Podcasts about Matthew 13

Drawing from parables of the dragnet and the master of the house, the sermon emphasizes that understanding the kingdom of God provides clarity regarding the present and future, particularly in light of global turmoil and spiritual conflict. It explains that the kingdom's gradual growth, marked by both righteous believers and those ultimately destined for judgment, will culminate in a final, decisive separation at the end of the age. Ultimately, the message encourages believers to actively share the gospel, recognizing their role as stewards of God's truths, both old and new, and to embrace the mission of bringing others into the kingdom.

There is a verse in the Bible that gives a remarkable promise—so remarkable that it can hardly be misunderstood. The promise I'm referring to is found in James 1:25: “But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this one shall be blessed in what they do.” That's pretty straightforward, wouldn't you say? Now, if you go back to the beginning of the context of that promise, it starts in verse 19: “…be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger… in humility receive the Word implanted, which is able to deliver your soul.” Did Jesus have anything to say about how we respond to truth?

❖ Follow along with today's reading: www.esv.org/1Chronicles16–17;Psalm11;Matthew13 ❖ The English Standard Version (ESV) is an 'essentially literal' translation of the Bible in contemporary English. Created by a team of more than 100 leading evangelical scholars and pastors, the ESV Bible emphasizes 'word-for-word' accuracy, literary excellence, and depth of meaning. ❖ To learn more about the ESV and other audio resources, please visit www.ESV.org

1 Chronicles 8-9; 19 Psalms 27-29; 40 Matthew 13

1 Chronicles 8-9; Psalms 23-25; Matthew 13

Matthew 13 is the greatest chapter of parables in all Scripture, containing in all seven parables. Four are centred on "seed" and the other three about understanding, valuing, and teaching others of, and encouraging them to seek and prepare themselves for the Kingdom of God. The parable of the Sower is said by our Lord to be the greatest of, and key to, all parables. The parable of the Sower, called by many the parable of the soils - for in each case the seed sown is identical; the characteristic of the soil is tested and determined on the basis of the individual response to the Word of God - and this parable, together with that of the 'tares', or weeds are the only two explained. That Jesus would use the parable as the foundation of his teaching method, and the reasons for this, were prophesied in Isaiah 6:9-10 and Psalm 78 verses 1-4. Matthew quotes both Isaiah 6 and Psalm 78; and tells us that the predicted response was forthcoming, verses 14-17 for the citation from Isaiah and verses 34-35 for the Psalm. All these parables were spoken in Galilee, by the sea; and they too invariably led to his rejection among his own folk at Nazareth. One of the high points of the chapter are the verses 45-46 where the disciple discovers that in understanding the gospel the pearl of immeasurable price has been found. What are we prepared to sacrifice for this great treasure? Hopefully everything!

