Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - THE SEED AND THE SOIL

 The SEED and the SOIL

In the parable of the seed and the soil Jesus said this:

a sower went out to sow. 

And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside…

Some fell on stony places…

some fell among thorns… 

but others fell on good ground and yielded a crop…

He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

(Matthew 13:3-9)

Jesus was using this as an example of how the message of the Gospel can be received by different persons and under different circumstances. Now, the seed referred to here is the Word of God and the good news it implies. And it can be heard by those who

constitute the wayside 

(Matthew 13:4)

and are not receptive to or understand the Word when it is presented to them. And the more it is presented, the harder their hearts become against it. 

Still others represent 

the stony places 

(Matthew 13:5)

and are initially enraptured by what the word implies but soon turn cold toward it; especially when trials or tribulation develop. Their reception of the Word comes quickly but dissipates  just as fast. 

There are those who receive the Word and hold on to it but their problems in dealing with other aspects of their lives soon overshadows the message of the Word. As a result, the Word ends up fighting for survival

among the thorns 

(Matthew 13:7)

of this world but soon the problems of life and of living choke out the apparent benefits of what the Word states and so the cares of this life and the lure of materialism tends to win out. 

Finally, 

there is good ground 

(Matthew 13:8)

in which the word of God continues to be received and can eventually bring forth the fruit and benefits that it was intended to do.

In each case, the sower remained the same; what changed was the “soil” unto which the seed fell so that, the soil, should be the only variable in the parable. This was probably the case when Christ first gave the story. But is it still the same today? Has the Word of God, as presented today, remained the uncorrupted seed that it once was; or has it, and the message been altered to an extent that makes the pure Word of God essentially unavailable? If the seed that is being given is tainted in some way then it is unlikely to bear much fruit, even if that seed does land on good ground. If we want good crops then we must plant good seed.

When one looks at the various ways that the initial Word of God has been modified, adapted, and altered in so many ways by present day proponents of the Gospel, is it any wonder why the present day seems to be bring forth such mediocre results? The initial church preached essentially one message:

 

we preach Christ crucified,

to the Jews a stumbling block

and to the Greeks foolishness… 

(1 Corinthians 1:23)

At present, it sometimes seems that what is preached and has been adopted is more like a stumbling block and more like foolishness than what should be delivered by a pure and undefiled seed. Only a true seed can bring forth good crops.

And that is something to really think about.

    

Rev Vincent Hanley March 30, 2025

Dr. Barclays Bible Study - The Book of Ephesians Part 14

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - ONE

ONE

“that they may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in you; 

that they also may be one in Us… 

(John 17:21)

The plea that the Christian church should be unified seems to basically have gone unheeded throughout history. The multiple denominations give evidence as to how small differences in various aspects of ministry have resulted in large fractures in the oneness of Christian life. But the plea still remains - that we should be one with the Godhead.

The Bible relates the ways in which we should come together over those means which tend to drive us apart. In spite of our differences, we are all part of one entity.

One body. We, who belong to Christ, are all part of His one body and our differences should compliment each other, not cause separation, as the parts of the human body are all needed to make us work properly.

One spirit. If we are all part of the same body, then we should all be acting under the same spirit, the Holy Spirit, the only one we should listen to.

One hope. We should work together as and for one body under the direction of the one Spirit because we all have the same hope as to what awaits us some day in Christ.

One Lord. Because if you have only one body, and only one Spirit, then there must be only one Lord over it all. This belief ensures that there is that one hope at the end provided that…

…One faith is adhered to. There may be many ways in which that faith may be celebrated but in essence it comes down to having that one unifying belief which is required of all.

And one baptism which unites us all even though the manner of baptism may vary, the meaning remains the same, the message is unchanged; the acceptance of… 

…One God over us all. 

As Paul put it:

 

There is one body and one Spirit… 

one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 

one God and Father of all… 

(Ephesians 4:4-6) 

If we could accept these points and not quibble over other less significant details, then perhaps we would be closer to achieving that situation in which Christ wanted us to be; that is united “one in Us…as You, Father, are in Me and I in You.” (John 17:21)

Perhaps something to which we should all give more thought.

Rev. Steve Webb March 23, 2025

Dr. Barclays Bible Study - The Book of Ephesians Part 13

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - SEVEN STEPS

SEVEN STEPS

At times, Christianity seems too complicated and oppressive. With about 33,000 different denominations within the overall church, it is evident that there are too many rules, regulations, and restrictions in play. In reality, Christianity should be nothing more than a true relationship between God and man: a direct interpersonal relationship. Thus, there are really only seven steps involved in such a relationship.

First is the awareness that none of us are as we should be.

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. 

(Romans 3:23)

Once we become aware of the inevitability of our sin, the second step is to come to the understanding that the knowledge of such sin comes from the law.

…for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 

(Romans 3:20)

And from this is the third step, that we have to accept the fact that, in spite of our best efforts and intents in this world, according to Scripture:

There is none who does good, no, not one. 

(Psalm 14:3 and 53:3) 

There is none righteous, no, not one… 

(Romans 3:10)

And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags… 

(Isaiah 64:6)

[and] the wages of sin is death… 

(Romans 6:23)

Now, since we can do nothing ourselves to right this problem, as the Bible indicates that all our efforts are as filthy rags, we are on our own without much hope. Different religions teach that you get beyond the death sentence by good works - even though the abilities of individuals vary to such an extent that no two can do the same work all the time. Many, however, have faith that this will be enough. Others feel that it makes no difference, for nothing exists outside of this world. Scripture, though, tells us that we need only one thing - that is faith that Christ paid for any sin we might have committed or actually will commit. Just faith. Nothing more; nothing less. For it states that:

…without faith it is impossible to please Him… 

(Hebrews 11:6) 

Therefore,

….the just shall live by faith. 

(Romans 1:17) 

For we walk by faith, not by sight. 

(2 Corinthians 5:7) 

Thus…

…we have boldness and access with confidence 

[to the manifold wisdom of God] through faith in Him. 

(Ephesians 3:12)

Having said this, many do not seem to have the awareness of this truth and continue to rely on their own counsel. But as the Bible puts it:

…the world through wisdom did not know God, 

it pleased God through the foolishness of the message 

preached to save those who believe. 

(1 Corinthians 1:21)

And 

…the foolishness of God is wiser than men… 

(1Corinthians 1:25)

Therefore, to understand all this requires a practice the all too few do for…

 

faith [and understanding] comes by hearing, 

and hearing by the word of God.

(Romans 10:17)

Thus, by this people can become aware of the message of the gospel, come to understand it, and hopefully develop an acceptance of what a relationship with Christ is all about.

All just something more to think about.