1. “Greatest Stories Ever Told” – Part 1 “What God’s Word Can do for You” Matthew 13:1-23

2. “told them many things in parables” (Matt 13:3). The disciples came to him and asked, "Why do you speak to the people in parables?" (Matt. 13:10)

3. The Parable… (Matt. 13:1-9 NIV) That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore.

4. The Parable… (Matt. 13:1-9 NIV) Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.

5. The Parable… (Matt. 13:1-9 NIV) Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.

6. The Parable… (Matt. 13:1-9 NIV) Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. He who has ears, let him hear."

7. The Parable… (Matt. 13:1-9 NIV)

9. A parable is a story told to convey one basic point. This particular story is about a farmer who planted seed.

10. The Parable Explained… (Matt.13: 18-23) "Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart.

11. The Parable Explained… (Matt.13: 18-23) This is the seed sown along the path. The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time.

12. The Parable Explained… (Matt.13: 18-23) When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.

13. The Parable Explained… (Matt.13: 18-23) But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."

14. The Parable Explained… (Matt.13: 18-23) Four People: 1.Indifferent – those who hear the word but don’t remember it because they give their attention to everything else.

15. The Parable Explained… (Matt.13: 18-23) Four People: 2. Shallow – those who hear the word but have hidden agendas and other priorities which prevent them from integrating the word into their lives.

16. The Parable Explained… (Matt.13: 18-23) Four People: 3. Cluttered – hear the word but their lives are consumed with other worries like making more money and building a net worth.

17. The Parable Explained… (Matt.13: 18-23) Four People: 4. Responsive – those who welcome the word, “hunger and thirst after righteousness” longing for the meaning of a right purpose.

18. The Parable Explained… (Matt.13: 18-23) He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown." In each soil there is variation!

19. The Reason for a Parable… (Matt. 13:11-17) He replied, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance.

20. The Reason for a Parable… (Matt. 13:11-17) Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. This is why I speak to them in parables: "Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.

21. The Reason for a Parable… (Matt. 13:11-17) In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: " 'You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.

22. The Reason for a Parable… (Matt. 13:11-17) For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes.

23. The Reason for a Parable… (Matt. 13:11-17) Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.'

24. The Reason for a Parable… (Matt. 13:11-17) But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

25. The Reason for a Parable… (Matt. 13:11-17) The stories Jesus told separated people. Jesus told these stories to call people to real life rather than an abstract idea. The disciples have a unique privilege.

26. Bottom Line: The Word can help us “see” and “hear” Jesus and we need to look and listen no matter what is happening around us!