"Which Type of Soil Are You?"

A sermon preached by the Rev. Christopher E. Yopp at Edgemont Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) based on John 6:53-71 and Matthew 13:1-9 and 18-23.

A Pastor friend of mine sent me an article he had written for his church newsletter some time back. He began his article by asking the question; “What does it means to be a member of the Church?” Certainly that is a question we must all consider as followers of Christ, as members of his Body – the Church. He then went on to say; “We concern ourselves a lot these days with church membership, and how we might become more attractive.” But is that really what being the Church is all about? After reading that article, I found myself being led to our Gospel Lessons this morning, where Jesus distinguishes his true followers, with those who are sensation chasers, if you will. Churches these days are full of sensation chasers, and not Jesus chasers. They are full of people with shallow roots, instead of roots that deeply imbedded into the soil of God’s kingdom.
The Sundays following Pentecost, are also known as Kingdomtide, is an opportunity for us to focus on the growth of the Church and God’s Kingdom. It is an invitation for us to focus on our own spiritual growth, as well. In fact, the liturgical color, “green” is a symbolic reminder of this growth that we focus on during these Sundays following Pentecost. But during this time, as we focus on growth, we can’t help but consider the growth of our own church, our own congregation. We can’t help but ponder, are we growing physically, in numbers, or are we declining? Are we growing spiritually as a church, or are we becoming spiritually stagnate? Certainly, growing spiritually is more important than growing physically, but without that physical growth, can the church truly exist and be effective. Miriam loves that popular children’s church rhyme which goes, “Here’s the church. Here’s the steeple! Open the doors and see all the people!” But what happens when you open the doors and there are no people, can the church survive then, is there really a church at all, at that point? Certainly, these are all questions we find ourselves asking and pondering during this season in which we focus on growth, and indeed, they are important questions, questions we need to be asking and considering as the church today.
Franklin Littell tells of a German pastor visiting the United States shortly after World War II. As he took his guest around to various churches for worship, the pastor was surprise that the pews of the churches had cushions in them. He commented that that would never have occurred in the churches in his country. And then he added, “I have also noticed that your sermons have cushions in them too.” The parable that Jesus tells in the Gospel of Matthew is not about opinions, it’s about responses. What will you do with what you see, hear, and think?
In the reading from John’s gospel, Jesus had just fed the 5000, and suddenly they had become his followers. Food has always been an attraction – I mean, even we know that here at Edgemont. But what about spiritual food? Jesus wanted those who were seeking his kingdom and his righteousness!
In looking at our Gospel Lessons this morning we see three responses from the people – three types of soil, if you will. First, in John’s gospel, we see the response of the religious leaders, they could very easily be compared to the seed that feel upon the path, and the birds came and ate them up. They rejected Jesus and his words. In their eyes Jesus was a radical. In fact, we read; “The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, ‘I am the bread… of life; he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth in me shall never thirst.” Here Jesus was referring to the experience of the Israelites when God fed and sustained them with manna in the wilderness. God had fed their ancestors in the wilderness with bread from heaven – manna! But Jesus then applied the bread to himself and said, “if you eat of my flesh you shall have life.” This was ludicrous, eating flesh and drinking blood was unheard of in the Law, it was considered unclean, not to mention a direct violation of the Law itself. In fact, if you came into contact with blood, much less drink it, you were considered unclean and impure. But, of course, Jesus wasn’t speaking literally, but spiritually!
That’s the blessed reminder of Communion. In Holy Communion we receive Jesus – we spiritually ingest Jesus. Halford Luccock, one of the most imaginative preachers of the 20th century, remembered a marvelous phrase from the book Eminent Victorians, which reads; “The Sunday before General Gordon started for the Sudan, he drove around London to a number of churches to receive Holy Communion as many times as possible, ‘In order,’ he said, ‘to start thus brim full of God.” Let us allow our hearts to be so open and so receptive to Christ – the Living Word and his kingdom that we become “brim full of God.” It is then that our hearts and lives will become a reflection and incarnation of God and God’s kingdom.
Secondly, we see the response of the crowd, in John’s gospel. Now keep in mind, Jesus was popular with the crowds, especially at the beginning of his ministry. In fact, just about everywhere Jesus went, you could bet on a crowd. People were attracted to him. They were fascinated with his teachings and amazed by his works. But over time, those crowds began to dwindle down – they began to fade out. In fact, in verse 66 of our reading from John’s gospel we read; “From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.” But doesn’t this also occur in the Church today? Many are attracted to the Church for various reason, but once they find that the Church or God doesn’t conform or meet their standards, their out the door. Jesus also reminds us of this type of response in his parable of the Sower, when he said; “Other seed fell on the rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away… choked out by the thorns and weeds,” and they dropped out. This describes many followers of Christ today. This describes many Christians and church goers, their response is only shallow, it hasn’t taken root deep in the soil of their hearts, and so many other things, other priorities take precedence, choking out the kingdom and over time their devotion fades or dwindles away.
And finally, in John’s gospel, we see the response of the apostles, which was one of dedication. Jesus posed an important question to the disciples to test their dedication. In verse 67 of our reading from John’s gospel we read; “Then said Jesus unto the twelve, ‘Will ye also go away?’” They were given a choice, just as we are! But what is our response? Peter’s response in verse 68, he said; “Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.” Peter affirmed that there was no one else to whom the disciples could turn to for life. Only Jesus could satisfy their deepest longings and spiritual desires. Jesus reminds us of this kind of response in the parable of the Sower, when he says; “Other seed fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty…” Does this describe you and your response to Christ?
The kingdom of God has come among us. God has blessed us richly, and God’s people have been entrusted with that which is most precious in the world. But ironically, these priceless commodities only gain value – the seed of God’s word only bears fruit – when God’s people are willing to scatter it.

"May we affirm with that popular chorus;
Into my heart, into my heart,
Come into my heart, Lord Jesus;
Come in today, come in to stay, come into my heart, Lord Jesus.”

Let us allow our hearts to be so open and so receptive to Christ – the Living Word and his kingdom that we become “brim full of God.” It is then that our hearts and lives will become a reflection and incarnation of God and God’s kingdom.