There was once a priest who was known for his very lengthy sermons. His congregation were very polite and patient and would sit there Sunday by Sunday, rather glassy eyed for 45 minutes to an hour listening to the priest get caught up in all sorts of theological discourse. One particular Sunday the priest noticed a man in the congregation get up and leave in the middle of his sermon. The service carried on and then the man returned during the final hymn.

After the service, the priest asked the man where he had been?

 “I had to go and get my hair cut” was the reply.

“But” asked the priest, “Why didn’t you go before the service started?”

“Because” The gentleman said, “I didn’t need a hair cut before the service started!”

Like many priests and other Christian ministers, I have often wondered: “Does our preaching do any good?”  When we look at how many lives are NOT changed based on what we  preach, its very easy to conclude that sermons might be a bit of a waste of time.  I wonder what you think – I’m not going to dare to ask!

But you know the thing is, it’s not what we may think but what Jesus thinks that’s important. 

In our Gospel reading for today, Jesus clearly tells us that wondering if our preaching does any good is not actually our concern! He says, “The Kingdom of God, like the seed that is scattered, sprouts and grows all by itself” (Mark 4:28).

Jesus, in His usual style, puts us all in our place, especially those of us who have our own ideas about how we want to see God’s Kingdom grow! 

Each of us, as faithful, loyal Christians, has a sinful nature and that can sometimes include wanting to manage God and control the growth of His kingdom. 

We can want God’s Kingdom to sprout and grow in our own way, our own time and under our own direction.  But Jesus simply says that God’s kingdom “produces by itself.”

Jesus tells us: “The Kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seed on the ground.  He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows, although he doesn’t know how.  All by itself the soil produces a crop–first the stalk, then the head, and then the full head of grain.”

Did you notice the sower isn’t anxious when it comes to sowing the seed?  He doesn’t test the soil.  He doesn’t send off soil samples to some lab, trying to find out how receptive the soil will be or what its potential yield might look like.  He simply takes the seed and scatters it.  He doesn’t even worry about where the seed will land.

The seed is the Word, who is Jesus, the Word made Flesh. 

The soil is the hearts of the people – and that includes our hearts and the hearts of those we know and love. 

We are given a clear picture of how God manages His kingdom in the world.  He scatters the Word of Christ, not worrying if it lands on productive soil, barren rocks, amongst choking weeds or on some hard pavement. 

And then the Word, Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, creates faith when and where He wills.

Now imagine a congregation if it took this parable of how the seed grows seriously. 

If we were serious, we would sow the Word of Christ recklessly, without concern for where it lands.  We would tell others about Jesus, not worrying about who hears it, whether they are “ready” to hear it or how they will respond.  We would simply sow the seed of Christ’s Word.

And so why doesn’t that happen? 

One reason is fear.  Sometimes we fear that others may reject us and make fun of us.  We fear that we may not know enough.  We fear that we may not know how to answer a question someone might have.  So, we quietly hide in our little Christian corner, where we feel more comfortable and mix with those who are like minded.

Another reason we don’t sow the seed of Jesus is that we doubt Him.  We don’t believe that Jesus will do what He says He will do.   

And what happens when you couple fear with unbelief?  In some places we get programs designed to change Christ’s Church, programs that promise to make congregations grow.  But do you know I think that’s where we can go wrong. 

No program can replace what God tells us to do–to sow the seed of the Word!

When a priest or other minister preaches Jesus into the ear and hearts of listeners, they scatter the seed of the Word. 

But my friends the job of scattering the seed is not just the job of the priest alone – for usually we are – quite literally – preaching to the converted. Scattering the seed is something that all of us Christians are called to do.

We are called to scatter the seed by bringing Jesus to someone through what we say. 

We are called to scatter the seed by sharing the hope that is in us with someone else. 

We are called to scatter the seed by pointing someone to baptism, to the Holy Eucharist and to the forgiveness of their sins.

But despite all our best efforts, when we look around us, we often don’t see the church growth we expect.  It looks as if the Word of God isn’t changing people’s lives. And that can make us feel down-hearted and helpless in an increasingly secular world.

This morning Jesus says, “Don’t’ be concerned about that. Don’t let what you see replace your walk of faith.  The Kingdom of God will sprout and grow according to His timetable.” 

What does that mean?  It means that we do what God has given us to do–but we leave the results to Him.  That would be a terrible business model, but it’s the right one for Christ’s Church.

So, scatter that Word.  Scatter it fearlessly and recklessly. Be brave in your actions and bold in your acclamation of Jesus working in your life. And know that the seed you have scattered will grow and produce a crop in God’s own way and in God’s own time, all by itself – just as it has in you.  Amen.