Sermon Sept 6
Mark 4:1-20
Jesus taught many things by parables. Parables are stories that teach truths. It’s like the truth with flesh on. When I was a kid we had a collection of Aesop’s Fables. One of the most popular was the story of the Tortoise and the Hare. It demonstrates how slow and steady often win the race. Jesus’ Parables were designed to share truth. They were stories that communicated Kingdom Principles. But they also concealed truth. To understand the parables, Jesus said, you needed special ability to hear and see. In this passage there is a parable about a farmer who sowed seed. Along the way some fell on the path where the ground was hard, some on rocky soil, some on soil with weeds and some of good soil. Not everyone who is invited will show up. This is true of most parties but especially felt with weddings. Some people never respond to the wedding invitation. These are like the hard soil. Some say they are coming but stay at home. These are like the rocky soil; they don’t have the character and faith when it is time. Some say they are coming but go somewhere else. They feel they have a better offer and are distracted. Finally, others rsvp and show up with a card and gift in hand. These are the ones that represent the good soil.
Discussion Questions
- Are you the kind of person who, once you know the truth, will follow through on the demands it places on your life?
- How do you understand the ways that a person’s life today gets hardened, filled with rocks or covered with weeds? What can be done?
- If you are the good soil, how can you know? What should you expect?