1 Samuel 25 verse1 records the death of Samuel. Samuel's death marked the end of the era of the judges, who collectively had ruled for 450 years: Acts 13 verse 20. Samuel had an incredible influence upon Israel during the transition from the judges to the monarchy. The chapter tells the story of David and Abigail. During these fugitive years David and his band of warriors had protected the shearers and shepherds of Nabal in the wilderness of Maon and had asked for nothing in return. David during these troubled years found himself in great need and he sent messengers to Nabal asking for food. Nabal was an exceptionally wealthy man who lived in the lush countryside of Carmel. The messengers respectfully told Nabal of what David's band had done for Nabal. Nabal's arrogance was seen as he spoke savagely to David's men. Nabal also derided David and sent the messengers away empty and angry. When David heard his messengers' words he determined to immediately exact revenge on arrogant and foolish Nabal. This would have happened had not Abigail - Nabal's wife - swiftly acted after hearing from Nabal's servants the shameful way that David's messengers had been treated. In her wisdom she gathered provisions and hoped to avert bloodshed by placating David's anger and reminding David that his God has always providentially provided for David. Abigail assured David that his Sovereign will bring him to the throne and David needs to refrain himself from avenging himself: Romans 12 verses 17-21. Slowly read these words aloud and ponder the lesson for the way faithful disciples must live. David agrees with Abigail to leave matters in the Almighty's hands. Abigail is praised by David for her wisdom and foresight. Nabal held a grand self indulgent feast fit for a king that night. In the morning Abigail tells Nabal that his folly nearly proved fatal - the Hebrew name "Nabal" means fool - that he almost lost his life due to his foolishness. When he heard this the LORD instantly struck Nabal, possibly with a massive stroke-like sickness.Ten days later Nabal died and David thanked Yahweh for dealing with that wicked man. It is highly likely that the parable of our Lord Jesus Christ in Luke 12 veres 13-21 of the rich "fool" is based on the life of Nabal. Now read these verses in Luke 12 and the advice for how disciples must now live in the following verses 22-34 from the same chapter. David recognises what an asset Abigail, with her wise counsel, would be as his wife. So David invites her to join him in his life as a fugitive in the wilderness. Abigail chose to accept David's proposal and forsake the luxurious life that she might have been expected had she stayed as a wealthy widow. Of course this is conjecture; but it would seem that David was playing the part of the "goel", or redeemer, in preserving Abigail's heritage. The chapter in Samuel curiously ends by telling us of David taking another wife and of Saul giving David's wife, Michal, to another nobleman. Jeremiah 2 verses 1-3 speak of the first love that the fathers of Israel and are classic expressions that relate to the nation's redemption out of Egypt - Abraham, Isaac and Jacob - had for Yahweh in their sojourns before the LORD brought them into the Promised Land. Verses 4-8 speak of the decline of the nation after leaving Israel until the time of Jeremiah. They had left the love and worship of the one true God and Israel had embraced self seeking and idolatry. Verses 9-13 reveal that Israel's behaviour was worse than that of the surrounding nations. And their actions show a failing in their thinking. They had laboured to hew from the rock cisterns that could not hold water. And far worse than that they had forsaken Yahweh their Sovereign who was a fountain of waters of life forever springing from their one true Rock. How reminiscent this was of the rock that provided Israel with water during their wilderness wanderings for almost 38 years. The lessons for today's disciples are outlined by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 10 verses 4-5 - read and consider. Verses 14-19 denounce Israel for failing to serve the Almighty and trusting in nations whose gods failed in saving those peoples. The super powers of the prophet's era - Egypt and Assyria - are those noted. In verses 20-25 the LORD declares what He has done for His people. Yet in spite of this Israel sought the baals and was like a wild donkey ready to mate. The nation Is denounced in verses 26-28 for the folly of embracing idols and claiming that those idols are her parents. Verses 29-32 call upon Israel to understand the LORD's chastening of her that she might once again turn to her Maker and Husband. Remember the glorious gifts with which her Sovereign had adorned her. Verses 33-37 speak of her scorn for her Omnipotent Creator. The nation had the blood of the innocent on her hands and this left God to proclaim she must suffer the discipline of being overthrown and left in her sufferings, to learn to seek their God. Matthew 13 is the greatest chapter of parables in all Scripture, containing in all seven parables. Four are centred on "seed" and the other three about understanding, valuing, and teaching others of, and encouraging them to seek and prepare themselves for the Kingdom of God. The parable of the Sower is said by our Lord to be the greatest of, and key to, all parables. The parable of the Sower, called by many the parable of the soils - for in each case the seed sown is identical; the characteristic of the soil is tested and determined on the basis of the individual response to the Word of God - and this parable, together with that of the 'tares', or weeds are the only two explained. That Jesus would use the parable as the foundation of his teaching method, and the reasons for this, were prophesied in Isaiah 6:9-10 and Psalm 78 verses 1-4. Matthew quotes both Isaiah 6 and Psalm 78; and tells us that the predicted response was forthcoming, verses 14-17 for the citation from Isaiah and verses 34-35 for the Psalm. All these parables were spoken in Galilee, by the sea; and they too invariably led to his rejection among his own folk at Nazareth. One of the high points of the chapter are the verses 45-46 where the disciple discovers that in understanding the gospel the pearl of immeasurable price has been found. What are we prepared to sacrifice for this great treasure? Hopefully everything!

