Every week you get to look at me standing up here as I talk to you. While you are looking at me, I’m looking right back at you. What do you think I see?
I see more than you might think. I see empty seats we ought to get busy and fill up. The yawners are always in evidence, to say nothing of the sleepers. In one church there was a man who always sat in the same place and always went to sleep. Instead of his head dropping down, it would go back and his mouth would open wider. He was 100 yrs.
In Puritan days deacons were stationed around the room. If someone fell asleep they were hit or poked with a long pointed stick by a deacon. Some people fall asleep before the sermon, so the preacher can’t be blamed.
I don’t feel too bad though. One time when the Apostle Paul was preaching a young man went to sleep and fell out of a balcony window. I’m glad we don’t have a balcony. [Wife: “I told you so!”]
Then there are those who are clock watchers. Our seminary church in Ft. Worth set their worship hour to make sure they would be done in time for the Cowboys football game.
I assure you, there is a clock on the back wall that I am constantly aware of. I have a watch on my arm. I’ve timed the sermon. I’m trying to get done before you do. Really! You let me worry about the time.
Some of you are stick-in-the-muds. You believe there shouldn’t be any joy or happiness in church. You sit there staring straight ahead, maybe with your arms crossed, daring God to break through your shell. Some of you are simply preoccupied with the trials of life that are hitting you right now.
And I see your faces. As I scan the pews I sense the emotions in your lives. Sometimes I wonder what in the world happened this morning to cause you to be whatever it is you are.
I can often tell when you have struggled with the kids. Or you have a situation with your health or your spouse that is almost beyond your ability to handle—you are feeling overwhelmed by it all.
There are some whose bright faces are looking at me with expectation and anticipation of what God is going to say through the message today. This is some of what I see when I look at you. And I hope and pray that God will use the message to speak to all your hearts.
Did you know Jesus faced the same kinds of reactions to His preaching. In Lk. 8:4-15, 18 Jesus talks about these same kinds of things. (vv. 4-8) At this time in His ministry there were not any empty pews. His disciples were excited by the large crowds of people swarming to hear Jesus.
But Jesus was realistic—He knew only a few would really hear what He said. Know what? Preaching is the most exciting thing in the world—to proclaim the very word of God. It is also the most frustrating thing because for many the words are lost in unconcern, apathy, worry, or preoccupation.
When Jesus spoke many came for the excitement and emotions of large crowds. They wanted to be entertained. They wanted to see miracles. Sounds like today. Many came, but few stayed.
When Jesus started talking about the Christian life—there is nothing better or more exciting in all the world—but it’s hard sometimes with trials, temptation and denying of self and God’s Kingdom had to come first, giving up your life for His sake—the crowd just melted away. Even then people wanted their ears tickled. This is why Jesus told this parable.
Be sure to grasp the truth of these verses. Jesus was not talking about the size of the harvest. He’s making a point about our responsibility.
When you hear the Word of God you are responsible for the success or failure of that word. Spiritual failure cannot always be blamed on poor preaching, weak teachers, or a difficult to understand message. Don’t blame the preacher or teacher or lesson material.
More often than you like to admit, spiritual problems and many difficulties of our lives comes from irresponsible hearing. You mind is closed. It’s a million miles away. You don’t receive because you are not prepared to.
Note: (1) The seed is God’s Word (v. 11). (2) The farmer represents the messenger—those who share God’s Word. (3) The various kinds of ground represent various kinds of listeners. This story is about you. You must ask, “What kind of listener am I?” Jesus explains in vv. 11-15.
Luke 8:12. “Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.”
The first kind of ground or listener is the untilled, packed down hard ground that the seed never has a chance of penetrating. Here you see the farmer scattering the seed and some of it falls on hard ground.
Immediately birds swoop down and pluck them away. The preacher preaches God’s Word—the teacher teaches, and even while still speaking, the Word is lost—snatched away before even having a chance to penetrate the heart.
I’ve often wondered why this is. Why isn’t every person here eager and open for a word from God? Spiritual blindness? Have we become immune to the truly significant? Do we think it is irrelevant to our life?
