WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.339 Good morning, church family. 00:00:04.759 --> 00:00:10.259 As Alex said, we're going to read from Matthew chapter 13, the first 23 verses. 00:00:13.839 --> 00:00:15.200 Starting at verse 1. 00:00:16.199 --> 00:00:20.500 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea, 00:00:21.019 --> 00:00:26.219 and great crowds gathered around him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. 00:00:26.820 --> 00:00:29.140 And the whole crowd stood on the beach. 00:00:29.140 --> 00:00:33.000 And he told them many things in parables, saying, 00:00:59.140 --> 00:01:03.500 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 00:01:04.439 --> 00:01:12.040 Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 00:01:13.000 --> 00:01:15.500 He who has ears, let him hear. 00:01:15.500 --> 00:01:19.780 Then the disciples came and said to him, 00:01:20.180 --> 00:01:21.959 Why do you speak to them in parables? 00:01:22.799 --> 00:01:23.859 And he answered them, 00:01:24.680 --> 00:01:28.439 To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, 00:01:29.000 --> 00:01:30.960 but to them it has not been given. 00:01:32.099 --> 00:01:36.780 For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance. 00:01:37.560 --> 00:01:41.519 But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 00:01:41.519 --> 00:01:44.979 This is why I speak to them in parables. 00:01:45.840 --> 00:01:52.079 Because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 00:01:53.319 --> 00:01:53.759 Indeed. 00:01:54.340 --> 00:01:58.979 In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says, 00:01:58.980 --> 00:02:04.460 You will indeed hear, but never understand, and you will indeed see, but never perceive. 00:02:05.540 --> 00:02:10.539 For this people's heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, 00:02:10.939 --> 00:02:15.640 and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, 00:02:15.920 --> 00:02:19.719 and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them. 00:02:20.759 --> 00:02:26.140 But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. 00:02:26.139 --> 00:02:33.179 For truly I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, 00:02:33.579 --> 00:02:38.000 and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. 00:02:39.119 --> 00:02:41.739 Hear then the parable of the sower. 00:02:42.739 --> 00:02:46.819 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, 00:02:47.239 --> 00:02:51.459 the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. 00:02:52.159 --> 00:02:54.319 This is what was sown along the path. 00:02:54.319 --> 00:02:59.699 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word, 00:02:59.799 --> 00:03:01.739 and immediately receives it with joy. 00:03:02.479 --> 00:03:06.299 Yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, 00:03:06.780 --> 00:03:10.840 and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, 00:03:11.400 --> 00:03:12.939 immediately he falls away. 00:03:12.939 --> 00:03:19.479 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, 00:03:19.859 --> 00:03:23.919 but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, 00:03:24.419 --> 00:03:25.900 and it proves unfruitful. 00:03:27.180 --> 00:03:34.219 As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. 00:03:34.219 --> 00:03:39.139 He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, 00:03:39.599 --> 00:03:42.139 in another sixty and in another thirty. 00:03:42.139 --> 00:03:44.919 Welcome, everyone. 00:03:45.139 --> 00:03:46.899 My name's Matt, if I haven't met you before. 00:03:47.519 --> 00:03:48.959 It's great to see you here. 00:03:49.859 --> 00:03:53.879 If you haven't seen me up the front, if you have only been here for a few months, 00:03:54.379 --> 00:03:55.959 you wouldn't have seen me up here before. 00:03:56.119 --> 00:04:00.319 I'm from the congregation, and I'm not one of the ministers here, 00:04:00.399 --> 00:04:05.500 so Dave Bottencorner and Dave Calderwood would normally be the ones up here giving these sermons. 00:04:05.500 --> 00:04:12.780 But I and a couple of the guys in the congregation are going to be taking us through Matthew chapter 13, 00:04:13.360 --> 00:04:16.259 this coming few five weeks. 00:04:16.839 --> 00:04:20.120 So today I'm going to be doing the parable of the sower, 00:04:20.600 --> 00:04:26.660 and it's probably the most recognisable one out of the parables that you would see in this chapter. 00:04:27.980 --> 00:04:31.600 Adam is going to be taking us through the weeds in verse 24, 00:04:31.600 --> 00:04:36.820 and Simon is going to be taking us through the parable of the mustard seed in verse 31. 00:04:38.200 --> 00:04:41.879 Andrew Wilkinson is going to be taking us through the hidden treasure in verse 44, 00:04:42.580 --> 00:04:46.300 and Gareth is going to be taking us through the parable of fishing net in verse 47. 00:04:46.980 --> 00:04:51.140 So the good news is, if you don't like one of our sermons, 00:04:51.360 --> 00:04:53.439 you won't have to hear us again for a long, long time. 00:04:56.260 --> 00:04:57.680 Look, on a serious note though, 00:04:57.780 --> 00:05:00.560 I pray that we'll be an encouragement to you over the coming weeks, 00:05:00.560 --> 00:05:03.680 and that we can bring these parables to you faithfully. 00:05:06.379 --> 00:05:07.860 I have a question for you. 00:05:09.660 --> 00:05:16.540 Do you ever feel like the gospel in Australia is somehow failing? 00:05:20.199 --> 00:05:24.840 Do you feel like the good news of Jesus is under attack in our society? 00:05:24.839 --> 00:05:34.759 I often feel like people these days are just becoming harder and harder to their gospel. 00:05:35.379 --> 00:05:40.120 Their hearts just kind of becoming more and more resistant to the words of Jesus. 00:05:40.239 --> 00:05:41.279 Do you guys feel like that? 00:05:41.579 --> 00:05:42.819 I don't know if that's just me. 00:05:42.919 --> 00:05:44.239 I think I feel like that. 00:05:44.559 --> 00:05:49.739 Sometimes I feel like Satan is winning a battle for hearts and minds in Australia. 00:05:49.740 --> 00:05:56.960 You know, I kind of look back at Australian history and see over time we're just becoming more and more secular as we go along. 00:05:57.060 --> 00:06:01.100 Do you feel like the gospel in Australia is failing? 00:06:03.980 --> 00:06:09.000 You see, telling people the message of Jesus can be really hard. 00:06:09.519 --> 00:06:13.199 People these days seem to not really want to hear the message of Jesus. 00:06:13.199 --> 00:06:17.240 And I think there's a couple of different categories here. 00:06:17.879 --> 00:06:19.979 Some people hear about Jesus and they think, 00:06:20.099 --> 00:06:22.159 Oh, that's too hard. 00:06:22.620 --> 00:06:24.159 I have to go to church on a Sunday. 00:06:25.039 --> 00:06:25.899 I've got all these rules. 00:06:25.920 --> 00:06:27.579 You want me to follow the Ten Commandments? 00:06:27.680 --> 00:06:29.480 All these rules that I have to do? 00:06:29.680 --> 00:06:31.199 I can't do this thing. 00:06:31.259 --> 00:06:32.719 I have to do all these other things. 00:06:32.759 --> 00:06:33.560 That's ridiculous. 00:06:34.680 --> 00:06:36.519 I think that's one type of reaction. 