Luke 8; 4-15 and 2 Corinthians 3; 12 - 18

This morning I thought I’d say a few words which are based loosely on the parable of the sower. I want to look at the seed in the story, where it takes root and how it can grow.

Now I know that many of you know this parable very well and have probably heard it preached on loads of times – and are thinking oh no, not again - but try and bear with me.

So, when Campbell and I or indeed any Christian preacher preaches, we are seeking to cast God’s word over people’s lives.

Like the farmer in the story we are seeking to scatter seeds – kingdom seeds - over your lives.

We are seeking to speak words of truth - which the spirit of God – the Holy Spirit can take and use to convict, to encourage, to enlighten, to inform or to teach you.

We won’t always get it right but this is what we’re trying to do. We of course have no power of ourselves to touch or change your hearts. Only God can do that.

And also of course we have no control over the ground on which we are casting this seed.

The ground is your hearts. In any congregation of people some will have open receptive hearts but some will have harder hearts.

People go to church for many different reasons. Some go out of a sense of duty or habit. But they’re not really expecting God to intervene in their lives – and if they’re honest they are perhaps a bit fearful of him intruding in their life.

Indeed, sometimes people set a line over which they do not want God to tread. I believe in you God – but no funny business. None of this holy spirit stuff. I’m quite content as I am thank you.

Some go to church perhaps out of curiosity. Could it be that there really is a God? Some go primarily for companionship and to get to know other local people.

Some go as committed Christians and are open to what God may be saying to them as they seek to walk through life with him.

And some go to church because they are spiritually hungry – desperate even. They are earnestly looking for hope or meaning or purpose.

They’re looking for God to intervene in their life to help or heal them or perhaps to guide or encourage them in some way.

So, as we speak – even when our sermons may not be particularly good or interesting - the Holy Spirit is seeking to use our words to impact your life in some way.

For each person the specific thing that God may want you to take on board may be slightly different – but there is likely some truth that you need to hear, something that he wants to impart to you.

But he can only do this if you are willing to receive it – if your heart is sufficiently open or receptive to want to hear it and to allow it to impact your life in some way.

John tells us in his gospel; “to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God —children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God.”

To those who will listen, Jesus offers life changing words. And if you don’t find our sermons particularly helpful – Jesus’ words are recorded for us in the gospels.

And Jesus’ words can radically change our lives – as millions of Christians have discovered – but only where people are willing to receive them.

God wants to help you even if your heart is quite hard. He wants to draw you to himself. He wants you to know his love – but not all people want his help.

Not all people want God to come close to them, because they are content with their lives as they are.

The truth is that the gateway to heaven is wide open – and Jesus’ words can bring you eternal life - but the pathway is narrow in the sense that people must be willing to listen to God; and to allow God to change them.

Change is at the very heart of the gospel message.

New life can only spring up where it can take root – where people are willing to allow God’s word to impact their lives and change them.

And this is where the seed in the parable of the sower takes root – in good ground – in soft soil where people’s hearts are open and willing to change.

God cannot really help us if we are unwilling to change. If we are content with ourselves as we are; if see no need to change; no shortcomings in ourselves; no need for forgiveness and no need to try and become better more loving people, there is a limited amount God can do for us.

Our lives as Christians start as we truly repent. As we reach that stage when realise that life without God is empty and pointless.

That the world alone cannot offer us fulfilment – and that we need God; that we need forgiveness; so we turn to God and invite him wholeheartedly into our lives to be our Lord and Saviour.

And then – as our lives are submitted to him he can start to change us into the people he wants us to be. Into the likeness of Jesus – into the best version of ourselves that we can be.

The bible talks of us both being transformed by the renewing of minds and conformed to the image and likeness of Jesus.

The renewing of our minds, is an inward spiritual transformation that will manifest itself through our outward actions - through our bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God.

So, as we read the bible and submit to its teaching we start to understand what pleases God and we start to see life through Christian eyes.

And with the help of the holy spirit we can start to develop Christ-like attitudes and behaviour. The fruit of the Holy Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control can start to grow in our lives.

I used to be quite quick tempered but I’ve noticed over the years that I’ve become much calmer and more controlled – although I still have some way to go with patience - especially in traffic to and from work.

Changing into the likeness of Christ is a gradual process – and its God developing his loving character in us.

And this is not so we lose our character, but rather to enable us to be the best versions of ourselves that we can be – kinder, more generous, loving, and forgiving people who can help to make the world around us a gentler, happier, more godly place.

Rick Warren expresses it well. “God's ultimate goal for your life on earth is not comfort, but character development. He wants you to grow up spiritually and become like Christ. Becoming like Christ does not mean losing your personality or becoming a mindless clone. God created your uniqueness, so he certainly doesn't want to destroy it.”

If you picture an uncut diamond for instance it has the potential to be really beautiful. However, it needs a skilled gem cutter to cut it and shape it so that it reflects light in the best way possible.

And we’re all a bit like uncut diamonds. As Christians we have the potential to reflect God’s light which lives in us – but in order to help us to do this as effectively as possible, God wants to shape us – to change our characters to reflect the character of Jesus.

This is what Paul means when he describes us as being transformed into Christ’s image – from one degree of glory to another – in our reading from 2 Corinthians.

This of course is a lifetime’s work. And what changes us is God’s word. As we read it and imbibe it and reflect on it, with the help of the holy spirit, we become aware of our own shortcomings and see some new aspect of Christ’s character that needs to be formed in us.

I’m reading the Bible in One Year by Nicky Gumbel – which is a great bible reading plan. Each day there is reading from a Psalm or Proverb, a New Testament reading and an Old Testament reading.

Nicky comments on each reading and then includes a prayer in response to it. And part of what shines through for me, is Nicky Gumbel’s desire to be Christ-like.

With each little prayer he is inviting God to mould him into the character of Jesus – to help him and shape him into a more effective more loving Christian.

He is frank about his own shortcomings – but his aim – with God’s help is always to keep moving forward with God – and to reflect the love of Jesus more effectively in his own life.

And this should be our attitude. ‘Lord I’m conscious that in so many ways I don’t reflect your love as effectively as I should do.

‘But with your help I want to become more Christ-like. Help me and change me from within. Help me to reflect your love and kindness to those around me.’

Most importantly developing the character of Christ involves action. The faith God has placed within us - expressing itself through our words and actions.

God doesn’t just want us to be nice people – he wants us to be effective disciples. To share our faith and to extend his kingdom.

To step out in faith as we are led by the Spirit of God. Jesus was a man of action and as Christians we should be people of action.

People who actively seek to share our faith in everyday life in whatever way seems most appropriate.

God wants us to be transformed into the likeness of Christ so that others will see his life in us and be drawn to him.

I became a Christian because a young lady reflected the character of Jesus very powerfully to me – and I was drawn to the light of Christ which shone out of her life.

Most importantly we don’t need to wait for God to make us more Christ-like before we can step out in faith and start serving him. We can reflect his light even as fairly rough diamonds.

So, to tie up what I want to say this morning – why have you come to church today? Have you come with an open heart and mind – or are you perhaps seeking to keep God at arm’s length?

Are you willing to be changed by God? Do you want to reflect the character of Jesus more effectively in your life?

Do you want to be more loving and kind and gentle and patient in order to impact the lives of those around you – so that they can see something of the light and love of Christ in you – and be drawn to him through you?

Let’s close with a time of quiet reflective prayer where we can each be honest and open with God – and invite him to change us.

So, lets pray and share whatever thoughts my talk may have prompted.