Are we so busy we don’t have time for God? It is interesting to me how two people can look at or listen to the same thing, but perceives two different realities.
One person sees an old, gnarled tree that’s in the way, so cut it down. Another sees a tree with character and a home for the birds of the air. One person sees an ugly, scummy pond. Another sees cattails, frogs, and life.
Like blindness to the beautiful things of life, some have no ear to listen to God? As you watch their lives spin out of control, God wants to help, but they have become so indifferent that His Word doesn’t penetrate their heart. How terrifying to be at the point where God’s Word has no significance for you.
Luke 8:13. “Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away.”
The rocky soil is that thin veneer of soil over rock (Edgewood). The seed penetrates the soil, and because the rock is warm it springs up immediately. It looks great, like it’s going to be a wonderful crop.
But the shallowness of the soil prevents the roots form going down deep where it counts, and it burns up. The meaning is pretty clear—shallow, superficial, flash-in-the-pan Christians.
This person seems to hear and receive the Word with joy. She says the right things. He is full of excitement and joy. You look for good growth and service in the Kingdom, but all of a sudden they are gone.
There is nothing wrong with excitement, joy and enthusiasm. There’s nothing wrong with emotion. Most of us could stand more of it. But it becomes shallow when everything is based upon emotion and feelings.
Excitement and emotions must be balanced with a good understanding of Christian doctrines and theology. The Word of God must penetrate deeply to our very core. Again, what kind of listener are you?
Luke 8:14. “The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.”
Oh my. How many people have we seen who fall into this category. Let’s look at the soil first. The soil is deep enough. It is rich enough. But it’s full of thorns. This is what is called “dirty soil.” (Years in KS, OK, etc.)
As the seed begins to sprout, weeds choke it off. The weeds steal the moisture. The weeds block out the sun. If you don’t get the weeds out of there, they will take over—destroy the wheat.
Many who hear God’s Word today, their lives are being chocked out by things, stuff and culture. Your Christianity and culture are in competition. Things—work, family, pleasure, sports, whatever—take complete control.
You say you love Christ. You claim to love His church. But in reality, the things of God are just one of many things that are crowded into your life. Inevitably the other things win out.
What are some examples of these thorns or weeds? Look at 14b. Jesus calls them worries, riches and pleasures. Your feet are firmly planted in this world rather than the things of God.
This kind of hearer, comes to church, hears the word, is warmed by it and thinks it is wonderful. But he leaves through the doors of the church and opens the doors to the world. She is swept up in the secular. There is little consideration or application to what God said to them that day.
And notice the very last part of the verse: “. . . and they do not mature.” They are no good to the kingdom of God—they bear no fruit. There is nothing sadder than a person who has been a Christian for many years but is still a child spiritually. What kind of listener are you?
Luke 8:15. “But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.”
Notice the mood changes to joy and encouragement. This keeps a preacher preaching. There are some who do hear. Really, there are! How do we know? They mature, are faithful, and become productive Christians.
This has always been the evidence that God’s Word has been heard—that it has taken root. The genuine believer produces a crop. He produces fruit. There are two kind of fruit that is born:
(Gal. 5:22-23) Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
This person acts like a Christian, talks like a Christian, and produces Christian fruit. He delights in God’s Word—reading, hearing, and meditating on it, and living out his faith in the world.
Coming to worship services is the highlight of her week. She enjoys the fellowship of other believers. Sunday School is anticipated. He looks for ways to be involved in ministry.
The Christ-centered Christian constantly works at living like a Christian because of what he’s learned from God’s Word, what the preacher has preached, what has touched his heart in Sunday School
To the preacher Jesus is saying, “Go ahead and preach the word. It will make a difference in some lives.”
To you Jesus says, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear” (Luke 8:8b); and “Therefore consider carefully how you listen” (Luke 8:18a). Examine yourself. Are you listening? If so, what kind of listener are you? Are you maturing and growing and producing fruit in God’s Kingdom?
That’s the view from the pulpit. How do you see yourself? What kind of listener are you?