00:06:36.680 --> 00:06:39.419 Another one is that they think it's too easy. 00:06:39.420 --> 00:06:44.660 Like, hold on, you're saying I literally just have to accept and believe? 00:06:45.800 --> 00:06:47.340 Like, where's my list of rituals? 00:06:47.900 --> 00:06:50.400 Shouldn't I be praying three times a day? 00:06:50.540 --> 00:06:53.660 Or shouldn't I be eating certain foods and avoiding others? 00:06:53.840 --> 00:06:55.060 I mean, come on, guys. 00:06:55.420 --> 00:06:58.580 Like, this can't be what this is. 00:06:59.879 --> 00:07:00.740 What about this? 00:07:00.780 --> 00:07:04.360 I think some people in our society think Jesus is a joke. 00:07:04.360 --> 00:07:08.120 Now, not a show that I particularly recommend you watch, 00:07:08.259 --> 00:07:10.420 but Family Guy depicts Jesus in this way. 00:07:10.699 --> 00:07:15.400 He does this miracle and there's this great scene where they depict Jesus 00:07:15.400 --> 00:07:17.860 doing his miracles and it goes like this. 00:07:17.980 --> 00:07:20.020 Jesus gets up in front of the crowd like this and he goes, 00:07:20.800 --> 00:07:25.819 da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da. 00:07:25.819 --> 00:07:28.139 And that's their portrayal of Jesus. 00:07:28.400 --> 00:07:30.160 An absolute, absolute joke. 00:07:30.160 --> 00:07:36.020 And then I think there's people who think Jesus is even on the other end 00:07:36.020 --> 00:07:36.540 of the spectrum. 00:07:36.660 --> 00:07:37.520 He's too serious. 00:07:38.280 --> 00:07:39.500 Can't believe you've done this. 00:07:40.740 --> 00:07:42.000 You did this. 00:07:42.220 --> 00:07:43.700 I told you not to do this. 00:07:45.000 --> 00:07:48.020 I asked you to do these things and you have not done them. 00:07:49.000 --> 00:07:51.860 And I think that's another perception of Jesus, that he's very serious. 00:07:51.860 --> 00:07:59.879 I think not only that, but sometimes you can wonder, 00:08:00.220 --> 00:08:03.220 how do people even come to Jesus in our society at all? 00:08:03.740 --> 00:08:08.720 There are so many barriers getting in the way of someone coming and accepting Jesus. 00:08:09.240 --> 00:08:09.699 Isn't there? 00:08:09.819 --> 00:08:13.300 I mean, just look at our society and the perception in the media, 00:08:13.420 --> 00:08:16.160 the way that our friends and family who aren't Christian talk about Jesus. 00:08:16.160 --> 00:08:20.360 How on earth does anyone come to Jesus in Australia? 00:08:23.980 --> 00:08:28.520 And I think for me it's made worse by this nagging feeling that I sometimes get, 00:08:29.220 --> 00:08:31.940 where I go, I know God is all-powerful. 00:08:33.120 --> 00:08:35.899 I know God can do whatever he wants to do. 00:08:37.779 --> 00:08:41.259 So why, when I tell someone the gospel and I hear the gospel, 00:08:41.259 --> 00:08:46.720 does it not just sweep through our society, every heart changed, every mind believing? 00:08:48.220 --> 00:08:49.939 Why is this even a competition? 00:08:51.379 --> 00:08:53.960 Why is there other religions in our world? 00:08:54.080 --> 00:08:56.500 Why is not everyone just coming to Jesus? 00:09:00.319 --> 00:09:03.700 You see, I think I would probably expect, if I was God, 00:09:04.419 --> 00:09:08.819 that I would have a moment like we see when Elijah's talking to the prophets of Baal 00:09:08.820 --> 00:09:12.660 and you've got the two altars and this big rain of fire comes down 00:09:12.660 --> 00:09:17.000 and it's clear to everyone that God exists, that he's real, 00:09:17.100 --> 00:09:18.400 and that he is the one in control. 00:09:18.860 --> 00:09:21.300 That's what I kind of want to see, don't you think? 00:09:21.340 --> 00:09:26.720 It's just this huge, undisputable sign that God is the one in control. 00:09:29.780 --> 00:09:33.300 Is the gospel failing in our society? 00:09:36.140 --> 00:09:38.540 Why do so many people reject the message? 00:09:38.820 --> 00:09:47.660 Well, in this series, not just today, but I suspect throughout the other talks as well, 00:09:48.280 --> 00:09:56.000 we're going to see that the gospel is doing exactly what God intended it to do. 00:09:57.900 --> 00:10:01.260 It just might not look like we think it should. 00:10:02.940 --> 00:10:04.520 See, reactions will differ. 00:10:05.220 --> 00:10:07.680 People will see the gospel and respond in different ways, 00:10:07.679 --> 00:10:13.919 but ultimately, God's gospel is doing exactly what he intended. 00:10:13.919 --> 00:10:20.039 Now I'm going to pray and then we'll properly get into the actual parable. 00:10:20.439 --> 00:10:21.019 So let's pray. 00:10:22.099 --> 00:10:28.079 Dear God, thank you for the time that we can spend here together thinking through this parable. 00:10:28.419 --> 00:10:31.439 Thank you so much that for many of us here, 00:10:31.519 --> 00:10:36.419 you've given us minds and ears to understand and we have accepted your kingdom word. 00:10:36.419 --> 00:10:43.519 God, I pray that you would give me the words to speak and for those listening, clarity to hear and understand. 00:10:44.219 --> 00:10:44.459 Amen. 00:10:44.460 --> 00:10:48.240 Okay, first let's step back a bit. 00:10:48.840 --> 00:10:51.060 Let's zoom out and look at the context of Matthew. 00:10:51.060 --> 00:10:56.500 And Dave, both Dave's have been bringing us Matthew for a number of weeks now. 00:10:56.920 --> 00:11:02.200 And really the way that Matthew works is Jesus comes to the world and he says, 00:11:02.200 --> 00:11:05.000 Okay, Israel, you've got the Old Testament. 00:11:05.280 --> 00:11:08.879 You've seen throughout the Old Testament that there's prophecies, 00:11:09.100 --> 00:11:13.020 there's people and things pointing towards this guy who's going to come and bring the kingdom. 00:11:13.740 --> 00:11:16.620 Your history shows that someone's going to come. 00:11:16.680 --> 00:11:18.520 And Jesus says, I am that person. 00:11:19.420 --> 00:11:22.980 I'm the one who's going to bring the kingdom to this world. 00:11:22.980 --> 00:11:25.440 And so we see that that happens. 00:11:25.940 --> 00:11:33.139 And then we get to this point in verse 10 where he sends out his people into the world. 00:11:33.340 --> 00:11:34.980 He sends out his disciples into the world. 00:11:35.379 --> 00:11:37.539 He's been doing a lot of miracles and healing people. 00:11:37.740 --> 00:11:40.600 And that's kind of the start of the kingdom coming. 00:11:40.680 --> 00:11:42.019 He sends them out into the world. 00:11:42.820 --> 00:11:46.680 And they go out and they say, 00:11:47.460 --> 00:11:50.440 Look, we're getting differing responses here. 00:11:50.440 --> 00:11:55.060 And you can see it coming out in different stories as we go through, 00:11:55.140 --> 00:11:57.700 not just in chapter 10 onwards, even beforehand. 00:11:57.840 --> 00:12:00.400 People respond very differently to the message of Jesus. 00:12:01.300 --> 00:12:04.980 And so we get to this point where they're starting to see rejection. 00:12:05.200 --> 00:12:08.780 And in fact, if you look at the end of 13, which is the part that we're doing today, 00:12:09.340 --> 00:12:13.180 you can see that he goes to his own town, Nazareth. 