Immediate Word

Because Jesus' parables have become so familiar, we need to think of new ways we can re-tell them so that they regain their original powerful effect. For this issue of The Immediate Word, lead writer Carter Shelley reflects on the Parable of the Sower (or the soils), highlighting the need for a firm foundation to avoid nonproductive results when the word is implanted in our lives. Carter takes as an example of a firm foundation from a college athlete who is the number-one draft pick for the NBA. As usual, other team members add worship resources and a children's sermon. How Firm Is Our Faith Foundation? Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 Genesis 25:19-34 and Psalm 119:105-112; Romans 8:1-11 By Carter Shelley For the first time in five years the number-one NBA draft pick is a college player and not a high school kid who went straight from high school into the pros. Furthermore, this year's number-one pick is an Australian, Andrew Bogut, a University of Utah college sophomore this past year. His accomplishment -- two years of education in both the classroom and on the college basketball circuit -- would not be so newsworthy, except that it is no longer the norm for talented basketball players to earn college credits before moving into professional basketball. To forge ahead without such a firm foundation can prove risky for professional athletes. Years ago a gifted player from South Carolina went straight from high school into the NBA. Due to injuries, he was later employed flipping burgers at a Hardee's in his home state. This unanticipated setback was a far cry from the million-dollar future he had been promised by basketball recruiters. Foundations matter, whether they are educational, economic, or spiritual. In Matthew 13:1-9 Jesus tells the parable of seeds planted in a variety of soils, some good, others, virtually useless. In Matthew 13:18-23 the gospel author explains the Parable of the Sower to first- and twenty-first century listeners. And so we ask: exactly how firm is our faith foundation? A Brief Review of Parables Jesus begins his ministry with the call to "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!" Then Jesus announces God's saving sovereignty and the new order of things that God has initiated with the entrance of his Son into the world. It's been a while since I last studied parables as a literary genre; therefore, I'm providing some quotes and general comments on the parables of Jesus before discussing the two gospel texts. Parables are defined in a variety of complementary ways: -- A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. -- A parable is one of those stories in the Bible that at first sounds like a pleasant yarn, but keeps something up its sleeve which suddenly pops up and knocks you flat (P. G. Wodehouse, quoted in The Parables Then and Now, p. 10). -- The word parable is Greek in origin and means "comparison." Parable is a form of teaching that requires a comparison of the familiar with the unfamiliar in order to help clarify the latter. In Matthew 13:1-9 Jesus offers a comparison drawn from daily life that is designed to teach some spiritual truth or an assumption that what is valid in nature or daily life is also valid in God's world. -- The parable presented by Jesus in Matthew 13:1-9 is a story-parable. It describes not what men commonly do, but what one man did: a sower went out to sow. -- Jesus' parables operate in the familiar story-telling genre but with a slightly different slant and goal in mind. Parables are distinct in a) offering a narrative that fits standard story-telling techniques, b) being told in a particular place and setting to a particular audience, and c) seeking a concrete response, action, commitment from the audience who hears them. -- The cleverness of the majority of Jesus' parables is the way the story itself leads the audience to a conclusion and response they derive themselves, rather than Jesus' pointing the meaning out to them. New Testament scholar T. W. Manson writes that the parable "is not a crutch for limping intellects, but a spur to spiritual perception; and mostly it challenges to choice and decisive action ..." (the above is summarized from The Parables Then and Now, by A. M. Hunter -, pp. 10-12). The Parable of the Sower and Its Explanation: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 Matthew 13:1-9 is the actual parable of Jesus. Scholars believe Matthew 13:18-23 is the added explanation/interpretation provided by the first-century church. These two texts try to come to terms with the question why some people hear Jesus' message and follow him enthusiastically while others are beguiled for a time and then drop away or remain resistant and hostile to his word. The good news is offered to all, but not all respond to God initiative. God provides, but the individual decides whether to accept or reject God's gift. Jesus' parables have born no fruit with the religious leaders, the Pharisees and the Sadducees. In contrast, the humble, simple peasant disciples have understood Jesus' teachings and will themselves multiply its lessons through their own witness and evangelism. The early church used this parable to encourage its frightened and discouraged followers who encounter opposition, persecution, and death for believing as they do. The parable as used by the early church and as explained in verses 18-23 describes degrees of faith, rather than contrasting the shallow faith of Jesus' opponents with the deeply committed faith of his followers. This first-century Christian message offers encouragement today to those among us when we do not see signs of Jesus' kingdom in