This past Sunday, the sermon covered the Parable of the Sower found in the Gospel of Matthew in the 13th Chapter. I have preached over this Parable before at Woodlawn and the last time I chose to focus on the aspect of judging. The Sower in the story does not discriminate concerning the soil, the seed (the word of God) is offered to the rich soil as well as the poor soil. No predetermination is made due to the preconceived condition of the soil. We are not to judge who may or may not be the 'right' kind of soil to hear and grow God's word.
This time, I chose to focus on the soil from a different angle. This parable is sometimes also called the "Parable of the Four Soils", and there is something that those of us who grew up tending the soil know about soil... the condition of soil can be changed.
We as stewards of the soil can modify and improve the soil we are called to tend to. The hard 'path' can be broken up and made receptive to the roots of the word, we can clear the rocks from the rocky soil and again loosen and prepare the seed bed, we can most certainly pull and remove the weeds that are there choking out the word, all three of these 'unreceptive' soils can be made to be 'receptive' and fertile. We are called to till as well as to sow.
Matthew 13:1-9 & 18-23 New Revised Standard Version
1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 2 Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. 5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. 6 But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8 Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 Let anyone with ears[a] listen!”
18 “Hear then the parable of the sower. 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away.[c] 22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. 23 But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”
At the end of the sermon, I delved into a personal meaning that the Parable of the Sower holds for me. This scripture was the scripture verse used at my Grandfather Fletcher's funeral back in 2001. My Grandfather was a man to whom tradition and heritage meant a great deal, and this scripture passage holds that meaning for me as well. Grandfather was a wonderful Christian man and most certainly sowed the seeds of God's love in this world. He was born, grew up, and lived his entire life on the same farmstead near Reliance, South Dakota. He used to say "I had the good fortune of being born in the best place on Earth and the good sense to stay there", he loved South Dakota and he loved Lyman County where he lived.
But as much as Grandfather was deeply rooted to the prairie of South Dakota, he kept apprised of the changes in technology. His father purchased the first tractor in Lyman County, Grandpa was one of the first to get a combine and leave behind the old threshing machines, he embraced each new advancement in technology, and I'm certain that if he were still alive and well today (at the ripe old age of 113 mind you) he'd be on the internet keeping abreast of the newest technology and advancements in science and certainly farming.
He was rooted, but he used those roots for strength, not as a way to stop him from moving forward and trying new methods and ways. I discussed how I too am rooted back in Lyman County, South Dakota, a great deal of who and what I am was written back there in that land and a great deal of who and what I am lays with my grandparents who are all four buried in the same small cemetery outside of the small, small town of Reliance. But... as I said in the sermon; "Roots are there to give you strength, stability, to define you in many ways... BUT... roots are not what reaches to the sky..."
My roots lie back in Lyman County, South Dakota but, my branches are here in Lake City, Iowa. It is here that God has called me to serve Him. We cannot let our roots, our heritage stop us from changing and evolving... from reaching to the sky. Let your roots, your heritage, your past, strengthen you for what lies ahead, never let it stop the branches of your life from reaching for the sky.
Our worship service on Sunday was held jointly with the members of First Baptist Church. After the service, the two congregations went to separate rooms of the church building to vote upon the merger.
My friend and mentor Reverend Bob Molby was here to represent the Mid-American Baptists (American Baptist, USA) Executive Minister Marshall Peters and to support and assist the members of First Baptist Church as they discussed and voted on the merger. Their vote was unanimous in favor of the merger.
The Reverend Mike Omundson was here to represent the Christian Church in the Upper Midwest (Disciples of Christ) Regional Minister Bill Spangler-Dunning. Mike opened our meeting with a prayer and our Church Council President Mel Alcox opened the meeting. After a brief and unfortunately contentious discussion, the vote was cast for the merger and was overwhelmingly in favor of the merger.
After this voting, the now one merged congregation met together in Fellowship Hall and ratified the proposed set of By-Laws. There was again a brief and contentious discussion but again the By-Laws were overwhelmingly approved. After the meeting was adjourned, we all sat down together and enjoyed a wonderful fellowship meal provided for by generous donations from anonymous congregation members and other individuals from our local community.
I am so pleased to present to you the newly joined congregation, now known as: "Woodlawn Christian Church, (Disciples of Christ and American Baptist)".
It is the union of two great faith traditions and two great heritages of service here in Lake City. With what is now one church, supported by two incredibly deep root systems (First Baptist was founded in 1861 and what became known as Woodlawn Christian Church was founded in 1865) we have such incredible stability from which to continue to grow branches that will reach to the sky.
I am so happy and so proud of all of the members of our new congregation. We truly have so many wonderful and loving individuals here at Woodlawn.
Let us all be a blessing to someone today!
In His Love & Glory,
Pastor Roy
