Theological Depth: Good Sowers and Good Soil Needed

In Matthew 13, Jesus tells the parable of a sower who scattered seeds for harvest.  The seeds landed on different types of ground, but only the seeds that fell on “good soil” produced bountiful harvest. Jesus later explains the meaning of parable, noting that the good soil represented those who hears and understands the Word of God and lives accordingly, bearing much fruit.  Hence, the fate of the seed was determined by the condition of the ground on which it was sown, not the seed itself.

As disciples of Christ and ministers of the Gospel, Christian leaders assume the role of sowers.  Our imperative is to teach with a theological depth that embraces the reality of God, His Word, and His kingdom. Our purpose is to present the Word of God with the understanding that it will be given to many, but will not always be received by open, willing hearts.  Some will hear, understand, and grow in faith and fruitfulness for the kingdom. Others will hear and be distracted by the world. Still others will only go through the motions because it is the right thing to do.

With the earnest desire to effectively train a new “sower,” the apostle Paul warned Timothy of such.  He wrote:

I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.  2 Timothy 4:1–4 (ESV)

Paul affirmed the power and authority of the Gospel, even though he knew that false teachers would continually arise to appease the pleasures of the public.  Hence, he urged Timothy to be on guard, to always be willing and able to stand on the word of truth.  The seasons would change, and the heart of the people would change, but the soundness of the Gospel would remain the same.

Lawrence O. Richards and Gary J. Bredfeldt put it this way: “The problem then in teaching does not lie in the authority of the Bible but it must lie in the teacher, the student, the method of teaching, or some combination of the three.” (Richards & Bredfeldt, 1998)

Paul wanted to ensure that Timothy would remain faithful to his calling, regardless of changing times and rhetoric.  He wanted him to be a part of the solution and not a part of the problem.  He wanted to make sure he stood boldly in Spirit and truth, teaching in a way that admonishes and corrects. 

As leaders, we must keep these same sentiments in mind.  We must:

• Be careful to always teach the Word of God.  Ministry platforms should not just address the so-called problems of the day, politics, or personal agendas.  We must bear witness to the transforming power and saving grace of the Gospel.  It is indeed profitable for reproof, correction, training in righteousness, and equipping for good works. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

• Be prepared for the changing seasons.  I’ve often heard it said that if we stay ready, we don’t have to get ready.  Jesus warned us about the changing times, and Paul reiterated the same.  It is in our best interest to take heed and be prepared with our defense of our hope in Christ Jesus. (1 Peter 3:15)

• Be mindful to reprove, rebuke, and exhort. Remember the examples of both Barnabas and Nathan.  It is just as important for us to encourage and uplift as it is to correct openly and honestly without fear of punishment but hope of correction. (Acts 4:36, 2 Samuel 12)

• Be willing to provide the right food at the right time.  No one reaches physical maturity without proper nutrients.  Likewise, we must recognize when it is time to provide the next level of spiritual food for spiritual growth.  Bible stories are great for teaching children, but adults should hunger to grow beyond the basics of stories and towards understanding and teaching others the mysteries of the Gospel. (Hebrews 5:13-14)

Paul warned Timothy that he would encounter many who only wanted to hear what they wanted to hear or what lined up with their personal motives and ideologies.  (2 Timothy 4:3) He also often warned the churches of his day to beware of false prophets and teachings.  Disciplers of today must prepare themselves to provide sound doctrine and biblical wisdom to their students, because what they do not provide will leave room for them to search and find on their own; this could lead to them relying on something that is not correct. now that technology is so vast, there is also seems to be a higher propensity of false sources of authority.  We live in the age of blogs and self-publishing, where every opinion (not fact) is accepted as truth. 

Christian leaders must stay on guard while taking action.  We should take to heart the teaching of Christ and the practice of Paul and move forward accordingly.

1. Focus on sowing “pure” seeds only.  Levitical law dictated that two kinds of seeds should not be sown together to prevent forfeiting the harvest (Leviticus 19:19, Deuteronomy 22:9) Likewise, we should be careful to not “mix” the Word of God with other doctrines, ideologies, agendas, etc.

2. Pray continually that the “fallow ground” (useless, unproductive soil) may be broken up so that they may be able to receive the seeds of the Gospel. (Hosea 10:12)

3. Sow bountifully seeds of righteousness to the Spirit, not to flesh, personal or otherwise. (2 Corinthians 9:6, Galatians 6:8)

4. Foster atmospheres of cultivation.  Encourage righteous living that leads to “firmly planted” individuals with healthy spiritual lives. (Psalm 1:1-3)

To effectively lead like Jesus, we must stay true to His Word.  We must also be intentional about how and what we sow into others.  Failing to do so renders undesirable crops.  May we stand firm on His Word and in His example so that we can bear much fruit and thereby please the Father.

“By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.” John 15:8 (ESV)