Sam Ferguson, June 14, 2020. Key texts | Matt. 13:1-17; Isa. 6:9-10 | He who has ears, let him hear.
SERMON OUTLINE & QUESTIONS
Opening thoughts—
At Gordon Conwell Sam had a professor named Dr. Stewart. One day, Dr. Stewart was teaching on a recurring biblical theme: People have ears, but they don’t really understand or perceive.
Jeremiah 5:21 | “Hear this, you foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear.”
Dr. Stewart suddenly paused and said, “Let me tell you something I hope you don’t forget. In life you can be sincere and wrong at the same time.”
In our culture, we believe that sincerity, authenticity, and passion make something correct. But it’s possible to be all these things and wrong.
The parable of sower asks: Do we truly understand how to interpret ourselves, the world, and God?
Sermon Focus | The Parable of the Sower
Background—
This is a parable about parables. Jesus uses it to illustrate why he’s using parables. His point is that parables involve hearing and truly understanding.
The parable involves a farmer sowing liberally and then plowing. This means a lot of seed was lost.
vv. 9-10: The disciples ask Jesus, “Why parables?”
v. 13: “I speak in parables because in seeing they don't see, and in hearing they don't hear or understand.” (He references Isaiah 6:9-10.)
Two things to learn from this:
1) Jesus’ explanation is based on the parable of sower. It is a comment on the human condition. Although some hear Jesus' words, they are unable to comprehend.
Jesus asks us to focus on the soil. There are four soils that correspond to different types of hearing.
2) Jesus references Isaiah to make his point in the parable: you will hear but never understand, and you will see but never perceive. You have dull hearts and closed eyes.
Key question—
“Why do we hear but don't understand. Why is it that when seed is sowed, most soil won't take it?