This week, we heard from Jono on the parable of the Sower and the Seed (Matthew 13). He shared that in order to really hear what God is saying to us through scripture, we have to be willing to dialogue with him. We have to engage with the text and seek a deeper understanding. Jesus isn't interested in people who only want a surface level relationship with him. He wants intimacy and discussion.

Matthew 13

Antique stores are full of things people no longer want or use. Much of the time it's considered junk but to the right person it's a hidden treasure. Might this also be true of each of us? Listen and be encouraged. Copyright, Dave Andrus 2025

Matthew 13

The  purpose of Jesus parables is to cause some holy discomfort so that as we percolate on them we can understand the Kingdom of God and how we are called to participate. How are you being called to be a mustard seed in the Kingdom? If you prefer to listen, stream, and/or watch, join us and subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@kingwoodmethodist

In Matthew 13 Jesus shows us that if we want to be a part of the big things God is doing in the world, then we have to submit to the small ways that God ordinarily works. If you prefer to listen, stream, and/or watch, join us and subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@kingwoodmethodist

Brian Holland - "Learning To Walk Like Jesus"

Speaker: Chris Webb Series: A Fresh Look at Jesus

When Jesus taught, He often shared in parables or stories. In this particular parable, He teaches that the Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. Listen in this week to see how this is important for us to know and how it impacts our lives today. thebridgebluffton.com

Matthew 13:24-58

Today's reading is Matthew 13-15. . . . . This month, we will be reading from the ⁠Christian Standard Bible.⁠ . . . . Your ratings and reviews help us spread the Gospel to new friends! If you love this podcast, ⁠⁠⁠rate the podcast on Apple Podcasts and leave us a brief review⁠⁠⁠! You can do the same on ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠ and on ⁠⁠⁠Google Podcasts⁠⁠⁠ as well. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

❖ Follow along with today's reading: www.esv.org/Joshua5–6:5;Psalms132–134;Isaiah65;Matthew13 ❖ The English Standard Version (ESV) is an 'essentially literal' translation of the Bible in contemporary English. Created by a team of more than 100 leading evangelical scholars and pastors, the ESV Bible emphasizes 'word-for-word' accuracy, literary excellence, and depth of meaning. ❖ To learn more about the ESV and other audio resources, please visit www.ESV.org

Journey with us through Matthew 13 at Into the Word, a radio and online program committed to reading, loving, and living the whole Counsel of God. In this program we will work our way chapter by chapter through the whole Bible. Our host and Bible teacher for this adventure is Pastor Paul Carter. If you are interested in additional resources or previous episodes in the series, you can find those at https://intotheword.ca/. If you would like to support the program or our monthly mission partner, you can do so at https://intotheword.ca/how-to-support-the-into-the-word-podcast-bible-commentary. To connect with our Bible readers and Into the Word listeners, connect with us on Facebook at https://facebook.com/In2theWord

In Matthew 13, Jesus tells a story about poisonous weeds sown in a field of wheat. Jesus is reminding us of the fact that evil is real and encouraging us to stay awake and vigilant. God is gracious and patient, but we still need to make sure we end up on the right side when all is said and done! If you prefer to listen, stream, and/or watch, join us and subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@kingwoodmethodist

Scripture: Matthew 13:44-46 Key Takeaways:  — Finding — Assessing — Selling — Rejoicing — Buying + Jesus is the one thing worth losing all things just to have + This is how we become a Christian — Jesus is not your Savior unless He is your Treasure “How sweet all at once it was for me to be rid of those fruitless joys which I had once feared to lose… You drove them from me, you who are the true, the sovereign joy. You drove them from me and took their place, you who are sweeter than all pleasure… you who outshine all light… you who surpass all honor…O Lord my God, my Light, my Wealth, and my Salvation.” – Confessions, IX, 1. — Philippians 3:4-11 + This is how we live as a Christian — Philippians 3:7-8 + This is how we overcome temptation — Hebrews 11:24-26

