SPC Summer Adult Sunday School: The Righteous Reign of God (The Sower and the Seed)

During the Summer, the adults of Sligo Presbyterian Church will discuss the the righteous reign of God, on Sunday mornings, beginning at 9:00 a.m. We'll follow the schedule below:

The Prophets Proclaim God’s Power

• June 4 - God Reigns (Isaiah 52:7-12)
• June 11 - God’s Kingdom of Peace (Isaiah 65:17-25)
• July 2 - Peace to the Nations (Zechariah 9:9-13, 16-17)

Jesus Envisions the Kingdom

• July 9 - The Kingdom Has Come Upon You (Matthew 12:22-32)
• July 16 - The Sower and the Seed (Matthew 13:1-9,18-23)
• July 23 - The Weeds Among the Wheat (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43)
• July 30 - Finding and Gathering (Matthew 13:44-52)

God’s Eternal Reign

• Aug. 6 - Inheriting the Kingdom (Galatians 5:13-26)
• Aug. 13 - The Nature of the Kingdom (Romans l4:10-23)
• Aug. 20 - Judgment in the Kingdom (1 Corinthians 4:1-6,17-21)
• Aug. 27 - God’s Kingdom Will Be All in All (1 Corinthians 15:20-28)

During our fifth meeting, we used Matthew 13:1-9,18-23 to discuss the parable of the sower. Below is a recording of our discussion and the scripture we used.

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 [New International Version]

1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”