Walkerville Uniting Church Sunday Sermons
Religion & Spirituality
New Testament: Luke 8:1-15
Rev Mark Schultz
Over the years, I have had some great friends involved in agriculture, many of them on the Eyre Peninsula. Of course, as with many occupations these days, farming has changed dramatically in our lifetime. Whereas we used to try and read what the weather was doing, seed when the soil seemed ready, pray for rain, pray for dry and pick that precise moment when to harvest, now it seems that most farmers spend as much time on their computer as on the land. To my simplest of understandings, it sounds like it is a precise science of educated guesswork involving, of course, huge investment!
This week we will be looking together at the Parable of the Sower. At first glance, it appears that the Sower is pretty haphazard. Some of the grain falls on the path, some on rocks. and it appears that his weeding practices aren’t up to scratch! But still, the seed that falls in the best soil produces an unreal crop!
Going back to the early church, we read of the mission carried out by so many committed believers to share the good news of Jesus far and wide. But somehow, in the dark ages, even leading up to the Renaissance era, it was deemed unnecessary to share the gospel! The argument was that a sovereign God already knows who is going to become a Christian so why do we need to do His work for Him?
It was only in the 1700’s that things began to change. People such as John Wesley, William Carey and others realised that for people to be named in the Book of Life, someone would have to share the gospel with them. So they did, at home and abroad, and the numbers of Christians grew once again, but in new and interesting places.
It begs the question: is evangelism the domain of missionaries and big-name evangelists? In the 21st century, the answer is a resounding, “Absolutely not!” Largely because people don’t trust the church. But they will happily hear the gospel from someone they know, someone they trust. Someone like you!
We are shortly going to be opening an Alpha Course, and I can guarantee you that you will have far more success in getting people along than I will. And the good news is that all you have to do is intrigue them enough to get them in the room and sit there with them. We will do the rest.
So scatter seeds as far and wide as you can. Yes, some will fall on the path, some might fall in rocks or even be quashed by the weeds. But what if they bear an even greater harvest than you or I could believe possible?
Blessings
Mark
Drawing close to Jesus. 17 July 2022
The Merciful God. July 10, 2022
July 3, 2022. Three kinds of righteousness.
June 26, 2022. The Potter’s House
Seeing Upside Down - Walkerville Uniting Church. June 19, 2022.
Trinity Sunday, June 12, 2022 Never alone by the Holy Spirit
June 5 2022, Pentecost Sunday Message Playing the long game.
Love that will not let me go. Walkerville Uniting Church. May 29, 2022
Staying the Path. Walkerville Uniting Church. May 22 2022
The big grand plan for creation. Message for May 15, 2022
Walkerville Uniting Church, May 8, 2022. The Spirit of Sonship.
May 1, 2022. Message: ’Flesh and Spirit: oil and water’
“In the light of human sacrifice, how should we define the kind of life we should be pursuing?” Luke 12: 13-24
April 17, 2022 Easter Sunday Message The Actual factual resurrection of Jesus Christ
Why have you forsaken me? Message for Good Friday, 2022.
April 10 Palm Sunday. ”The return of the king.”
Guest Preacher Rev Jeff Dart. 3rd of April, 2022.
”On this rock” March 27, 2022.
Lent Study 3: Sign of the times--Jesus overcoming the powers. March 20 2022
Road to Resurrection Part 2 The time has come March 13 2022
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Life After Ministry
Devoted To Prayer
Cast The Word
The Bible Recap
BardsFM