Sermon: Mark 4:1-20 Soils

So, I was asked to finish my sermon for Feburary two weeks early so that it could get some constructive criticism and such. And now, I've been asked to write three sermons for March! Which isn't as much time as I'd usually like, but I was asked to preach on these dates some time ago, so I still feel okay about it.

So there won't be a lot going on here over the next few weeks, since I'll be using my mornings to write sermons, as is my practice. To show I'm not lying, here's a sneak preview of the sermon I'll be giving in two Sundays' time!

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Mark 4:1-20 – The parable of the sowing of seed

• Jesus: Prophet, or Performer?
  • Jesus had crowds of people listen to him (Mark 4:1), but;
  • How many were really listening?
• Four Ways To Live
  • Which ground are you?
  • Fruitful (Mark 4:20) – The pinnacle of Christian living
  • Strangled (Mark 4:18-19) – where is your energy going? (Wants, Wealth, Worries)
  • Withered (Mark 4:16-17) – what are your struggles?
  • Barren (Mark 4:15) – why aren't you listening?

Sermon words

Have you ever missed out on learning some important information because you weren't paying attention? Like poor Manny in the TV show Black Books (Black Books, Series 1, Episode 5 [1:30-2:02], who should have learned the security code for the new door, but instead was distracted by the subbuteo toy in the man's hair, perhaps you have been listening to instructions or lessons from a teacher, instructor, or maybe even a preacher, and something distracts you – a mobile phone ringing, or a friend next to you asking what you're doing afterwards. What's even worse is when you are then supposed to be able to explain what you've learned to someone else.

In the gospel of Mark, which we've been looking at for a few weeks now, we see that Jesus had a lot to say to the people around him. And people were keen to hear it! We've read that so many people crowded to hear him speak, that he had to get on a boat and use it as a floating pulpit. Maybe you've occasionally thought that it would be nice if our church was crowded by thousands of people, so many that Bruce had to get up on the roof to preach to them.

Don't feel dejected if that doesn't happen. Remember that not only was Jesus a better preacher than anyone here (and that is not a reflection on anyone – it's hard to beat someone at preaching who goes by the name Word of God), but also remember that entertainment options back then were a lot harder to come by. No internet, no youtube, no iPad. No TV, no radio, no news programs. Most people couldn't read, and even if you could, there wasn't much to read – no newspapers, no novels. There wasn't even organised sporting competitions to watch or participate in! So when someone turns up in your town and starts preaching, that's a big deal. It's like Justin Bieber giving a free concert in Sydney – lots of people are going to show up.

It's important to realise that while some of those who were there to hear Jesus speak believed that he was a great teacher, or perhaps even a prophet sent by God or something more, many were there simply because it was something to do. And, as I'm sure you all know, your attitude towards what someone says will affect how closely you listen to them.

For example, when I used to work in a service station while I was at uni, people would come in, and I would say, “Good afternoon, sir,” and they would reply, “Fine thanks, mate.” You see the problem there? I may as well have said, “Stock standard greeting, sir,” and had them reply, “Habitual response, mate.” But, if you say to someone, “Don't move!” you are very likely to get their attention. People are less likely to listen carefully to someone if they don't think what's being said is important.

So when Jesus starts talking about a farmer throwing seed on the ground, and what happens to it, there were going to be a number of people who switch off. “I know this,” they'd say to themselves, “I plant my crops every year. What's the point?” Or they might say, “Well, I assume there's some sort of hidden meaning to this, but I can't be bothered working it out.” They hear the words being said by Jesus, but they don't try and puzzle out the meaning, or go and ask him what it means. Like Manny with the security code, they don't admit that they weren't listening, or they don't understand. That would make them look stupid. So they just nod, as if it all made sense, protect their ego, and hope they can pick it up later. Have you ever done that before? I have.

The thing is, Jesus isn't giving talks on farming practices. Back at the start of his speaking tour, Jesus makes it clear what he's talking about: At Mark 1:15, he says, “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

This parable of sowing seeds is really about how people respond to what Jesus is talking about. It shows that there are four ways to live, four ways to react to Jesus' claim that the kingdom of God is near, and that you must repent and believe.

There are four ways to live here; four ways to respond to Jesus' message (listed in the second point on the handout). I've listed them there as fruitful, strangled, withered and barren. My question to you tonight is going to be, which of these four soils are you? The seed is the same for everyone – God's word. But the reception of God's word differs for people. So when you read the Bible, or you listen to a talk at church, how do you react to the information you hear?

