AVBC - Sunday - 10/04/26 - Sermon Title: “The Mustard Seed” - Matthew 13:31-32 - “The Parables of Jesus” – Sermon Series – (Part 5 of 6)

 Sunday 10/04/26 – Adams Village Baptist Church

Sermon Title: “The Mustard Seed” - Matthew 13:31-32- “The Parables of Jesus” – Sermon Series – (Part 5 of 6)

(Pre-Sermon – World Mission Offering Picture (Mission Moment) – Picture) 

(Cover Picture – “The Mustard Seed” – “The Parables of Jesus” – Matthew 13:31-32 - Picture)  

          For the past four weeks, we have been discussing some of the “parables” or short and simple stories that Jesus told in the gospels. So far, we have discussed the parables of “The Good Samaritan,” “The Prodigal Son,” “The Sower,” last week, “The Lost Sheep,” and this morning, “The Mustard Seed.” Once again, Jesus grew up in a largely farming and fishing world, and as a result, he told parables that often connected with agriculture, farming, etc.

          With all this said, I have a question for us to consider this morning. The question is this, who likes mustard here? When I say mustard, I mean mustard on a sandwich, or anything else that you might want mustard with? Further, who here, loves, I mean loves mustard? So much so, maybe you have given yourself a little squirt in the mouth before from a mustard bottle? At one of the churches that I used to serve, I knew a man that loved hot sauce so much that he always had a bottle of it with him, and we even kept an extra bottle of it in the church fridge for him. Mustard of course is a plant, and from this plant we get mustard. Mustard is the condiment that many know and live, which is made from mustard seeds. In fact, one statistic that I read is about seven hundred million pounds of mustard is consumed worldwide annually. It is something that we find in so many places. In general, there is white or yellow mustard, brown mustard, and black mustard. Maybe this is just me, but I find that the yellow mustard that we buy in the squeeze containers to be disgusting. I do love honey mustard and more of the brown mustard though.

(#1 - The Mustard Seed (With Seeds) – Picture) 

          This morning, however, is not a teaching lesson just on mustard plants, the making of the condiment mustard, and other products that are made from mustard seeds. This morning is the parable or short story that Jesus tells us comparing a mustard seed to our Christian faith. When I say short story, I am really not joking this morning, as the parable of “The Mustard Seed” is two verses of scripture! This is what I just read from the gospel of Matthew 13:31-32, once again:

³¹ Another parable he put before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field; ³² it is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches” (Matt. 13:31-32, RSV).

          This same parable is also found in Mark 4:30–32, and Luke 13:18–19. Since this parable is so short, I will read the versions of the parable of “The Mustard Seed” in Mark 4:30-32, and Luke 13:18-19. Here is this parable in Mark 4:30-32:

 

³⁰ And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? ³¹ It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; ³² yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade”                           (Mk. 4:30-32, RSV).

 

          Finally, here is the parable of “The Mustard Seed” in Luke 13:18-19

 

¹⁸ He said therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? ¹⁹ It is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his garden; and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches” (Lk. 13:18:19, RSV).

 

          In looking at primarily at this parable in the gospel of Matthew this morning though, there are a few things to mention. One, the kingdom of heaven, or the fullness of God’s kingdom that we are ushering in on earth, is similar to man or person throwing, sowing, and or planting mustard seeds. Now some of us might know that a mustard seed is not the smallest seed in the world, as an orchid seed, poppy seeds, and others are smaller. Yet the smallest seed that would have been commonly sown, grown, and harvested for food in Jerusalem by farmers when Jesus was alive, would be a mustard seed. Also, Jesus is teaching us theology this morning, not botany. So, it is not important that that mustard seed is technically not the smallest seed, but Jesus is telling the people that it is the smallest seed that farmers sow or plant where they lived at the time. This, therefore, made sense to the world that Jesus was preaching and living in. Even further, the type of mustard that was most often planted when and where Jesus lived two-thousand years ago, was black mustard. So, Jesus knew a little farming, as this was the world that He lived in.

          In that last verse of this very short parable, Jesus says in Matthew 13:32, once again of sowing the mustard seeds:

³² yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade”     (Matt. 13:32, RSV).