Matthew 13 // Wheat & Tares Parable (Visual)Please Note:I do not nor have i ever monetized my channel, if you see ads it is not me, it is the platform. I suggest you listen on podcast platforms like apple podcasts and spotify. When you come here be respectful and mature in your communications. This is not a kindergarden and I do not have the time to monitor who is writing what here. I do not reply to any comments nor do i engage in conversations here. Never engage with anyone that may write to you claiming to represent me or this channel. Remember that God see's all, and every idle word will be brought into judgement including what you utter in comments sections. Take heed, be vigilent, sober minded and apt to have an answer for your faith, don't come here to argue and put stumbling blocks before the faces of others. Support one another to grow in the faith and truth. God bless.Disclaimer: All content on this channel is for educational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice of any kind. By watching this video, you agree to assume 100% responsibility for the consequences of acting upon this information. You are encouraged to use your own discernment and free will when listening to anyone.Copyright © Wisdom Within God's Word Channel. All Rights Reserved.

Mark Kline :: Creekside Church :: Sun day, June 29, 2025 When Jesus taught in parables, His purpose was two-fold: To conceal the truth from hard-hearted listeners and to reveal the truth to sincere seekers. Mark Kline preaches about the 4 types of soil described in Jesus' Parable of the Sower from Matthew 13, a picture of the various heart responses to the seeds of the Gospel. Mark also explores why some lives are transformed by God's word and others don't grow at all. This message follows several announcements. Worship music permitted under CCLI License #264436.

Many of us have probably heard the parable of the seed and the ground. There is a sower, there is different types of ground, and different outcomes, ect. Many people have used this parable for different outcomes and lenses... How can we implement this wisely? What is beyond the bounds of the word? If you have any responses or questions, email us at Ryan.stueckemann@kingwoodmethodist.org If you prefer to listen, stream, and/or watch, join us and subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@kingwoodmethodist

Picture a man walking through a field, just going about his day, when suddenly his foot catches on something. Curious, he kneels down, brushes away the dirt, and his eyes widen—he's uncovered a treasure beyond his wildest imagination. It's not like anything he has ever seen, and he immediately recognizes just how valuable it is. You would think he would grab it and run as fast as he could. He doesn't. Instead, he buries again and rushes home and sells everything he has—his house, his possessions, every last item he owns—they're all gone! Imagine the reaction of his family and friends. “What in the world are you doing?” they probably ask. “Why are you throwing away everything you've worked for, everything you have, for a measly piece of land?” His response is most likely just a smile because he knows something they don't. To them, it looks crazy. To him, it's the smartest decision he's ever made. Picture a pearl wholesaler, one who has spent his entire career searching for the finest pearls in the world. He knows what makes them valuable, what sets them apart, and he is dedicated to finding the very best. One day, in the midst of searching for better and more valuable pearls, he comes across the ultimate pearl, the one that could possibly be more valuable than anything he has ever seen. You would think he would want to do whatever is necessary to add it to his inventory to serve as the pièce de résistance of his collection. Instead, he makes a shocking decision. He liquidates his inventory, and then sells all he has in order to buy that one very valuable pearl. His friends and business associates must think he is foolish… These two stories are parables that Jesus uses to tell his disciples about the nature of the kingdom of heaven. 

In Matthew 13, Jesus teaches about the importance of the soil upon which the seeds of the gospel are spread. What kind of soil is your heart? If you prefer to listen, stream, and/or watch, join us and subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@kingwoodmethodist

Robert Redd - 'Learning To Walk Like Jesus'

Scripture: Matthew 13:31-33 Key Takeaways:  + The Kingdom of God is humble in its start and unstoppable in its spread. Acts 6:7 Acts 12:24 Acts 19:20 + A Global Dimension   Ezekiel 17:22-24 Matthew 24:14 + A Societal Dimension  “I call myself a cultural Christian. I'm not a believer, but there is a distinction between believing in something and being steeped in the culture of it.” – Richard Dawkins, Atheist “You cannot take the fruit of Christianity and then say you don't want the tree.” – Douglas Murray, Atheist Cultural Critic + A Personal Dimension  Philippians 1:6

Pastor Dan preached from Matthew 13:1–23 on the Parable of the Sower, highlighting how the condition of a person's heart determines their response to the Word of God. He explained the four types of soil as four types of hearts—hard, shallow, distracted, and receptive—emphasizing that true discipleship involves deep, enduring, fruit-bearing faith. Ultimately, he challenged listeners to examine their hearts and asked, “What kind of soil are you?”#HeartCheck #ParableOfTheSower #Matthew13 #SpiritualGrowth #BearFruit #FollowJesus #GoodSoil #DiscipleshipMatters

