Are We Sowing the Seed?
In the parable of the sower, Jesus describes how people respond to the Word of God. Some never believe, some believe for a while and fall away, and others allow the cares and pleasures of life to choke the Word. The good ground represents those who receive the Word, keep it, and bear fruit. Yet the sower scattered the seed without first determining whether the ground would receive it. His responsibility was to sow. As Christians, we are responsible for helping one another grow in faith. We study Scripture, encourage one another, and offer correction when needed. But we can become so occupied with those already attending church that we neglect those who have never heard the Gospel. Consider how much time our churches spend discussing Sunday school, committee organization, and ministry programs. We want better Bible studies, stronger ministries, and more faithful members. These are worthwhile efforts, but they cannot replace sharing the Gospel. A church can have excellent programs a...