Two Lucan New Testament passages were the focus of this sermon on making Christ known through our words. Luke 8:1-9 is where we read the parable of the sower. And in Acts 17:16-34 we find the story of the Apostle Paul in Athens as he waits for Timothy and Silas.
Last week we looked at “letting our light shine” as a means of making Christ known. But To let our light shine without telling people why it shines is like being in a boat and throwing a life preserver to a person drowning in the ocean- and then driving off in the boat leaving them there. They may no longer be drowning. But they’re not saved.
Paul tells the church in Rome, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent?”
That is why Jesus told the parable of the sower. We’re the farmer. The seed is the gospel. Every person you see is the soil. And eternity hangs in the balance; salvation on the one side and damnation on the other.
Our culture tells us that religions are simple different paths up the same mountain. But Peter in Acts 4 says this of Jesus, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." We are not responsible for the soil of the human heart. We are simple responsible to sow the seed of the gospel wherever we find ourselves.
That’s what Paul did when he found himself in Athens. He shared Jesus with those people. They called him a “babbler” as he spoke of the resurrection. That word “babbler” in Greek is the word “spermalogos”. Sperma- seed. Logos- word. They were accusing Paul of spreading seeds with his words! That is what we are called to do.
Paul spoke into the reality of the agnostic pluralism of the Greek culture there in Athens using their own idols and poets as the spring board for his proclamation. The result? Some scoffed and rejected him. Some said they would be interested in hearing more. And some believed the gospel and were saved. The path, the rocky ground, and the fertile soil.
At the end of this sermon there was an invitation to place your faith and trust in the only name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved as we prayed this prayer together:
“Jesus, I confess that I am a sinner in need of salvation. I believe you died my death for me on Calvary. I believe you rose again to give me eternal life. I give my life to you. Give your life to me. Amen.”
Last week we looked at “letting our light shine” as a means of making Christ known. But To let our light shine without telling people why it shines is like being in a boat and throwing a life preserver to a person drowning in the ocean- and then driving off in the boat leaving them there. They may no longer be drowning. But they’re not saved.
Paul tells the church in Rome, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent?”
That is why Jesus told the parable of the sower. We’re the farmer. The seed is the gospel. Every person you see is the soil. And eternity hangs in the balance; salvation on the one side and damnation on the other.
Our culture tells us that religions are simple different paths up the same mountain. But Peter in Acts 4 says this of Jesus, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." We are not responsible for the soil of the human heart. We are simple responsible to sow the seed of the gospel wherever we find ourselves.
That’s what Paul did when he found himself in Athens. He shared Jesus with those people. They called him a “babbler” as he spoke of the resurrection. That word “babbler” in Greek is the word “spermalogos”. Sperma- seed. Logos- word. They were accusing Paul of spreading seeds with his words! That is what we are called to do.
Paul spoke into the reality of the agnostic pluralism of the Greek culture there in Athens using their own idols and poets as the spring board for his proclamation. The result? Some scoffed and rejected him. Some said they would be interested in hearing more. And some believed the gospel and were saved. The path, the rocky ground, and the fertile soil.
At the end of this sermon there was an invitation to place your faith and trust in the only name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved as we prayed this prayer together:
“Jesus, I confess that I am a sinner in need of salvation. I believe you died my death for me on Calvary. I believe you rose again to give me eternal life. I give my life to you. Give your life to me. Amen.”
Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?
Pastor Scott
Pastor Scott
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