Just for reference a mustard seed, especially a black mustard seed is 1/32 to 1/16 of an inch in diameter. That is small! In fact, I have container of them here that Marian Higgins gave me. I am going to pass container this around the church. You can take a seed out of it if you want, but I cannot imagine how you will not lose it. So, a little tiny seed of mustard, when and where Jesus lived, was very likely black mustard.

(#2 - Mustard seed planted, sprouting, and growing – Picture) 

These little seeds, if they fall on fertile ground, with good sunlight and water, and if nothing eats them or destroys them, they might just germinate and grow. How big though can a seed that is 1/32 to 1/16 of an inch in diameter grow as a plant from that seed?

(#3 – Man with Mustard Plants in Jerusalem, Israel – Picture)

Here is a picture of man standing in modern day Jerusalem, Israel next to black mustard plants. In this picture we can see how a seed that is 1/32 to 1/16 of an inch in diameter can grow into a very large plant.

(#4 Mustard Plants– Picture)

          Just to see what a mustard plant looks like to us up close here is more zoomed in picture of mustard plants. They are beautiful plants really, and they a come from a seed that is 1/32 to 1/16 of an inch in diameter. Something so small, a mustard seed can grow into something so big. In fact, the largest mustard plants or shrub are ones that grow from black mustard seeds. The most common kind of mustard seed in Jerusalem when Jesus was alive was, as I said, the black mustard seed. I mean, mustard seeds can grow into big plants, but Jesus said to this morning in Matthew 13:32, once again:

³² yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade”     (Matt. 13:32, RSV).

The pictures of plants that I have shown you are certainly big mustard plants, and from such a tiny seed. Yet, how could the birds of the air make nests in the shade of its branches, if a mustard plant or shrub is only about 6-7 feet tall? The answer is that the mustard plant or shrub would need to be pretty big. Jesus knew this.

(#5 Large Black Mustard Plant/Shrub – Picture)

This is a picture of a large black mustard plant or shrub. From a seed that is, once again, 1/32 to 1/16 of an inch in diameter, to this large mustard shrub. Can birds of the air safely make their nests here? Yes, they can. Jesus was talking about how a small mustard seed, or a small amount of faith in Him can grow and grow. This parable of “The Mustard Seed” is about what God can do in us and through us, with just a little tiny bit of faith in Christ. It is like that song, “This little light of mine. I am going to let it shine.”

          Just to explain more specifically from the research that I have done about how big mustard plants can grow, here is some of what I found:

Most standard garden mustard plants grow about 3 feet tall (90 cm) and 12 to 18 inches wide.

Size by Variety

·         White/Yellow Mustard (Brassica alba): Grows 1 to 2 feet tall (30 to 70 cm).

·         Brown Mustard (Brassica juncea): Grows up to 4 feet tall (120 cm).

·         Black Mustard (Brassica nigra): Can grow up to 6 to 7 feet tall (200 cm) in optimal conditions.

·         The "Mustard Tree" (Salvadora persica): While true agricultural mustard plants are herbaceous annuals that stay small, the tree referenced in biblical parables can reach 20 to 25 feet tall.

 

This “Mustard Tree” or mustard shrub is what Jesus is referring to when He says:

“so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade”.

Something so small as Mustard Seed can grow into something really big that can serve and help many. If we have but a mustard sized faith, then God can use that small little, tiny bit of faith to grow it into something massive. God can take your “little light,” or this “little light of mine,” and do things that we cannot even

imagine. Do we believe that God can take a little faith in us, a little seed of hope, and grow something large and transformative?

(#6 “Do You Have Mustard Seed Sized Faith?” – Picture)

Or to ask it another way, do you, do I, do we, have “Mustard Seed Sized Faith?” Jesus started his ministry with twelve men, the twelve disciples, and almost two-thousand years later, we are the largest faith in the entire world. A mustard seed, and a mustard seed sized faith can grow into something much larger than we can ever imagine.

          To make this a sermon one that walks out of the church with us this morning, and by out of the church I mean only through sanctuary doors today, how does this parable of “The Mustard Seed” speak to us today? How does this parable and this sermon connect with our lives, and how can we apply what we all heard and learned this morning in our lives and in the world? Here are some application points for us to consider this morning:

Matthew 13:31–32 contains the Parable of the Mustard Seed, where Jesus explains that the kingdom of heaven starts from tiny, unassuming beginnings and grows into a massive, transformative presence that impacts the whole world.

