The parables of Jesus are amazing. It seems that the more life experience we gain the more profound and richer his teachings become. This is especially true when we earnestly seek first his kingdom. Jesus often used parables as a relevant and effective way to clarify his teachings. His parables also included hidden meanings intended for the hearts of sincere followers. The Parable of The Sower is one such parable.
This brilliant parable is recorded in all three synoptic gospels (Matthew 13:3-23, Mark 4:3-20 & Luke 8:5-15). In this parable, Jesus illustrates the response of four types of people to the word of God. The word of God is illustrated as seed scattered along the path, on the rock, among the thorns and lastly on good soil. Only the seed planted in good soil produces a crop. This parable sheds light on our hearts. Christ Followers with "good and noble hearts" will grow in truth, persevere and produce a crop.
In his book Crazy Love, Francis Chan says this "I think most American churchgoers are the soil that chokes the seed because of all the thorns. Thorns are anything that distracts us from God. When we want God and a bunch of other stuff, then that means we have thorns in our soil. A relationship with God simply cannot grow when money, sins, activities, favorite sports teams, addictions or commitments are piled on top of it."
We are planting Longleaf Church in good soil. I am so encouraged by the hearts of the people that OWN our vision. Planting a church is journey for people that understand the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ is not a building or a bunch of church programs, it's a passionate movement of people. Church is not something that we do but rather it's something that we are. Change is coming. Hearts will turn. Families will be strengthened and people will be led into a growing a relationship with Jesus Christ across Central Georgia because his word is being planted on good soil......
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