Leawood, Kansas, United States - The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection Grow. Pray. Study. Daily Guide for Saturday, 22 March 2014 "Finding fertile soil for faith"

Leawood, Kansas, United States - The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection Grow. Pray. Study. Daily Guide for Saturday, 22 March 2014 "Finding fertile soil for faith" 
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Daily Scripture: Luke 12:1  Meanwhile, when a multitude of many thousands had gathered together, so much so that they trampled on each other, he began to tell his disciples first of all, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 But there is nothing covered up, that will not be revealed, nor hidden, that will not be known. 3 Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light. What you have spoken in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.
4 “I tell you, my friends, don’t be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will warn you whom you should fear. Fear him, who after he has killed, has power to cast into Gehenna.[a] Yes, I tell you, fear him.
6 “Aren’t five sparrows sold for two assaria coins[b]? Not one of them is forgotten by God. 7 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Therefore don’t be afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows.
8 “I tell you, everyone who confesses me before men, him will the Son of Man also confess before the angels of God; 9 but he who denies me in the presence of men will be denied in the presence of the angels of God. 10 Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but those who blaspheme against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 11 When they bring you before the synagogues, the rulers, and the authorities, don’t be anxious how or what you will answer, or what you will say; 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that same hour what you must say.”
13 One of the multitude said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
14 But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” 15 He said to them, “Beware! Keep yourselves from covetousness, for a man’s life doesn’t consist of the abundance of the things which he possesses.”
16 He spoke a parable to them, saying, “The ground of a certain rich man produced abundantly. 17 He reasoned within himself, saying, ‘What will I do, because I don’t have room to store my crops?’ 18 He said, ‘This is what I will do. I will pull down my barns, and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 I will tell my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years. Take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.”’
20 “But God said to him, ‘You foolish one, tonight your soul is required of you. The things which you have prepared—whose will they be?’ 21 So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
22 He said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, don’t be anxious for your life, what you will eat, nor yet for your body, what you will wear. 23 Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens: they don’t sow, they don’t reap, they have no warehouse or barn, and God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than birds! 25 Which of you by being anxious can add a cubit[c] to his height? 26 If then you aren’t able to do even the least things, why are you anxious about the rest? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow. They don’t toil, neither do they spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28 But if this is how God clothes the grass in the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith? 29 Don’t seek what you will eat or what you will drink; neither be anxious. 30 For the nations of the world seek after all of these things, but your Father knows that you need these things. 31 But seek God’s Kingdom, and all these things will be added to you. 32 Don’t be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. 33 Sell that which you have, and give gifts to the needy. Make for yourselves purses which don’t grow old, a treasure in the heavens that doesn’t fail, where no thief approaches, neither moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
35 “Let your waist be dressed and your lamps burning. 36 Be like men watching for their lord, when he returns from the marriage feast; that, when he comes and knocks, they may immediately open to him. 37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord will find watching when he comes. Most certainly I tell you, that he will dress himself, and make them recline, and will come and serve them. 38 They will be blessed if he comes in the second or third watch, and finds them so. 39 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming, he would have watched, and not allowed his house to be broken into. 40 Therefore be ready also, for the Son of Man is coming in an hour that you don’t expect him.”
41 Peter said to him, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everybody?”
42 The Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his lord will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the right times? 43 Blessed is that servant whom his lord will find doing so when he comes. 44 Truly I tell you, that he will set him over all that he has. 45 But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My lord delays his coming,’ and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken, 46 then the lord of that servant will come in a day when he isn’t expecting him, and in an hour that he doesn’t know, and will cut him in two, and place his portion with the unfaithful. 47 That servant, who knew his lord’s will, and didn’t prepare, nor do what he wanted, will be beaten with many stripes, 48 but he who didn’t know, and did things worthy of stripes, will be beaten with few stripes. To whomever much is given, of him will much be required; and to whom much was entrusted, of him more will be asked.