Significance

·         Humble Beginnings: Jesus' earthly ministry started quietly with a small group of Galilean fishermen and outcasts, contrasting sharply with the loud, coercive political power expected of a conquering messiah.

·         Inevitable Growth: Just as a tiny one-millimeter mustard seed naturally grows into a large tree-like shrub (up to 15 feet tall), God’s quiet work possesses an unstoppable, internal life force that multiplies over time.

·         Universal Refuge: The "birds of the air" nesting in its branches allude to Old Testament prophecies (such as Ezekiel 17:23 and 31:6) symbolizing people from all nations and backgrounds finding shelter and peace within God's domain.

 

Application

 

·         Patience in Ministry: Believers are encouraged not to despise small or unnoticed acts of faithfulness, trusting that God uses quiet obedience to yield massive long-term results.

·         Resilience in Faith: A microscopic amount of faith or witness contains the organic potential for exponential kingdom impact in families, communities, and cultures.

 

So, brothers and sisters, as we read and heard about Jesus’ parable of “The Mustard Seed,” imagine what God can do with a little seed and a little faith. Do you, do I, do we, “Have Mustard Seed size faith?” Amen.

(#7 AVBC– Communion for During Communion– Picture)

AVBC - Sunday - 09/27/26 - Sermon Title: “The Lost Sheep” - Luke 15:1-7 - “The Parables of Jesus” – Sermon Series – (Part 4 of 6)

 Sunday 09/27/26 – Adams Village Baptist Church

Sermon Title: “The Lost Sheep” - Luke 15:1-7 - “The Parables of Jesus” – Sermon Series – (Part 4 of 6)

(Cover Picture – The Lost Sheep – Parables of Jesus – Luke 15:1-7 - Picture)  

          This morning, we are continuing our six-week sermon series on “The Parables of Jesus,” or stories of Jesus. I chose just six parables for this sermon series, but there are many others. If you have a chance to look at the various parables of Jesus, I encourage you to do so. Read them and be changed by them. For example, a parable of Jesus that we will not be discussing in this sermon series, portrayed in this chalk painting, is the parable of “The Rich Young Ruler.” Read them and be changed by them.

          As I also have been saying throughout this sermon series, Jesus grew up in farming, fishing, and in general, an agricultural world. I have told you a few stories now about my late Granpa Winkelman. Well at least some of the ones that are church appropriate, and in fact, I am the first generation in the Winkelman family to have not been raised on a farm. Jesus’ parables were given originally by Jesus to a world of farmers, fishers, and people who lived off the land. Even so they are timeless, and they have incredible and powerful meaning.

          This morning, we are talking about the parable of “The Lost Sheep.” Recently, in fact, a friend of mine lost their cat. It was awful, and my friend was worried, of course, about their cat. “Was the cat alive? Was the cat dead” the person thought. The cat then came back; thanks be to God. This person though shouted for the cat, looked for the cat. I mean who would not go after someone or an animal that was lost? Has anyone here ever lost a pet? Worse anyone here ever lost a pet and never found the pet? Brothers and sisters, God’s love for us is so strong, that He will tear after us when we are lost. Even if we do not know God, God pursues us like “The Hound of Heaven,” which is a poem that was written by English Roman Catholic named Francis Thompson in 1890. God pursues us and seeks to find us when we are lost.

(Luke 15:1-17 Scripture – Picture) 

          In looking again at our Gospel of Luke 15:1-7 reading for this morning, we hear this from Jesus, once again, starting in Luke 15:1:

15 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. ² And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them” (Lk. 15:1-3, RSV).

 

          The religious leaders were giving Jesus a hard time for eating, talking with, and receiving people who society has rejected. I am so glad that I am pastoring a church, where there is a place for anyone. For those that have seen that pain chart at the doctor’s office that asks if your pain is a 1 to a 10, if you are screwed up from 1to a 10, you are still welcome here. Why? Jesus loves everyone, died for everyone, and he ate with, received, and interacted with tax collectors and sinners. Did Jesus ultimately invite all these people, all people to repent of our sins and follow Him? Of course, but “The Hound of Heaven” pursue us all. God wants us to be in relationship with. We have a choice, but either way He pursues us. We can help lead people to change, to repentance, while still loving them as someone made in God’s image.

