THEMATIC BACKGROUND from: A Farmer's Parable: The Sower and The Seed


KEY VERSES: Matthew 13:19,23
   (NRSV)  "Hear then the parable of the sower.  When anyone hears
   the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil
   one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this
   is what was sown on the path...  But as for what was sown on good   
   soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who
   indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in
   another sixty, and in another thirty."

    
PROMISE: I can be fruitful in God’s kingdom.  God’s Word understood 
and applied in my life will yield a rich return in my life; a return that
I can share with others.

 
RESPONSE:  I decide to listen to God’s Word and to increase my
understanding through study and reflection.  I participate in the life 
and ministry of my church.  I am committed to put what I learn into 
practice and to share God’s truths with others.
 
									
CREATIVE CLOSING
Pray with me for a moment.  We are going to ask God to help us to be 
good soil.  Pray along with me quietly or silently:

“Father, I want to be good soil.  I want to receive the good seed that
you sow.  I want you to have a good harvest in my life.  Amen”

Now, let us pray about this another way - with our imagination active. 
Here is how to do it.  Picture your heart.  Picture holding your heart up 
to God as you ask Him to give you a heart that listens; a heart that
hears; a heart that understands and a heart that retains His Word.

So, picture holding up your heart to God as we pray:

“Father, here is my heart.  May I have a heart that listens and hears
your word.  May I have a heart that understands and retains your word. 
May I have a heart that is a good place for Your Word and that has the
joy of producing a harvest for your kingdom. Amen.


copyright - George Hartwell, 2002, 2005
            Rev. Richard J. Fairchild 2002 - 2005
            please acknowledge the appropriate author if citing these resources.