Isaiah's Commission, as described in Isaiah chapter 6, details his vision of God's holiness and his subsequent call to ministry. This experience impacted Isaiah, leading him to acknowledge his unworthiness and, ultimately, to volunteer for God's service. God asks, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?". Isaiah responds, "Here am I. Send me!".In this episode, I'm joined by Nate Chavoya from the Reality Czars podcast. We talked about his awakening and beginnings in the Pentecostal Church, simulated reality vs holographic reality, living in a demiurge soul trap, fake reality, Plato's Allegory of the Cave, Wheel of Time series, The Dark Tower series, he shares the story of his near death experience, Bob's Fine Cars Eureka, CA, saving babies, forgoing new pathways, controlling the matrix, Blue Shirt Guy from Free Guy, the Parable of Talents, seizing opportunities, the neural network brain, fractals of Source, God's breath, Hearts in Atlantis, Matthew13: 14-16, growing limbs and performing miracles through prayer, psychokinesis, Jesus the bouncer, radical obedience, being an ambassador for Christ, Ephesians 3:20, Isaiah 6 - Isaiah's Commission, and synchronicities as a blessings as a reward.

Teachings from Lakeside Presbyterian Church EPC, Brandon, MS

Teachings from Lakeside Presbyterian Church EPC, Brandon, MS

"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field." - Matthew 13:44

Daily Dose of Hope June 18, 2025   Scripture – Matthew 13:24-58   Prayer:  Holy and Merciful God, We come to you today rejoicing in your holy name.  It's amazing that you, the God of all, care about the minute details of our lives.  I mean, who are we?  But yet, you love us, you care, you died for us!  Thank you, Jesus.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  Help us, as we move on throughout this day to remember your presence.  Guide our words, our actions, and our thoughts.  Help us hear your voice as we engage with your Word today.  We love you.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today is Wednesday and that means Recharge Day!  Hope we see you tonight, in the New Hope Garage, at 6:30pm for worship, prayer, fellowship, and small community.   For our Scripture, we are finishing up Matthew 13.  This portion of Scripture includes many more parables.  Let's start with the wheat and the weeds.  Y'all, this parable is powerful.  It has really been important in my own spiritual journey.  Here is where I have landed on it...   In the parable, the owner sows good seed but the enemy comes in the dark of night and sows weeds. The workers are understandably upset and ask the owner if he caused this. This is actually a theodicy question–how can a good God allow bad things to happen.  Basically, God, we thought you were good, why did you allow the “weeds” to grow in our lives? As believers, it is okay to question God and ask why the horrible occurred. This theology of protest doesn't demonstrate a lack of faith, but actually is an “expression of faith.” It's okay to be angry with God, question God, shake your fist so to speak, but stay in the conversation! This is, in itself, an act of faith.   Jesus also addresses the source of the weeds–the enemy has spread them. God is not the source of evil–God does not cause evil to occur so that we might grow spiritually or to perpetuate some grander divine plan. Rather, God's enemy is the source of all evil. Matthew 13:39 refers to the devil as God's enemy. Satan is real and there is real evil in our world, which both inhabits and transcends individuals, families, communities, nations, cultures, and economic structures. Why doesn't the owner in the parable want the workers to pull the weeds? Because in doing so, both the weeds and the wheat would be pulled out (Matthew 13:29). God can't just do away with all evil because, whether we like it or not, we are all are a complex and confusing mix of both good and evil. Furthermore, this isn't how God deals with the world. Although God has the power to eliminate evil using brute force (the way humans might deal with it), this goes against God's character. God instead acts through the loving and yet “weak” power of the cross. God's answer to evil was sending Jesus Christ, the one who truly understands what it means to suffer and also the only one through which true and complete healing can occur.   But the parable doesn't end there. In Matthew 13:41-43, Jesus explains how in the end, evil will be vanquished; it will not have the final word. Although I firmly believe this is true, it fails to offer much comfort in the midst of counseling someone who is grappling with the death of a baby or a sexual assault in the here and now. What is helpful, however, is to point out how God's work in the world is often difficult to understand (think about the parable of the mustard seed and the yeast). We might not always see God's power at work, but it's there in the smallest and most unusual ways, changing and transforming us, guiding us, and leading us closer to Jesus (power in the form of “loving weakness”). God is waging war on evil, just not necessarily in ways we see or understand.   