          In response to the tax collectors and the Pharisees or religious leaders chiding Jesus for eating with, spending time with, and receiving tax collectors and sinners, he responds with a story, a parable. This is what Jesus said, that I just read a few minutes, once again:

³ So he told them this parable: ⁴ “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it? ⁵ And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. ⁶ And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.’ ⁷ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance               (Lk. 15:3-7, RSV).

          Friends, what is most important is not what are you like when you first walk into this church, what is more important, is how Jesus changes you for when you leave. I can imagine over the many years of this church that some people may have initially come into this place in a very broken state in their lives. It is not about being perfect, it is about turning to Christ who is perfect, repenting, and being changed by the Holy Spirit. Jesus went to everyone because everyone needs Jesus. It does not matter if our level of sins is at a one or a ten like the pain chart at the doctor’s office, Jesus pursues us still.

(Lost Sheep in the Woods - Jesus – Picture) 

          I remember a couple of years ago, going to Gideon’s International Bible fundraising event. At this event, thousand of dollars were raised to buy Bibles to give to people that do not have a Bible. The keynote speaker who flew in from New Zealand told us a story. He told us how some hotels and other establishments will no longer allow the no cost to them Gideon’s International Bibles. These are generally Bibles that are in the nightstands in hotels. The Bibles that are given to many, at no cost to recipient. Yet the people at this fundraising event, were enthusiastic about getting Bibles, so the people might read the gospel, and maybe a parable or a story like the parable of “The Lost Sheep.”

          This man from New Zealand then told us a true testimony. A man had lost his job, his marriage was in tatters, and so he left his home and checked into a hotel. The man was in emotional anguish. Do you know that brick wall, the forks in the road that some of us face in life? What do you do now? The man purchased a large bottle of Vodka and started drinking it heavily. The now very intoxicated man, for some reason opened the drawer to his hotel room nightstand. Lone behold, there was a Gideon’s International Bible. He probably figured that since his life was in tatters and he was drunk as a skunk, why not try reading the Bible. He opened to one of the gospels, and that night God, “The Hound of Heaven” did spiritual heart surgery on that man. By picking up that Bible and reading, this man repented of his sins and brokenness and came to Jesus Christ.

My brothers and sisters, this is why we say in this church, come as you are. If you are at 1 or a 10 in how messed up your life is, Jesus goes leaves the 100 to go after lost one. Jesus is an expert at people who have lives that are so bad that they are at a 10. So, could Jesus have asked the tax collectors and Pharisees this morning, why are you not going after the people that are 10’s in their lives being messed us? Why not help those who are hurting and who need the grace of God in Jesus Christ? Also, while that man in the hotel room did come to Christ that night, I think he still had a bad headache the next morning! You can be forgiven, but you have still had to deal with the consequences of a night of drinking!

In this picture, we see a lost sheep, who could easily have the man in the hotel room that I just talked about. This lost sheep could be your neighbor, a person at the grocery store, a person who is not a Chicago Cubs fan, etc. Yet Jesus leaves everything and drops everything to come after you, just so you will be change, restored, and saved. After that he can use you as a piece of the puzzle that is this church to transform lives and serve others. 

(Man with Sheep on His Shoulders – Picture)

Jesus says that when the shepherd finds the lost sheep, that once again in Luke 15:5-7:

⁵ And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. ⁶ And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.’ ⁷ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance (Lk. 15:3-7, RSV).

Is Adams Village Baptist Church for everyone? Yes, it is. Do we all have story? Yes, we do. Even so “The Hound of Heaven” pursue us, and Jesus leaves the heard for us. Whether we are at 1 or a 10 the pain or sin chart, Jesus comes after us.

(Jesus holding a Sheep – Picture)

          Of everything that I have seen or heard this week, this picture of Jesus holding this lost sheep has been the highlight of my week. Maybe we were this sheep once, and just maybe, we know of other lost sheep that might think that they will never be found. We are part of the puzzle of God’s Kingdom, and we all have a place here at the Adams Village Baptist Church.

