INTRODUCTION:

There was a grandfather whose grandson was helping him dig potatoes. After about an hour of hard work, the boy looked up at his grandpa and asked, "Why did you bury all these things in here?" (1)

How many of you have ever planted a garden? If you have, then you know that there's a lot of work before you ever plant the seeds or set out the plants. You have to prepare the soil by plowing and cultivating. You also have to find out what kind of soil you have, because there are different types of soil, each with their own characteristics. Some are acidic and some are alkaline. You have to take all of this into account before you can plant. You also have to decide what you are going to plant because that will help determine what you need to do to the soil.

This morning we look at one of Jesus' parables that deals with exactly the same thing. Types of soil. The farmer planted his seed and then Jesus explained how that seed fared in each of the types of soil. The disciples didn't quite get it. Maybe it was because most of them were fisherman. But as Jesus explains the parable, we find that we are the soil. And that the message of salvation is the seed.

So, the question this morning is: "What kind of soil are you?" We all react differently to the Good News of Jesus Christ. Each of us has some of the characteristics of the soil in this parable.

I. THE SOILS:

A. THE PATH: The first soil mentioned is the soil on "the path." A path is smooth, flat and hard. The ground is compacted by all the traffic. All a seed can do is lie on top of the soil, exposed and barren. Even if it gets buried and sprouts, it will get trampled under foot. So, it's not surprising, that these seeds are scooped up by hungry birds before they even have a chance to grow.

There are people whose hearts and minds are like the soil of the path, hardened. Minds and hearts can be hardened by things such as prejudice, which blinds us to things we don't want to see. Or pride which makes us unteachable through the inability to acknowledge that there might be something new we didn't know. Or it could be immoral behavior that has hardened our heart and mind. Whatever it is that hardens the soil of our hearts, the seed of the Good News of Jesus Christ doesn't penetrate and grow.

B. ROCKY GROUND: Then there's the rocky ground. This is the shallow soil. People whose lives mirror this soil have a shallow faith. Oh, it springs up quickly but it soon dies. I read about a young ministerial candidate who was entering seminary. He received a glowing report from his home church, his pastor and District Supt. However, in processing his application the seminary noticed they hadn't received his college transcript. After several letters and delays, an admissions official called the university to see if they could clear up the mix-up.

That was when the truth was discovered. This young man's name didn't appear in the records. There were no attendance records, no grades, no test scores, nothing for the entire four years he claimed to have attended school. It was incredible. The young man was asked to explain. He confessed that he had taken the money that his family and Church had given him for school, attended the University, but only audited the classes. He had simply been an observer for the entire four years of college. He had wanted the identity with the academic community without any of the sacrifice. (2)

That's what the rocky ground is about. Those who would try to audit the faith. Those who want to be identified with the Christian community and Christian values but without any of the sacrifices or cost. These folks are pretending to be what they were not. Their soil and their roots are shallow and their enthusiasm dies when the going gets a little tough or they are called to deeper commitment.

C. THORNS: That brings us to the soil filled with thorns. Here it's not so much the soil that effects the growth as the company that the seeds kept. The soil was deep enough, soft enough and rich enough but it also had a healthy crop of thorns. These prickly neighbors were stronger and more vigorous than the seeds of our parable. As a consequence, the thorns choked out the new plants.

Relationships are tricky things. We can't live without them, but sometimes we wish we could. There are times when being a hermit doesn't sound too bad. I had a couple of those times this past week at camp. Those kinds of thoughts might go through your head on the days when you and your spouse have a fight, or the kids hate you because you told them "No," or your co-workers let you down on a big project. It might even happen just because it's hot and the sacker at the grocery store gave you a dirty look.

The truth is that we are interconnected. From the day we are born, we are enmeshed with the lives of others. And the lives of those we associate with affect all that we do. That's one of the reasons why people who are suffering some kind of dependency and are in recovery are told two things, find a support group, an accountability group to help you stay on track in your recovery. And don't associate with your old friends.

You see, the new life growing in the good soil filled with thorns will be choked out by the thorns. It's the same with our faith. If we give our lives to Christ, but go back to the same old haunts and the same old habits, the faith that we have is liable to be choked out by the ways of the world.