The fruitful ground is the example all Christians should be aiming for. It represents a life that hears what God has to say, plants it inside, and lets it grow to maturity. A fruitful Christian evaluates every message from God, whether from the Bible, heard in a sermon, discussed in a small group, or read in a Christian book, and seeks to have that message reflected in their life. The fruitful Christian life is a life of accepting the truth, changing to reflect that truth, and helping others to also change to reflect the truth in their own lives.

If you look at your reaction to your Bible readings, or to Christian books, sermons, and bible studies, and you're struggling to see changes in your life and other people's lives, then chances are your attitude is reflected by another kind of soil.

If you hear God's message, and your response is, “I'll try to fit this into my life somewhere, but I'm really busy,” this is the common feeling of the life of strangled soil. There is growth there, for sure. But there are also weeds. You know what weeds do? They suck the nutrients from the ground, so that the proper plant doesn't get the energy to be fruitful. It spends all its time trying to survive. If this sounds like you, then ask yourself the question: what are your weeds? What are those things that are taking up your time and energy, that are stopping you from giving that time and energy to obeying God?

Jesus actually makes some suggestions about what your weeds could be. Sometimes it's because what you want doesn't line up with what God wants for you. So you put your energy into what you want, and it strangles your growth with God. Some people think that wealth can keep them safe, secure and comfortable, and so put their energy into making money. But that's a lie. Any feeling of security that does not come from God is actually a weed, strangling you. And sometimes we just get so caught up in all the worries of life - “Do people like me? Can we pay off our debt? What's going to happen tomorrow?” - and we don't simply trust God's word that the Kingdom of God is near, and these things won't matter. Maybe it's time for us to do some weeding, and put our energies into producing God's eternal fruit, not our own temporary security.

The shallow soil that produces a withered response to God can sometimes be the most difficult to spot. There's growth, looks like a normal plant; there is joy in the person's life. But whenever following God's way becomes hard, when the spotlight is on you, when it conflicts with what you want, or people might ridicule you for it, you cave in. If this is you, then you will find that you can't be fruitful, because your seed is only half-planted. You have understood the message of, and you have accepted it's truth – but you don't live it. When a problem occurs, you don't ask, “What would Jesus do?” You don't ask God for help with the problem. You just do whatever you think is right. Sometimes, you do things you know are wrong, because it's easier.

If this sounds like you, then ask yourself: what are your struggles? What is it that stops you from living the way you should, from putting what you hear from God into practice? What are the things that, when they come into your life, make you feel powerless to live a godly life? Perhaps it's problems with anger that you can't control, or a desire to put other people down to further your own ends. Sometimes it can be choosing to do something you know is against God just because it makes you feel good. Whatever your struggles are, the fundamental solution is to be rooted in God's words, and his message to you. Other Christians can help, but ultimately, if you are not dedicated to living your life for God, then you will wither, and fall away from your faith in God.

Finally, people who are the rocky ground are basically just deaf. There's no reaction, no growth, nothing at all. They simply don't listen to God's message. They may as well have earplugs in when they go to church, if they ever go to church. If this is you – if you find that what Jesus has to say about the kingdom of God has no impact on your life whatsoever - perhaps I can just ask one question for you to think about: why aren't you listening? What gets between you, and Jesus and his message? Surely it is worth at least sitting down and working out what you really think about what he says, the problems you see with what God says, the statements you can't accept.

Because Jesus makes it clear that he doesn't think it's a matter of choice. He says that Satan actually works to keep people from paying attention and hearing what he really has to say about the Kingdom of God. All they hear is the speech about farming practices.

The fact that people can be barren in reaction to God's word is perhaps the biggest challenge to all of us. It means that sometimes, when Jesus speaks, people don't listen. It means that when we talk about the good news, people might not listen.

If you struggle to understand it, or if you find your attempts to be fruitful and share the gospel just bouncing off barren ground, then take heart – even the disciples didn't understand this parable, and had to ask Jesus what he meant. Just remember that Christians who fruitfully obey God are not fruitful because they have no weeds (no distractions), or because the sun doesn't shine on them (no struggles) – they are fruitful because they work through these issues, through faith in God and by his strength. So reflect on your life, on your attitude to what God says to you, and try to bear fruit by living out what you hear from God.