          With said how does the parable of “The Lost Sheep” apply to our lives to today. Let us look at some application points for the parable of “The Lost Sheep.”

The core application of Luke 15:1–7 is that believers must adopt God’s heart by actively seeking the lost and rejoicing extravagantly when a sinner repents, rather than grumbling like the Pharisees.

1. Model the Shepherd’s Pursuit

·         Intentionally seek the lost: God does not passively wait for straying people to figure things out on their own; the shepherd leaves the ninety-nine to actively search. Apply this by identifying specific individuals in your life who are far from God and making intentional efforts to reach them.                                                    

·         Overcome helplessness with grace: Sheep are prone to wandering and cannot save themselves. Recognize that spiritually lost people need patient rescue, not harsh judgment or condemnation.

2. Reject Self-Righteous Grumbling

·         Examine your attitude toward outsiders: The Pharisees complained because Jesus welcomed and ate with social and moral outcasts. Guard against spiritual pride that looks down on non-believers or resents God showing mercy to "undeserving" people.

·         Refuse to stay outside the celebration: Being close to religious routines (the "ninety-nine") does not equal having God's heart; join heaven's perspective instead of standing back and judging.

3. Celebrate Redemption

·         Rejoice over every single return: Heaven explodes with joy over one repenting sinner. Cultivate a church culture and personal life marked by deep celebration and gratitude when someone comes to faith, viewing evangelism as an invitation to a party.

Brothers and sisters, this is why “The Parable” of “The Lost Sheep” matters, and this is how it applies to our lives and our faith. To drive this point home, I want to show a great video with lyrics. The song is called “Reckless Love,” by Cory Asbury, and you should have a bulletin insert with these lyrics. Let’s listen and sing together. Amen.

(Reckless Love – Lyric Video) 

AVBC - Sunday - 09/20/26 - Sermon Title: “The Sower” - Matthew 13:3-23 - “The Parables of Jesus” – Sermon Series – (Part 3 of 6)

 Sunday 09/20/26 – Adams Village Baptist Church

Sermon Title: “The Sower” - Matthew 13:3-23 - “The Parables of Jesus” – Sermon Series – (Part 3 of 6)

(Cover Picture – The Sower – Parables of Jesus – Matthew 13:3-23 - Picture)  

          For the last two Sundays, we have been discussing “parables” or stories that Jesus told in the gospels. These stories were given by Jesus to connect to everyday people like us, but also to show us who He was and is as Lord and Savior. So far, we have talked about the parable of the “Prodigal Son,” and last Sunday I talked briefly about the parable of “The Good Samaritan.”

          This morning though, I want to talk about another great parable of Jesus, called the parable of “The Sower”. As I said a couple of weeks ago, the Bible was written in a world that was mostly agricultural. Most people farmed, fished, could not read, and knew how to grow food and live off the land. As a result, many of Jesus’ parables speak to a world that was very agricultural. Since our country has significantly less people in agriculture or farming today than one hundred years ago, and especially two hundred years ago, it is important that we read Christ’s parables in a way that everyone can understand now in 2026.

          The parable of “The Sower” is talking about planting. In fact, the Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines the word “Sower” this way:

“A sower is a person, machine, or tool that scatters or plants seeds in the ground for growth” (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sower).

My guess is that most farmers in the United States are not planting there fielding by hand or “sowing” the seeds. Meaning, I don’t think most farmers in 2026 are throwing seeds on the soil. Instead, they probably have tractors and machines that do this. When I was a little boy, my Grandpa Winkelman would marvel at the amount a corn that an acre of land could yield, and how perfect and straight the rows of corns were. The way the corn was planted had progressed quite a bit for my late Grandpa Winkelman from the 1930s to the 1990s.

          For those that plant gardens and or grow flowers though, we know all about planting seeds and bulbs. In some cultures, though, it was not uncommon to toss a lot of seed on the soil for certain crops, to help ensure a large harvest. The crop itself then would not look nearly as perfect as many of the crop fields we see around here and in much of the developed world. There are still countries and places in the undeveloped world though where plows are still used and where seeds are still planted manually, or with simple tools or machinery. I have sown grass seed by hand before, but even with that there are devices and machines that will even sow even those now! At one church that I pastored we used a push lawn spreader to spread salt on the ice in the winter! It was so much easier than spreading cups full of salt!

