Jesus' Parables - The Sower
This is our Sunday teaching from Senior Pastor, Tom Thompson. Recorded live at our Sunday Service in Harris Academy Purley, Croydon on Sunday 19th January, 2025. Talk Summary and Connect Group Notes are below:
Talk Summary - Our Father is a Farmer: Cultivating Miraculous Fruitfulness
Did you know that our Father is a farmer? That’s right—Jesus Himself paints this picture in one of His most well-known parables, recorded in Matthew 13. In it, He tells the story of a farmer sowing seeds, some of which fall on the path, some on rocky ground, some among thorns, and some on good soil. The result? The seed on good soil produces an abundant, miraculous harvest—30, 60, even 100 times what was sown.
This parable isn’t just a lesson in agriculture; it’s an invitation to experience the miraculous fruitfulness God desires for us. It’s not about efficiency or striving harder. It’s about letting His Word take root in our hearts. So, how can we cultivate lives that produce this kind of fruit?
1. Make Space for the Word
Jesus warns that some hearts, like a compacted path, are so full of constant activity that His Word doesn’t sink in. In our fast-paced, noise-filled lives, we must intentionally create space to hear and reflect on God’s message. Whether it’s setting aside time each morning, listening to an audio Bible on your commute, or journaling in the evening, the key is to slow down and cherish His Word. As Jesus says, “Whoever has ears, let them hear.”
2. Embrace the Process
Fruitfulness doesn’t happen overnight. Just as a farmer patiently works the soil, God uses life’s challenges—trouble and persecution—to refine us and make us more fruitful. These moments, though painful, are opportunities for the Word to go deeper into our lives. Instead of asking, “Why is this happening to me?” we can ask, “How can this make the Word grow in me?” The Apostle Paul reminds us in Romans 5:3-4 that suffering produces perseverance, character, and hope—essential ingredients for a fruitful life.
3. Guard Against Distractions
Even good soil can become unfruitful if overrun by weeds. Jesus points to the worries of life and the deceitfulness of wealth as two major threats. To be fruitful, we must prioritize obedience over comfort or material gain. It’s about asking ourselves tough questions: Why is more obedience better than more money? How does the Kingdom change how I respond to fear and hardship?
The Farmer’s Promise
The good news is that miraculous fruitfulness is not reserved for the exceptionally talented or perfect. It’s for anyone who cherishes God’s Word and allows it to take root. Our Father is a farmer—He works slowly, with grubby hands, but He promises an incredible harvest for those who make space, persevere through challenges, and keep His Word at the center.
Will you let Him sow His Word in your life today? Let’s commit to being good soil and trust the Farmer to bring about His miraculous harvest.
Want to run a Connect Group Session based on this teaching? The Connect Group Notes are here