An outline of a dialogue sermon at Grace Episcopal on by Lynette and Scotty 1-17-10

Are we fruitful? Or BE GOOD SOIL
Luke 8:5-15 ESV

Last week I asked four questions
1. Are we making God famous?
2. Are we fruitful?
3. Are we faithful? (in other words, are we using all the gifts God has given us?)
4. Are we fulfilled?

Last week I asked- are we making God famous? This week, are we fruitful?

Let's turn to Luke 8:5-15 on page 1099 and read the parable of the sower…

The Parable of the Sower
5 "A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. 6 And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. 8 And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold." As he said these things, he called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." 9 And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, 10 he said, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that 'seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.' 11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. 14 And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. 15 As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.

Specifically, this parable explains why Jesus' message has different effects on different people. It's not that His message is defective, or that it's true for some people but not for others. The message is THE message of God, true for EVERYONE and able to transform EACH person who hears it. The issue is that many people fail to experience the life-changing power of God's message because they don't respond properly to it. And if they don't "get it" they cannot pass it on - they cannot be fruitful.

" The benefit of fruitfulness…or the difference between a grape and a raisin

The 4 types of soil
1. rocky
2. shallow
3. surrounded by weeds
4. good soil
" good soil produces much fruit

I've been asked many times "After May 1st, what will happen to me? What will happen to us?"

" If you stay, be fruitful

" If you leave, be fruitful

" The WORST thing that could happen is to not be fruitful

So how do we stay fruitful?
John 15-p 1147
" 1. "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.
" 2. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
" 3.Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.
" 4. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
" 5.I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
" 6.If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
" 7.If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
" 8. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
" 9. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.
" 10. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.
" 11.These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
" Verse 5- apart from Jesus you can do? Nothing

" So to be fruitful we must be rooted

" One more reason that we aren't fruitful… we must be pruned…so that we can bear more fruit

" How do we become good soil - be rooted in Jesus, be willing to be pruned
" Isaiah 40:31- pg 764
" But those who wait on the LORD will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

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