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Reading - The Christian Witness (Matthew 13:1-10, 18-23)
So often this parable is used in sermons to challenge the hearers to examine themselves to see what kind of soil they are and whether they will produce fruit. It can also be used as a warning for evangelists of the kind of results they will get when they share the gospel.
But I want to step back a stage and consider preparation for evangelism. If you moved into a new house and wanted to plant a garden, you wouldn't simply go to the garden centre, buy a few bulbs and seeds, and plant them in whatever ground you found behind your house. You would first examine the ground to see the state of it and work on it to prepare it for the best possible results when you eventually sow your seeds. The same applies to evangelism.
The Path
No one tries to plant seeds on a path. If you want anything to grow you have to break up the path and take the hard surface away. Then you have to feed the soil underneath before it is fit to use. The path means hardhearted people. Preaching the gospel to them is a waste of time. But God has called us to go into all the world. What can you do to soften and break up the hard hearts? How can you serve them and love them until their suspicion and hostility fades and they trust you enough to listen to what you have to say? Paul told the saints at Corinth "Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible…I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some" (1 Cor.9:19-23)
Stony Ground
Unless you want a rockery (and even then you need soil between the stones), you will need to remove all the stones. Stony ground means shallow faith. It has no roots. The first cause of shallow faith is a shallow gospel. How can you make sure they have seen their deep need of the Saviour and the depth of His saving grace, and not just made an emotional response on impulse? The second cause of shallow faith is a lack of maturity. We are called not to make converts but disciples (Matt.28:19). A prayer of confession and commitment is only the start. "Jesus said to his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me" (Matt.16:24)
Thorny Ground
No one plants vegetables and flowers in a bramble patch. First you put on protective clothing, get the right tools, and clear the brambles. And even then you may need to feed the soil before it is good enough for planting. Thorny ground is the cares and worries of the world that overwhelm people so they cannot develop in the faith, or sometimes even stop to hear the gospel in the first place.
The gospel of "come to Jesus and all your worries will be over" is a false one. Jesus said, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." Earlier in the same verse he said, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace". How can you help people make this a reality in their lives? Furthermore, since the church is Christ's body, are we Christ to those around us? James tells us that faith without works is dead and that true religion is to care for the widows and the orphans (James 2:20; 1:27). Do we encourage people to find peace in Christ, and do we help people deal with the thorns and brambles in their lives?
Good Soil
Good soil produces a good crop. That is what we pray for when we evangelise. Does that mean we don't have to do anything when the soil is good? No! Good soil will also produce a good crop of weeds if we do not look after it. Good soil needs tending too. Just because someone gets soundly saved and begins to make good progress, don't make the mistake of thinking they will be all right on their own. Even the best of us needs fellowship, teaching, and encouragement. And besides, who is going to do all this work of preparing the ground, if not the crop from the good soil? In Hebrews we find sound advice, "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the day approaching" (Heb.10:25). In an earlier study we looked at a good example of this (Acts 2:42-47). How will your gardening go this week?