Sermon (October 26) - "Living Generously: Sowing Seeds"
Galatians 6:1-10
Along with the two Thessalonian letters, these three letters were most likely the first letters that Paul wrote to the several churches he had founded.
Preachers typically don't enjoy talking about money and somehow the Apostle Paul has figured out a way to talk about money without using the word, "money." Instead, he uses the image of reaping and sowing. The topic of giving in the church is important because money is what helps fuel the ministries and outreach of the church.
Paul contrasts "sowing to the spirit" with "sowing to the flesh." The first leads to eternal blessings and the other is only for temporary gain.
The phrase "do good to everybody" is Paul's way of encouraging the congregation to live generously.
Matthew 13:31-46
These parables of Jesus remind us that God's kingdom is often gradual rather than instantaneous. This involves being patient for positive results while gradually sowing seeds of God's love and hope.
The farmer has to wait for the harvest. The birds have to wait for the tiny mustard seed to grow into a large shrub. The woman baking bread must wait for the leaven to grow.
Do you ever get impatient when you do good for others or when you serve in the church and you're not seeing the results you want to see? Jesus is telling us to be patient and to have faith that the seeds of hope and love that we are planting today will one day lead to a harvest.
[Note: The resources used for these scripture reading commentaries are based on the Everyone series by NT Wright, Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary, The Wesley Study Bible, and the “Montreal-Anglican”lectionary commentaries.]
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