The productivity of God's word
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series V, Cycle A
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Genesis 25:19--34 (C)
Once again, God seems to linger in fulfilling his promise to make a great nation of Abraham's progeny. Isaac is 40 by the time he married Rebekah. Another 20 years expire before his wife gives birth to the twins, Esau and Jacob. Perhaps the Lord wants to demonstrate that this business of nation building is his doing, not a human accomplishment. Esau, being firstborn, earns the birthright, but foolishly sells it to his scheming brother for a pot of stew.
Lesson 1: Isaiah 55:10--11 (RC, L); Isaiah 55:1--5, 10--13 (E)
Second Isaiah concludes his prophecies by expressing his joy at the prospect of the imminent return and restoration of his people. The prophet extends the Lord's invitation for the people to come to him, the font of all blessing. They are to look to him for sustenance; they are to listen to God's word. Verses 10--13 compare God's Word to the rain and the snow, which nourishes and sustains life. The believer can take heart; God's Word is potent; it does not return empty.
Lesson 2: Romans 8:1--11 (C); Romans 8:18--23 (RC); Romans 8:18--25 (L)
Paul speaks to a persecuted church. He declares that the suffering of the present time cannot compare with the glories that await us in God's kingdom. The whole creation shares in the futility of natural existence, subject to decay and death, but the creation too will share in our freedom from the power of death. It is this hope of redemption that saves us.
Lesson 2: Romans 8:9--17 (E)
The apostle reminds us that Christians do not live according to the flesh (their sinful human nature) but in the Spirit. The Spirit gives life to our mortal bodies.
Gospel: Matthew 13:1--9, 18--23 (C, E, L); Matthew 13:1--23 (RC)
This well--known text is traditionally called the Parable of the Sower. However, it would be better termed the Parable of the Soils, since the main point revolves around the receptivity of the soil. This parable helped the disciples to understand why some people received the word of Christ and others did not. It took the burden off the shoulders of the sower. As long as the sower scattered the seeds, his job was complete. He could not be held accountable for the germination of the seed. The last section of this lection is the interpretation of the parable, which many scholars believe was composed by the early church. The explanation allegorizes the parable and Jesus seldom used allegories. Most parables have only one key point.
242
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 119:104--112 (C) - ''Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path'' (v. 105).
Psalm 65 (RC, E, L) - ''You crown the year with your bounty ...'' (v. 11a).
Prayer Of The Day
God of seed time and harvest, you have generously sown the good seed in our hearts. May what you have planted, not only take root, but flourish, producing abundant fruits of faith and love. In the name above all other names we pray, Jesus, our Lord. Amen.
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Genesis 25:19--34
Persistent in prayer. Verse 21 states that Isaac prayed for his wife because she was barren. The inability to produce children was considered a curse. It must have weighed heavily on Rebekah's heart. We see here Isaac's love for God and his wife. He was 40 when he married her and 20 years later she gave birth to twins. That's a good deal of persistent praying. Such praying does not merely seek favors; it is a relationship of dependency and trust in the Lord. Prayer is the life blood of God's people.
The struggle. Life is a struggle which yields its fruits to those who know what they want and hang in there. According to our text, the struggle of existence began for Jacob and Esau in the womb. Esau came out first but Jacob was clutching his heel, which symbolized Esau's weaknesses. (Recall the myth of Achilles.) Jacob was a scrapper. He wasn't satisfied with second best; he wanted God's optimum blessing. He struggled with Esau for his birthright; he wrestled with the Lord as he fled from the wrath of his brother; he contended with his uncle Laban for Rachel's hand in marriage. Esau chose the easy way and his brother supplanted him. God rewards those who will not quit until the war is over.
Lesson 1: Isaiah 55:1--5, 10--13
Come to the waters. The image in verse 1 is of a hawker in the city streets who sells fresh water and other beverages. Only now it is the Lord who is crying out to his people and what he offers is free. The Lord is an ever--flowing stream of grace, the wellspring of life, without whom nothing can live.