49 “I came to throw fire on the earth. I wish it were already kindled. 50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished! 51 Do you think that I have come to give peace in the earth? I tell you, no, but rather division. 52 For from now on, there will be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. 53 They will be divided, father against son, and son against father; mother against daughter, and daughter against her mother; mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”[d]
54 He said to the multitudes also, “When you see a cloud rising from the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and so it happens. 55 When a south wind blows, you say, ‘There will be a scorching heat,’ and it happens. 56 You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, but how is it that you don’t interpret this time? 57 Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? 58 For when you are going with your adversary before the magistrate, try diligently on the way to be released from him, lest perhaps he drag you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. 59 I tell you, you will by no means get out of there, until you have paid the very last penny.[e]”
Footnotes:
a. Luke 12:5 or, Hell
b. Luke 12:6 An assarion was a small copper coin worth about an hour’s wages for an agricultural laborer.
c. Luke 12:25 a cubit is the length from the tip of the middle finger to the elbow on a man's arm, or about 18 inches or 46 centimeters.
d. Luke 12:53 Micah 7:6
e. Luke 12:59 literally, lepton. A lepton is a very small brass Jewish coin worth half a Roman quadrans each, which is worth a quarter of the copper assarion. Lepta are worth less than 1% of an agricultural worker’s daily wages.
Reflection Question:
A religious leader invited Jesus to eat at his house, but he seems to have treated Jesus quite rudely (Luke 7:44-46). A "woman from the city, a sinner" found Jesus there, and poured out her love in tears and perfume. Jesus told a story that taught that he sowed the seed of God's love and grace everywhere. Human eyes can't always tell where it will find fertile ground in which to grow, and where it will land on rocky ground that causes it to wither away. 
•When Jesus explained the parable of the farmer sowing seed, he listed four kinds of human "soil" who hear the good news (8:11-15). Which soil type do you think best described Simon the Pharisee? Which most characterized the "woman from the city, a sinner" who anointed Jesus' feet? Which of the four soil types has best described your spiritual journey so far? What spiritual practices can help you continue growing your capacity to be "good soil" in the months ahead?
Family Activity:
As a family, look through your Bibles to find stories where Jesus heals people. (Examples include Mark 8:22-26; Luke 8:43-48; John 4:46-54). What do these stories have in common? What differences do you see? Choose one story to act out as a family, or if you prefer, draw the scene(s). As you divide the story into smaller scenes, what do you notice or learn about Jesus? What about the people involved in the story? Maybe someone you know needs healing (physical, emotional or spiritual). How can you be a part of their story in such a way that they feel the presence and love of Jesus? Could you decorate a card or prepare a meal? Maybe you could offer a hug or a smile. Always offer your prayers.
Today's Prayer:
God, please grow a bountiful crop of your love, your purity, your goodness and compassion in the soil of my heart. Let me be full to bursting with the fruit of your Spirit. Amen.
Insight from Randy Meyer
Randy Meyer is the Executive Director of Education for The Church of the Resurrection.
Luke 7:36 One of the Pharisees invited him to eat with him. He entered into the Pharisee’s house, and sat at the table. 37 Behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that he was reclining in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of ointment. 38 Standing behind at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and she wiped them with the hair of her head, kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, “This man, if he were a prophet, would have perceived who and what kind of woman this is who touches him, that she is a sinner.”
40 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”
He said, “Teacher, say on.”
41 “A certain lender had two debtors. The one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they couldn’t pay, he forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him most?”