00:12:13.960 --> 00:12:17.660 And people who have grown up with him since he was a baby, 00:12:17.659 --> 00:12:22.240 like this is not like society now where everyone just constantly moves cities, towns, whatever. 00:12:23.079 --> 00:12:24.819 Move to Tamworth, Jimmy and Nilm. 00:12:25.419 --> 00:12:26.219 Very unusual. 00:12:26.559 --> 00:12:27.779 You often stay where you were. 00:12:28.299 --> 00:12:29.639 They all know him very well. 00:12:30.079 --> 00:12:32.059 So I don't know why I had to get Jimmy and Nilm there. 00:12:33.219 --> 00:12:34.360 That was not in my script. 00:12:34.519 --> 00:12:35.079 Sorry, Jimmy and Nilm. 00:12:35.120 --> 00:12:36.039 I can't even see where you are. 00:12:37.539 --> 00:12:38.379 You can hear Jimmy's laugh. 00:12:40.120 --> 00:12:41.579 But this is not like that. 00:12:41.620 --> 00:12:42.220 They all know him. 00:12:42.220 --> 00:12:44.279 And they still reject his message. 00:12:46.440 --> 00:12:50.000 And so we're going to see this common theme over the next five weeks 00:12:50.000 --> 00:12:54.180 where Jesus and his disciples explain his kingdom message to people. 00:12:54.639 --> 00:12:58.120 But there's wildly different reactions to that message. 00:12:59.360 --> 00:13:03.300 And it's a message that divides people into people who hear and understand 00:13:03.300 --> 00:13:05.660 and those who don't. 00:13:05.659 --> 00:13:14.500 And a way of thinking like this is it's a bit like olives or blue cheese or oysters, 00:13:15.319 --> 00:13:16.740 maybe anchovies. 00:13:17.100 --> 00:13:18.719 You either get it or you don't. 00:13:19.779 --> 00:13:22.439 It's very unusual that someone be in between. 00:13:23.059 --> 00:13:25.699 By the way, for the record, blue cheese is great. 00:13:26.879 --> 00:13:27.719 Oysters are great. 00:13:28.079 --> 00:13:29.879 Olives and anchovies are disgusting. 00:13:32.199 --> 00:13:34.039 But again, very polarising. 00:13:35.659 --> 00:13:38.059 And so we come to chapter 13, verse 1. 00:13:38.559 --> 00:13:40.759 And we're met with this pretty unusual scene. 00:13:40.839 --> 00:13:42.980 That's the context that we get up to in here. 00:13:43.279 --> 00:13:46.919 We get this unusual scene where all these people have come to see Jesus speak. 00:13:47.500 --> 00:13:48.459 Huge crowds. 00:13:49.120 --> 00:13:52.620 So much so that he gets on a boat and kind of goes a little bit out into the lake 00:13:52.620 --> 00:13:55.100 and everyone's on the shore standing around. 00:13:55.719 --> 00:13:57.480 And he tells this odd story. 00:13:58.600 --> 00:14:00.299 Now they've all come to see him do miracles 00:14:00.299 --> 00:14:03.839 and maybe tell them some word about God. 00:14:03.840 --> 00:14:06.360 But he talks about this story about this guy who, 00:14:06.879 --> 00:14:08.580 a sower who goes out into the fields 00:14:08.580 --> 00:14:11.220 and he spreads seed around. 00:14:12.280 --> 00:14:14.060 And he's not a particularly picky sower. 00:14:14.759 --> 00:14:16.320 He's not trying to pick which soil. 00:14:16.940 --> 00:14:18.580 It goes on every soil. 00:14:19.259 --> 00:14:20.240 So we've got the path, 00:14:20.740 --> 00:14:22.060 which is the first one, 00:14:22.160 --> 00:14:23.500 and the birds come and eat it up. 00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:26.639 And then we have the rocky ground. 00:14:27.320 --> 00:14:29.080 The thorny ground is the third one. 00:14:29.080 --> 00:14:31.120 And then the fourth one is the good soil. 00:14:31.560 --> 00:14:34.060 And some of these plants grow and some don't. 00:14:34.600 --> 00:14:37.560 In fact, it's only really the plants on the good soil that grow. 00:14:39.180 --> 00:14:40.020 And that's it. 00:14:41.980 --> 00:14:43.840 Now probably pretty fairly, 00:14:44.180 --> 00:14:46.420 a lot of people in the crowd at this point are going, 00:14:47.540 --> 00:14:50.639 what on earth is he talking about? 00:14:52.080 --> 00:14:54.180 Jesus hasn't explained it at this point. 00:14:54.259 --> 00:14:54.920 Literally that's it. 00:14:54.919 --> 00:14:57.839 We have the context of what we've seen in the next coming verses, 00:14:57.979 --> 00:14:58.879 what he's talking about. 00:14:59.360 --> 00:15:00.439 But the people in the crowd, 00:15:02.959 --> 00:15:03.219 you know, 00:15:03.279 --> 00:15:04.439 like I'm a gardener. 00:15:04.679 --> 00:15:05.779 Sorry, I'm not a gardener. 00:15:06.459 --> 00:15:07.559 I'm not very good at gardening. 00:15:07.639 --> 00:15:08.079 I can mow. 00:15:08.159 --> 00:15:09.479 I can whippersnaip and I can hedge. 00:15:09.599 --> 00:15:10.179 That's about it. 00:15:10.459 --> 00:15:12.879 Even I know that if you plant seeds, 00:15:13.199 --> 00:15:14.979 not in good soil, 00:15:15.360 --> 00:15:16.139 they won't grow. 00:15:17.799 --> 00:15:19.439 And imagine them back in the day. 00:15:19.559 --> 00:15:20.939 They knew a lot about farming. 00:15:20.940 --> 00:15:24.620 What on earth is Jesus talking about? 00:15:26.680 --> 00:15:27.340 In fact, 00:15:27.380 --> 00:15:31.320 it's not just the average Joe listening in the crowd who feels that way either. 00:15:31.480 --> 00:15:32.340 The disciples, 00:15:32.500 --> 00:15:34.320 his own disciples come to him and say, 00:15:35.100 --> 00:15:36.940 why are you speaking to them in parables? 00:15:37.640 --> 00:15:38.920 Just say it how it is. 00:15:39.160 --> 00:15:41.220 Why are you talking to them in this way? 00:15:43.580 --> 00:15:43.840 You see, 00:15:43.940 --> 00:15:44.380 after all, 00:15:44.440 --> 00:15:49.340 parables don't make a message that is difficult to understand, 00:15:49.340 --> 00:15:51.519 easier to understand. 00:15:52.879 --> 00:15:53.740 If we said that, 00:15:53.800 --> 00:15:56.440 we would have to say that everything Jesus said up to this point 00:15:56.440 --> 00:15:59.019 is pretty inaccessible to the people he's teaching 00:15:59.019 --> 00:16:01.540 and somehow you need to have a parable to explain it. 00:16:02.460 --> 00:16:03.540 It's not like that at all. 00:16:03.600 --> 00:16:06.340 And I'm going to illustrate that by telling you a parable of my own. 00:16:07.960 --> 00:16:08.300 Okay. 00:16:09.340 --> 00:16:11.720 A man once bought a Russian doll. 00:16:12.360 --> 00:16:13.860 Does everyone know what a Russian doll is? 00:16:14.720 --> 00:16:15.800 It's one of those things you, 00:16:16.200 --> 00:16:16.519 like, 00:16:16.720 --> 00:16:17.280 break in half, 00:16:17.279 --> 00:16:19.939 a doll that you split in half and there's another doll inside. 00:16:20.539 --> 00:16:21.039 Keep going, 00:16:21.120 --> 00:16:22.399 there's more dolls inside each doll. 00:16:22.839 --> 00:16:22.980 Okay. 00:16:23.019 --> 00:16:24.139 A man had a Russian doll. 00:16:24.759 --> 00:16:26.419 It was made up of ten dolls. 00:16:27.179 --> 00:16:27.500 Okay. 00:16:28.199 --> 00:16:31.480 Now he hand-painted seven of the dolls. 00:16:32.759 --> 00:16:35.919 He did not hand-paint the third and the ninth doll. 00:16:37.339 --> 00:16:38.600 But the tenth doll, 00:16:38.699 --> 00:16:41.860 he smashed into eight pieces and buried it in the backyard. 