Sampling the soil

When Pastor Dave asked me last Sunday evening if I would preach Wednesday night, I immediately replied "Lord willing." I had in my mind that I was going to be preaching about the Prodigal Son again. I've had that on my mind so much lately and had taught it in Sunday school that morning and I just felt like that was what the Lord wanted me to preach on. Boy, was I wrong!

On Tuesday evening I started having that feeling that I get when I am unsure of the message. I started struggling and praying that the Lord would guide me. Much to my surprise, he lead me to Luke 8:4-15 about the Parable of the Sower and the Soil. I had never preached on this subject and to the best of my recollection, I had never even taught it before. Although I had studied it in both my private study time and in my Seminary studies, I didn't feel like I was worthy enough to preach about it. But, the Lord came through and He preached the message through me. I was so thankful for His presence during the preaching and I felt utterly defeated after it was over. I told Mary in the car on the way home, "that was one of the worst messages I've ever preached." She quickly told me I was wrong and the kids all agreed. Still apprehensive, I went home and listened to it and was shocked that it actually made sense and I felt much better about it.

I only want Christ to be seen when I'm preaching and I often feel that I am a stumbling block. I'm not trying to be humble here, I am just stating the facts. I honestly feel that I do a terrible job nearly every time I preach. I'm just thankful that the Lord is able to clean things up and use me to present His message. You can give it a listen or a watch at the links below:

Audio message here:


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Scripture: Luke 8:4-15 KJV

4 And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable:
5 A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.
6 And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.
7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.
8 And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
9 And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?
10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.
11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.