Parable of the Sower and the Seed
Bible Background: A parable takes something from daily life and can make an ‘obvious’ point, or reveal a ‘hidden’ point. Parables often turn things ‘upside down.’ Parables are often intentionally confusing and hard to understand. Why? Maybe to make us wrestle with things more deeply!

Digging Deeper into the Parable of the Sower and the Seed: 1. The farmer might be sowing seed like farmers did back then, or he might be a little reckless with the seed. Either way, some seeds produce a harvest, and some seeds do not. This parable needs some explanation! Thankfully, the disciples ask Jesus to do just that-which Jesus does a little later in Matthew 13.

2. Jesus explains that the ‘seeds’ are like different kinds of people who hear the Word of God and respond in different ways. Obviously, this still happens today. Graciously, though, some seed does take root, and grow, and produce good results! When in your life have you been one of the less productive seeds? When have you been more like the seeds that grew in good soil?

3. A question might be: What, if anything, can we do to make sure we are good soil for the seed of God’s Word? What would that take? What are some of the things that distract us from what God is trying to do in our lives and in our world? A song we’ll sing today can be your ongoing prayer: “Lord, let my heart be good soil, open to the seed of your word!”

4. Another question might be for us as a church: How ‘recklessly’ ought we be spreading the Good News of the gospel? Do we only offer it to those people who seem like ‘fertile soil?’ Do we try to ‘broadcast’ it far and wide? What group or generation are we not reaching? Do we understand that our job isn’t to guarantee results but to get the word out there?

5. And in a world that has lots of bad things happening, how reassuring is it that what God is trying to do IS to produce fruit, in spite of all the obstacles? Give thanks for five things that God is making happen in your life and in the world….