00:16:41.860 --> 00:16:44.899 He who has ears to hear, 00:16:44.980 --> 00:16:45.539 let him hear. 00:16:48.899 --> 00:16:49.300 Now, 00:16:49.419 --> 00:16:50.500 I would be very, 00:16:50.820 --> 00:16:51.879 very surprised 00:16:51.879 --> 00:16:55.300 and wonder how you'd read a copy of my sermon 00:16:55.300 --> 00:16:56.620 if you knew what I was talking about. 00:16:58.080 --> 00:16:58.700 But I am, 00:16:58.879 --> 00:16:59.279 of course, 00:16:59.419 --> 00:17:01.800 talking about the 2019 Cricket World Cup 00:17:01.800 --> 00:17:03.419 where Australia 00:17:03.419 --> 00:17:05.019 had nine group matches, 00:17:05.200 --> 00:17:06.720 lost the third and the ninth match, 00:17:07.160 --> 00:17:08.240 got to the semi-final 00:17:08.240 --> 00:17:10.660 and spectacularly lost to England by eight wickets. 00:17:12.019 --> 00:17:13.500 That's what my parable means. 00:17:18.700 --> 00:17:19.099 Yeah, 00:17:19.140 --> 00:17:20.000 at this point you're going, 00:17:20.120 --> 00:17:21.279 why do they let him up here? 00:17:23.779 --> 00:17:24.140 Now, 00:17:24.220 --> 00:17:25.400 the point of this is to illustrate 00:17:25.400 --> 00:17:28.480 that parables don't make a difficult message 00:17:28.480 --> 00:17:30.799 easier to understand. 00:17:30.799 --> 00:17:33.599 And Jesus explains to his disciples in verse 11, 00:17:33.680 --> 00:17:35.720 if you've got chapter 13 open, 00:17:36.440 --> 00:17:37.099 verse 11, 00:17:37.579 --> 00:17:39.539 to you it has been given 00:17:39.539 --> 00:17:42.099 to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven. 00:17:43.139 --> 00:17:45.460 But to them it has not been given. 00:17:46.799 --> 00:17:48.319 But to the one who has, 00:17:48.700 --> 00:17:49.559 more will be given 00:17:49.559 --> 00:17:51.399 and he will have an abundance. 00:17:52.599 --> 00:17:54.480 But from the one who has not, 00:17:55.359 --> 00:17:56.599 even what he has 00:17:56.599 --> 00:17:57.919 will be taken away. 00:17:57.920 --> 00:18:01.420 This is why I speak to them in parables, 00:18:01.539 --> 00:18:03.360 because seeing they do not see, 00:18:04.160 --> 00:18:05.800 and hearing they do not hear, 00:18:06.200 --> 00:18:07.360 nor do they understand. 00:18:09.440 --> 00:18:10.519 In this section, 00:18:10.640 --> 00:18:12.440 Jesus is saying to the disciples 00:18:12.440 --> 00:18:14.340 and the believers 00:18:14.340 --> 00:18:16.880 who have been given the mind to understand 00:18:16.880 --> 00:18:19.039 and recognize Jesus' words and parables, 00:18:20.220 --> 00:18:21.060 he's showing them 00:18:21.060 --> 00:18:23.080 that this is a unique way of teaching them. 00:18:23.480 --> 00:18:25.300 It helps them build a connection 00:18:25.300 --> 00:18:26.700 with what Jesus is saying 00:18:26.700 --> 00:18:28.700 in a way that telling it straight 00:18:28.700 --> 00:18:29.539 doesn't do it. 00:18:31.000 --> 00:18:33.580 Now, Dave Bott sent me a great quote, 00:18:33.660 --> 00:18:33.920 I think, 00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:35.319 that really summarizes this. 00:18:35.400 --> 00:18:37.000 It's from a guy called Eugene Peterson 00:18:37.000 --> 00:18:38.420 in a book called 00:18:38.420 --> 00:18:39.680 The Contemplative Pastor. 00:18:40.680 --> 00:18:41.299 It says this, 00:18:41.360 --> 00:18:41.720 it says, 00:18:42.259 --> 00:18:44.980 parables sound absolutely ordinary, 00:18:45.319 --> 00:18:46.200 and I think we can agree 00:18:46.200 --> 00:18:47.200 that this one does. 00:18:48.740 --> 00:18:51.000 Casual stories about soil and seeds, 00:18:51.700 --> 00:18:53.299 meals and coins and sheep, 00:18:54.019 --> 00:18:54.980 bandits and victims, 00:18:55.180 --> 00:18:56.000 farmers and merchants, 00:18:56.000 --> 00:18:57.839 and they are wholly secular, 00:18:58.200 --> 00:18:59.380 which means they're not religious. 00:19:00.720 --> 00:19:02.740 Of his 40 or so parables 00:19:02.740 --> 00:19:03.920 recorded in the Gospels, 00:19:04.619 --> 00:19:07.680 only one has its settings in church, 00:19:08.400 --> 00:19:10.880 and only a couple mention the name of God. 00:19:12.339 --> 00:19:14.599 As people heard Jesus tell these stories, 00:19:14.759 --> 00:19:17.180 they saw at once that they weren't about God. 00:19:18.180 --> 00:19:19.960 So there was nothing in them 00:19:19.960 --> 00:19:21.380 threatening their own sovereignty. 00:19:21.380 --> 00:19:22.780 They relaxed their defenses. 00:19:23.880 --> 00:19:25.420 They walked away perplexed, 00:19:25.540 --> 00:19:26.940 wondering what they meant. 00:19:28.360 --> 00:19:30.680 The stories lodged in their imaginations, 00:19:31.680 --> 00:19:33.280 and then like a time bomb, 00:19:33.720 --> 00:19:35.980 they would explode in their unprotected hearts. 00:19:37.340 --> 00:19:39.700 An abyss opening up at their very feet. 00:19:39.840 --> 00:19:41.180 He was talking about God. 00:19:42.060 --> 00:19:43.020 They had been invaded. 00:19:43.019 --> 00:19:47.500 See, parables drop the defense of the listeners 00:19:47.500 --> 00:19:49.859 in a way that just saying it straight up 00:19:49.859 --> 00:19:50.700 does not do. 00:19:52.519 --> 00:19:54.420 And what's also clear here 00:19:54.420 --> 00:19:55.839 is that Jesus is saying 00:19:55.839 --> 00:19:58.720 that the Gospel and the Kingdom message 00:19:58.720 --> 00:20:00.619 is not meant for everyone. 00:20:00.619 --> 00:20:05.659 It's not meant to be part of his plan 00:20:05.659 --> 00:20:06.639 that everyone 00:20:06.639 --> 00:20:09.419 hears a parable and hears the message, 00:20:09.579 --> 00:20:11.259 understands and accepts and believes. 00:20:13.579 --> 00:20:15.279 But God's plan for the Gospel 00:20:15.279 --> 00:20:17.979 is doing exactly what it is meant to do. 00:20:20.939 --> 00:20:24.179 You see, we're to expect rejection of the Gospel. 00:20:27.019 --> 00:20:29.439 Jesus' parables won't become clear to everyone. 00:20:29.440 --> 00:20:32.799 But you see, I tend to want that to happen. 00:20:32.980 --> 00:20:34.500 I want everyone in the here and now 00:20:34.500 --> 00:20:35.960 to be swept off their feet, 00:20:36.460 --> 00:20:39.000 to instantly understand and believe. 00:20:39.640 --> 00:20:41.400 I want every friend that I tell 00:20:41.400 --> 00:20:43.080 to just be weeping in gratitude 00:20:43.080 --> 00:20:44.420 for what I have shared with them, 00:20:44.840 --> 00:20:46.140 for every family member 00:20:46.140 --> 00:20:47.860 to come and see the great news 00:20:47.860 --> 00:20:50.259 and understand why I care about this so much. 00:20:52.140 --> 00:20:53.860 But that's not God's plan. 00:20:56.299 --> 00:20:58.140 His plan is different to ours, 00:20:58.140 --> 00:21:00.500 and that includes allowing people 00:21:00.500 --> 00:21:01.640 to respond differently 00:21:01.640 --> 00:21:03.080 to the Gospel message. 00:21:08.540 --> 00:21:10.600 And so after the disciples come to him 00:21:10.600 --> 00:21:11.700 and kind of ask, 00:21:12.120 --> 00:21:13.840 why on earth are you speaking to them in parables? 00:21:15.300 --> 00:21:16.460 Jesus explains, 00:21:16.600 --> 00:21:17.580 he then actually explains 00:21:17.580 --> 00:21:18.740 what this parable is about, 00:21:18.860 --> 00:21:21.120 the sower and the soils. 00:21:21.720 --> 00:21:23.220 And it turns out that the parable 00:21:23.220 --> 00:21:25.320 is actually talking about the same thing 00:21:25.319 --> 00:21:26.720 that he's just explained. 