It makes sense, then, that Jesus would follow up this parable with the mustard seed and yeast.  You see, in God's Kingdom, small things can yield really big results. A tiny seed can produce a big tree, so big that birds can nest in it. Seeds are really interesting things as well. They can reproduce themselves exponentially. It takes one seed to make that big mustard tree and from that tree, many, many more seeds are produced. A little bit of yeasty dough can be mixed with flour to make enough bread to feed hundreds of people.    God's economy is different.  In the world, our default setting, big things are valued–big money, big jobs, big cars, big houses, big, flashy, noticeable---these are all things that indicate power, prestige, control. In God's Kingdom, it's okay for things to be small. Small, seemingly insignificant things can make a huge difference. Mustard seeds, yeast, loaves & fishes, a random act of kindness, a kind or encouraging word, spending time with God in prayer, offering a prayer over someone else, the widow's mite, a humble life lived with integrity, sharing our faith story with someone, or our willingness to serve others. Small things that all can yield huge results for God's Kingdom. Our daily prayers can yield huge, miraculous results.   These parables, along with the others from this chapter, all give glimpses into God's Kingdom.  What is it like living under the reign of God?  We are getting snapshots.    But that doesn't mean people get it or appreciate it.  As we read at the end of the chapter, when he went to his hometown (which we know is Nazareth), the people were amazed at his teaching.  But they were also skeptical.  He was too familiar to them.  They saw this boy grow up.  They knew his parents and his siblings.  It created an obstacle to belief.  So there, he didn't do many miracles.  He moved on.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope June 17, 2025   Scripture – Matthew 13:1-23   Prayer:  Holy God, We start by praising your name.  You are a good God, a mighty God, and a wise God.  Work in our lives.  Speak to us.  We need you, Lord.  Over and over again, we need you.  In these next few moments of silence, Lord, hear our prayers...  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional that complements the daily Bible reading for New Hope Church.  As you all know, we are currently doing a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we are starting Matthew 13.   Picture this: Jesus is sitting by the lake (Sea of Galilee). Large crowds of people have gathered around him, so many in fact that he got into a boat and started teaching from the boat while the people stood on the shore. And he begins to tell stories, parables. These were stories that people could relate to, they understood about farmers and seed,t hey could picture them in their head as he talked, but they pointed to deeper spiritual truths about living under the Kingdom of God.   Jesus says that a farmer goes out to sow seeds. But the farmer doesn't worry so much about where he is throwing the seeds. He seems to be pretty indiscriminate with his seed-throwing. He is literally just throwing seed everywhere. Some of the seed falls right on the path, where all the people walked and the soil was hard and had been packed down. So the birds ate most of that seed. Some of the seed fell in rocky places (there are lots of rocky places in that part of the world) and while it would sprout, the soil was shallow, and there wasn't enough root for the plant to survive. Some of the seed fell among thorns, and the thorns were invasive and took over. The plants had no real chance of survival there. But then some seeds fell on good soil, which produced an amazing crop---100, 60, or 30X what was sown.   First, I think it's important for us to not dwell on the different kinds of soils too much. I think one of our first temptations is to go, I know someone who is like that soil, and then that group of people are like this soil, and so forth. We'll get to the soil but I want us to start with what is most important. Who is the star of the story? Well, the farmer or the one who is sowing the seed. He throws that seed everywhere–he is generous with the seed, throwing it everywhere there is any chance it might take root. Friends, we are the sowers. We are the ones called to throw seed. What's the seed we are supposed to be throwing around? Well, the Good News of Jesus.    The Good News is for ALL. We aren't supposed to decide who to share our faith with. No, we are truly to share our faith, in word and deed, with everyone. This is so important. We aren't just supposed to share Jesus with those in our congregation, with our friends who are “safe.” We are supposed to be kind of reckless, sharing the love of Jesus Christ, sharing our faith story, telling people the source of our hope, with all kinds of people - people who don't look like us, people who we don't know, and people we do know. This is one thing we know about God's Kingdom: If God has brought us to a certain place, a certain store, a certain vacation spot, a certain meeting---we trust that there isa greater purpose. We always should be on the lookout for ways to have spiritual conversations, to share the Good News.   