          For farmers, even today there is much to consider. The cost and maintenance of equipment, fertilizer, the cost of seed, etc. Further, how much of the seed you sow will grow? Who here grows vegetables in the summer, and every single seed you plant always grows? I did some research, because I am a nerd, and the research said as a massive average, seed that is still good will germinate 85%-95% of the time when properly planted and cared for. From the research that I have done, in the first century that Jesus lived in 30%-50% of seeds, would germinate or grow. Further, people did not generally buy seeds from a store or order them to be delivered like they do today. Instead, farmers kept seeds for the next year. You would keep some corn kernels, or beans, or wheat seeds, etc. to plant for the next spring. If your seeds rotted, got some sort of fungus in them, or were eaten, you would have nothing to sow in your fields and gardens. Imagine if you grew all your own food and your seeds for this coming spring’s 2027 planting were no good? What would you do?

(The Sower – Jesus’ Arm - Picture) 

          For all these reasons and others, when Jesus told the parable or story of “The Sower,” people listened and understood. For sowing seeds and property storing seeds for the next year could literally be the difference between life and death. In fact, one of my favorite pictures of “The Sower,” who is Jesus himself, portrays His arm flinging seeds onto fertile soil. Or in our case flinging seeds of faith that will hopefully grow in our hearts and our souls.

          Many communities still have “Harvest Festivals” or big dinners, often in October, for that is when so much of the food for season has come in. An abundance, a feast, a large harvest dinner. Jesus knew his crowd, as many of them were in agriculture, but what He is teaching in His parables is still 100% relevant today. Imagine for a minute though, if Jesus came to this earth in this century and not 2,000 years ago. Imagine me preaching on the completely made up parable of “The I-Phone?” It might sound like this:

“There were two people, who both had I-Phones. Where they were someone was hungry and in pain. One person kept looking at their I-Phone, but the other put down the I-phone and fed and helped the person. Which person with I-Phone do you think was greater?” Then Jesus would say, “The one who put down there I-Phone and fed and helped the person hungry and in pain. For it is like this in the Kingdom of God”

 

          While the parable of “The Sower” is in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, I chose the telling of this parable from the gospel of Matthew for this morning. We hear in Matthew 13:1-23, once again:

The Parable of the Sower

13 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. ² And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat there; and the whole crowd stood on the beach. ³ And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow (Mt. 13:1-2, RSV).

 

          After our scripture reading from Matthew 13:3-23 for this morning, Jesus will then give or tell the parable of the “Wheat and Tares” or “Wheat and Weeds”. Jesus will also give the parable of “The Mustard Seed,” and the parable of “The Yeast” in Matthew 13. Jesus taught about 30-40 parables in the gospels, depending on some that some may or may not be consider to be a parable. To put this in context, we are talking about just six of Jesus’ parables or stories in this sermon series.

          Picking back in Matthew 13:4, Jesus had just told us that a “A sower went out to sow in Matthew 13:3. Starting in 13:4, we hear, once again:

⁴ And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. ⁵ Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they had not much soil, and immediately they sprang up, 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 upon 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 He who has ears, let him hear”                     (Mt. 13:4-8, RSV).

 

          While Jesus is talking about sowing seeds to grow food, the larger meaning here is sowing seeds of faith. So that the gospel of Jesus Christ may sprout in our hearts and grow abundantly. If we sow seeds, the of the gospel of Christ, imagine what the spiritual harvest could be?

          The disciples in Matthew 13:10 right after the parable of “The Sower” ask Jesus why speaks to them in parables. In Matthew 13:11 the scripture picks up saying:

The Purpose of the Parables

¹¹ And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. ¹² For to him who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. ¹³ This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. ¹⁴ With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah which says:

 

‘You shall indeed hear but never understand,
    and you shall indeed see but never perceive.
¹⁵ For this people’s heart has grown dull,
    and their ears are heavy of hearing,
    and their eyes they have closed,
lest they should perceive with their eyes,
    and hear with their ears,
and understand with their heart,
    and turn for me to heal them.’

