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      Jesus and the Kingdom of God E-Mail Bible Study
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               Week 2 - Matthew 13:1-23
              RESPONDING TO THE KINGDOM
                Parable of the Sower
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Picture a farmer's field at the outskirts of a Palestinian 
village. It has some hard-packed dirt paths through it, some 
patches with very good soil, and some patches which aren't 
very productive at all. The parable Jesus told explains a 
lot about the Kingdom of God if we will just look....

MONDAY
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LEVEL 1: OBSERVATION QUESTIONS. WHAT DOES THE TEXT SAY?
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1.1  To whom did Jesus tell this parable? About whom did 
Jesus tell this parable? To whom did Jesus explain this 
parable?

1.2  (For your study only, not reply) What are the four 
types of ground mentioned in vss. 4-8?  (Just the types and 
results, not interpretation yet.)

1.3  Palestine commonly has slabs of limestone 
lying under a few inches of soil. How does this explain the 
plant growing so well for a while and then withering? (Plant 
scientists, here's your chance to shine.)

TUESDAY
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1.4  In an agricultural sense, how do thorns "choke" wheat 
and cause the crop to be unfruitful?  Of what value is a 
crop-plant to the farmer if it doesn't bear fruit? 

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LEVEL 2: INTERPRETATION QUESTIONS. WHAT DOES THE TEXT MEAN?
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2.1  What does the seed represent? (vs. 19)  Why is seed 
such an apt symbol here?

2.2  How would you describe a person from whom the devil 
takes the word away? (vs. 12) Have you ever been like this? 
Have you met people like this?

WEDNESDAY
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2.3  Why do some people begin as enthusiastic Christians and 
then fall away? Did they REALLY believe? What does this text 
(vs. 20) say about that question?  Please stick to the text 
rather than begin a doctrinal debate about eternal security 
;-)

2.4  What "thorns" are said to "choke" the seed? Please also 
discuss related "thorns" mentioned in Mark 4:19 and Luke 
8:14. Taking them one by one, why does each of these 
"thorns" have such a dampening effect on a believer?  

THURSDAY
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2.5  Bearing an abundant, mature head of wheat grains 
constitutes fruitfulness for a wheat plant. Besides "winning 
souls" (I took that one to force you to think), what 
constitutes "fruitfulness" for a Christian?

2.6  Why did Jesus teach in parables rather than just 
telling people outright what he meant?  What does this text 
(vs. 13) say about Jesus' reasons?  Note: This is a hard 
saying, but important to ponder if we are to understand how 
God operates.

FRIDAY
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LEVEL 3: APPLICATION QUESTIONS. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ME?
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3.1  How does this parable help us understand the growth of 
the Kingdom of God? If we didn't have this parable, what 
important truths might we miss?

3.2  What elements of our own individual life styles 
threaten to choke the Kingdom in us?  How do these 
particular temptations keep us from being more fruitful?  
What should we do about it?

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