OceanSide church of Christ

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SOWING THE SEED IN 2014

Theme:  OceanSide church of Christ

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   A theme is defined as “a dominant idea.”

1.     A theme keeps the mind focused.

2.     A theme also aims one’s actions in a particular direction.

 

B.    Last year at OceanSide, our theme was “Make Christ Your King in 2013.” 

1.     We wanted to emphasize the fact that Jesus is the ruler, sovereign, and Lord of all.

2.     We also wanted us to be constantly reminded that we are supposed to submit to the King of kings.

 

C.   This year, the elders have decided upon a new theme.  Our theme will be:  “Sowing the Seed in 2014.”

 

I.           DISCUSSION OF SEED

 

A.   Seed

1.     Definition

a.     The fertilized, matured ovule of a flowering plan, containing and embryo or rudimentary plant

b.    Any propagative part of a plant...

2.     God gave seeds within plants so they could both continue and multiply upon the earth (Gen. 1:11).

 

And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth:  and it was so.

 

B.    Jesus introduced the necessity of seed to the kingdom of God in three parables.

1.     The Parable of the Sower (Luke 8:5)

 

A sower went out to sow his seed:  and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.

 

2.     The Parable of the Wheat and Tares (Matt. 13:24)

 

Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field.

 

3.     The Parable of the Mustard Seed (Matt. 13:31)

 

Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field.

C.   The seed of the kingdom is the Word of God.

1.     Two verses:

a.     Luke 8:11

 

Now the parable is this:  The seed is the word of God.

 

b.    I Peter 1:23

 

Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

 

2.     It is by the sowing of the seed of God’s Word that the kingdom survives as far as its outward appearance is concerned.

a.     If seed is sown, there will be a harvest (Ps. 126:5-6).

 

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.  He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

 

b.    The more seed that is sown, the greater the return (II Cor. 9:6).

 

But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

 

D.   If OceanSide is going to continue as a congregation in the future, and, if OceanSide is going to grow, we must focus ourselves upon sowing the seed of the kingdom, the Word of God.

 

II.         ACTIVITIES TOWARD THIS END FOR 2014

 

A.   We normally begin the year with our “Theme Sunday.” 

1.     We invite a guest speaker to “kick off” our year with two motivating lessons.

2.     This year, I will kick off the year the one month of lessons.

a.     Three of them will be preached and taught on the first Sunday.

b.    We will then have one per week throughout January.

 

B.    We will also have one lesson each month that centers upon our theme for the year.

1.     February:           He That Winneth Souls Is Wise (Prov. 11:28)

2.     March:              What It Means to Be Lost

3.     April:                 God’s Part in Man’s Salvation

4.     May:                  Jesus:  Our Example

5.     June:                 Seed:  The Word of God

6.     July:                  Soil:  The Hearts of Men

7.     August:             Sowers:  Faithful Christians

8.     September:        Obstacles in Soul-Winning

9.     October:           The Plan of Salvation

10.  November:         Conversion Accounts (1)

11.   December:         Conversion Accounts (2)

C.   In our Bible class this year, we will be studying the book of Acts.  We will be examining the contents of the book section by section for the entire year.

 

D.   52 Weeks of Sowing the Seed

1.     One of the keys of sowing the seed is talking to others about spiritual things.

2.     Jesus was a master at turning a conversation around to involve things eternal (The woman of Samaria, John 4, “give me to drink”).

3.     In our adult class, we will be giving one assignment for 52 weeks that will help us talk to others about the gospel.

a.     These things will be very simple ice-breakers.

b.    Give another a tract.  Ask someone a question.  Get someone’s opinion about a Bible verse.  Invite someone to worship.

 

III.       THE KEY TO SUCCESS

 

A.   In order for any theme to work the members must “buy in” to the theme.

1.     You must get excited about it.

2.     You must embrace it.

3.     You must engage in bringing it to pass in 2014.

 

B.    The theme was designed by the elders, but it finds itself in the Word of God.

1.     The Great Commission

a.     Matthew 28:19

 

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

 

b.    Mark 16:15

 

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

 

2.     Therefore, we should seek to bring this theme to fruition because all of us want to be doers of the Word and not mere hearers (James 1:22-25).

 

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your ownselves.  For if any man be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:  for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.   But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   Intent and aim are very important ingredients in success.

1.     Aim at nothing; hit nothing!

2.     If you don’t know where you are going, it’s quite challenging to get there.

3.     If you don’t know where you are going, how to you know when you get there?

4.     Yogi Berra:  “It you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll end up some place else” (Mastering the Seven Decisions, Andrews, quoted on p. 18).

 

B.    If we will do what God asks of us, we have divine assurance and divine assistance that good things will come (I Cor. 3:6-7).

 

I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.  So then neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.