 

¹⁶ But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. ¹⁷ Truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

 

          If the seeds of the gospel of Jesus Christ, of Christ’s love never grow in us, then we will never have spiritual growth or a harvest through Him. Blessed though are those that see and hear what Jesus is truly saying. For when we grow closer to Christ, we see more and more of His glory, and we can live it out in the world in powerful ways!

(What Soil Is You Heart? – Matthew 13:3-23 - Picture) 

          After this, our Matthew 13:3-23 reading concludes with Jesus, once again, explaining His parable of “The Sower”. Picking up in the gospel of Matthew 13:18 we hear once again:

The Parable of the Sower Explained

¹⁸ “Hear then the parable of the sower. ¹⁹ When any one hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in his heart; this is what was sown along the path. ²⁰ As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; ²¹ yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. ²² As for what was sown among thorns, this is he who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the delight in riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. ²³ As for what was sown on good soil, this is he who hears the word and understands it; he indeed bears fruit, and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty”                (Mt, 13:18-23, RSV).

 

          The analogies of sowing seeds on rocky ground, the path, among thorns, or on good soil is all about us receiving Jesus. Following Christ then, is something that we must not just decide to, but something that we must pursue. Sometimes we will be in the valleys, on the mountain top, and everything in-between. Through Christ though, if His gospel, His hope, and His love falls on the fertile soil of our hearts, then our faith will grow and flourish!

(Which Soil Are You? – Matthew 13:1-23 - Picture) 

          Which soil are you then? Do we choose to be the good soil? It is not always easy, but our faith and what God can use us to do, can create a spiritual harvest that sometimes we can’t even imagine!

(Choosing To Be Good Soil – Matthew 13:23 - Picture) 

          How does this parable of Jesus, this story of “The Sower” connect to our lives today? Here is how:

In Matthew 13:3–23 (the Parable of the Sower), Jesus uses four types of soil to show how people respond to God's word. Here are the key application points for each soil type:

 

1.     The Path (Hardened Heart)

 

·         The Condition: The seed sits on top of packed ground because the heart is closed, and Satan easily snatches the message away.

·         Application Point: Guard against a hardened heart. Ask God to break up uncultivated or bitter areas in your life caused by past hurts, pride, or habitual sin so that truth can actually penetrate.

 

2. Rocky Places (Shallow Heart)

·         The Condition: The seed sprouts fast with emotional excitement, but it has no deep roots, so trouble or persecution makes the person quit.

·         Application Point: Move beyond surface-level emotion. Build deep spiritual roots through consistent prayer, Bible study, and Christian community so your faith survives hard times.

 

3. Among Thorns (Distracted Heart)

·         The Condition: The plant grows, but everyday worries and the love of money choke out the spiritual life, leaving it lifeless and without fruit.

·         Application Point: Perform spiritual weed control. Actively prune out excessive anxieties, materialism, and busy distractions that crowd God out of your daily schedule.

 

4. Good Soil (Receiving Heart)

·         The Condition: The person hears, understands, holds fast to the word, and produces an abundant harvest.

·         Application Point: Cultivate a receptive, obedient life. Focus on action—letting God's truth change your daily choices to produce love, kindness, and spiritual fruit in your community.

 

Brothers and sisters, what kind of spiritual soil is in our hearts? Amen,

 

AVBC - "Live It Out Loud at AVBC" - Sunday - 09/13/26 - Sermon Title: “The Good Samaritan” - “The Parables of Jesus” – Sermon Series – (Part 2 of 6) - Luke 10:30-37

Sunday 09/13/26 – Adams Village Baptist Church

Sermon Title: “The Good Samaritan” - Luke 10:30-37 - “The Parables of Jesus” – Sermon Series – (Part 2 of 6)

(Cover Picture – The Good Samaritan and A Full Puzzle - Picture)  

          Last Sunday, I started a sermon series on the “parables” or stories of Jesus. In total, we will be looking at six of these parables in this sermon series. Last week we talked the “Prodigal Son,” but this morning we are going to talk very briefly about the parable of “The Good Samaritan.” For those of you that have my preaching schedule, you might have noticed that I switched this week’s message to last Sunday, and last week’s message to today. Why did I switch to the parable or story of “The Good Samaritan” on this our Live It Out Loud at AVBC or fall kick off 2026 Sunday Service? I did, because this parable captures the essence of the idea that we are all part of the puzzle of God’s kingdom through this church. This is because in the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus calls us to love everyone, show mercy and care to everyone, no matter who they are. You will notice in this parable that the two religious leaders that see the beaten man do nothing.