Choose your foods wisely. ''Listen carefully to me and eat what is good'' (v. 2). There has been a blitz of material about how to choose a healthful diet, low in fat and sodium, high in fiber. All that we take into our minds is food for our souls. Do we carelessly consume garbage, for example, in the books we read and the movies we watch? Do you consume a healthy serving of God's word?
You can be sure of the seed. God's word is the seed that is guaranteed to grow and bear fruit (vv. 10--11).
Lesson 2: Romans 8:1--11
Sin and Death are doomed! Paul employs the word ''condemnation'' in verses 1 and 3. In verse 1, he means that there is no 'doom'' for those in Christ. In verse 3, he indicates that through Christ God has 'doomed death.'' Theologically speaking, sin and death are inextricably connected (Romans 6:23). In dooming sin, God also dooms death to eventual non--being. Sin and death continue to exert their deadly influence but their fate remains sealed.
Lesson 2: Romans 8:9--17
Water and Spirit. Isaiah 55:1 invites us to come to the waters, while this text bids us to let the Spirit of God take possession of our lives. God's Spirit is the water of our souls; without it, we die (v. 10). Fittingly, the water of baptism is the entrance of Christ's life--giving Spirit.
243
Adoption. Though we are all created in God's image, we have all become slaves of selfishness and sin. The Good News proclaims that through Christ we are adopted into God's family. We can call on God as Father (v. 15). This means that God has chosen us as his own dear children, inheritors of eternal life and recipients of his Spirit.
Lesson 2: Romans 8:18--23
Perspective. In verse 17, Paul makes it clear that suffering comes along with being adopted into God's family. In this passage, he goes on to indicate that we must view this suffering with an eternal perspective. The temporary pain is a small price to pay for the eternal gain (v. 18).
Birth pangs. The image that Paul presents is of a world in utero, a womb--wrapped world that is struggling to be born. Labor pains are the necessary prelude to new life. It is the pain that makes leaving the confines of our old world easier, even desirable. As the contractions of pain squeeze us, we are propelled into the light of a painful process of letting go of the old life and embracing the new life, to which the Lord is calling us. In this role, we must help our sisters and brothers to focus on the future gain, rather than the present pain.
Gospel: Matthew 13:1--23
From synagogue to seashore. Jesus began his teaching ministry in the synagogues but in this 13th chapter we see a shift. He was no longer welcomed by the leaders of the synagogue nor the religious hierarchy. Yet thousands of simple folk were anxious to hear him, so they gathered at the seashore. Jesus took the message to the people, rather than call the people to message. Christ calls his church to take the Gospel to the highways and byways, wherever there are receptive souls.
What was the secret of Christ's attraction? Verse 1 says that Jesus went out of the house and sat along the seashore and great crowds gathered around him. What was the draw? The gospel writers note time and again that Jesus spoke and acted with authority. His stories were original and powerful. He began where the people were, with images drawn from everyday life, and correlated his message to those images. Those stories allowed his hearers to see themselves and to draw their own conclusions. There was no legalistic listing of dos and don'ts. If the church would follow her Lord's example, she would prove to be an irresistible magnet.
Finding fertile soil. The point of this parable is the receptivity of the soil. It is taken for granted that the seed is good. Farming methods are not questioned. Why does the Gospel take root in some lives and not others? It's hard to tell. Just keep on sowing; God will cause the seed to find fertile soil.
Soil testing. Farmers have their soil scientifically analyzed to find out what ingredients are lacking. With that knowledge, some toil and money, we can make the soil receptive to the seed; we can make it fertile. Wouldn't it make some sense to follow the same procedure in planting the seeds of the kingdom? Market surveys and the like can inform us concerning which groups of people would be most receptive. They can help us to find an opening for the seed. While such information might be helpful, we must remember that God can open the hardest and most impenetrable heart.