D. GOOD SOIL: That brings us to the good soil, the soil that has been prepared and in which the seed takes root and grows and bears fruit. A hundred fold. This is simply the folks who have let the Word of God and the Good News of Jesus Christ take root in their heart and in their lives.

Let me give you an example, some of you may remembering seeing it. There was a story in the news a few years back. For me, it started with a black and white photo and a brief paragraph in the Star-Telegram, then I saw an NBC news report on the event. The photo was of Keisha Thomas, one of the marchers in an Anti-Klan rally that was taking place concurrently with a Ku Klux Klan rally in Greenville. The photo showed Ms. Thomas protecting one of the Klan marchers from the crowd. If you didn't see the photograph or the news piece, Keisha Thomas is black. There was this black woman protecting a man who had both a Confederate Flag and a large Swastika prominently displayed on his clothes. When asked, "Why?" Ms. Thomas said she threw herself across him and stopped the others from beating him because he was a man. Beating him wouldn't change his beliefs would it? But loving him might.

To me, that's someone in whom the seeds of faith have sprouted, grown and produced much fruit. Her faith goes deep. I hope I have that much courage, conviction and faith if I ever wind in a situation like that. In my mind, the life of Keisha Thomas, at least what we've seen through the news media, is definitely a display of the good soil that Jesus was talking about in this parable.

II. STILL CALLED TO SOW

Those are the four kinds of soil. At times we have all been one of those soils. We have been hardened or open. At times we have been fired up with enthusiasm only to have it die down quickly or we've simply let the weeds of neglect choke out our faith. But the Good News is that the quality of the soil doesn't effect the potential of the seed. Did you hear that? The quality of the soil does not effect the potential of the seed.

Our message is still the same. We still proclaim Christ crucified and risen. We still proclaim the Good News of the forgiveness of sin. We still tell the story. We still plant the seeds.

I read about a primitive tribe deep in the south American jungles. Anthropologists learned the most important role within the tribe was the "keeper of the flame." Since fire is so precious and it takes such effort to recreate, one member is entrusted with the responsibility of keeping the flame alive. During the night, the "flame-keeper" adds wood to the fire. He or she keeps it alive whenever the tribe moves. It is a vital task. Christ has called us to be His "keepers of the flame." We are to keep alive the proclamation of His message. (3)

We have a definite message to proclaim. Just because it falls on the path or rocky soil or amongst weeds doesn't mean we should quit telling the story or proclaiming the Good News. It's still Good News. And we are still called to tell it.

Not only that but when we do what God has called us to do and are faithful in the living and the telling of the Good News. The Holy Spirit prepares the soil of people's hearts for the hearing of God's Good News of Christ. The Holy Spirit can change the quality and characteristics of the soil so that the seed of the message of faith can sprout, grow and bear fruit. It is our task to be the sowers and to tend to the soil of our own personal faith.

CONCLUSION:

There was a Grandma and Grandpa driving across Kansas on vacation with their five-year-old granddaughter. They were enjoying the sights, especially the beautiful fields of corn. The wind was blowing hard and Grandma commented: "Looks like the wind could blow the corn down." Their five-year-old granddaughter piped up, "Oh, no, it's planted deep, Grandma. And you don't blow down when you're planted deep." (4)

This passage challenges us to look at our lives. It asks us some very important questions about our faith. What kind of soil are you? How has the Good News of Jesus sprung up in your life? Are you planted deep? In a sense, the kind of soil you are, determines the kind of sower you will be. So, what kind of soil are you? And what kind of sower are you?

This morning I invite you to allow the Holy Spirit to prepare the soil of your heart for the seeds of God's Good News. Invite Christ to water and tend the garden of your faith that it might grow and bear much fruit.

This is the Word of the Lord for this day.

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1. Homiletics: April - June 1996, p. 26

2.

3. Joe E. Trull, "The Seven Last Words of the Risen Christ", Baker Book House, 1985.

4. *COUNTRY Feb/Mar 1990 (Milwaukee, WI)