The Sower's Objective
by Rev. Kirby Williams
Learning to overcome impediments to the primary objective of the Sower-- to bear Kingdom fruit.
Text: Luke 8:11-15
Date: 09/25/2022, the Combined service.
Series: "Luke: Thy Kingdom Come" Part 78
Description:
Jesus wraps up His epic parable of the Sower by revealing privately to His disciples what the parable means. Before explaining how the various soils relate to the condition of people's souls, He establishes the central element of the parable-- the sowing of the Word of God, and in particular the Gospel. We will analyze each of these soil-types and how they relate to the work of redemption. But as we do, we will ask ourselves who Jesus is teaching this parable to. If indeed three out of the four soils do not have ears to hear, then what is the message to those who do? We will interpret this parable not only as a statement of truth concerning God's sovereignty in redemption, but also as a warning to the church. A warning that the field (the world) is full of pitfalls, enemies and behaviors (both outside and inside the church!) that will inevitably corrupt and impede the spreading of the Gospel. Ultimately, those with ears to hear will learn and establish their place in the Sower's objective-- to bear much fruit for the Kingdom of God.
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I. Introduction
II. Exposition of the text, Luke 8:11-15.
A. Context
1. An overview from the perspective of the sower.
2. The Theological interlude.
a. Ears to hear, Luke 8:8.
b. Selective illumination, Rom. 9:20.
B. The parable of the four soils explained.
1. Overview
a. Determining the purpose of the parable.
i. A parable told for those "with ears", Luke 8:10.
ii. The value to those who can hear.
b. Identifying the field and the Sower.
i. The meaning of the field.
ii. The sustainability of the Kingdom.
2. The Word of God, vs. 11.
a. The meaning of "the seed".
b. The method of sowing, Rom. 1:19-21.
c. Hearing the Word, Luke 8:10,12-15.
d. The consistency of the Word.
3. The "soil of impossibility", vs. 12.
a. The hardened path.
i. Re-establishing the image.
ii. Jesus' explanation.
1) The obdurate heart.
2) The work of the enemy, 1Pet. 5:8.
3) The outworking of judgment, Rev. 19:20-21.
4) How the devil works.
iii. The trampling by the world, Luke 8:5.
iv. The impossibility of belief.
1) The necessity of the Word, Rom. 10:14,17, John 1:1,14.
2) The necessity of belief.
4. The "soils of false-conversion", vs. 13-14.
a. The shallow belief, vs. 13.
i. Re-establishing the image.
ii. Jesus' explanation.
1) The dangers of allegorizing a parable.
2) The shallow, false conversion.
a) The Word is received with joy, John 14:15.
b) But very quickly lost, 1John 2:19, Rom. 8:38-39.
3) A warning to indolent believers.
b. Choked by the world, vs. 14.
i. Re-establishing the image.
ii. Jesus' explanation.
1) The so-called carnal Christian.
a) The new creation in Christ, 2Cor. 5:17, John 15:5-6.
b) Still stuck in the world, James 1:6-8, John 15:19, James 4:4.
2) The work of the devil.
a) The cares of the world.
b) The deceitfulness of riches, John 8:44.
c) The pleasures of this life, 1John 2:15-17.
3) The warning to Christians who dance with the thorns.
5. The good soil, vs. 15.
a. Re-establishing the image.
b. Jesus' explanation.
i. The work of the Spirit, Rom. 3:10.
ii. The meaning of "fruit", Eph. 2:10.
III. Application
A. The truth of God's sovereignty, Rom. 1:20, 9:16.
B. A warning against Christian indolence.
C. Warning to the church.
1. The False Gospel.
2. The False Conversion.
3. The False Doctrine, Rev. 2:14, 20.
IV. Conclusion
