The View from the Pulpit
I appreciate you all reading along with me. I apologize in advance if I offend any of you today. Sometimes, to be true to the Word of God, a preacher has to do that. Today, we will read Luke chapters 8 and 9.
How many times I have heard the parables of the seed is impossible to say, but it is a large number. There are many angles that a preacher can take. Normally, I try to stay with the more obscure verses, but today I am compelled to talk about these.
The view from the pulpit, or even from being in the praise band, is unique. You can see the faces of the people who come to church every Sunday. It is a sacred duty they feel they must fulfill. I commend them for this.
A Warning and a Promise (Luke 8:18)
But we must consider Luke 8:18. This verse has a warning and a promise. The warning: “Therefore, consider carefully how you listen.” (NIV) We see people who love the experience of church. They like to sing songs and fellowship with the other people in the congregation. Some might even be there for the guilty pleasure of a free donut. They deprive themselves all week, but since it’s Sunday and only at church, they indulge. When the preaching starts, however, you can look at their countenances and they are thinking about the grocery list since they shop on the way home, or plans they have later that day. You can tell they are waiting for the preaching to be over, so they can sing again and go home. My pastor likes to say they want to be first in line at “In and Out”, referring to the popular fast-food restaurant.
They hear the word, but it doesn’t change them. It is falling on the ground and not taking root. At least they are there, but you can’t save yourself through osmosis. Another thing my pastor says is, “Being in church will not make you a Christian, anymore than being in a garage will make you a car.” It doesn’t work that way. Be fertile soil, reception for the Word, wanting it to grow in you and produce fruit.
Fruitless Faith and Choked Growth (Luke 8:5–15)
Time passes, and they realize it is not producing any fruit. Their own children fall away from the faith because they themselves were not producing fruit. Perhaps they have become so set on getting their spouse or friends to join them they’ve let those people pull them into the world. Jesus tells His disciples that when someone is not receptive, to move on (Luke 9:5). You can keep swinging your pick to try to break through that rocky shell, but the seed still won’t grow in it. Instead, you become like a seed planted among weeds. You become so committed to winning over someone who will not change, that those attempts, the things of the world, choke out the Gospel and instead of it producing growth in you, it withers and dies (Luke 8:14).
Appearance vs. Dependence on God (Luke 9:3)
I have even fallen into a trap I see others struggle with. Trying to represent a good appearance to draw others to Christ. We think if they see us and want to be like us, we can get them to come. But Jesus tells His disciples not to even take a change of clothes. To count only on God (Luke 9:3). God is enough, but we like to think we can add to it.
The Promise of More (Luke 8:18)
We must look at the promise in verse 18: “Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.” (Luke 8:18, NIV)
When God is sufficient, and we focus on how we listen and apply the Word of God to our lives, He is faithful and just to give us more faith. Then, those around us see a growing Christian. If anything will draw them, it is seeing that growth in us. I’m not saying to be self-centered, but to be God-centered. It is not about being faithful to attend; that is a prerequisite, but while attending, listen to what is being said. How does that apply to you and your life? If you don’t know, pray about it when you get home. Say, “God, what was the pastor talking about today? I know you had me hear that for a reason, but I am confused. Show me how to apply it to my life.” I assure you, He will.
The same goes for reading the Bible, and this is the point of my writing to you. We need to think: What does this mean? Why was that word used? And most of all, how can this help me grow and be a fruitful Christian?
Tomorrow, we will read Luke 10-11.
