Sermon Outline for Sunday, 13 July 2014 by Gary Lee Parker Title: God’s Harvest

Sermon Outline for Sunday, 13 July 2014 by Gary Lee Parker
Title: God’s Harvest
Theme: The reaching the people God calls us to reach.
Purpose: The growth God seeks for His Messages.
Scripture: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
Matthew 13:  A Harvest Story
1-3 At about that same time Jesus left the house and sat on the beach. In no time at all a crowd gathered along the shoreline, forcing him to get into a boat. Using the boat as a pulpit, he addressed his congregation, telling stories.
3-8 “What do you make of this? A farmer planted seed. As he scattered the seed, some of it fell on the road, and birds ate it. Some fell in the gravel; it sprouted quickly but didn’t put down roots, so when the sun came up it withered just as quickly. Some fell in the weeds; as it came up, it was strangled by the weeds. Some fell on good earth, and produced a harvest beyond his wildest dreams.
9 “Are you listening to this? Really listening?”
18-23The Message (MSG)
The Meaning of the Harvest Story
18-19 “Study this story of the farmer planting seed. When anyone hears news of the kingdom and doesn’t take it in, it just remains on the surface, and so the Evil One comes along and plucks it right out of that person’s heart. This is the seed the farmer scatters on the road.
20-21 “The seed cast in the gravel—this is the person who hears and instantly responds with enthusiasm. But there is no soil of character, and so when the emotions wear off and some difficulty arrives, there is nothing to show for it.
22 “The seed cast in the weeds is the person who hears the kingdom news, but weeds of worry and illusions about getting more and wanting everything under the sun strangle what was heard, and nothing comes of it.
23 “The seed cast on good earth is the person who hears and takes in the News, and then produces a harvest beyond his wildest dreams.”
Introduction: How do we really understand this parable even with the interpretation Jesus gives us? We always seek people who are ready for the embracing of Jesus due to their circumstances of life that comes away. They make a profession of faith, but if their circumstances do not get better they drift away from God. There are people who we do not even include in our churches too often who faithfully follow Jesus and His way of life through prayer, Bible Study, and service to others. I have discovered gay and lesbian couples who do not even take part of gay pride, but faithfully serve God by being there for people who need an uplifting word. Too often, they are rejected by the church because they are gay or lesbian even though they are committed to their partner and do not chase after other people in loose sexual behavior. Then, there are the immigrants who are sent over to a nation that advertises freedom for all people by their families to prevent their family members to get involved with gangs-war or drugs-to achieve a better life than they could have if they remained in their own country. Lastly for this message, but I am sure there are more examples of people being excluded especially the working poor are the people who are differently abled. Here we have a group of people who may think slower than others or walk slower or even need assistance from wheelchairs or walkers or even voice computers. I am reminded too much of people who are used by people to get rich while oppressing them because they are differently abled. We speak about the human trafficking that is coming over to this country and already exist here that we forget about how we keep people who are differently abled in workshops where we pay them only enough to continue receiving their government checks and medical benefits while living in poverty. We rationalize this by saying that they cannot do any better, but are they not able to. Are they not given gifts from God to build His Kingdom through musical talents, teaching Bible Studies, greeting with a smile and a hug or whatever gifts God has given them. We come down on people like the man in England who uses voice technology to speak who is a scientist because he comes over as an atheist or does not believe in God. Have we not created this thinking by excluding such people from the moment we realize they are differently abled? Lord Jesus, have mercy on us. Do you really understand that too many of the differently abled people have a faith and lifestyle of Jesus, but we do not include or even see this in our churches. How will you respond the next time a child is born with differently abled abilities or as we still say disabilities? When are we really going to wake up to how God sows His seed of the Word to people who are differently abled? Let us seek God for His guidance, not our rationalizations.
I. Jesus use of the parable of a farmer sowing seeds.
A. The farmer sows the seed on all ground.
B. The seeds grow on all, but die on some.
C. The seed that grows is on good soil.
II. Jesus interprets the story.
A. The Word of God is the seed.
B. The bad soil is the people who hear, but turn away.
C. The good soil is the people who hear and obey God’s word.
III. The understanding for today’s world.
A. The Word is still God’s.
B. The people who hear, but do their own thing are the bad.
C. The people who hear, but do what God asks are the good.
Conclusion: We come to realize that too often we seek the people who embrace Jesus’ message first and outspoken when we forget about the ones who quietly embrace Him and live His way fully. We come to seek repentance of our decision to embrace certain people rather than others who have fully embraced God in all their life.
Invitation: We come to receive God’s grace to be more open with people God is bringing into His Kingdom as we take and eat His Body and drink His Blood to the partaking of the Holy Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. We come singing the hymn “Are you sowing the seed of the kingdom, brother” by Fred A. Fillmore
1. Are you sowing the seed of the kingdom, brother,
In the morning bright and fair?
Are you sowing the seed of the kingdom, brother,
In the heat of the noonday's glare?
Chorus:
For the harvest time is coming on,
And the reaper's work will soon be done;
Will your sheaves be many, 
will you garner any, 
For the gath'ring at the harvest home?
2. Are you sowing the seed of the kingdom, brother,
In the still and solemn night?
Are you sowing the seed of the kingdom, brother,
For a harvest pure and white?
Chorus:
For the harvest time is coming on,
And the reaper's work will soon be done;
Will your sheaves be many, 
will you garner any, 
For the gath'ring at the harvest home?

3. Are you sowing the seed of the kingdom, brother,
All along the fertile way?
Would you glean golden sheaves in the harvest, brother,
Come and join the ranks today.
Chorus:
For the harvest time is coming on,
And the reaper's work will soon be done;
Will your sheaves be many, 
will you garner any, 
For the gath'ring at the harvest home?
1. Are you sowing the seed of the kingdom, sister,
In the morning bright and fair?
Are you sowing the seed of the kingdom, sister,
In the heat of the noonday's glare?
Chorus:
For the harvest time is coming on,
And the reaper's work will soon be done;
Will your sheaves be many, 
will you garner any, 
For the gath'ring at the harvest home?
2. Are you sowing the seed of the kingdom, sister,
In the still and solemn night?
Are you sowing the seed of the kingdom, sister,
For a harvest pure and white?
Chorus:
For the harvest time is coming on,
And the reaper's work will soon be done;
Will your sheaves be many, 
will you garner any, 
For the gath'ring at the harvest home?
3. Are you sowing the seed of the kingdom, sister,
All along the fertile way?
Would you glean golden sheaves in the harvest, sister,
Come and join the ranks today.
Chorus:
For the harvest time is coming on,
And the reaper's work will soon be done;
Will your sheaves be many, 
will you garner any, 
For the gath'ring at the harvest home?
Benediction: We sent to reach all of God’s people without overlooking the people who are differently abled as well as the illegal and legal immigrants who come to our shows whether children, youth, or adults.
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