Four Modern Challenges to the Gospel Part 1

Over the next number of weeks I’m going to spend some time digging into the parable of the sower found in Matthew 13:1-23.  This is one of my favourite parables in the Bible and I believe it has a very relevant application for the church today.  As Jesus explains the four different places where the seed falls, I believe we can make application to four modern challenges to the gospel message.  I’ll share some thoughts on each of these.

This week I’ll look at the seed that falls on the path.  If you’re following along with the parable you’ll see Jesus teaching about a farmer who goes out to sow some seeds.  The seeds fall on four different locations.  Some seed falls on a hard path and birds eat the seed.  Other seed falls on rocky ground and fails to grow roots, some seed falls amongst thorns that choke the seeds and finally some seed falls on good soil and bears an excellent crop.  After giving the parable Jesus explains that the seeds represent the gospel message of the Bible and the locations on the path refer to different reactions to the gospel message. Here we’ll find our application.

The first location explored in the parable is the seed that falls on the hard path.  Jesus goes on to explain that this location represents a person who hears the gospel and does not understand it.  The devil comes along and steals away the seed which was sown in that person’s heart.  In our culture this is a major challenge to the gospel.  Many people have heard the gospel but do not understand it and in a flash the seed of the gospel is lost.  It is important to note that seeds must be sown and then watered.  The Apostle Paul explains in I Cor 3:6 that he planted a seed, Apollos watered it and God gave the growth.  

Just like any farming, planting a seed of the gospel is a multi-stage process and many people are involved.  It’s not enough to just plant the seed and walk away. If the person who hears the gospel does not understand the gospel the seed is very likely to be snatched away by the devil.  You may not be the person to water the seed, but if you plant it, you need to consider how the seed will be watered that it might grow.

In our culture there is probably less common knowledge of the Bible than in recent past years so when seeds of the gospel are planted we have to ask: do people understand them? If the gospel is not understood, how can we explain it? Next week I’ll look at the seed sown on the rocks.