07.09.23, Matthew 13:3-9, 23, Good Dirt
Order
Pre Worship Music
Opening Song Open the Eyes of my Heart Lynn
Wonderful Words of Life
Call to Worship Response/Lord’s Prayer Rick
Impact Interview Samples Online
Reading Matthew 13:3-9, 23 Online – Randy
Songs Lynn
Blessed be the Name
Lord, I Give You My Heart
Message Good Dirt Rick
Music Goodness of God Lynn
Community/Peace Rick
Benediction/Closing Peace Rick
Post Worship Music
Slides Note: There is a blank title slide between each Section – except for message/sermon slides.
Music (slides) – Lynn
Open the eyes of my heart Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You
To see You high and lifted up
Shining in the light of Your glory
Pour out Your power and love
As we sing holy holy holy
Holy holy holy
Holy holy holy
Holy holy holy
I want to see You
Sing them over again to me
Wonderful words of life
Let me more of their beauty see
Wonderful words of life
Words of life and beauty
Teach me faith and duty
Beautiful words wonderful words
Wonderful words of life
Beautiful words wonderful words
Wonderful words of life
Sweetly echo the gospel call
Wonderful words of life
Offer pardon and peace to all
Wonderful words of life
Jesus only Savior
Sanctify forever
Beautiful words wonderful words
Wonderful words of life
Beautiful words wonderful words
Wonderful words of life
Call to Worship (Slides) – Rick
Leader: You will hear, to be sure, but never understand; and you will certainly see, but never recognize what you are seeing.
Response: The senses of humanity have become calloused.
Leader: We risk becoming hesitant to listen, we suffer because we shut our eyes.
Response: We don’t see with our minds or understand with our hearts.
Leader: It is only though changed hearts and transformed lives that God may heal our callousness and renew our closed minds.
Response: Happy are those who choose to see and hear.
Leader: Many considered righteous, and many considered prophets, desire to see and understand the truth – we can choose to understand the truth.
Response: We must reject deceit.
Leader: We must choose to allow truth to be planted deeply, we must allow truth to reside at the forefront of our minds.
Response: We must choose to hold truth tightly.
Leader: Do not merely accept receive truth joyfully yet temporarily, instead, we must permit truth to sink its roots into our being.
Response: We can endure distress or abuse because of truth.
Leader: We move beyond merely hearing and truth to be our pursuit, then, the worries of life and the lies of false prophets will not choke the word from us.
Response: Only then can our lives bear fruit.
Leader: Truth planted in the lives of those who willingly hear and willingly understand, are lives that bear fruit.
Response: May our lives grow peace, hope, compassion, mercy, and love.
(Matthew 13:14-23)
Lord’s Prayer (Slides) ‘Join me in the prayer of Jesus’ – Rick
Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, On Earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us our trespasses, while we forgive those who trespass against us. And, lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
Impact Interview (Online) Rick and Lita Sample
- What are the biggest struggles among Afghan refugees this year?
- Tell us about the Burmese Karen congregation that you work with and how have you ministered to them.
- How are you partnering with local Bay Area churches to reach refugees?
- Prayer For Samples
Reading (Online) Randy
Jesus said many things to the crowd in parables:
“A farmer went out to scatter seed. As he was scattering seed, some fell on the path, and birds came and ate it.
Other seed fell on rocky ground where the soil was shallow. The seeds that fell on the rocks sprouted immediately because the soil wasn’t deep.
But when the sun came up, it scorched the plants, and they dried up because they had no roots.
Other seed fell among thorny plants. The thorny plants grew and choked the seed out.
Other seed fell on good soil and bore fruit, in one case a yield of one hundred to one, in another case a yield of sixty to one, and in another case a yield of thirty to one.
Everyone who has ears should pay attention.”
