MINORITY REPORT
Dr. James Merritt
Matthew 13:1-9; 18-23
9-29-02
INTRODUCTION
1. Put on your thinking caps for a moment; become an
amateur pastor or theologian, if you will, and see if
you can give an answer to the following three
questions:
- IF THE GOSPEL IS THE POWER OF GOD - why doesn't
everybody that hears the gospel become a Christian?
- IF THE BIBLE IS THE WORD OF GOD - why doesn't the
Bible have the same effect on everyone who reads it?
- IF JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD - why doesn't everyone
believe in Jesus?
2. We can even narrow those questions. Why don't
most people who hear the gospel become a Christian?
Why don't most people read the Bible, believe it, and
have it change their lives? Why don't most people
believe in Jesus? If an alien were to come to planet
earth and ask for a report on what god is worshiped,
what religious book is followed, or even what religion
is practiced, Christians would have to give a minority
report because the vast majority of this world is not
Christian.
3. Now thankfully Jesus told a parable to answer all
three of those questions. In fact, it is one of the
most well-known parables in all of the Bible. It is
known as the parable of the sower, but it could just
as easily be called the parable of the soils.
4. As you listen to this parable you will find three
main components. As you read verses 3 through 9
circle the word sower in verse 3; the word seed in
verse 4; and the word ground in verse 8. Because
these are the three components of the parable - there
is the sower, the seed, and the soil. Now let me
identify what each of these three represent at the
very beginning. The sower is the saint, the seed is
the scripture, and the soil is the soul. Now how do I
know this? Because Jesus tells us.
5. In Luke 8:11 Jesus said, "The seed is the word of
God." Now I understand why Jesus would compare the
word of God to seed, because a seed ...
Dr. James Merritt
Matthew 13:1-9; 18-23
9-29-02
INTRODUCTION
1. Put on your thinking caps for a moment; become an
amateur pastor or theologian, if you will, and see if
you can give an answer to the following three
questions:
- IF THE GOSPEL IS THE POWER OF GOD - why doesn't
everybody that hears the gospel become a Christian?
- IF THE BIBLE IS THE WORD OF GOD - why doesn't the
Bible have the same effect on everyone who reads it?
- IF JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD - why doesn't everyone
believe in Jesus?
2. We can even narrow those questions. Why don't
most people who hear the gospel become a Christian?
Why don't most people read the Bible, believe it, and
have it change their lives? Why don't most people
believe in Jesus? If an alien were to come to planet
earth and ask for a report on what god is worshiped,
what religious book is followed, or even what religion
is practiced, Christians would have to give a minority
report because the vast majority of this world is not
Christian.
3. Now thankfully Jesus told a parable to answer all
three of those questions. In fact, it is one of the
most well-known parables in all of the Bible. It is
known as the parable of the sower, but it could just
as easily be called the parable of the soils.
4. As you listen to this parable you will find three
main components. As you read verses 3 through 9
circle the word sower in verse 3; the word seed in
verse 4; and the word ground in verse 8. Because
these are the three components of the parable - there
is the sower, the seed, and the soil. Now let me
identify what each of these three represent at the
very beginning. The sower is the saint, the seed is
the scripture, and the soil is the soul. Now how do I
know this? Because Jesus tells us.
5. In Luke 8:11 Jesus said, "The seed is the word of
God." Now I understand why Jesus would compare the
word of God to seed, because a seed ...
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