current historical events -- AIDS, war, famine, poverty, and so on. Thus, there is a significant shift in meaning from the initial parable Jesus tells to the explanation of it provided by the early church. Where the former contrasts the faithful with the faithless; the latter divides believers into four categories evidenced by the way their struggles as Christians expose the true depth, or lack thereof, of substantial faith. It has been suggested that this parable's name should be "The Parable of the Bad and Good Soil." As mentioned earlier, Jesus' parables were not allegorical in meaning. What is said is what is intended. The interpretation of Jesus' parable by the early church sees in the four different soils four different types of Christian faith. The first and second type of soil refers to the scribes and Pharisees and to the Jews as a people who failed to understand Jesus' mission. The third kind of soil identifies those who in following Christ have not left everything else behind, thus emphasizing the shallowness of their faith. The fourth, viable soil refers to the ones who hear and believe Jesus' word and respond with good works and faithfulness. The blunt question, "How do you hear?" is addressed to us as well as to Jesus' original audience, the disciples. Folks then and now are asked to evaluate our own faith and lives in light of the four different examples of spiritual seeds sown in a variety of soils. In The Parables of Jesus Joachim Jeremias sees this parable as one of contrast: Do not be fainthearted in our labors on behalf of God. If we persist, the results will be beyond our imaginings in richness and reward. The early church understood this parable in light of persecutions they were experiencing from the dominant Judaic and Roman cultures. Out of the most insignificant of beginnings, seeds sown on a variety of soils, comes a magnificent result. Though many seeds do not survive their planting, those that do will multiply remarkably. "The dawn of the kingdom of God is compared to the harvest. The abnormal tripling, presented in oriental fashion, of the harvest's yield (thirty, sixty, a hundred-fold) symbolizes the eschatological overflowing of divine fullness, surpassing all human measure.... In spite of every failure and opposition from hopeless beginnings, God brings forth the triumphant end which he had promised" (150). How Firm Is Our Foundation? These two Matthean texts offer preachers the chance to discuss the Parable of the Sower in the context of Jesus' own ministry and/or in the context of the first- and twenty-first century church. The parable itself offers an opportunity to challenge Christians and nonbelievers to make a decision for Christ, complete with altar call and appropriate evangelistic zeal. This option is not a bad one if one also wants to pay tribute to the Rev. Billy Graham's last crusade and his lifelong work as an international evangelist for more than six decades. The interpretation of the parable also offers the opportunity to examine various levels of Christian commitment evident in the early church and today. Examples of this could include fictional faith examples similar to the following: 1. The person who doesn't understand God's gift and doesn't value it 2. The person who does not persevere in persecution -- mountaintop believer can't deal with routine day-in, day-out faith or with controversy and persecution for his or her beliefs 3. The person who is worldly and values other things more than Christ and consequently is skillful at rationalizing choices 4. The person who is faithful in beliefs, convictions, and in good works and therefore is known by his or her love and actions For those interested in getting a jumpstart on the basketball season, parallels in that world can be drawn that lead into the above proposed faith examples. 1. The basketball player with innate talent who doesn't work to improve and doesn't make an effort to stay physically fit or disciplined in diet and exercise. 2. The basketball player who gets discouraged and gives up when younger, seemingly more talented players join the team and outperform him or her. 3. The basketball player who wants the financial rewards of playing and readily endorses products and companies without a thought for the exploitation of workers in the third world or the possible positive uses he or she might offer through a sharing of that income. 4. The player who sees his talent and hard work as a resource to be built upon in order to improve him/herself as a person and a player. This athlete understands that his or her skill makes possible a free college education; the opportunity of playing in NBA as a way to extend and develop these abilities further; the opportunity to give something back to his fans, family, and community through modeling of a life based in professional and personal integrity and generosity. For those not athletically inclined, another contemporary example is the current housing market boom. The deep and shallow housing frenzy demonstrates the following risks and possibilities. 1. The person who buys a house based on no-money down and a non-fixed interest rate, as someone who doesn't appreciate the importance of saving nor of understanding the financial risks attached to buying now and paying later. 2. The person who buys a house but fails to keep on top of its maintenance, upkeep, and ongoing repairs, then ends up with a house that is worth less than it was when he or she initially bought. 3. The person who works as a real estate broker who urges people to take advantage of the current housing economic bubble without concern for the fact that such rash buying may lead ultimately to loss of the home and/or bankruptcy. 