Study 1: The Sower

Matthew 8:1 – 16:28

Monday 31st January to Sunday 6th February, 2011

 

Introduction

People come in very different shapes and sizes and have different personalities. Share some of your experiences of how other people have responded when you told them about Jesus.

 

 

 

 

Studying the passage - Read Matthew 13:1-23

1) Matthew 13:11 talks about Òthe secrets of the kingdom.Ó Based on Matthew 1-12, what do you think these secrets are?

 

 

2) Compare your answer to question 1 with Matthew 16:13-23. Which of the two secrets in Matthew 16 have the disciples understood? Why do you think this is the case? (See also 1 Corinthians 1:18-25)

 

 

 

3) Matthew 13:13-17 talks about the blessing of ÒseeingÓ and ÒhearingÓ rightly. Explain how these Òsecrets of the kingdomÓ have been ÒseenÓ and ÒheardÓ so far in ministry of Jesus? (Hint: Matthew 8:14-17; 9:35 and 11:2-6).

 

 

 

4) Should the crowds have understood? Why havenÕt they? Give at least two reasons from Matthew 13:1-23. (Compare with 11:20-24 and 12:38-42; and also Matthew 16:23 and 11:25-27).

 

 

 

5) Why might someone receive the gospel with ÒjoyÓ then turn away when persecution comes (Matthew 13:20-21)? What does this reveal about their understanding of Jesus? (Hint: Matthew 16).

 

 

 

6) In Matthew 6:19-34, 10:37-39 and 19:16-22 Jesus mentions some of Òthe worries of this lifeÓ (verse 22). Is there any of these that you are in danger of being tempted by? Why? Why not?

 

 

 

7) Summarise your answers to the above questions in the table below:

Soil

Reason for fruitfulness (or lack of)

Path

 

Rocks

 

Weeds

 

Good

 

Response

Does the one who sows the seed appear to be selective as to where he sows the seed? Should we be selective (Matthew 28:19)? Are we? Why?

 

 

 

ÒBlessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hearÓ (verse 16). Do you call yourself ÒblessedÓ? Why?

 

 

ÒThe good soil É produces a cropÓ (verses 22-23). Based on Matthew 5:3-16, would others call you ÒblessedÓ? Which parts of your ÒfieldÓ are withering? Which parts do you think are going well?

 

Spend some time praying to the ÒLord of the harvestÓ that He might bear fruit in your lives, and the lives of those who do not yet know Jesus.