“Have you been saved?” That’s a common question in some Christian circles, and those who ask it often are interested in knowing if we’ve been saved from hell through the sacrifice of Jesus. Fair enough, but the real genius of the question becomes apparent when we contemplate all that our faith saves us from and all that our faith saves us for.

This week’s readings give the preacher lots of material to craft a sermon about the new life waiting for us here and now when we faithfully steward our lives so as to open ourselves to the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. The readings make clear that God’s Word and Spirit are profoundly powerful and bring us abundance that mirrors the fertile blessings we witness in the cycles of planting and harvest.

Isaiah 55:11 likens the Word of God to the rain and snow that “come down from heaven” and water the plants that provide our food. Similarly, God’s Word rains down on us to give us spiritual hydration for Holy Living. “For you shall go out in joy and led back in peace” (v. 12).

Psalm 65 praises God and gives thanks for the Almighty’s unbounding goodness and deliverance, leading us to not only happiness but also contentment. “We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, your holy temple” (v. 65:4). Qualities of this new life are mirrored in the earth’s natural world, abundant and imbued with praise. “The meadows clothe themselves with flocks; the valleys deck themselves with grain; they shout and sing together with joy” (v. 65:13)

Likewise, in the Gospel reading Jesus employs a powerful agricultural image to describe the Word of God’s power to transform us. In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus describes how God’s Word is sown indiscriminately – the Holy One like a farmer who casts precious life-giving seeds on hard-packed pathways, rocks, amid thorns and, yes, good soil. All the seeds have the same potential for abundance, the only variable is the surface on which they land and what happens to them. Here’s where things get interesting.

The seeds on the path, the rocks and among thorns fail to thrive. In explaining this parable about abundant and faithful living, Jesus highlights many spiritual problems all too common in our own lives. We, too, experience bursts of faith that have little root and wither in times of trouble and persecution (v. 13:21). We, too, succumb to the temptations of the world and wealth that dampen our faith (v. 13:22). And, of course, we, too, have experienced the growth that comes when the seed lands in good soil (v. 13:23)

A sermon could invite congregants to look deeply at the spiritual growth patterns in their own lives of faith. Where have they experienced difficulties and blocks, as well as growth? If we’re honest, most of us can recognize that God’s Word in us has, at times, encountered us in all the hardship situations in Jesus’ parable. The question is, how are we to live in such a way that our hearts are more and more “good soil” to God’s word.

Paul gives us some “soul gardening” tips in the Romans 8 lesson. He speaks not of the Word of God but the Spirit of God that is roughly analogous to the seeds in Jesus’ parable. Like the seed that is sown in our lives, so “the Spirit of God dwells in you” (v. 8) and is activated when we set our minds on things of the spirit rather than the flesh.

Notice that five times the lesson talks about setting one’s mind in the right place. Indeed, having the right mindset means more than simply orienting our mind in order to obtain the “correct” information about the Word of God. It means that the “correct information” finds expression in every aspect of our lives. It means viewing the world through the lens of our faith.

By setting our minds on the Spirit rather than the affairs and lures of the world (as Jesus mentions in Matthew 13:22), we open ourselves to the transformation God wants to make in our lives. We are saved from despair for hope. We are saved from our selfishness for God and neighbor. We are saved from a living death for an abundant life.


In worship
Celebrating new life in the spirit means different things to different people, but you can start the discussion by inviting congregants on social media to share. Ask them what new life in Christ means to them? What are the ways they have experienced the Holy Spirit blessing them and giving them new life? They can respond by text, video or meme. Get the ball rolling with a personal story and invite some key leaders to do the same. On Sunday for worship, share some of the responses – perhaps in an announcement time, an offering moment or in the sermon. Reprint some of the written responses in a flyer that can be inserted into the bulletin.

Of course, it’s a great Sunday for a relatively modern (1985) hymn, “Lord, Let My Heart Be Good Soil,” which is #512 in Evangelical Lutheran Worship, which tracks well with our Gospel reading. Other hymns that speak of the power of God’s word are “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” (ELW #504), and a lesser-known of Martin Luther’s hymns (and a personal favorite) “Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word” (ELW #517).

The theme could be supported by banners and posters proclaiming or illustrating God’s abundance, the direction of the Holy Spirit or the power of God’s word.


With youth
Youth are at an impressionable age – no longer children but not yet adults. Ask them to think about their friend group and come up with reasons why some of their peers don’t go to church or believe in God. Encourage them to come up with as many reasons as they can and give them time to think. Record the reasons on a whiteboard or piece of paper.

Then review with them Jesus’ Parable of the Sower and the reasons why the Word of God cannot or does not grow well in three of the four situations. What parallels are there between the reasons the youth came up with and the ones in the parable? Discuss the implications for us as people of faith.


With children
In a message or time with the youngest saints, explore what it means for our heart to be “good soil.” Paraphrase Jesus’ Parable of the Sower and then show them three small plant pots – one filled with pebbles, one filled with sand, and one filled with rich topsoil. Ask them which would be best for growing a plant. Review for them the fertility potential of rocks, sand and topsoil.

Explain that Jesus says our human hearts are kind of like the plant pots. Some are filled with rocks, some with sand, and some with rich soil. God’s love grows best in a heart that is rich in kindness, peace, love, joy, forgiveness and trust in God. We develop such a heart by praying, listening to what Jesus tells us, loving our friends and family and remembering God loves us. End with prayer.


Previous reflections for the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 10, Year A:
2020 – Mindset matters
2017 – A Rock, A Hard Place, and Good Soil
2014 – Word