00:21:27.519 --> 00:21:29.159 So the parable presents 00:21:29.159 --> 00:21:31.619 four different receptions of the Gospel. 00:21:32.399 --> 00:21:33.299 And the kids talk, 00:21:33.480 --> 00:21:34.939 look, I nearly thought I'd get up here 00:21:34.939 --> 00:21:35.379 and just say, 00:21:35.480 --> 00:21:37.359 see kids talk and then sit back down, 00:21:37.819 --> 00:21:40.000 because it explains it so well. 00:21:41.000 --> 00:21:42.480 The birds of the path, 00:21:42.960 --> 00:21:43.779 the rocky soil, 00:21:44.019 --> 00:21:45.259 the thorny soil and the good soil, 00:21:45.259 --> 00:21:48.119 they all represent different ways 00:21:48.119 --> 00:21:50.859 that people respond to the message of Jesus. 00:21:53.079 --> 00:21:54.420 And you can see on the outline, 00:21:54.599 --> 00:21:57.579 I've tried to do a bit of a fancy alliteration thing 00:21:57.579 --> 00:21:58.519 and summarise them 00:21:58.519 --> 00:22:02.059 into the responses driven by the devil, 00:22:02.879 --> 00:22:04.720 responses driven by difficulties, 00:22:05.799 --> 00:22:07.759 responses driven by distractions, 00:22:08.319 --> 00:22:09.960 and responses driven by desire. 00:22:09.960 --> 00:22:13.200 So Jesus explains, 00:22:13.340 --> 00:22:14.340 the sower goes out 00:22:14.340 --> 00:22:15.460 and he spreads the seed, 00:22:15.519 --> 00:22:16.740 we see that in verse 19, 00:22:16.980 --> 00:22:18.380 that it's the words of the kingdom, 00:22:19.160 --> 00:22:20.700 and it lands on different soils. 00:22:21.180 --> 00:22:22.620 It's not selectively spread, 00:22:22.680 --> 00:22:23.559 it's spread everywhere. 00:22:24.500 --> 00:22:25.299 And the first place 00:22:25.299 --> 00:22:26.720 that we see the seeds land 00:22:26.720 --> 00:22:27.640 is on the path, 00:22:27.759 --> 00:22:28.620 and the birds come 00:22:28.620 --> 00:22:29.420 and they eat it up. 00:22:30.319 --> 00:22:31.440 And Jesus explains 00:22:31.440 --> 00:22:32.860 that this represents people 00:22:32.860 --> 00:22:34.579 who hear the message 00:22:34.579 --> 00:22:36.279 and immediately reject. 00:22:37.279 --> 00:22:38.360 They're so prejudiced 00:22:38.360 --> 00:22:39.140 against the Gospel, 00:22:39.140 --> 00:22:40.140 they don't want to hear it. 00:22:40.580 --> 00:22:41.860 For whatever reason, 00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:43.280 their hearts are not open 00:22:43.280 --> 00:22:44.360 to the message of Jesus. 00:22:46.040 --> 00:22:47.040 And I think conceptually, 00:22:47.100 --> 00:22:48.840 this is probably a very easy one 00:22:48.840 --> 00:22:50.540 for us to understand in our society. 00:22:51.060 --> 00:22:53.300 We do see that we talk about Jesus to people 00:22:53.300 --> 00:22:54.060 and it's like, 00:22:54.100 --> 00:22:54.700 you can tell, 00:22:55.160 --> 00:22:56.120 there's just no chance 00:22:56.120 --> 00:22:57.580 that they're going to accept this message. 00:22:58.180 --> 00:22:59.340 There's so many things 00:22:59.340 --> 00:23:00.180 that prejudice them 00:23:00.180 --> 00:23:01.300 against that message. 00:23:03.540 --> 00:23:05.500 The second is the rocky soil 00:23:05.500 --> 00:23:06.759 in verse 20. 00:23:06.759 --> 00:23:09.240 And these people initially 00:23:09.240 --> 00:23:10.099 hear the Gospel. 00:23:10.500 --> 00:23:11.180 They hear it 00:23:11.180 --> 00:23:11.980 and sometimes 00:23:11.980 --> 00:23:13.879 they're quite excited about it. 00:23:13.940 --> 00:23:14.500 They think maybe 00:23:14.500 --> 00:23:15.400 they've found something. 00:23:15.819 --> 00:23:16.720 But then over time, 00:23:16.900 --> 00:23:17.960 difficulty comes in. 00:23:18.879 --> 00:23:20.599 Maybe it's suffering of some kind, 00:23:20.779 --> 00:23:21.720 maybe it's a death, 00:23:21.879 --> 00:23:22.680 maybe it's people 00:23:22.680 --> 00:23:23.640 making fun of them 00:23:23.640 --> 00:23:25.660 for maybe thinking 00:23:25.660 --> 00:23:26.920 about becoming a Christian. 00:23:27.480 --> 00:23:28.480 And so difficulty 00:23:28.480 --> 00:23:29.920 pushes their hearts away 00:23:29.920 --> 00:23:31.000 from the message 00:23:31.000 --> 00:23:33.079 and they reject the Gospel. 00:23:35.380 --> 00:23:36.619 The third one 00:23:36.619 --> 00:23:38.160 is thorny soil. 00:23:39.460 --> 00:23:40.180 And that's where 00:23:40.180 --> 00:23:41.720 people hear the Gospel again, 00:23:42.279 --> 00:23:43.099 pretty excited, 00:23:43.700 --> 00:23:44.299 thinking maybe 00:23:44.299 --> 00:23:45.200 this could be something 00:23:45.200 --> 00:23:46.099 that is actually 00:23:46.099 --> 00:23:47.000 the meaning of life. 00:23:47.779 --> 00:23:48.960 But then things 00:23:48.960 --> 00:23:50.019 start to get in the way 00:23:50.019 --> 00:23:50.960 and we know 00:23:50.960 --> 00:23:51.799 what these look like. 00:23:51.859 --> 00:23:52.339 I'm not going to go 00:23:52.339 --> 00:23:53.500 through an extensive list. 00:23:53.960 --> 00:23:54.680 We know things 00:23:54.680 --> 00:23:55.619 that tempt us away 00:23:55.619 --> 00:23:56.279 from the Gospel. 00:23:57.640 --> 00:23:58.299 And so slowly 00:23:58.299 --> 00:23:59.380 these things come along 00:23:59.380 --> 00:24:00.400 and the Gospel that once 00:24:00.400 --> 00:24:01.560 looked really attractive 00:24:01.560 --> 00:24:03.780 suddenly starts to turn 00:24:03.780 --> 00:24:04.860 into like a burden. 00:24:05.460 --> 00:24:06.540 It's actually holding me back. 00:24:06.560 --> 00:24:07.000 I want to do 00:24:07.000 --> 00:24:08.100 all these great things. 00:24:09.020 --> 00:24:09.980 But I have this 00:24:09.980 --> 00:24:11.140 Christian thing 00:24:11.140 --> 00:24:12.520 and then it becomes 00:24:12.520 --> 00:24:12.960 an issue 00:24:12.960 --> 00:24:13.620 and our hearts 00:24:13.620 --> 00:24:15.320 are drawn away 00:24:15.320 --> 00:24:16.960 through temptation 00:24:16.960 --> 00:24:18.280 and through distractions. 00:24:23.320 --> 00:24:25.500 Now these first three soils 00:24:25.500 --> 00:24:28.280 all say the same thing. 00:24:29.380 --> 00:24:30.720 It's about hearing the Gospel 00:24:30.720 --> 00:24:32.460 and rejecting the message. 00:24:34.700 --> 00:24:35.180 You see, 00:24:35.240 --> 00:24:36.340 I think we can be 00:24:36.340 --> 00:24:37.260 a little bit tempted 00:24:37.260 --> 00:24:38.160 to think about this 00:24:38.160 --> 00:24:39.160 like it's grades 00:24:39.160 --> 00:24:41.000 of hearing the Gospel 00:24:41.000 --> 00:24:41.740 and understanding 00:24:41.740 --> 00:24:42.220 where you go, 00:24:42.280 --> 00:24:43.140 you've got the path, 00:24:43.600 --> 00:24:44.800 don't want to be the path. 00:24:45.300 --> 00:24:46.200 That's the far end 00:24:46.200 --> 00:24:46.720 of the spectrum. 00:24:46.900 --> 00:24:47.040 Look, 00:24:47.380 --> 00:24:48.160 if you have to be 00:24:48.160 --> 00:24:48.960 something 00:24:48.960 --> 00:24:50.220 and it's at least 00:24:50.220 --> 00:24:50.840 not the path, 00:24:50.960 --> 00:24:51.920 at least just try 00:24:51.920 --> 00:24:52.800 and be the rocky soil. 00:24:53.800 --> 00:24:53.980 And then, 00:24:54.020 --> 00:24:54.200 you know, 00:24:54.380 --> 00:24:54.780 thorny, 00:24:54.980 --> 00:24:55.280 you know, 00:24:55.340 --> 00:24:56.000 still not great 00:24:56.000 --> 00:24:56.920 but better. 