God's soil testing. How does God test the soil? He plants seeds in our hearts and waits to observe the results. Those seeds that sprout up to produce a rich harvest are the ones that fell into the good soil (v. 23).
PREACHING APPROACHES WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
Lesson 1: Genesis 25:19--34
Sermon Title: Selling Your Soul For The Sake Of Your Stomach
Sermon Angle: Jacob was a cunning man who understood his brother's weaknesses. He prepared a pot of stew, knowing that his brother would sell his birthright in exchange for some
244
hearty food. How many people are so driven by their immediate physical appetites that they would be willing to sacrifice their souls to satisfy them?
Sermon Title: God Uses Stinkers Too
Sermon Angle: Sometimes God uses people of exceptional holiness to accomplish his will, but sometimes he uses stinkers. Jacob was a schemer, a manipulator, a trickster. Yet God blessed him and used him for his righteous purposes. In the process, Jacob was transformed into a true person of faith. That's good news for us stinkers!
Lesson 1: Isaiah 55:1--5, 10--13
Sermon Title: The Real Thirst Quencher
Sermon Angle: What's the real thirst quencher? Not Sprite, Coke, or Pepsi but the Holy Spirit. ''Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters'' (v. 1). What's more, it's free! That's the same message that the Lord communicated to the Samaritan woman by the well, as told by John. ''Those who drink of the water I give him will never be thirsty again'' (John 4:14). Why? Because those who trust the Lord have the Spirit, the wellspring of life within them.
Sermon Title: The Power Of The Word
Sermon Angle: The prophet holds up the prospect of national revival to a skeptical audience. In verses 10--11, he assures them that God's word is potent; it will surely accomplish its purpose. A word can be very powerful, whether it be a word of condemnation or of hope. We should guard well our words. God's word has special power to create, to restore, to give hope to the despairing and life to the dead.
Lesson 2: Romans 8:1--11
Sermon Title: The Two Modes Of Existence
Sermon Angle: In verses 5--11, the apostle contrasts the two modes of existence. On the one hand, there are those whose lives are dominated by the ''flesh,'' who are controlled by their selfish drives and compulsions. Then, there are those who are redeemed by Christ, who live according to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Life in the flesh puts a person at odds with God and other human beings, resulting in isolation. Life in the Spirit leads a person ever deeper into the community of the faithful. To live in the flesh leads to an atomistic existence, while life in the Spirit results in a truly communistic (authentic community) mode of being.
Outline:
1. Explain the two modes of existence
2. The fleshly mode leads to alienation and death
3. The spiritual mode leads to communion with God and others
4. In which mode of existence do you experience life?
Lesson 2: Romans 8:18--23
Sermon Title: Birth Pangs
Sermon Angle: Do you know what it's like to give birth? That's only possible for a woman, right? Wrong. Anyone who has had an idea that possesses him so thoroughly that he must create it, knows birth pangs. Such new life involves sacrifice, failure, disappointment, anxiety, and so forth. The battle between our sinful natures and the Spirit within, is a birth process involving pain. Our sinful natures resist the birth process, because it means death to our old lives. The Spirit pushes us along the birth canal to the light of a new life.
Gospel: Matthew 13:1--23
Sermon Title: The Gospel Story
Sermon Angle: Jesus communicated the Gospel entirely through the medium of story. That's what parables are, a story with a key point of comparison between God's kingdom and our lives. Fertile soil is found when His story intersects with our story.
245
Outline:
1. How do we communicate the Gospel?
2. We try to get inside the other person's story
3. We share how God's story has connected with our story and then relate it to their story.
Miss Jean's Story Time has been on television ever since I was a child, not a few years ago. Miss Jean asks the children to help her tell the gospel story by having them send in drawings. She tacks up the drawings on a story board and uses them to tell her story. The children are eager to listen because they can see themselves in Miss Jean's story, which is really God's story. This is not unlike the method of Jesus. He looked about for stories and then related them to the kingdom of God. They weren't particularly important stories. In fact, they were very ordinary. That's why they were so potent. Folks could see themselves in the stories. The Gospel is still best communicated through story.
