1. TeamMates
September 18, 2016
Connect, Become, Impact

2. Areas of Deployment Preparing for Marriage Marriage Mentoring
Re/Engage
DNA of Relationships
Family Matters
Weekend to Remember
Greeters
Clothing
Many others
-Martin and Lee are going to discuss Connect and Become but this list indicates some areas in which we either currently serve or can become prepared to better serve.
Connect, Become, Impact

3. Positions
Incumbent
Mission
Team Mates Coordinator
Earl Ham Larry Shabe
Become Lead
Lee Bennett
Become
Connect Lead
Martin Edwards
Connect
Greeters Lead
Robert Lee
Social Activities Lead
Art Dean
Supper Six Lead
Sunday Morning Snack Lead
Pauletta Fallabel
Set Up Lead
Roland Smith Jan Smith
Tear Down Lead
Jim Fallabel Pauletta Fallabel
Prayer Request Lead
Debbie Mellis
Team Mates Welcome Package Lead
Nancy Shabe
Team Mates Roster Lead
Jean Guy
Audio/Visual Team
Frank Helmes Paul Lentz Loch Guy
Connect/Become
Impact Lead
Vacant
Missions Lead
Walt Okon
Impact
Ohio State Students Visit Lead
Tony Ohe
Clothing Ministry Lead
Susan Wyant
Connect, Become, Impact

4. The Parable of the Sower
TeamMates
September 18, 2016

5. Introduction to parables
Jesus was a great teacher who often used parables (illustrative stories) to teach about life and faith. Here, in the Parable of the Soils, He explained why people respond in various ways to God’s Word. The key elements of the story are the SOWER, the SEED and the SOILS Below is a shortened version of Matthew 13: Also found in Mark 4 and Luke Do you know why He used parables?

6. The edited text from Matt. 13
The sower went out to sow; and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up.
Others fell on the rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of soil. But when the sun had risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
Others fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them out.
And others fell on the good soil and yielded a crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty and some thirty....

7. First table talk (8 minutes)
Anyone want to share what you think Jesus was talking about here? Imagine yourself being with Him and the other disciples perhaps surrounded by quite a crowd.
Talk about each kind of soil and its problem or potential.

8. Does Jesus’ explanation help?
"Listen to what the story about the farmer means. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road.
“The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no firm root in himself, and when affliction or persecution arises....immediately he falls away.

9. Does Jesus’ explanation help? -2
And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worries of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears much fruit.”
“He who has ears, let him hear!”

10. 2nd Table talk (8 minutes)
Does Jesus’ explanation make it clearer what these types of soil are?
What is His point? And why does He throw in that little phrase at the end, “He who has ears, let him hear?
Which soil best describes your heart and life right now? Which one do you want?

11. Questions for personal reflection
What are the ‘thorns’ and ‘rocks’ in your life which tend to choke your spiritual growth?
Pressure from friends and family, influence of TV/movies/ music, concerns about money, lack of commitment or discipline, a ‘rocky’ home life, suffering that makes it hard to believe in a good God, worries about the future…

12. What will you do about it?
Plow it up(declare bankruptcy) and start over
Allow troubles to be fertilizer rather than just ‘rocky times’
Ask God to uproot the thorns of worry and desires of the world in your life
Surround yourself with the rich topsoil of a Christian community.
Cultivate a refreshing devotional life

13. In the next 2 weeks
Pastor John Parks and his wife will be with us addressing the topic, “Becoming the husband/wife that God intended us to be.”
Please be in prayer for them and for yourself, your spouse, and TeamMates as you come ready to listen.
Closing prayer