many more questions than answers, which is really what Jesus wanted whenever he told a parable. He wanted people to walk away wondering and pondering what his stories meant for their lives.
These questions and ideas listed above are for all communities of faith.
We are called to create environments were seeds can grow inside the hearts of all visitors and members!
These are the seeds that Jesus scatters.
How might ALL congregations and faith communities (and also work places and homes) be spaces where people can be nourished so the seeds in their hearts can grow, grow, grow?
These are the seeds that Jesus scatters.
How might ALL congregations and faith communities (and also work places and homes) be spaces where people can be nourished so the seeds in their hearts can grow, grow, grow?
The sermon today is one of the finest I've experienced. Perfect for many reasons. but especially meaningful as our task force strives forward seeking the vision that will successfully foster the planting even more of God's seed for our Zion family and all communities.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sharon! I saved the seeds - so maybe the Spirit will lead us to find a way to incorporate them into our planning process. God's word is very powerful - and when it can grow, amazing things are possible!
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