Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Sower and Four Types of Soil (Matthew 13:3-8,18-23, Mark 4:3-20, Luke 8:5-15) (01/25/24)
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TITLE: Burger Bash Blessings | Previous Challenge Entry
By Noel Mitaxa
02/01/24 -
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Their enthusiasm was encouraging to Pastor Kelvin, but tonight, with the burgers and sides gone, the coffees passed around and Bibles opened, he sensed some frustration creeping into their questions and comments.
“Why don’t people want to hear what can totally turn their lives around?”
“How can we make them listen?”
“Why don’t we set out some answers to their questions, so we can be ready for them?”
“Your questions are just like those that Jesus’ disciples peppered him with,” replied Kelvin, “so let’s check his Parable of the Sower. It’s in Matthew 13, Mark 4, and Luke 8; it’s about people’s responses being so different; and it’s the only parable that he explained to them.
“Where does the seed land as the Sower tosses it out of his bag?” he asked them, watching them scan the pages.
“Some fell on a path, where it just became birdseed. It couldn’t put any roots down because the path was too hard,” offered Sharyn.
Todd put up his hand, and added, “Some of it fell into weedy ground, and it just got strangled!”
“Shallow soil couldn’t sustain any real growth, which meant that the seed landing in it shot up quickly and then just withered away,” said Meagan.
“Only some of the seed fell in good soil,” said Scott, “but it produced results that the Sower must have wanted for every bit of seed that he tossed out of his bag.”
“So how do we keep sowing our seed?” Kelvin asked them. “We can’t predict people’s responses, and while we’d like to know how to answer their questions, it’s no help to know all the answers to questions they aren’t asking.
“Some people are hardened by tough times, or past mistakes, or being let down by people they have trusted. If we show them genuine interest that doesn’t intrude too heavily on issues that they might find it hard to talk about, we’ll show the kind of respect that Jesus did. He respected people enough to let them walk away when he knew they weren’t ready, and while we will pray for hardened people, we must give God his room and time to prepare them in ways that only he can.
“It’s hard to share with the “weedy” people, because their lives are so full that they either see the gospel as a nice option to maybe consider some time later, or it could mean more changes than they want to make. We have to allow God his timing for them as well, even though it will often hurt us to see them hurting themselves.
“I must confess to being excited about folks who hurtle into a whole new faith with so much energy and excitement, but then find that they wilt under pressure and want to dump the whole package. They need our prayers and support, for the enemy will do all he can to destroy them, especially over their first six weeks.
Why six weeks? Because immediately after being baptized, Jesus faced forty days of testing in the wilderness, and if Jesus had to go through that, we can expect Satan and his horde to pursue any new believer.
“And what about the good soil? People who are prepared and receptive to our message and willing to follow Jesus, whatever it takes.
"But let’s also be honest about our responses. We may sometimes feel hardened against fresh challenges and want to turn off for a while. Or we might be hit with all kinds of distractive “weeds” in our lives that will claim more attention than they should. As a pastor, I’ve often found all kinds of options that looked so much more attractive than what God has called me to do, only to find very shallow soil beneath those options.
“Following Jesus is a living sacrifice – and living sacrifices like to remove themselves from the discomfort of an altar – but he has begun a good work in us, and he will complete it in the day of Christ Jesus, as Philippians 1:6 promises us.”
The mood lifted as smiles regained their rightful place on everyone’s faces, and confidence returned. And next week’s Burger Bash was looking well worthwhile…
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