“Parable of the Sower”
Storyteller
AV First
Pastor Ed Carlson
10/6/24

The Parable of the Sower

Matthew 13:1-9 (CSB)
On that day Jesus went out of the house and was sitting by the sea. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down, while the whole crowd stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying, “Consider the sower who went out to sow. 4 As he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Other seed fell on rocky ground where it didn’t have much soil, and it grew up quickly since the soil wasn’t deep. 6 But when the sun came up, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it. 8 Still other seed fell on good ground and produced fruit: some a hundred, some sixty, and some thirty times what was sown. 9 Let anyone who has ears listen.”

Getting in God’s PROCESS will POSITION you to receive God’s POWER and FAVOR

Matthew 13:18-23 (CSB)
18 “So listen to the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word about the kingdom and doesn’t understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the one sown along the path. 20 And the one sown on rocky ground—this is one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy. 21 But he has no root and is short-lived. When distress or persecution comes because of the word, immediately he falls away. 22 Now the one sown among the thorns—this is one who hears the word, but the worries of this age and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.23 But the one sown on the good ground—this is one who hears and understands the word, who does produce fruit and yields: some a hundred, some sixty, some thirty times what was sown.”

Isaiah 55:6-9 (ESV)
6 Seek the LORD while he may be found;
call on him while he is near.
7 Let the wicked forsake their ways
and the unrighteous their thoughts.
Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them,
and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the LORD.
9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.

1. Get into God’s Process
2. Get into proper God-Positioning
3. Get the Power of God

Matthew 6:19-33 (ESV)
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

1. Survival Level
2. Success Level
3. Significance Level

1. You were planned for God’s

*Our Response: Honor God with your life

Romans 12:1 (ESV)
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer
your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

2. You were Formed for God’s

*Our Response: Connect with other believers

Romans 12:4-5 (ESV)
4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these
members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

3. You were

to become like Jesus

*Our Response: Grow in your faith

Philippians 2:5-8 (ESV)
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!

4. You were Shaped for

God

*Our Response: Discover how you are gifted

1 Peter 4:10 (ESV)
10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

5. You were Made for a

*Our Response: Reach out to others and serve

Colossians 4:5 (ESV)
5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.

So How Do I Live a Life of Significance in God’s Kingdom?

Submit to pursuing God’s Way of Life (Kingdom Heart)

Make Course Corrections when God tells you (Kingdom Mindset)

Live out God’s Plan for your life (Kingdom Service)

Experience God’s Grace throughout your life (Kingdom Blessings)