I want you to think about your past week. Think about the places you went, the people you spoke to, the things you did. I want you to think about each of those situations. What would it have looked like if you had sowed some seeds at each of those places?   We aren't responsible for what happens to the seeds. We are just called to sow. Sow with joy wherever we go. Sow with love. Sow obediently and abundantly. Then, we trust that God will do the rest. Trust God with the harvest. For me, this takes the pressure off...we are not responsible for the harvest, we are simply sowers.    As the sower, we truly have the desire for all the soil to bear fruit. That's why we keep throwing those seeds, having those conversations, offering to pray for someone, telling people how much Jesus loves them. God loves all people, we are called to love all people. Remember that love of God and love of others cannot be separated. They are intricately linked.   But we have to recognize that some soil has had people trample on it. It has not been nourished, it might be filled with rocks. It may take years to get to the point in which the soil can bear fruit. I read that to get soil just right, really nourished, it can take years. And it usually means continuing to add nourishment to it, continuing to add things to it to develop it and enrich it so that it can be fruitful. People are no different. We love on people, we pray for them, we tell them Jesus loves them. We listen to their stories. We ask questions. And this could go on for years. But we never give up on anyone. We trust that God is at work in ways we can't see or understand. We trust that God is working behind the scenes to nourish the fields, to strengthen the roots.   Is there someone you have given up on? Remember, God isn't done with any of us yet. Who is it you have gotten discouraged with? Maybe you've stopped praying for them. Maybe you are simply angry with them because they have made bad choices or turned away from the faith. Let's ask God to bring that person to mind. Say a prayer for that person, specifically that God gives you the wisdom how to continue sowing in their life.    We can trust that God is working in the most difficult places, in difficult people, in difficult circumstances. And God gives us beautiful glimpses of hope.  I recently learned about the church in Iran and how it is growing under the harshest and most difficult of conditions.  But God is there, growing his church.  These are rays of hope in the midst of hardship. When God is involved, when the Kingdom is at work, there is ALWAYS HOPE.   Now, let's talk soil.  The soil is an important element in this story. There were three ways the poor soil was described, “hardened”, “shallow” and “cluttered.” And then, there was the well-nourished soil. As Floridians, we live in a climate and environment in which you really have to amend the soil if you want anything to grow. We basically live in sand. There is no nourishment in sand. Weeds seem to grow well but not a lot of other desirable plants. My mother-in-law is an avid and successful gardener and she constantly is amending her soil, putting nourishing elements in it to ensure that the plants will grow and be healthy.   Friends, we have to pay attention to our soil. We need to enrich the soil in others' lives but we have to ensure that our soil is cared for as well.   How is the soil of your soul? Is it hardened? Is it shallow? Is it cluttered? Or is it nourished? How is your soil?  How is our soil here at New Hope?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

In Matthew 13:10-17, Jesus explains why he teaches in parables. The significance of his teaching deepens for us when we understand that Jesus is quoting from Isaiah 6. What keeps you from seeing, hearing and understanding these words  of Jesus that “come alongside” his teachings? If you prefer to listen, stream, and/or watch, join us and subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@kingwoodmethodist

In Matthew 13, Jesus uses Isaiah's words to hint at the idea that he teaches in parables to plant salvation seeds in our hearts. If you prefer to listen, stream, and/or watch, join us and subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@kingwoodmethodist

Scripture: Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 Key Takeaways:  + Two Destinies  + One Day + Listen and Live + Patience and Persuasion 1 Peter 3:14-16

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-23 Key Takeaways:  + The Seed explained  “I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.” – Thomas Edison + The Soil explained The Path Rocky Ground Thorns + For me to live is ______ and to die is ______ The Good Soil