4. The person, who saves money, buys a house with a fixed mortgage rate, takes care of the house in all ways necessary and is able to sell the house for a substantial profit when ready to retire and move into something smaller and more in keeping with Social Security and other retirement income. Related Illustrations "When religion becomes too closely wedded to the existing forms of social and political life, it betrays its function of social criticism; if it divorces itself from all concern with the affairs of this world, it ceases to be of any use. -- John Riches, The World of Jesus: First Century Judaism in Crisis (Cambridge University Press, 1990), p. 137 *** God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage. If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it. --Source unknown *** Some TIW readers may have already seen this story as it has been passed around quite a bit via e-mail: The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder. I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her entire being. She said, "Hi handsome. My name is Rose. I'm eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug?" I laughed and enthusiastically responded, "Of course you may!" and she gave me a giant squeeze. "Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?" I asked. She jokingly replied, "I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, and have a couple of kids." "No seriously," I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age. "I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!" she told me. After class we walked to the student union building and shared a chocolate milkshake. We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months we would leave class together and talk nonstop. I was always mesmerized listening to this "time machine" as she shared her wisdom and experience with me. Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easily made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living it up. At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet. I'll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her three by five cards on the floor. Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said, "I'm sorry I'm so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I'll never get my speech back in order so let me just tell you what I know." As we laughed she cleared her throat and began, "We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing." There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy and achieving success. You have to laugh and find humor every day. You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die. We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it! There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up. If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn eighty-eight. Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding opportunity in change. Have no regrets. The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets." She concluded her speech by courageously singing "The Rose." She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives. At the year's end Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those years ago. One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep. Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it's never too late to be all you can possibly be. These words have been passed along in loving memory of ROSE. REMEMBER, GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY. GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL. We make a Living by what we get; we make a Life by what we give. Worship Resources By George E. Reed OPENING N.b.: All copyright information is given from the first cited place where found. Some copyright information may differ in other sources due to adaptations, etc. Music Hymns "Standing On The Promises." WORDS: R. Kelso Carter, 1886; MUSIC: R. Kelso Carter, 1886. Public domain. As found in UMH 374; AAHH 373; TNNBH 257; CH 552. "My Hope Is Built." WORDS: Edward Mote, 1834; MUSIC: William B. Bradbury, 1863. Public domain. As found in UMH 368; LBOW 293, 294; TPH 379; AAHH 385; TNNBH 274; TNCH 403; CH 537. "Jesus Shall Reign." WORDS: Isaac Watts, 1719; MUSIC: John Hatton, 1793. Public domain. As found in UMH 157; Hymnal '82: 544; LBOW 530; TPH 423; AAHH 289; TNNBH 10; TNCH 300; CH 95. "It Is Well With My Soul." WORDS: Horatio G. Spafford, 1873; MUSIC: Philip P. Bliss, 1876. Public domain. As found in UMH 377; AAHH 377; TNNBH 255; CH 561. "O Love That Will Not Let Me Go." WORDS: George Mattheson, 1882; MUSIC: Albert L. Peace, 1884. Public domain. As found in UMH 480; Hymnal '82; LBOW 324; TPH 384; TNNBH 210; TNCH 485; CH 540. "Christ Is Made The Sure Foundation." WORDS: 7th Cent. Latin; trans. By John Mason Neale, 1851; MUSIC: Henry Purcell, ca. 1680; adapt. Ernest Hawkins, 1842. Public domain. As found in UMH 559; Hymnal '82: 518; LBOW 367; TPH 416, 417; TNCH 400; CH 275. "The Church's One Foundation." WORDS: Samuel J. Stone, 1866; MUSIC: Samuel Sebastian Wesley, 1864. Public domain. As found in UMH 545; Hymnal '82: 525; LBOW 369; TPH 442; AAHH 337; TNNBH 297; TNCH 386; CH 272. Songs "Holy Ground." WORDS & MUSIC: Geron Davis. (c) 1983 Meadowgreen Music Co./Songchannel Music Co. As found in CCB 5. "Your Loving Kindness Is Better Than Life." WORDS: based on Ps. 63: 3, 4; MUSIC: Hugh Mitchell. Chorus (c) 1956 and verses (c) 1962 Singspiration Music/ASCAP. As found in CCB 26. "The Steadfast Love Of The Lord." WORDS: Edith McNeill; MUSIC: Edith McNeill; arr. J. Michael Bryan. (c) 1974 Celebration. As found in CCB 28. CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: God's word is a lamp to our feet. People: God's word is a light to our path. Leader: Let us lift our offering of praise to God. People: Teach us, God, your ordinances of life. Leader: God's decrees are our heritage. People: They are the joy of our hearts. COLLECT / OPENING PRAYER O God, who is the foundation of all creation: Grant us the grace to build our lives on the solid rock of your faithfulness, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. or We come to worship you this day, O God, for you are the solid rock upon which our lives and all creation are built. As we sing your praises may we offer our lives to you once more that we base our whole life on your never failing love and grace. Amen. PRAYERS OF CONFESSION / PARDON Leader: God is the faithful One. Let us confess to God and before one another the condition of our lives. People: We confess to you, O God, offer us the solid foundation of your loving presence for our lives that we have built on other materials. We have built our lives on status, wealth, other people, and many other false materials. Instead of receiving these things as your good gifts we have ignored you and used them as the basis for our lives. Instead of seeing your good word as a precious gift that is offered so that we can live fully and abundantly, we see it as a set of hoops we must jump through or sneak around. Forgive us and by the power of your Spirit help us to trust you enough to base our lives on you and you alone. Amen. Leader: The God who created you and who knows you better than you know yourself is always seeking your good. Once again the solid rock is offered for your life. In the name of Jesus Christ you are forgiven. Amen. GENERAL PRAYERS, LITANIES, ETC. We worship and adore you, O God, for your great faithfulness. You are the One who called all creation into being and you have preserved it and stayed with us when we have been unfaithful. (The following paragraph is most suitable if a prayer of confession will not be used elsewhere.) We confess that we have built our lives on shaky ground. We have taken things that are not stable and have tried to build on them. We have trusted wealth and goods more than we have trusted your word. Forgive us and by your Spirit help us to build once more on you gracious loving-kindness. We thank you for all the ways in which you have showed your faithfulness to us. You have sustained our earth in spite of careless treatment of it. You continue to work for peace while we often choose war. You flood us with you love even though we choose hate. (Other specific thanksgiving may be offered.) We offer up to you the cares and hurts of this world. We pray for those who do not know about the solid foundation you offer for their lives. We pray that we might be faithful followers of Jesus so that others can learn about your loving graciousness. (Other petitions may be offered.) All these things we ask in the name of Jesus, who taught us to pray saying, "Our Father...." Hymnal & Songbook Abbreviations UMH: United Methodist Hymnal Hymnal '82: The Hymnal 1982, The Episcopal Church LBOW: Lutheran Book of Worship TPH: The Presbyterian Hymnal AAHH: African American Heritage Hymnal TNNBH: The New National Baptist Hymnal TNCH: The New Century Hymnal CH: Chalice Hymnal CCB: Cokesbury Chorus Book PMMCH3: Praise. Maranatha! Music Chorus Book, Expanded 3rd EditionRenew: Renew! Songs and Hymns for Blended Worship A Children's Sermon Where are you planted? Object: a pot of soil and a handful of seed (corn would work well since it is large) Based on Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 (Editor's note: Have some fun with this lesson. As you tell this story walk around the front of the sanctuary. Drop seeds in spots where the children will easily realize that seeds won't grow.) Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you have ever planted something in a garden? (let them answer) It's fun to plant things and watch them grow. If you plant corn seeds like I have here (show your seeds) you will have roasting ears later in the summer. If you plant flower seeds or bulbs you will have fragrant flowers to smell. One thing that is needed to get seeds to grow is to know where to plant them. (stand up and walk around the front of the church) What would happen if I spread my corn seeds over here? How about over here? (go to a different spot) How about over here? (return to the front to your pot of soil) What would happen if I planted my seeds in this pot of soil? The seeds would grow, wouldn't they? Why wouldn't they grow in those others spots? (let them answer) They wouldn't grow because there is no soil there. Jesus once told a story. He said each of us is like one of these seeds. When we fail to listen to God's word we are like a seed that falls over there. (point to a spot in the church) When we listen to God's word we are like a seed that falls in good soil. We will hear what God has to say to us. We will understand the word. We will become followers of Jesus. We will become caring people. This week I want you to think about where you would want to be planted if you were a seed. Think about hearing God's word and doing what God asks. * * * * * * * * * * * * * The Immediate Word, July 10, 2005, issue. Copyright 2005 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio. All rights reserved. Subscribers to The Immediate Word service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons and in worship and classroom settings only. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to permissions@csspub.com or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., P.O. Box 4503, Lima, Ohio 45802-4503.