(Matthew 13:3-9)
Music (Slides) Lynn
Blessed be Your name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be Your name
When I’m found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed be Your name
Ev’ry blessing You pour out I’ll
Turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be Your name
When the sun’s shining down on me
When the world’s all as it should be
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there’s pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name
Ev’ry blessing You pour out I’ll
Turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
This is my desire
To honour You
Lord with all my heart
I worship You
All I have within me
I give You praise
All that I adore is in You
Lord I give You my heart
I give You my soul
I live for You alone
Ev’ry breath that I take
Ev’ry moment I’m awake
Lord have Your way in me
Message (Slides) ‘Good Dirt Rick
Communication is an art, there are steps and nuances, there are hurdles and complications, and there are words containing deeper meanings – all things essential to successfully mastery of the art of communication. Communication is a two way process which often includes unseen barriers and unknown filters. A process that requires much more work than just knowing the right words or phrases.
In chapter thirteen of Matthew we find Jesus taking a pause, a moment to ponder what, and to whom, he is communicating. He takes this moment to possibly evaluate the effectiveness of his own communication through teaching and preaching. It is also possible that Jesus takes this pause to teach his disciples the intricacies of communication which they will need as they begin to teach and preach on their own.
‘Leading up to this moment, some of Jesus’ listeners have fully received Jesus’ ministry through his teaching, healings, and exorcisms. But while some joined with him in doing the will of the Father, others, individuals, unrepentant cities, societal leaders, scribes, and Pharisees, have rejected Jesus’ ministry. In Matthew 13 Jesus uses seven parables to reflect on this emerging division of those to whom he has been speaking. Jesus challenges the audience to continue living on the basis of God’s will in the midst of various difficulties until God’s full purposes are accomplished.’ (Warren Carter)
In Jesus’ first parable we are introduced to the four essential players of the story.
- The Farmer
- The Seed
- The Soil
- The Evil One
Jesus explains, “Consider then the parable of the sower. Whenever people hear the word about the kingdom and don’t understand it, the evil one comes and carries off what was planted in their hearts. This is the seed that was sown on the path. As for the seed that was spread on rocky ground, this refers to people who hear the word and immediately receive it joyfully. Because they have no roots, they last for only a little while. When they experience distress or abuse because of the word, they immediately fall away. As for the seed that was spread among thorny plants, this refers to those who hear the word, but the worries of this life and the false appeal of wealth choke the word, and it bears no fruit. As for what was planted on good soil, this refers to those who hear and understand, and bear fruit and produce (Matthew 13:18-23a)
Let’s start with the Evil One.
There is some disagreement as to whether Jesus actually said ‘Evil One’ or merely ‘Evil.’ This would be significant in that it would define if this is an actual act of Satan or if it is instead the result of life and faith in a world where evil exists. While the meaning of the story is basically the same regardless, it does have some bearing on how we read and understand. Does Satan himself make appearances in our lives, or is the presence of evil in the world sufficient to distract and steal truth from us? We only see this terminology here. If it is the ‘Evil One’, in this context we can then derive that Satan is just one of a handful of forces that cause us to miss holiness and righteousness. If, however, the writer meant to merely say “Evil”, we are left to assume then that the other reasons for non-growth are basic amoral basics of life that are only become good or bad in human hands. So, ignorance, jubilation, distress, trauma of abuse, worry, the pursuit of wealth, hearing, and understanding are all realities of life that work either for or against us.
Farmer/Sower
Why would the farmer toss the seed on/in inhospitable environments? This is a context issue. Most of those who came to hear Jesus, and even most of the disciples and followers of Jesus were not wealthy, most probably lived in an insecure financial environment, if not an environment of poverty. If they had land to farm, it was doubtfully prime soil, what they had was what they could afford to purchase or just rent. Jesus’ listeners would have understood a parable that looked like their live, they would have been able to identify with such a reality of poor fields and infertile dirt. This was the reality with which Jesus himself could identify. He was not a man of wealth, nor had he grown up in a home built by wealth. Jesus understood making the most of what you had, he understood the futility of hard, rocky, and weed infested fields. Even though Jesus was not known to be a farmer he would have understood an agriculture mindset. Jesus is the metaphoric sower of the seeds of Good News and, even though he knows the worthless soil is a waste of see, Jesus, the farmer/sower still throws seed on the good and the bad soils – all soils receive a chance to grow the see, all are given the opportunity to live in the truth.
