1. THE KINGDOM IS…. “The Sower”
Matthew 13:1-23

2. The Kingdom is…..
“Kingdom of God, the range of God’s effective will, where what God wants done is done.”
Dallas Willard
What is the Kingdom of God?
Dallas speaks about everyone having a kingdom even a child in their bedroom with their toys
This is how Dallas describes God’s kingdom
Where what God wants done gets done BY HIS PEOPLE
On this Earth the Kingdom is where His people live out his values in a world rulled by greed/selfishness & violence

3. Matthew 13:1-4 (NIV)
13 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed…..

4. Cove Of The Sower (North shore Sea of Galilee)
Farrell Jenks Travel Blogger checks out Biblical stories & blogs about the locations
Picture 1 AIR
Picture 2 From the SEA

5. FROM THE LAND BEHINE THE COVE

6. THERE IS A STORY WITHIN A STORY
Disciples are with Jesus in the boat
There is also large crowds gathered to hear him
****Rome Banned Jews gathering in crowds because of their fear of uprisings*****

7. Seed on the path, the birds came & ate it up.
19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path.

8. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil
5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.
 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.

9. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.
22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.

10. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 
23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

11. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.”
Here comes the Kingdom describer, you have to have spiritual ears to hear
Many “followed Jesus around” not all heard
Thousands experienced miracles, healings, food miracles but they didn’t stay at the cross
We see Jesus entire ministry summed up here
Ears to hear

12. Jesus is speaking to the crowd & to his disciples
The crowd want REVOLUTION
They want freedom
They want to kill their oppressors
They want to be oppressors not be oppressed
The Kingdom is not giving the crowd what they want says Jesus

13. Matthew 13:11-13 (NIV)
11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.

14. So What?
Not everyone understands the Kingdom We have a vital role in sharing the truth Kingdom is “caught rather than taught”
Not everyone understands
Something in us & the Spirit which ultimately reveals the truth
Kingdom doesn’t make sense to the crowd
Evil “rules this world” me first is the logic that’s natural to us
You have a vital role to play
Your calling in this life is to help people see Jesus in the way you live
Enemy love, non violence turning cheeks, generosity etc
Kingdom is caught
people see kingdom in you more than they hear it