First Reformed Presbyterian Church of Cambridge, Massachusetts

The Lord’s Day January 25, 2004 Anno Domini

Matthew 13:1-23

The Parable of the Sower

  I.  The parables of our Lord.
      A.  Christ explains why he taught in parables, v. 13, 34-35.
        

Prov 29:1; Hebrews 3:7-8, 12.

      B.  Parables give us an insight into the ways of God.
     

      C.  Parables force us to go beyond our tightly controlled mental and
perceptual worlds.
        

John 3:3.

      D.  Parables are devices to help us see beyond this world.
     

  II.  The sower went out to sow.
 

      A.  This is the work of Christ, the prophet.
        

1Cor 2:6-10; Ephesians 3:3-6, 8, 9; Rev 5:13.

      B.  Sowing scatters seed on different sorts of soil.
      C.  The sowing was done well.
     

   III. What is the result of the sowing? Jesus identifies four different
scenarios.
 

      A.  The road seed: snatched away by the birds.
     

      B.  The rocky soil seed: scorched by affliction or persecution.
     

      C.  The soil with thorn seeds in it: choked out.
     

      D.  The good soil life.
     

  IV.  Life in God’s field.
 

      A.  The parable of the Sower reveals God’s way of converting and
building up his people.
     

      B.  Can you change the nature of the soil?
         1.  You can cultivate your heart.
         2.  And as you do this, you ask God to change your heart.
        

      C.  There was a garden that our father and mother Adam and Eve once
knew…
     

“ So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” Isaiah 61:3

Pastor Christian Adjemian, Dipl.Div., Ph.D.

phone: 617.864.3185