Sermon Title: Understanding The Yields In The Fields
Sermon Angle: This parable is an attempt to explain why the Gospel yields such vastly different results. In some lives it produces abundantly; in some, it grows for a time and then dies back; while in the hearts of others, it doesn't germinate at all. Different yields for different fields. The explanation lies with the soil.
Outline:
1. Why does the yield of God's word (the seed) vary so much?
2. It's not the seed (cross reference: Isaiah 55:1--11)
3. It is the soil (assuming that the seed has been scattered abroad)
4. However, we must not judge the soil infertile as an excuse for not planting
5. Scatter freely and don't worry about yields.
Sermon Title: Increasing Our Yield
Sermon Angle: What kind of yield are our lives producing? Have we analyzed what kind of environment we are producing for the seed? Is it hard like cement? Is our spiritual depth shallow? Are we allowing the cares of this world to crowd out God's word? We can increase our yield by making our lives more open to God's word.
What makes for fertile soil? When it comes to the environment needed to produce a healthy and well--adjusted human being, there are many necessary ingredients, but none is more important than love. We see the connection between love and growth in the Helen Keller story. When Ann Sullivan came to live with the Keller family, as her live--in teacher, Helen was out of control. Being deaf, dumb and blind, she was locked in a solitary prison. Love freed her, fertilized her and caused her to grow, as she testified.
''The most important day of my life was when my teacher, Ann Sullivan, came to see me. On the afternoon of the fateful day I stood on the porch, dumb and expectant. I guessed vaguely from all the going to and fro in the house that something unusual was about to happen .... I felt approaching footsteps, I held out my hand. Someone took it and I was caught and held close in the arms of her who was to reveal all things to me, and above all things, to love me.''
246
Lesson 1: Genesis 25:19--34 (C)
Once again, God seems to linger in fulfilling his promise to make a great nation of Abraham's progeny. Isaac is 40 by the time he married Rebekah. Another 20 years expire before his wife gives birth to the twins, Esau and Jacob. Perhaps the Lord wants to demonstrate that this business of nation building is his doing, not a human accomplishment. Esau, being firstborn, earns the birthright, but foolishly sells it to his scheming brother for a pot of stew.
Lesson 1: Isaiah 55:10--11 (RC, L); Isaiah 55:1--5, 10--13 (E)
Second Isaiah concludes his prophecies by expressing his joy at the prospect of the imminent return and restoration of his people. The prophet extends the Lord's invitation for the people to come to him, the font of all blessing. They are to look to him for sustenance; they are to listen to God's word. Verses 10--13 compare God's Word to the rain and the snow, which nourishes and sustains life. The believer can take heart; God's Word is potent; it does not return empty.
Lesson 2: Romans 8:1--11 (C); Romans 8:18--23 (RC); Romans 8:18--25 (L)
Paul speaks to a persecuted church. He declares that the suffering of the present time cannot compare with the glories that await us in God's kingdom. The whole creation shares in the futility of natural existence, subject to decay and death, but the creation too will share in our freedom from the power of death. It is this hope of redemption that saves us.
Lesson 2: Romans 8:9--17 (E)
The apostle reminds us that Christians do not live according to the flesh (their sinful human nature) but in the Spirit. The Spirit gives life to our mortal bodies.
Gospel: Matthew 13:1--9, 18--23 (C, E, L); Matthew 13:1--23 (RC)
This well--known text is traditionally called the Parable of the Sower. However, it would be better termed the Parable of the Soils, since the main point revolves around the receptivity of the soil. This parable helped the disciples to understand why some people received the word of Christ and others did not. It took the burden off the shoulders of the sower. As long as the sower scattered the seeds, his job was complete. He could not be held accountable for the germination of the seed. The last section of this lection is the interpretation of the parable, which many scholars believe was composed by the early church. The explanation allegorizes the parable and Jesus seldom used allegories. Most parables have only one key point.