00:24:57.360 --> 00:24:58.360 And then at the end, 00:24:58.359 --> 00:24:58.879 good soil, 00:24:59.019 --> 00:24:59.439 fantastic, 00:24:59.579 --> 00:25:00.059 that's what you want 00:25:00.059 --> 00:25:00.740 to strive to be. 00:25:01.159 --> 00:25:02.339 It's not like that at all. 00:25:02.500 --> 00:25:03.259 These three fall 00:25:03.259 --> 00:25:04.119 into the same category. 00:25:04.500 --> 00:25:05.219 It's people who 00:25:05.219 --> 00:25:06.379 reject the Gospel 00:25:06.379 --> 00:25:08.639 and those three 00:25:08.639 --> 00:25:09.500 are in contrast 00:25:09.500 --> 00:25:10.779 to the fourth, 00:25:11.219 --> 00:25:12.000 the good soil. 00:25:13.699 --> 00:25:14.579 This is people 00:25:14.579 --> 00:25:15.519 in verse 23 00:25:15.519 --> 00:25:16.939 where the Gospel 00:25:16.939 --> 00:25:17.839 is received 00:25:17.839 --> 00:25:18.419 with joy. 00:25:19.799 --> 00:25:20.559 It's heard, 00:25:20.679 --> 00:25:21.459 it's understood, 00:25:22.199 --> 00:25:23.279 it's accepted 00:25:23.279 --> 00:25:24.619 and becomes the truth 00:25:24.619 --> 00:25:25.699 in people's hearts. 00:25:25.700 --> 00:25:29.259 You see, 00:25:29.319 --> 00:25:30.100 this parable 00:25:30.100 --> 00:25:30.860 explains 00:25:30.860 --> 00:25:31.860 that there will be 00:25:31.860 --> 00:25:32.700 different responses 00:25:32.700 --> 00:25:33.460 to the Gospel. 00:25:35.620 --> 00:25:36.539 And not only 00:25:36.539 --> 00:25:37.519 should we expect it, 00:25:37.580 --> 00:25:38.480 it's God's plan 00:25:38.480 --> 00:25:39.160 for the world. 00:25:41.600 --> 00:25:42.380 God's Gospel 00:25:42.380 --> 00:25:42.860 is doing 00:25:42.860 --> 00:25:43.640 exactly 00:25:43.640 --> 00:25:44.580 what He intended. 00:25:48.279 --> 00:25:49.039 The Gospel 00:25:49.039 --> 00:25:49.840 has been given 00:25:49.840 --> 00:25:50.680 and understood 00:25:50.680 --> 00:25:53.000 to those 00:25:53.000 --> 00:25:53.480 who God 00:25:53.480 --> 00:25:54.180 chose for it 00:25:54.180 --> 00:25:54.640 to be given 00:25:54.640 --> 00:25:55.019 and to 00:25:55.019 --> 00:25:55.600 and understood 00:25:55.600 --> 00:25:56.019 by. 00:26:00.720 --> 00:26:01.560 And so when we 00:26:01.560 --> 00:26:02.480 look around Australia 00:26:02.480 --> 00:26:04.480 or around our world 00:26:04.480 --> 00:26:05.600 and we see 00:26:05.600 --> 00:26:06.140 the Gospel 00:26:06.140 --> 00:26:07.320 not being received 00:26:07.320 --> 00:26:07.779 in the way 00:26:07.779 --> 00:26:08.680 that we might wish, 00:26:09.960 --> 00:26:11.080 we shouldn't 00:26:11.080 --> 00:26:11.600 despair 00:26:11.600 --> 00:26:12.900 and get this 00:26:12.900 --> 00:26:13.640 sense of 00:26:13.640 --> 00:26:14.720 feeling like 00:26:14.720 --> 00:26:15.180 the Gospel 00:26:15.180 --> 00:26:16.019 is not doing 00:26:16.019 --> 00:26:16.580 what it's meant 00:26:16.580 --> 00:26:16.980 to do, 00:26:17.060 --> 00:26:17.759 that we as Christians 00:26:17.759 --> 00:26:18.180 are not 00:26:18.180 --> 00:26:19.920 representing it 00:26:19.920 --> 00:26:20.240 in the way 00:26:20.240 --> 00:26:20.880 that we should. 00:26:20.880 --> 00:26:23.780 we should not 00:26:23.780 --> 00:26:24.780 worry that the Gospel 00:26:24.780 --> 00:26:25.640 is not a strong 00:26:25.640 --> 00:26:26.500 enough message, 00:26:27.320 --> 00:26:27.940 like somehow 00:26:27.940 --> 00:26:29.260 it's not persevering 00:26:29.260 --> 00:26:29.660 in the way 00:26:29.660 --> 00:26:30.420 that it used to 00:26:30.420 --> 00:26:31.660 or that somehow 00:26:31.660 --> 00:26:32.760 we need to change it 00:26:32.760 --> 00:26:33.240 so that it will 00:26:33.240 --> 00:26:33.880 reach people 00:26:33.880 --> 00:26:34.540 how it might have 00:26:34.540 --> 00:26:35.440 once upon a time. 00:26:36.900 --> 00:26:37.540 We shouldn't 00:26:37.540 --> 00:26:38.040 feel the need 00:26:38.040 --> 00:26:39.120 to dress it up, 00:26:39.340 --> 00:26:40.320 to add things 00:26:40.320 --> 00:26:40.660 to it, 00:26:40.700 --> 00:26:41.600 to make it better 00:26:41.600 --> 00:26:43.160 or maybe 00:26:43.160 --> 00:26:44.020 the opposite end, 00:26:44.060 --> 00:26:44.980 to take things away. 00:26:45.140 --> 00:26:45.260 You know, 00:26:45.300 --> 00:26:46.020 there's some things 00:26:46.020 --> 00:26:46.400 like, 00:26:46.940 --> 00:26:47.780 you're telling me 00:26:47.780 --> 00:26:48.360 I'm a sinner 00:26:48.360 --> 00:26:48.920 and then I've got 00:26:48.920 --> 00:26:49.900 a problem with God. 00:26:50.200 --> 00:26:50.440 I mean, 00:26:50.460 --> 00:26:51.380 that's pretty offensive. 00:26:52.279 --> 00:26:53.160 We don't need 00:26:53.160 --> 00:26:53.860 to take things 00:26:53.860 --> 00:26:54.779 away from the Gospel. 00:26:58.480 --> 00:26:59.080 You see, 00:26:59.160 --> 00:26:59.900 in everything, 00:27:00.140 --> 00:27:01.539 everything that happens 00:27:01.539 --> 00:27:03.600 with God's message 00:27:03.600 --> 00:27:05.220 is His plan. 00:27:08.140 --> 00:27:09.279 I want it all now. 00:27:09.340 --> 00:27:10.000 I want to see it 00:27:10.000 --> 00:27:11.360 sweep through our world 00:27:11.360 --> 00:27:13.300 right now. 00:27:13.300 --> 00:27:14.539 But that's not 00:27:14.539 --> 00:27:15.440 God's plan. 00:27:17.039 --> 00:27:18.120 God's plan 00:27:18.119 --> 00:27:18.919 is to choose 00:27:18.919 --> 00:27:19.639 His soil 00:27:19.639 --> 00:27:21.719 and to see 00:27:21.719 --> 00:27:22.739 an abundant harvest 00:27:22.739 --> 00:27:23.879 come from that soil 00:27:23.879 --> 00:27:24.399 as we see 00:27:24.399 --> 00:27:25.259 in verse 23. 00:27:26.299 --> 00:27:26.719 See, 00:27:26.819 --> 00:27:27.559 in everything, 00:27:27.779 --> 00:27:28.799 we can have faith 00:27:28.799 --> 00:27:31.179 that the outcome 00:27:31.179 --> 00:27:32.319 is exactly 00:27:32.319 --> 00:27:33.799 what God wants. 00:27:38.159 --> 00:27:38.719 See, 00:27:38.799 --> 00:27:39.359 when we tell 00:27:39.359 --> 00:27:40.179 others the Gospel 00:27:40.179 --> 00:27:41.219 and they reject it, 00:27:42.819 --> 00:27:43.659 we don't need 00:27:43.659 --> 00:27:44.519 to feel shame 00:27:44.519 --> 00:27:45.059 that somehow 00:27:45.059 --> 00:27:45.519 we've done 00:27:45.519 --> 00:27:46.159 something wrong. 00:27:46.259 --> 00:27:47.319 That was God's plan. 00:27:48.119 --> 00:27:50.719 When we see 00:27:50.719 --> 00:27:51.239 people 00:27:51.239 --> 00:27:52.639 accept the Gospel, 00:27:52.839 --> 00:27:53.239 I don't need 00:27:53.239 --> 00:27:54.199 to be surprised 00:27:54.199 --> 00:27:55.139 that somehow 00:27:55.139 --> 00:27:55.759 someone 00:27:55.759 --> 00:27:56.639 this message 00:27:56.639 --> 00:27:57.119 got through 00:27:57.119 --> 00:27:57.839 in our society. 00:27:58.399 --> 00:27:59.639 That's God's plan. 00:27:59.879 --> 00:28:00.539 That's exactly 00:28:00.539 --> 00:28:01.099 what He wanted 00:28:01.099 --> 00:28:01.579 to happen. 00:28:05.859 --> 00:28:06.739 And in fact, 00:28:06.799 --> 00:28:07.679 if you're a Christian, 00:28:08.559 --> 00:28:09.579 God chose 00:28:09.579 --> 00:28:10.379 your ears 00:28:10.379 --> 00:28:10.819 to hear. 00:28:12.319 --> 00:28:13.299 He chose 00:28:13.299 --> 00:28:14.299 your eyes 00:28:14.299 --> 00:28:14.819 to see. 00:28:14.819 --> 00:28:18.220 If you're a Christian, 00:28:18.379 --> 00:28:18.960 God chose 00:28:18.960 --> 00:28:19.879 your heart 00:28:19.879 --> 00:28:20.599 to hear 00:28:20.599 --> 00:28:21.419 and understand. 