All 3 synoptic gospels include Jesus story about a farmer scattering seed to explain how people hear “the Word”. Dallas Willard considers this parable in chapter 3 of The Scandal of the Kingdom (highly recommended companion to our series). In it (pg 52) he says: “the Parable of the Sower applies to each of us all the time because every day is a new opportunity to receive the Word of God and tend to the soil of our heart.”
Now that its been unpacked on Sunday, read it again. What is the Spirit highlighting for you? Does understanding more about the soils help vs 12 to make sense? Note how the theme of the seed growing by itself is repeated in the following parables.
What do you notice in Mark’s telling? Note vs 26-29: when the soil is good, the Word just flourishes, growing quietly and organically resulting in a surprising harvest. Is this how you experience the Spirit working?
Luke’s telling describes the results of the good soil differently — these are the ones who, after hearing the word, hold fast to it with a noble and good heart, and bear fruit with patient endurance. Is that your experience? Do you know someone like this?
Does the analogy in vs 10 remind you of anything? What about vs 21 - do you get the sense that James heard the parable of the sower? Are you a person who wants to ponder the parable, or hear the clear direction?
Some harsh words for Israel inside the promise of restoration. God makes it very clear why he will make the lives of the Israelites better. Does this feel related to God’s mission of bringing his Kingdom to earth? Note the center of this passage (24-28) - the same soft-heart of the good soil. What do you feel when you read these words?