242
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 119:104--112 (C) - ''Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path'' (v. 105).
Psalm 65 (RC, E, L) - ''You crown the year with your bounty ...'' (v. 11a).
Prayer Of The Day
God of seed time and harvest, you have generously sown the good seed in our hearts. May what you have planted, not only take root, but flourish, producing abundant fruits of faith and love. In the name above all other names we pray, Jesus, our Lord. Amen.
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Genesis 25:19--34
Persistent in prayer. Verse 21 states that Isaac prayed for his wife because she was barren. The inability to produce children was considered a curse. It must have weighed heavily on Rebekah's heart. We see here Isaac's love for God and his wife. He was 40 when he married her and 20 years later she gave birth to twins. That's a good deal of persistent praying. Such praying does not merely seek favors; it is a relationship of dependency and trust in the Lord. Prayer is the life blood of God's people.
The struggle. Life is a struggle which yields its fruits to those who know what they want and hang in there. According to our text, the struggle of existence began for Jacob and Esau in the womb. Esau came out first but Jacob was clutching his heel, which symbolized Esau's weaknesses. (Recall the myth of Achilles.) Jacob was a scrapper. He wasn't satisfied with second best; he wanted God's optimum blessing. He struggled with Esau for his birthright; he wrestled with the Lord as he fled from the wrath of his brother; he contended with his uncle Laban for Rachel's hand in marriage. Esau chose the easy way and his brother supplanted him. God rewards those who will not quit until the war is over.
Lesson 1: Isaiah 55:1--5, 10--13
Come to the waters. The image in verse 1 is of a hawker in the city streets who sells fresh water and other beverages. Only now it is the Lord who is crying out to his people and what he offers is free. The Lord is an ever--flowing stream of grace, the wellspring of life, without whom nothing can live.
Choose your foods wisely. ''Listen carefully to me and eat what is good'' (v. 2). There has been a blitz of material about how to choose a healthful diet, low in fat and sodium, high in fiber. All that we take into our minds is food for our souls. Do we carelessly consume garbage, for example, in the books we read and the movies we watch? Do you consume a healthy serving of God's word?
You can be sure of the seed. God's word is the seed that is guaranteed to grow and bear fruit (vv. 10--11).
Lesson 2: Romans 8:1--11
Sin and Death are doomed! Paul employs the word ''condemnation'' in verses 1 and 3. In verse 1, he means that there is no 'doom'' for those in Christ. In verse 3, he indicates that through Christ God has 'doomed death.'' Theologically speaking, sin and death are inextricably connected (Romans 6:23). In dooming sin, God also dooms death to eventual non--being. Sin and death continue to exert their deadly influence but their fate remains sealed.
Lesson 2: Romans 8:9--17
Water and Spirit. Isaiah 55:1 invites us to come to the waters, while this text bids us to let the Spirit of God take possession of our lives. God's Spirit is the water of our souls; without it, we die (v. 10). Fittingly, the water of baptism is the entrance of Christ's life--giving Spirit.
243
Adoption. Though we are all created in God's image, we have all become slaves of selfishness and sin. The Good News proclaims that through Christ we are adopted into God's family. We can call on God as Father (v. 15). This means that God has chosen us as his own dear children, inheritors of eternal life and recipients of his Spirit.
Lesson 2: Romans 8:18--23
Perspective. In verse 17, Paul makes it clear that suffering comes along with being adopted into God's family. In this passage, he goes on to indicate that we must view this suffering with an eternal perspective. The temporary pain is a small price to pay for the eternal gain (v. 18).