Seed
The textual explanation is that the seed is the ‘word about the kingdom’. For most of us that have been raised and taught in the American Evangelistic era, we think Jesus is just speaking of Salvation and Eternity – that the seeds are just people coming to an acceptance of Jesus. However, in Jesus’ own words, he did not come just to call us to heaven but also to the type of life that God intends us to live, a life of peace, hope, joy, mercy, compassion, and love. So, the seeds are not just a call to surrender our life but how to live that life.
Soil
This is the point of this parable, this is our call. We are the Soil. The truth of this parable is that we are not victims of our soil. Jesus has been speaking to diverse crowds filled with diverse people and responses to his messages. Some receive truth; some cannot receive truth because they do not have space for the truth, it cannot penetrate their hearts and minds; Some who excitedly receive truth do not hold to it for very long as other things grab their attention and focus; and Some have such poor soil due to trauma, turmoil, distractions, disobedience to God, disrespect, burdens, and hatred, that the nutrients have been sucked out of the soil rendering it useless to anything but the weed. The seed has no place to grow.
Here is Jesus’ message to us – ‘Fix and Renew Your Soil’.
Agricultural soil experts and researchers look for ways to fix the soil. Soil that has been destroyed by over farming or unhealthy farming practices, fields that have become ineffective in growing produce and producing crops, land that has been damaged by the varied effects of climate change are the focus of farmers and soil experts attempting to fix the land.
One of the approaches to fix the land is Regenerative Agriculture, a practice of ‘farming and ranching in harmony with nature. A long held practice of Indigenous communities to restore ecologies, fight climate change, rebuild relationships, spark economic development, and bring joy.” (Arohi Sharma, water and agriculture policy analyst at NRDC)
How do we do this, how do we regenerate the soil that is us, how do we make ourselves into soil that can not only receive the seed from God but also to allow those seeds to flourish and produce fruit? It begins by recognizing how we, or others, have damaged the soil.
If you think about Jesus’ parable, particularly the element that renders the soil ineffective we can actually focus on the sameness of the elements of the parable. Think about it, the soil that has been beaten down, hardened; the soil that is rocky, and the soil that is filled with thorns – each of these soils restrict the seed from sinking into the soil therefore, roots are are unable to dig in and and do their job of nurturing the seed through the nutrients of the soil. The hardened and beaten down soil is the result of the soil itself or damaged by the impact of others; the next soil is rocky which would have been an inherited problem, generational or the result of geology; and the third is the soil crowded with thorns, a soil that has been neglected and harmed by the winds and other factors that bring the weeds and thorns onto the soil. All of these result in the seed being unable to penetrate the soil and therefore are unable to nurture the seed.
A couple of real life examples. This past week, our State Superintendent of Schools stood before a Norman audience and proclaimed, “It’s OK to teach Oklahoma school children about the Tulsa Race Massacre, just don’t tell them it was motivated by the color of anyone’s skin.” (Ryan Walters, BNG, Mark Wingfield, July 7, 2023). Those present in the audience were quick and loud in their disapproval of the superintendent’s agenda to restrict teaching anything that will attribute of guilt on the part of our ancestors and transmitted to us.
A second example is of a governor of a state boarding our state who, upon hearing of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the practice of Affirmative Action in college admissions, used a MLK quote to affirm her own agreement with this decision. However the quote was taken out of context in an attempt to force a statement of MLK to say something it did not say.
The problem for both of these individuals was that neither really let the seeds of truth sink in and grow roots. Both were soils hardened which kept the seed from sinking into the soil. While this is admittedly speculation or judgment on my part – their soil was hardened by their agenda causing them to not let the seed of truth to sink in and grow in their own hearts. Instead, they took the seed and attempted to force it into be something that it was not, soon the seed was easily snatched up and carried away.
