Soil Matters
“That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the lake. Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: ‘Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on 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. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Let anyone with ears listen!’” (Matthew 13:1-9)
The seeds being scattered by the sower were essentially the same. It was the soil that made the difference.
On some level, every congregation starts with the same seeds.
“God saw everything that God had made, and indeed, it was very good.” (Genesis 1:31)
‘Look towards heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.’ Then he said to him, ‘So shall your descendants be.’ (Genesis 15:5)
“God said, ‘This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.’” (Genesis 9:12-13)
“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:2)
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)
“He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8)
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. . . . And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1, 14)
“Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord’; and she told them that he had said these things to her.” (John 20:18)
“All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.” (Acts 2:4)
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’” (Matthew 28:19-20)
What is different in each congregation is the soil in which these seeds are planted.
As we consider what it means to be a healthy, vital congregation, it is important to dig around and learn about the components that make up our soil. As we dig into the soil, we can learn what makes the soil good. As we dig into the soil, we can learn if there are places where our soil is thin and rocky. As we dig into the soil, we can learn how we might amend our soil so that the seeds of God’s Word can flourish.
Over the next two weeks, we will reflect on why it’s important to start with the soil and dig into the components that make up your congregation’s soil.
Thanks for begin a part of the Renew 145 journey and for investing your time and wisdom in helping nurture vitality in your congregation.
Reflection by Pastor John Wertz, Jr.
Questions for Reflection:
- Remind yourself of your favorite story about your congregation.
- What does that story teach you about the congregation?
Further Reading
If you want to read more about the importance of the soil to a congregation, check out Dirt Matters: The Foundation for a Healthy, Vibrant, and Effective Congregation by Jim Powell.