Birth pangs. The image that Paul presents is of a world in utero, a womb--wrapped world that is struggling to be born. Labor pains are the necessary prelude to new life. It is the pain that makes leaving the confines of our old world easier, even desirable. As the contractions of pain squeeze us, we are propelled into the light of a painful process of letting go of the old life and embracing the new life, to which the Lord is calling us. In this role, we must help our sisters and brothers to focus on the future gain, rather than the present pain.
Gospel: Matthew 13:1--23
From synagogue to seashore. Jesus began his teaching ministry in the synagogues but in this 13th chapter we see a shift. He was no longer welcomed by the leaders of the synagogue nor the religious hierarchy. Yet thousands of simple folk were anxious to hear him, so they gathered at the seashore. Jesus took the message to the people, rather than call the people to message. Christ calls his church to take the Gospel to the highways and byways, wherever there are receptive souls.
What was the secret of Christ's attraction? Verse 1 says that Jesus went out of the house and sat along the seashore and great crowds gathered around him. What was the draw? The gospel writers note time and again that Jesus spoke and acted with authority. His stories were original and powerful. He began where the people were, with images drawn from everyday life, and correlated his message to those images. Those stories allowed his hearers to see themselves and to draw their own conclusions. There was no legalistic listing of dos and don'ts. If the church would follow her Lord's example, she would prove to be an irresistible magnet.
Finding fertile soil. The point of this parable is the receptivity of the soil. It is taken for granted that the seed is good. Farming methods are not questioned. Why does the Gospel take root in some lives and not others? It's hard to tell. Just keep on sowing; God will cause the seed to find fertile soil.
Soil testing. Farmers have their soil scientifically analyzed to find out what ingredients are lacking. With that knowledge, some toil and money, we can make the soil receptive to the seed; we can make it fertile. Wouldn't it make some sense to follow the same procedure in planting the seeds of the kingdom? Market surveys and the like can inform us concerning which groups of people would be most receptive. They can help us to find an opening for the seed. While such information might be helpful, we must remember that God can open the hardest and most impenetrable heart.
God's soil testing. How does God test the soil? He plants seeds in our hearts and waits to observe the results. Those seeds that sprout up to produce a rich harvest are the ones that fell into the good soil (v. 23).
PREACHING APPROACHES WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
Lesson 1: Genesis 25:19--34
Sermon Title: Selling Your Soul For The Sake Of Your Stomach
Sermon Angle: Jacob was a cunning man who understood his brother's weaknesses. He prepared a pot of stew, knowing that his brother would sell his birthright in exchange for some
244
hearty food. How many people are so driven by their immediate physical appetites that they would be willing to sacrifice their souls to satisfy them?
Sermon Title: God Uses Stinkers Too
Sermon Angle: Sometimes God uses people of exceptional holiness to accomplish his will, but sometimes he uses stinkers. Jacob was a schemer, a manipulator, a trickster. Yet God blessed him and used him for his righteous purposes. In the process, Jacob was transformed into a true person of faith. That's good news for us stinkers!
Lesson 1: Isaiah 55:1--5, 10--13
Sermon Title: The Real Thirst Quencher
Sermon Angle: What's the real thirst quencher? Not Sprite, Coke, or Pepsi but the Holy Spirit. ''Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters'' (v. 1). What's more, it's free! That's the same message that the Lord communicated to the Samaritan woman by the well, as told by John. ''Those who drink of the water I give him will never be thirsty again'' (John 4:14). Why? Because those who trust the Lord have the Spirit, the wellspring of life within them.
Sermon Title: The Power Of The Word
Sermon Angle: The prophet holds up the prospect of national revival to a skeptical audience. In verses 10--11, he assures them that God's word is potent; it will surely accomplish its purpose. A word can be very powerful, whether it be a word of condemnation or of hope. We should guard well our words. God's word has special power to create, to restore, to give hope to the despairing and life to the dead.