00:28:24.220 --> 00:28:25.039 He chose 00:28:25.039 --> 00:28:25.619 you to turn 00:28:25.619 --> 00:28:26.019 to Him. 00:28:28.319 --> 00:28:29.099 He chose 00:28:29.099 --> 00:28:29.599 you to be 00:28:29.599 --> 00:28:30.279 the good soil 00:28:30.279 --> 00:28:31.079 and how much 00:28:31.079 --> 00:28:31.980 can we rejoice 00:28:31.980 --> 00:28:33.539 that we are 00:28:33.539 --> 00:28:34.339 on the right side 00:28:34.339 --> 00:28:35.139 of God's plan? 00:28:35.140 --> 00:28:35.280 God's plan. 00:28:42.340 --> 00:28:42.840 See, 00:28:42.920 --> 00:28:43.180 it's about 00:28:43.180 --> 00:28:43.560 what God 00:28:43.560 --> 00:28:44.060 has done 00:28:44.060 --> 00:28:45.020 for us. 00:28:47.000 --> 00:28:47.880 This parable 00:28:47.880 --> 00:28:48.540 is not about 00:28:48.540 --> 00:28:49.220 shooing away 00:28:49.220 --> 00:28:49.800 the birds 00:28:49.800 --> 00:28:50.860 or trying 00:28:50.860 --> 00:28:51.259 to filter 00:28:51.259 --> 00:28:51.900 out the rocks 00:28:51.900 --> 00:28:52.400 or weed 00:28:52.400 --> 00:28:53.220 up the thorns. 00:28:53.759 --> 00:28:54.520 It's not about 00:28:54.520 --> 00:28:55.100 us trying 00:28:55.100 --> 00:28:56.020 to be a good soil. 00:28:56.120 --> 00:28:56.600 This is about 00:28:56.600 --> 00:28:57.100 what God 00:28:57.100 --> 00:28:57.620 has done 00:28:57.620 --> 00:28:58.759 for us. 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.360 And yes, 00:29:00.380 --> 00:29:01.240 we have difficulties. 00:29:01.900 --> 00:29:02.200 Yes, 00:29:02.280 --> 00:29:03.259 things get in the way 00:29:03.259 --> 00:29:04.180 and distract us. 00:29:04.960 --> 00:29:05.519 But if you 00:29:05.519 --> 00:29:06.559 believe the 00:29:06.559 --> 00:29:07.039 message 00:29:07.039 --> 00:29:07.879 that Jesus 00:29:07.879 --> 00:29:08.480 came 00:29:08.480 --> 00:29:09.400 and died 00:29:09.400 --> 00:29:10.519 and rose 00:29:10.519 --> 00:29:10.900 again 00:29:10.900 --> 00:29:11.819 so that we 00:29:11.819 --> 00:29:12.279 could be 00:29:12.279 --> 00:29:12.940 restored in 00:29:12.940 --> 00:29:13.420 relationship 00:29:13.420 --> 00:29:13.980 with Him, 00:29:15.319 --> 00:29:15.720 then you're 00:29:15.720 --> 00:29:16.379 the good soil. 00:29:21.339 --> 00:29:22.480 If you don't 00:29:22.480 --> 00:29:23.319 yet call yourself 00:29:23.319 --> 00:29:23.779 a Christian 00:29:23.779 --> 00:29:24.420 here today, 00:29:25.779 --> 00:29:27.680 then hear the 00:29:27.680 --> 00:29:28.160 seed of the 00:29:28.160 --> 00:29:28.779 gospel now. 00:29:28.940 --> 00:29:29.740 We are God's 00:29:29.740 --> 00:29:30.259 creation. 00:29:30.259 --> 00:29:30.379 creation. 00:29:32.140 --> 00:29:33.240 We chose, 00:29:33.660 --> 00:29:34.579 we chose 00:29:34.579 --> 00:29:35.220 to rebel 00:29:35.220 --> 00:29:35.940 against Him. 00:29:37.119 --> 00:29:38.039 We rejected 00:29:38.039 --> 00:29:38.740 Him and decided 00:29:38.740 --> 00:29:39.279 we didn't want 00:29:39.279 --> 00:29:39.720 to live with 00:29:39.720 --> 00:29:40.279 God as our 00:29:40.279 --> 00:29:40.759 King and our 00:29:40.759 --> 00:29:41.000 Ruler. 00:29:41.599 --> 00:29:41.960 We wanted to 00:29:41.960 --> 00:29:42.279 do it our 00:29:42.279 --> 00:29:42.980 own way and 00:29:42.980 --> 00:29:43.519 our state 00:29:43.519 --> 00:29:44.299 before God 00:29:44.299 --> 00:29:45.220 was helpless. 00:29:45.559 --> 00:29:46.099 We were 00:29:46.099 --> 00:29:46.680 rebels. 00:29:48.539 --> 00:29:49.379 We lived as 00:29:49.379 --> 00:29:50.119 enemies of God. 00:29:50.180 --> 00:29:50.759 We wanted to 00:29:50.759 --> 00:29:51.400 live our own 00:29:51.400 --> 00:29:52.000 way but our 00:29:52.000 --> 00:29:52.660 actions, 00:29:52.900 --> 00:29:53.859 those actions 00:29:53.859 --> 00:29:55.720 are leading 00:29:55.720 --> 00:29:56.180 us to 00:29:56.180 --> 00:29:57.160 eternal death 00:29:57.160 --> 00:29:59.200 and separation 00:29:59.200 --> 00:29:59.819 from God 00:29:59.819 --> 00:30:00.299 forever. 00:30:02.120 --> 00:30:02.380 You see, 00:30:02.480 --> 00:30:03.059 our hearts, 00:30:03.720 --> 00:30:04.259 we don't 00:30:04.259 --> 00:30:04.660 turn to 00:30:04.660 --> 00:30:04.900 Him. 00:30:07.120 --> 00:30:07.840 We don't 00:30:07.840 --> 00:30:08.160 turn to 00:30:08.160 --> 00:30:08.700 Him on 00:30:08.700 --> 00:30:09.220 our own 00:30:09.220 --> 00:30:09.640 and the 00:30:09.640 --> 00:30:10.080 punishment 00:30:10.080 --> 00:30:10.580 for that 00:30:10.580 --> 00:30:11.120 is too 00:30:11.120 --> 00:30:11.779 great for 00:30:11.779 --> 00:30:12.100 us to 00:30:12.100 --> 00:30:12.420 handle. 00:30:15.080 --> 00:30:16.100 So God 00:30:16.100 --> 00:30:17.360 sent Jesus. 00:30:18.700 --> 00:30:19.059 This is the 00:30:19.059 --> 00:30:19.779 amazing thing 00:30:19.779 --> 00:30:20.400 is that we 00:30:20.400 --> 00:30:20.900 didn't do 00:30:20.900 --> 00:30:21.539 something for 00:30:21.539 --> 00:30:21.819 this. 00:30:22.480 --> 00:30:23.019 The problem 00:30:23.019 --> 00:30:23.519 was our 00:30:23.519 --> 00:30:24.140 making but 00:30:24.140 --> 00:30:24.700 God took it 00:30:24.700 --> 00:30:25.160 on Himself 00:30:25.160 --> 00:30:25.960 to fix it. 00:30:25.960 --> 00:30:28.620 He took 00:30:28.620 --> 00:30:29.480 the punishment 00:30:29.480 --> 00:30:30.620 for our 00:30:30.620 --> 00:30:31.120 rebellion, 00:30:32.140 --> 00:30:33.039 our rejection, 00:30:34.259 --> 00:30:34.799 our hate 00:30:34.799 --> 00:30:35.299 for Him. 00:30:36.759 --> 00:30:37.559 Jesus died 00:30:37.559 --> 00:30:38.380 an agonizing 00:30:38.380 --> 00:30:40.180 death with 00:30:40.180 --> 00:30:40.900 nails in His 00:30:40.900 --> 00:30:41.400 hands and in 00:30:41.400 --> 00:30:41.940 His feet, 00:30:42.220 --> 00:30:42.680 keeping Him 00:30:42.680 --> 00:30:43.160 to a wooden 00:30:43.160 --> 00:30:43.680 cross. 00:30:45.460 --> 00:30:46.299 God's own 00:30:46.299 --> 00:30:47.019 Son and He 00:30:47.019 --> 00:30:47.579 didn't deserve 00:30:47.579 --> 00:30:48.200 that death. 00:30:49.100 --> 00:30:49.680 His heart 00:30:49.680 --> 00:30:50.480 was solely 00:30:50.480 --> 00:30:51.120 for God. 00:30:51.119 --> 00:30:55.179 but in 00:30:55.179 --> 00:30:55.759 doing so 00:30:55.759 --> 00:30:56.219 He took 00:30:56.219 --> 00:30:56.519 our 00:30:56.519 --> 00:30:57.000 punishment 00:30:57.000 --> 00:31:00.559 and where 00:31:00.559 --> 00:31:01.139 that punishment 00:31:01.139 --> 00:31:01.839 for us 00:31:01.839 --> 00:31:02.359 would have 00:31:02.359 --> 00:31:02.939 meant death 00:31:02.939 --> 00:31:03.379 forever, 00:31:03.839 --> 00:31:04.339 an eternal 00:31:04.339 --> 00:31:04.939 separation 00:31:04.939 --> 00:31:05.679 from God. 00:31:07.099 --> 00:31:08.059 Jesus beat 00:31:08.059 --> 00:31:08.359 death. 00:31:08.459 --> 00:31:09.099 He took that 00:31:09.099 --> 00:31:09.779 punishment and 00:31:09.779 --> 00:31:10.359 paid it in 00:31:10.359 --> 00:31:11.139 full and He 00:31:11.139 --> 00:31:11.719 came back 00:31:11.719 --> 00:31:12.259 alive. 