When it comes to the ‘word’ Jesus told a foundational parable. The writers of the Gospels considered it to be so important that it appears in Matthew (ch13), Mark (ch4), and Luke (ch8). The same parable told three times is unusual. It is commonly known as the Parable of the Sower.
It is a story about a seed, a sower, and four soils. Another unusual thing is that the Gospels record the meaning of this parable. The ‘seed’ is the word, or the message of the kingdom. The ‘sower’ is the one distributing that message. The ‘soils’ are the human responses to the message – and the fact that are four of them shows this to be the variable dimension in the story.
Herein lies a fundamental problem in the way we view ‘ministries of the word’ today, including preaching. Rather than functioning like the story really is about ONE sower, ONE seed, and FOUR soils…
either
we default to it being about FOUR sowers, ONE seed, and ONE soil.
or
about FOUR seeds, ONE sower, and ONE soil.
It is fascinating to reflect on the implications of these changes. It is subversive fun to retell the parable in these contrary ways … because it surfaces some massive shifts that have taken place quietly which undermine our confidence in the word – and ministries of the word, like preaching.
nice chatting
Paul
About Me
the art of unpacking
After a childhood in India, a theological training in the USA and a pastoral ministry in Southland (New Zealand), I spent twenty years in theological education in New Zealand — first at Laidlaw College and then at Carey Baptist College, where I served as principal. In 2009 I began working with Langham Partnership and since 2013 I have been the Programme Director (Langham Preaching). Through it all I've cherished the experience of the 'gracious hand of God upon me' and I've relished the opportunity to 'unpack', or exegete, all that I encounter in my walk through life with Jesus.
Recent Posts
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great example paul .. we were recently discussing this very parable … 🙂 I shall now blatantly credit you and pass this on..
Happy Christmas, Tash. Long time no speak! I think looking at the parable in these three ways leads to significant conversation…