Keeping In Step With The Spirit 4

Have you ever watched with disappointment as someone just ignored the Gospel message?  Have you ever had your hopes dashed by someone you thought was beginning their walk with Christ only to see them turn away?  Have you even felt like the Gospel has penetrated your life – to a degree – but somehow you consistently come up short?  Sometimes I wonder if I will ever learn!  Jesus describes us and our response to the Gospel when He shared the story about the farmer and the seed as recorded in Matthew’s Gospel.  You know the story; some seed fell along the path and was gobbled up by birds.  Other seed fell among rocks and it withered.  Then there was the seed that fell among the thorns and it was choked.  Three out of four parts of Jesus’ story recount failure!  I’m so thankful Jesus included the final part about the seed that grew and produced fruit, in abundance!  There is hope!  That’s what I want in my life.

I guess the truth is, all of our lives could be looked at from these perspectives at some point in time.  The Gospel at times flourishes in us, and then it would appear to be choked by the cares of life.  Sometimes we feel productive, but if we’re honest, at other times we know we fail.  And what about the church?  We’re continuing our study in the Word as we seek to follow Paul’s admonition to keep in step with the Spirit.  This week I want to look at how these verses about the sower and the seed from Matthew’s Gospel apply to the church.  As I’ve prepared it’s been an interesting discovery process.  Join us for some great singing and time in the Word.  Lend your heart and voice to ours as we worship Him.  Come walk with us and learn with us as we seek to keep in step with the Spirit.  Pastor Marv Gibbs