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What kind of soil are you?

  • 01-02-2020 9:48am
    #1
    theological
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,831 ✭✭✭


    I want to go back to basics and look at the Parable of the sower this morning.

    The parable is here:
    Matthew 13:1-9 wrote:
    That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear.”

    To sum, there are four different types of soil the seeds fell into:
    1) Fell on path.
    2) Rocky ground with not much soil.
    3) Fell in thorns.
    4) Fell on good soil.

    It's explanation is here:
    Matthew 13:18-23 wrote:
    “Hear then the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”
    And the meanings.
    1) Snatched up by the devil before it can take root.
    2) Hears the word joyfully but had no root and gives up when persecution comes along.
    3) Hears the word and the cares of the world get in the way.
    4) The fruitful Christian who sticks with Jesus.

    All:
    Which kind of soil do you think you are?

    Questions for Christians:
    How can this help us as we share the gospel with others?

    How can the cares of the world distract us from Jesus? Do you think we pay enough attention to this?

    Question for non-Christians:

    Do you think Jesus' position on the reasons for unbelief are fair? Why or why not?


Comments

  • #2
    antiskeptic
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,555 ✭✭✭antiskeptic


    theological wrote: »
    Which kind of soil do you think you are?

    All four. The proportions might vary, but all four always present.

    How can this help us as we share the gospel with others?

    There is no need to be frustrated or take too much burden on. You scatter and seed lands where it lands. Another's soil is his own.


  • #3
    Deja Boo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,681 ✭✭✭✭Deja Boo


    all hail Theo of the pulpit soil :rolleyes:


  • #4
    worded
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,608 ✭✭✭worded


    Deja Boo wrote: »
    all hail Theo of the pulpit soil :rolleyes:

    You sound like an acidic soil


  • #5
    worded
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,608 ✭✭✭worded


    About soil n myself ....

    Feast thine eyes upon - see pic


  • #6
    smacl
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 15,776 Mod ✭✭✭✭smacl


    theological wrote: »
    Which kind of soil do you think you are?

    Rich and fertile. No doubt helped along by a healthy dose of manure on a regular basis :)


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  • #7
    antiskeptic
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,555 ✭✭✭antiskeptic


    smacl wrote: »
    Rich and fertile. No doubt helped along by a healthy dose of manure on a regular basis :)

    Atheist Ireland??


  • #8
    smacl
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 15,776 Mod ✭✭✭✭smacl


    antiskeptic wrote: »
    Atheist Ireland??

    Nope. Nor like your good self a fan of Dawkins either. Plenty other local sources to ensure a nice crop of strawberries each year.


  • #9
    theological
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,831 ✭✭✭theological


    smacl wrote: »
    Rich and fertile. No doubt helped along by a healthy dose of manure on a regular basis :)

    When did you become a Christian?


  • #10
    Deja Boo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,681 ✭✭✭✭Deja Boo


    worded wrote: »
    You sound like an acidic soil

    nah, just one who knows better than to accept tares, no matter how loud they insist they are wheat!


  • #11
    santana75
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,318 ✭✭✭santana75


    theological wrote: »
    Which kind of soil do you think you are?



    How can the cares of the world distract us from Jesus? Do you think we pay enough attention to this?

    I was just reading this passage of scripture the other day......I'd like to think Im the last kind of soil, you know the one that produces an abundance of fruit for the kingdom of heaven. But I came to the conclusion that this is the destination, it may not be the starting point. For me thats the case anyway. If you notice Jesus says that the worries of this world and the pursuit of wealth are the two major traps that people fall into. Its the "Worry-Wealth" spectrum. Youre either worrying or your chasing after money and wordly success(or both). For me I've had to work on renewing my mind so that I focus on God's word and his promises as opposed to thinking about my worries. Forgetting about troubles and the things of this earth and focusing instead on heavenly matters. And then paying no mind to the pursuit of material things or wealth. In effect, putting God first in every way: Action, thought, focus. I think this is how you move from the soil that produces no crops to one that is fruitful.


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