43 Simon answered, “He, I suppose, to whom he forgave the most.”
He said to him, “You have judged correctly.” 44 Turning to the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered into your house, and you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head. 45 You gave me no kiss, but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You didn’t anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” 48 He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49 Those who sat at the table with him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
50 He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
8:1 Soon afterwards, he went about through cities and villages, preaching and bringing the good news of God’s Kingdom. With him were the twelve, 2 and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out; 3 and Joanna, the wife of Chuzas, Herod’s steward; Susanna; and many others; who served them[a] from their possessions. 4 When a great multitude came together, and people from every city were coming to him, he spoke by a parable. 5 “The farmer went out to sow his seed. As he sowed, some fell along the road, and it was trampled under foot, and the birds of the sky devoured it. 6 Other seed fell on the rock, and as soon as it grew, it withered away, because it had no moisture. 7 Other fell amid the thorns, and the thorns grew with it, and choked it. 8 Other fell into the good ground, and grew, and produced one hundred times as much fruit.” As he said these things, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
9 Then his disciples asked him, “What does this parable mean?”
10 He said, “To you it is given to know the mysteries of God’s Kingdom, but to the rest in parables; that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’[b] 11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those along the road are those who hear, then the devil comes, and takes away the word from their heart, that they may not believe and be saved. 13 Those on the rock are they who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; but these have no root, who believe for a while, then fall away in time of temptation. 14 That which fell among the thorns, these are those who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. 15 That in the good ground, these are such as in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, hold it tightly, and produces fruit with patience.
16 “No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a container, or puts it under a bed; but puts it on a stand, that those who enter in may see the light. 17 For nothing is hidden, that will not be revealed; nor anything secret, that will not be known and come to light. 18 Be careful therefore how you hear. For whoever has, to him will be given; and whoever doesn’t have, from him will be taken away even that which he thinks he has.”
19 His mother and brothers came to him, and they could not come near him for the crowd. 20 Some people told him, “Your mother and your brothers stand outside, desiring to see you.”
21 But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are these who hear the word of God, and do it.”
Footnotes:
a. Luke 8:3 TR reads “him” instead of “them”
b. Luke 8:10 Isaiah 6:9
I’ve had the privilege of co-leading a small group of high school young men over the past four years.  I have to tell you that it has been one of the best things I have ever done in my life for my own faith.  Talking about our faith, studying scripture, sharing our “best thing” and “worst thing” each week during our prayer time, and laughing out loud more times than I can count or remember has led this time to be the highlight of my week most weeks.  (If you’ve ever considered or thought it would be great to lead a small group of teenagers through our Rezlife ministry, consider this your nudge to do so! You can thank me later!)
Next year, all of the boys plan to head off to college, and recently when we met we devoted our time to talking about their hopes, fears, and questions about what the next phase of their lives will bring.  I found myself (along with Phil and Todd my co-leaders) trying to cram as much good and wise advice (good seed?) as I could think of into our time together that night.
I thought of that meeting and of our group and our four years together as I read this passage of Luke, more specifically of the parable of the sower and the seed.  Jesus mentions four types of soil; soil that has become a stepped on path, rocky soil where moisture is scarce, thorny soil that chokes out the good seed, and good soil where crops grow strong and resilient.
I think that today most of us live in thorny soil.  We hope that we are in good soil, but the reality of our world is that we have so many distractions that keep us from living the life that Jesus prays that we live.  In his words in verse 14, we are “choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures.
With our small group of young men, we’ve tried to stress over and over to them that we live among thorns.  In fact, some times we become the thorns choking out the good seed in others.  “The world” will tend to pull us in one direction and all the while Jesus is reaching toward us to pull us back into the good soil.  Hopefully, enough good seed has been planted in and around these young men that they will continue to honor God with their lives as they experience their college years.  It is my prayer for them that more good seed than thorns has been planted in their lives and that they will live more times than not in the good soil.
I’m sure that every farmer knows that not all of the seed sown will take root.  Some will inevitably not grow for all kinds of reasons.  However, that doesn’t discourage the farmer from sowing as they know that in spite of all of that a harvest will occur if they sow enough “good” seed.  The harvest is sure to come. We all have our setbacks and disappointments in life and times when the thorns appear to take over.  Strive for the good soil.  The harvest of God is sure to come!
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