"THE EXTRAVAGANT SOWER" - Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 (July 13, 2008)

Tell about the Kudzu growing in Virginia, and Dandelions and Sunflowers growing here in OK when we moved here

Think of God planting all those plants, scattering those seeds everywhere, like a child blowing a dandelion, and all the little seeds going everywhere. In NC they used the extra money from “Vanity License Plates” to plant wild flowers in and around cloverleaf’s on the Highway system. The workers would spread those seeds like the dandelion. It is as if God is not giving thought as to where they will land, and there seems to be no worry if they will take root, or grow, and yet they grow and beautify the landscape. This is very unlike the way we plant:

• Choose the right place
• Call OKIE DIG
• Dig the hole
• Amend the soil
• Fertilize, water, cultivate

God scatters His seeds of grace, love, forgiveness and mercy everywhere, to everyone. Some accept the gift, and others do not. Some are blown away at the extravagance of God, others they think they are not worthy, or are undeserving, and therefore don’t accept it, and remain in their anguish and pain.

IE: Tell story of Kellie excited about some “My Little Pony” stickers and she wanted to give them to all her playmates on the playground.

• Some were very appreciative and accepted them
• Some were uninterested and would turn away from her
• some adults refused to take them telling her that she should keep them for herself
• Others really did not want them, however, they accepted the gift because they understood that she really wanted to give them to everyone.
• Kellie wanted everyone to have one of her treasured stickers, therefore she continued to give them away until all were gone except the one that she had on her T-Shirt earlier.
• I remember how I felt as I watched her give them away, and how hurt I felt when her offer was rejected, yet she gave them all away.
• I picture God offering His:
• Love,

• Grace,

• Forgiveness,

• Mercy

to all and I am amazed as I observe some reject the gift:

• They think God has the wrong person.
• They think they don’t deserve it
• They feel that their sin stands in the way
• They don’t understand the real forgiveness, grace, and mercy that God offers all of us.

And yet God continues to offer to all in an un-judging way, undaunted by the condition of the soil, its worthiness, or potential.

God just

• lavishly,
• foolishly,
• wastefully,
• extravagantly

scatters those priceless gifts of grace, forgiveness, mercy to all, because God knows the harvest will be plentiful.

These gifts are offered to all of us, we have the opportunity to accept them, or reject them.

If we accept them, we are called to share them just as we have received them:

• Freely
• Extravagantly
• Lavishly
• To all we encounter, without thought of their worthiness, or judging their potential
Submitted by Kristi Ribble on July 25, 2008 - 1:40pm.Sermons