Lesson 2: Romans 8:1--11
Sermon Title: The Two Modes Of Existence
Sermon Angle: In verses 5--11, the apostle contrasts the two modes of existence. On the one hand, there are those whose lives are dominated by the ''flesh,'' who are controlled by their selfish drives and compulsions. Then, there are those who are redeemed by Christ, who live according to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Life in the flesh puts a person at odds with God and other human beings, resulting in isolation. Life in the Spirit leads a person ever deeper into the community of the faithful. To live in the flesh leads to an atomistic existence, while life in the Spirit results in a truly communistic (authentic community) mode of being.
Outline:
1. Explain the two modes of existence
2. The fleshly mode leads to alienation and death
3. The spiritual mode leads to communion with God and others
4. In which mode of existence do you experience life?
Lesson 2: Romans 8:18--23
Sermon Title: Birth Pangs
Sermon Angle: Do you know what it's like to give birth? That's only possible for a woman, right? Wrong. Anyone who has had an idea that possesses him so thoroughly that he must create it, knows birth pangs. Such new life involves sacrifice, failure, disappointment, anxiety, and so forth. The battle between our sinful natures and the Spirit within, is a birth process involving pain. Our sinful natures resist the birth process, because it means death to our old lives. The Spirit pushes us along the birth canal to the light of a new life.
Gospel: Matthew 13:1--23
Sermon Title: The Gospel Story
Sermon Angle: Jesus communicated the Gospel entirely through the medium of story. That's what parables are, a story with a key point of comparison between God's kingdom and our lives. Fertile soil is found when His story intersects with our story.
245
Outline:
1. How do we communicate the Gospel?
2. We try to get inside the other person's story
3. We share how God's story has connected with our story and then relate it to their story.
Miss Jean's Story Time has been on television ever since I was a child, not a few years ago. Miss Jean asks the children to help her tell the gospel story by having them send in drawings. She tacks up the drawings on a story board and uses them to tell her story. The children are eager to listen because they can see themselves in Miss Jean's story, which is really God's story. This is not unlike the method of Jesus. He looked about for stories and then related them to the kingdom of God. They weren't particularly important stories. In fact, they were very ordinary. That's why they were so potent. Folks could see themselves in the stories. The Gospel is still best communicated through story.
Sermon Title: Understanding The Yields In The Fields
Sermon Angle: This parable is an attempt to explain why the Gospel yields such vastly different results. In some lives it produces abundantly; in some, it grows for a time and then dies back; while in the hearts of others, it doesn't germinate at all. Different yields for different fields. The explanation lies with the soil.
Outline:
1. Why does the yield of God's word (the seed) vary so much?
2. It's not the seed (cross reference: Isaiah 55:1--11)
3. It is the soil (assuming that the seed has been scattered abroad)
4. However, we must not judge the soil infertile as an excuse for not planting
5. Scatter freely and don't worry about yields.
Sermon Title: Increasing Our Yield
Sermon Angle: What kind of yield are our lives producing? Have we analyzed what kind of environment we are producing for the seed? Is it hard like cement? Is our spiritual depth shallow? Are we allowing the cares of this world to crowd out God's word? We can increase our yield by making our lives more open to God's word.
What makes for fertile soil? When it comes to the environment needed to produce a healthy and well--adjusted human being, there are many necessary ingredients, but none is more important than love. We see the connection between love and growth in the Helen Keller story. When Ann Sullivan came to live with the Keller family, as her live--in teacher, Helen was out of control. Being deaf, dumb and blind, she was locked in a solitary prison. Love freed her, fertilized her and caused her to grow, as she testified.
''The most important day of my life was when my teacher, Ann Sullivan, came to see me. On the afternoon of the fateful day I stood on the porch, dumb and expectant. I guessed vaguely from all the going to and fro in the house that something unusual was about to happen .... I felt approaching footsteps, I held out my hand. Someone took it and I was caught and held close in the arms of her who was to reveal all things to me, and above all things, to love me.''
246