Why do we need to be soil that is welcoming to seeds of truth? Why it is essential to be accepting soil in order to grow in our faith? Truth can only grow, establish and transform our lives when we, the soil, let the seeds tp sink roots and fully impact us.
Truth – God does not deny anyone the chance to follow, to receive and grow the seeds of life lived in harmony with God’s will and calling. Soil holds the ability to deny the seed the ability to invest truth in our lives.
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Challenge – This parable, it is a warning to us as believers and followers of Jesus. The follow up question is, ‘How often are we the ones that trample down the soil of others? How often are we the ones that place the rocks in their soil, or throw the weeds in their fields?’ How many others have we been the birds that snatch away their seeds?
Grace Aldredge, who, as a queer artist often uses her Christian faith to express her art, she understands the problem of soil destroyed by others. This can be seen in her recent writing called ‘Faith’.
“When my religion turned against me, they said my hopes and dreams were faulty. I showed them the holes inside my hands, and they claimed they couldn’t see…[God] You got me singing, “Hallelujah” And I don’t even wanna do it. I’m just trying to be free, I’m just dying for some peace. But I still havе faith. How you comfort me when they come for me.’
‘In these words, Aldredge compares the experiences of marginalization with the passion narrative, explaining to listeners how rejection by the church as an institution leaves scars, yet those who did the damage fail to understand what they have done wrong. Aldredge has survived this harm and has even attempted to level with the church by showing the “holes” in her hands to explain how harmful its behavior has been. However, in her experience, the church cannot — or possibly will not — acknowledge this pain and accept accountability for the damage to her and others. And yet, amid the struggle to be in or out of a relationship with the church, Aldredge never could let go of their relationship with Jesus. Or perhaps it was Jesus who could not let go of Grace.” (Mallory Challis, 07.06.23, BNG)
What are we doing with our soil, what are we doing to the soil of those around us who are hurting, struggling, trying to hold on to a faith in the Jesus they know?
Music (Slides) Lynn
I love You Lord
Oh Your mercy never fails me
All my days
I’ve been held in Your hands
From the moment that I wake up
Until I lay my head
I will sing of the goodness of God
All my life You have been faithful
All my life You have been so so good
With every breath that I am able
I will sing of the goodness of God
I love Your voice
You have led me through the fire
In darkest night
You are close like no other
I’ve known You as a father
I’ve known You as a friend
I have lived in the goodness of God
All my life You have been faithful
All my life You have been so so good
With every breath that I am able
I will sing of the goodness of God
Your goodness is running after
It’s running after me
Your goodness is running after
It’s running after me
With my life laid down
I’m surrendered now
I give You everything
Your goodness is running after
It’s running after me
All my life You have been faithful
All my life You have been so so good
With every breath that I am able
I will sing of the goodness of God
Community (Slides) Rick
- Next Sunday, July 16, ‘Holding On To Good, Romans 12:1-9
- Summer Bible Study – James, Wednesday Nights @ 6:30pm for 4 weeks. August 9-30.
- Armageddon Summer Book Discussion Dinner, Sunday July 23 lunch, order and read your copy of the book soon. Amazon link on home page of gfnorman.com. One left in entry way.
- Fall Message Series beginning September 11 ‘Overwhelmed (Rescue to Redemption/Flood to Sacrifice)
Benediction (Slides) Rick
As we leave this place we walk in a world that is not perfect but nonetheless a world that God has proclaimed is good. We continue because the breath of God still inflates our lungs and because God’s life sustaining gift continues to course through our veins.
Regardless of our gender, or any other label we wear, we are all called to serve as pastors in the midst of God’s creation just as Mary was called to pastor the men who would soon be the apostles with the good news of the resurrection.
May we continually choose to grow in our own understanding of that proven hope which carries us in peace, giving us the mercy, compassion, and grace, to live confidently in God who loves us and calls us to life which, in turn, allows love to pour out for all of creation.
Closing Peace Rick
Leader: May the Peace and Hope of the Lord go with you.
Response: And also with you.
Leader: Go in the Peace and Hope of the Lord.
Order, Words, & Voices 