The Parable of the Sower

      Hello everybody, my name is Dean Davis and this is “Multiply,” the podcast that

provides a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters.

One of the most well developed parables Jesus told was the one we call “The

Parable of the Sower” or “The Four Soils.” You know this parable well. It tells

about a sower who went out to plant seeds in his field. Some seed fell on the

path, some among rocks. Some seed started to grow, but the weeds choked it.

But some fell on good soil and grew and produced a lot more seed.

The Gospel writers don’t include many explanations of Jesus’ parables. But, in

Matthew 13, Jesus explains the Parable of the Sower.

He says, “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means:  When anyone

hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil

one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed

sown along the path.  The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who

hears the word and at once receives it with joy.  But since they have no roots,

they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the

word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to

someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness

of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.  But the seed falling on good

soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one

who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

This parable has been lived out in countless millions of lives as the word of God

has been preached over the past 2,000 years. We all want to plant the Good

Seed of the Gospel in good soil. None of us wants to waste seed along the path

or in the rocks. Nevertheless, some people who hear the word of God will not

grow and bear fruit. But what about the good soil?

“The seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and

understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty

or thirty times what was sown.”

Oh my brothers and sisters. Let’s do all we can to help our hearers understand

the message of salvation and sanctification that we proclaim. Let’s tell it with

patience and great clarity. Let’s pray that we will speak and live in such a way

that the Good news is understood and embraced. Then let’s help those who

hear nad understand bear fruit. Let’s be sure we train them to pass on the

message they have heard and understood. Let’s be sure we equip them to make

disciples. If you do so, you can be sure that your people will produce a crop,

—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.

This has been Multiply! And I’m Dean Davis asking, “Who will you share this

encouraging word with today?”

#EncouragementForVillageChurchPlanters #MultiplyDisciples “FourSoils”