For a man is walking from Jerusalem to Jericho, he is beaten, stripped, and left for dead by robbers. Two religious leaders, priests, see the man and his situation, and do nothing. Yet a Samaritan of a different cultural and religious tradition cares for the man and gets him the help he needs. The Samaritan even pays for the man’s care in an inn to ensure that he gets healed. This of course is in response to Jesus being asked the question by a religious expert, “who is my neighbor”? Jesus then gives this religious expert the parable of “The Good Samaritan.” Jesus ends the parable with telling the religious expert, “Go and do likewise.”

          Imagine a church, brothers, and sisters, where everyone matters, not just the religious leaders? Imagine a church where your piece of the puzzle is not only needed, but is it necessary for us to complete our mission in Adams and in the world? At the Adams Village Baptist Church, whatever part of the puzzle you are, wherever you fit, we welcome you, as we are called to love our neighbors as ourselves. So powerful is the parable of “The Good Samaritan” that our hospital in Watertown is called Samaritan. One of our nursing homes in Watertown is called Samaritan’s Keep, and one is called Samaritan Summit Village.

I remember taking a friend to Samaritan Medical Center to get some outpatient surgery. As I was waiting in the surgical waiting room, it dawned upon me that the hospital has a coffee shop just downstairs. I love coffee! As I walked downstairs to go to the coffee shop though, I saw a wall tapestry or quilt. I stopped and looked at it for about 10-20 seconds, as it portrays in the hospital, the parable of “The Good Samaritan”. This reminded me of who Jesus is, and who he has called all of us to be. It reminded me that every time that I go to visit someone in Samaritan hospital, at Samaritan Keep Nursing Home, or at the Samaritan Summit Village care facility, that I am to love others like the Good Samaritan loved others.

          Now we all are not called to be the one who physically heals a beaten or broken person, but we are all called to be a part of this thing called God’s kingdom. We are called to believe in Jesus as our Lord and Savior, and live and love like He did and still does. We are all like puzzle pieces, and we can all grow closer to Christ and to each other when we live out what God has called us all to do. When we do this, this church will continue to flourish like we have not seen in years. Further, when the church grows, when our puzzle pieces come together, the mission of the Adams Village Baptist Church can further be fulfilled in new and powerful ways, like never before! Wherever we fit in the puzzle here at AVBC, as we are all welcome to be a part of this church, I have four guiding questions that I want us to all consider. Here they are:

(Fulfilling our Mission at AVBC - Picture) 

          The application points for the story of “The Good Samaritan” to have this brief message walk out the door with us into Adams and the world this week are:

The Parable of the Good Samaritan is a story told by Jesus in Luke 10:25-37 that teaches people to show mercy and love to everyone, regardless of social or religious differences.

 

The Story

 

·         The attack: A traveler is beaten, robbed, and left half-dead on the dangerous road from Jerusalem to Jericho.

·         The religious leaders: A Jewish priest and a Levite both see the injured man, but they cross to the other side of the road and do nothing.

·         The Samaritan: A Samaritan—belonging to a group despised by Jews—sees the man, feels deep pity, and stops to help.

·         The care: The Samaritan cleans the man's wounds with wine and oil, puts him on his own animal, takes him to an inn, and pays the innkeeper to care for him.

 

The Meaning

 

·         Who is a neighbor: Jesus explains that a neighbor is not just someone from your own community, but anyone in need who crosses your path.

·         Action over status: The story challenges prejudice by showing that an outsider acted with true mercy, while religious insiders failed their moral duty.

·         The lesson: Jesus tells his listener to "go and do likewise," meaning love requires concrete, compassionate action.

 

 

At the AVBC, whatever part of the puzzle you are, you are welcome here. When we have all the gifts, graces, and abilities of God, we can truly be a complete and beautiful puzzle of God’s kingdom. We can remember this whenever we are in Watertown, and we see the name Samaritan. Amen!