00:31:14.179 --> 00:31:14.879 And it 00:31:14.879 --> 00:31:15.419 shows that 00:31:15.419 --> 00:31:16.000 that punishment 00:31:16.000 --> 00:31:16.459 has been 00:31:16.459 --> 00:31:17.199 completely 00:31:17.199 --> 00:31:18.299 taken for 00:31:18.299 --> 00:31:18.679 us. 00:31:18.680 --> 00:31:20.860 Our 00:31:20.860 --> 00:31:21.360 relationship 00:31:21.360 --> 00:31:21.799 with our 00:31:21.799 --> 00:31:22.299 Creator and 00:31:22.299 --> 00:31:22.820 King is 00:31:22.820 --> 00:31:24.680 restored and 00:31:24.680 --> 00:31:25.259 we have Him 00:31:25.259 --> 00:31:25.580 as our 00:31:25.580 --> 00:31:26.600 ruler if 00:31:26.600 --> 00:31:27.279 only you 00:31:27.279 --> 00:31:27.799 choose to 00:31:27.799 --> 00:31:28.080 let Him 00:31:28.080 --> 00:31:28.519 take that 00:31:28.519 --> 00:31:28.920 punishment 00:31:28.920 --> 00:31:29.600 for you. 00:31:29.680 --> 00:31:30.240 Because there 00:31:30.240 --> 00:31:30.759 is a choice. 00:31:30.920 --> 00:31:31.340 You don't 00:31:31.340 --> 00:31:31.940 have to let 00:31:31.940 --> 00:31:32.279 Him take 00:31:32.279 --> 00:31:32.620 it for 00:31:32.620 --> 00:31:32.920 you. 00:31:36.840 --> 00:31:37.519 Do you 00:31:37.519 --> 00:31:38.320 accept and 00:31:38.320 --> 00:31:39.120 believe the 00:31:39.120 --> 00:31:41.100 message that 00:31:41.100 --> 00:31:42.480 is given to 00:31:42.480 --> 00:31:43.180 us by 00:31:43.180 --> 00:31:43.560 Jesus? 00:31:47.480 --> 00:31:48.140 If you 00:31:48.140 --> 00:31:48.519 do, then 00:31:48.519 --> 00:31:48.900 you are a 00:31:48.900 --> 00:31:49.480 good soil. 00:31:49.859 --> 00:31:50.139 You are 00:31:50.139 --> 00:31:50.480 the good 00:31:50.480 --> 00:31:50.839 soil that 00:31:50.839 --> 00:31:51.279 He talks 00:31:51.279 --> 00:31:51.579 about in 00:31:51.579 --> 00:31:52.160 this parable. 00:31:53.779 --> 00:31:54.139 And if 00:31:54.139 --> 00:31:54.619 not, then 00:31:54.619 --> 00:31:55.279 your rejection 00:31:55.279 --> 00:31:57.099 of Jesus 00:31:57.099 --> 00:31:58.279 will mean 00:31:58.279 --> 00:31:58.539 that you 00:31:58.539 --> 00:31:59.000 rightfully 00:31:59.000 --> 00:31:59.460 take the 00:31:59.460 --> 00:31:59.819 punishment 00:31:59.819 --> 00:32:00.139 that you 00:32:00.139 --> 00:32:00.519 deserved 00:32:00.519 --> 00:32:01.000 anyway. 00:32:03.859 --> 00:32:04.759 But either 00:32:04.759 --> 00:32:05.200 way, 00:32:06.099 --> 00:32:07.039 regardless of 00:32:07.039 --> 00:32:07.759 everyone in 00:32:07.759 --> 00:32:08.240 this room and 00:32:08.240 --> 00:32:08.539 how we 00:32:08.539 --> 00:32:09.059 respond, 00:32:09.579 --> 00:32:10.299 regardless of 00:32:10.299 --> 00:32:11.139 how anyone 00:32:11.139 --> 00:32:11.519 in our 00:32:11.519 --> 00:32:12.059 society and 00:32:12.059 --> 00:32:12.299 the world 00:32:12.299 --> 00:32:12.900 responds to 00:32:12.900 --> 00:32:13.379 the gospel, 00:32:13.980 --> 00:32:16.039 it's exactly 00:32:16.039 --> 00:32:17.379 what God 00:32:17.379 --> 00:32:17.900 meant for it 00:32:17.900 --> 00:32:18.240 to do. 00:32:25.120 --> 00:32:25.620 I'm going 00:32:25.620 --> 00:32:25.860 to pray 00:32:25.860 --> 00:32:26.320 for us. 00:32:33.640 --> 00:32:34.240 Dear God, 00:32:34.280 --> 00:32:34.600 I just want 00:32:34.600 --> 00:32:35.060 to thank you 00:32:35.060 --> 00:32:35.700 so much for 00:32:35.700 --> 00:32:36.120 sending your 00:32:36.120 --> 00:32:36.680 son Jesus. 00:32:37.380 --> 00:32:37.860 Thank you 00:32:37.860 --> 00:32:39.660 that he is 00:32:39.660 --> 00:32:40.380 the one by 00:32:40.380 --> 00:32:40.840 which we 00:32:40.840 --> 00:32:41.180 can be 00:32:41.180 --> 00:32:41.580 saved. 00:32:42.880 --> 00:32:43.420 Thank you 00:32:43.420 --> 00:32:43.680 that you 00:32:43.680 --> 00:32:44.220 didn't leave 00:32:44.220 --> 00:32:44.700 us to our 00:32:44.700 --> 00:32:45.380 rejection and 00:32:45.380 --> 00:32:45.960 rebellion of 00:32:45.960 --> 00:32:46.700 you, that 00:32:46.700 --> 00:32:47.220 you didn't 00:32:47.220 --> 00:32:47.559 leave us 00:32:47.559 --> 00:32:47.819 to an 00:32:47.819 --> 00:32:48.140 eternal 00:32:48.140 --> 00:32:48.579 death. 00:32:49.680 --> 00:32:50.259 Thank you 00:32:50.259 --> 00:32:50.539 that you 00:32:50.539 --> 00:32:51.240 sent Jesus 00:32:51.240 --> 00:32:52.120 to take 00:32:52.120 --> 00:32:52.680 that punishment 00:32:52.680 --> 00:32:53.420 for us. 00:32:55.019 --> 00:32:55.620 Thank you 00:32:55.620 --> 00:32:56.079 that because 00:32:56.079 --> 00:32:56.640 of you we 00:32:56.640 --> 00:32:57.059 can be 00:32:57.059 --> 00:32:57.620 good soil, 00:32:57.660 --> 00:32:57.860 that we 00:32:57.860 --> 00:32:58.340 can have a 00:32:58.340 --> 00:32:58.819 relationship 00:32:58.819 --> 00:32:59.500 with you, 00:33:00.160 --> 00:33:00.680 that we 00:33:00.680 --> 00:33:01.259 can be 00:33:01.259 --> 00:33:02.380 your children. 00:33:03.380 --> 00:33:03.740 God, I 00:33:03.740 --> 00:33:04.440 just pray for 00:33:04.440 --> 00:33:04.840 us here 00:33:04.840 --> 00:33:05.200 today. 00:33:05.700 --> 00:33:06.100 I pray that 00:33:06.100 --> 00:33:06.340 we would 00:33:06.340 --> 00:33:07.180 take encouragement 00:33:07.180 --> 00:33:07.819 from what you 00:33:07.819 --> 00:33:08.160 have done 00:33:08.160 --> 00:33:08.700 for us. 00:33:09.340 --> 00:33:09.720 I pray that 00:33:09.720 --> 00:33:10.160 you'd help us 00:33:10.160 --> 00:33:10.640 to remember 00:33:10.640 --> 00:33:11.779 just how much 00:33:11.779 --> 00:33:14.019 we can be 00:33:14.019 --> 00:33:14.720 thankful for 00:33:14.720 --> 00:33:14.960 what you 00:33:14.960 --> 00:33:15.299 have done 00:33:15.299 --> 00:33:15.740 by sending 00:33:15.740 --> 00:33:16.119 Jesus. 00:33:18.279 --> 00:33:18.839 Thank you 00:33:18.839 --> 00:33:19.299 so much 00:33:19.299 --> 00:33:20.539 that regardless 00:33:20.539 --> 00:33:20.920 of what 00:33:20.920 --> 00:33:21.379 happens in 00:33:21.379 --> 00:33:21.859 our world, 00:33:22.839 --> 00:33:23.119 that you 00:33:23.119 --> 00:33:23.700 have planned 00:33:23.700 --> 00:33:24.180 each and 00:33:24.180 --> 00:33:24.519 everything. 00:33:25.000 --> 00:33:25.299 Thank you 00:33:25.299 --> 00:33:26.180 that our 00:33:26.180 --> 00:33:27.200 people respond 00:33:27.200 --> 00:33:29.099 regardless of 00:33:29.099 --> 00:33:30.000 the responses 00:33:30.000 --> 00:33:30.579 that the 00:33:30.579 --> 00:33:32.899 gospel makes 00:33:32.899 --> 00:33:33.519 happen in 00:33:33.519 --> 00:33:33.879 our world. 00:33:34.019 --> 00:33:34.339 Thank you 00:33:34.339 --> 00:33:34.740 so much 00:33:34.740 --> 00:33:35.079 that it's 00:33:35.079 --> 00:33:35.399 all in 00:33:35.399 --> 00:33:35.839 your plan. 00:33:36.879 --> 00:33:37.220 Thank you 00:33:37.220 --> 00:33:37.500 that we 00:33:37.500 --> 00:33:37.899 can take 00:33:37.899 --> 00:33:38.579 comfort from 00:33:38.579 --> 00:33:38.839 that. 00:33:39.440 --> 00:33:39.839 Thank you 00:33:39.839 --> 00:33:40.200 that when we 00:33:40.200 --> 00:33:40.539 tell our 00:33:40.539 --> 00:33:40.920 friends and 00:33:40.920 --> 00:33:41.460 family, we 00:33:41.460 --> 00:33:41.900 know that 00:33:41.900 --> 00:33:42.980 no matter 00:33:42.980 --> 00:33:43.700 what happens, 00:33:44.480 --> 00:33:44.880 it's in 00:33:44.880 --> 00:33:45.400 your hand. 00:33:47.140 --> 00:33:47.579 Amen.