Call to Worship
As we come before you, Lord, we prepare ourselves to receive your word. May we be fertile soil for you, seeking to remove thorns and stones from our lives.
Hymn: Singing the Faith 122
God whose farm is all creation,
Take the gratitude we give;
Take the finest of our harvest,
Crops we grow that all may live.
Take our ploughing, seeding, reaping, hopes and fears of sun and rain,
All our thinking, planning, waiting
Ripened in this fruit and grain.
All our labour, all our watching,
All our calendar of care,
In these crops of you creation,
take, O God: they are our prayer
Prayers of praise, adoration and confession
Gracious God, we bring you our praise and thanksgiving as we reflect on your power in creation, gentleness in nurture and wisdom across ages.
We confess that we have not always listened to your voice, or followed your guidance,
but we are confident in your unfailing compassion towards us.
Bible Readings
Isaiah 55:10-13
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
it will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
12 You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands.
13 Instead of the thorn-bush will grow the juniper,
and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.
This will be for the Lord’s renown,
for an everlasting sign,
that will endure for ever.’
Matthew 13:1-9,18-23
The Parable of the Sower
13 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.”
18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
Reflection
This feels like a very familiar story; some of you will have heard it hundreds of times. It can almost feel like there is nothing new to learn. However, have you ever thought of your self as the soil, the earth, in which the seed of Gods word grows and flourishes, or withers and dies? Not only as an individual, but as “The Church” the body of Christ on Earth? We are the places where people may hear the words of Christian faith and doctrine (which means what we believe). Not just in the building of a worship space, but out in the community when we are meeting with and talking to other human beings.
The context of Jesus message was that people were expecting a Messiah who would come as a military leader. Helping people to see that was not Gods’ way, is part of Jesus ministry, hence his use of pastoral images.
The theologian Tom Wright says of this passage that “this is why the Word is so important as a theme in Jesus ministry and the early church. Jesus speaks Gods’ word, the word which announces the kingdom”
The passage from Isaiah talks about the word that goes out to do its work in people’s hearts and lives. The prophet has been telling the people in exile, to get ready to go home, but the people are not ready to listen.
We need to cultivate our own listening and understanding of God’s word, so that we can be changed; this takes effort and time.
The picture below is called “the absurd farmer”. Who would sow their seed such that only one third would grow well? This was the question that stopped people understanding what Jesus was trying to say.
He tried to reframe his story and then still had to give further explanation to his disciples.
Sometimes we need more time and learning, exploring scripture with others, to truly understand what Jesus is trying to tell us.
Hymn: Singing the Faith 255
The Kingdom of God
is justice and joy,
for Jesus restores;
what sin would destroy
God’s power and glory
In Jesus we know
And here and hereafter
The kingdom shall grow.
The kingdom of God
Is mercy and grace,
The prisoners are freed,
The sinners find place,
The outcast are welcomed
God’s banquet to share,
And hope is awakened
In place of despair.
The kingdom of God
Is challenge and choice,
Believe the good news,
Repent and rejoice!
His love for us sinners
Brought Christ to his cross,
Our crisis of judgement
For gain or for loss.
God’s kingdom is come,
The gift and the goal,
In Jesus begun,
In heaven made whole;
The heirs of the kingdom
Shall answer his call,
And all things cry Glory
To God all in all!
Prayers of Intercession
Lord, you spoke, and you brought hope, comfort, and renewal; come now and speak again, bringing your word of life to all who suffer, or are hurting. Reach out afresh with your love to all in need.
Where there is turmoil, war, despair, bring your restoration and peace. Help us to take in your word, reflect on it and share with others the joy of following you.
