Seeds and Soil -- Jason Brown

I was out of town on Sunday, but I just finished listening to the sermon online. It's pretty neat that we're able to do that on our website. But, I digress.

Anyway, I'm thinking about two things: seeds and soil. I'm wondering what stories you have of people sowing spiritual seed in your life that unexpectedly bore fruit . . . or of you sowing seed in someone else's life that unexpectedly bore fruit.

When I graduated from High School, I stood in front of Eldora United Methodist Church with two of my classmates. Each of us gave a 5-minute talk. I have no idea what it was about and am sure it was completely unimpressive. At the end of the service, the three of us (my two classmates and me) stood at the door to greet people. One of our older members -- a man who had found Christ late in life and could not contain his enthusiasm -- shook my hand with tears in his eyes and said, "Jason, you're going to be a pastor someday." His name was Harold Putnam and his words stopped me. I thought to myself, "How does that even happen? How does a person become a a pastor?" I had no categories to even process what he said.

Somehow, though, Harold was right. I still can't believe it. He planted a tiny seed that has miraculously produced fruit.

In addition to thinking about the seed that's been thrown my way and the seed I've thrown, I'm also thinking about being good soil. I'm not totally sure how that happens and am wondering if you could help me out.

Posted on Mon, June 22, 2009 by Jason Brown

3 comments (Add your own)

1. Da Sciple wrote:: Dont wanna dump too much theology on the forum but might have to seeing that (a) you asked and I'd like to answer the question & ( b) being good soil is simple to understand yet hard to swallow.

It has to do with the Sovereign choosing of God.

Because I know you guys are studying Mark I'm assuming you're in CH 4 looking at the parable of the sower. It's important to pay attention to the way Jesus closes the parable. He says "he who has ears to hear, let him hear"

Lots of people think that means everybody because everybody has an ear. But as we look closely Jesus singles out "HE who has EARS TO HEAR", not just "ears". The proper interpretation is he who has been granted the ability to believe/understand what's been said by the gift of faith, let him comprehend. This is even evidenced in Jesus' response to the disciples who asked him about the parables. (v.10-12)

Without going to deep I'll just say that being good soil, the way the bible speaks about it, has to do with being illuminated or made to not only see but perceive and not only hear but understand the secrets of the Kingdom. Only God can do this and He does it at His will, when and if He chose to in eternity past before the world began.

For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion. It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy." Romans 9:15-16
Mon, June 22, 2009 @ 11:02 AM
2. Vlad wrote:: I often find myself struggling the most when it comes to planting seeds in some of my closest relatives because I know their hearts are hard. I've tried, but I often come out of those situations disappointed. I was encouraged by Sunday's sermon to continue to throw that seed out there knowing that 3 out of 4 times I do it it will produce no fruit.

I think I can also ask God to make their hearts softer - it might make for better soil.
Mon, June 22, 2009 @ 1:43 PM
3. Alecia wrote:: God's sovereignty doesn't release us from our responsibility to sow the seed or till the soil. We started doing both those things with our kids when they were really small by introducing them to Jesus, praying for them, reading the Word, bringing them to worship, trying to live faithfully, etc. We weren't perfect gardeners but God was faithful and the seed grew. Was the soil of their hearts so "good" (by God's sovereign grace) that the seed would have taken root even if we'd not sown or tended it? Or did the soil (also by God's sovereign grace) become receptive to the seed because of our participation? Like two sides of a sheet of paper, you can't really separate those things. So, as far as keeping our own soil soft, Jason, it's all God's doing by the power of his Spirit AND we have to cooperate/participate in the process. For me that's where the spiritual disciplines come into play.
Thu, June 25, 2009 @ 8:28 AM

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