Sep 18, 2025 5 min read Article

Sowing Seeds of Faith

The power for transformation isn't in us as the sower or in the soil itself - it's in the seed, the gospel message of hope in Jesus Christ.

Photo by Zoe Richardson / Unsplash

When we think about sharing our faith with others, we often approach it like careful gardening - planning meticulously, preparing the soil, removing obstacles, and expecting specific results. But what if God's approach is different? What if it's more about scattering seeds widely and trusting Him with the results?

In Matthew 13:3-8, Jesus tells a parable about a farmer who went out to sow seeds. Unlike a careful gardener who plants in neat rows, this farmer scattered seeds everywhere - on paths, rocky places, among thorns, and on good soil. Most of the seeds didn't produce anything, but the ones that fell on good soil yielded an abundant harvest.

This approach seems wasteful and unplanned by human standards. There's no careful preparation, no defined garden plot, no soil testing. The farmer simply throws seeds everywhere, knowing most won't grow. Yet this might be exactly what we need in the church today - less programming and more seed throwing.

For many of us, the most difficult part is taking that first step. We look at people and think we know what kind of "soil" they have in their hearts. We can't imagine how a conversation about Jesus could ever bear fruit with certain individuals.

But the truth is, we can never know what kind of soil is in someone's heart. What looks like rocky ground or thorny soil to us might be exactly where God wants a seed planted. The power for transformation isn't in us as the sower or in the soil itself - it's in the seed, the gospel message of hope in Jesus Christ.

When working with church planters in Indonesia, a predominantly Muslim country, the gap between starting with nothing and seeing a church established seemed impossibly wide. The solution was breaking it down into baby steps:

Meet someone new
Have a second conversation with them
Wait for a meaningful conversation
Be invited to their home
Have an opportunity to pray with them
Have someone ask you a deeper spiritual question
Share about your faith in Jesus

By celebrating each small step, we begin to see God working where before we couldn't see it at all.

Devotional and Disscussion Guide based on the Sermon

What Does "Sitting on Curbs" Have to Do With Evangelism?

Sometimes sharing our faith means simply being present and available. A missionary named Sunshine felt God nudging her to sit on the curb outside her daughter's kindergarten with the other mothers instead of running errands during that time.

For weeks, nothing happened. Then one day, a woman sat beside her and shared a dream she'd had where Sunshine was explaining a book to her. This led to Bible studies in the woman's home, which eventually included family members joining in and learning worship songs.

Your "curb" might be your workplace lunch table, the park where your kids play, or anywhere you can make yourself available for God to send someone to sit beside you.

Are We Called to Pull Weeds or Sow Seeds?

In the parable that follows the sower (Matthew 13), Jesus tells about weeds growing among wheat. When asked if they should pull the weeds, Jesus says no - they might uproot the wheat too.

Sometimes in church, we become focused on "pulling weeds" - identifying and removing what we see as problems. But Jesus calls us to be seed sowers, not weed pullers. Our job is to scatter the seeds of God's grace everywhere, even in the weediest places.

How Do We Trust God With the Results?

To be effective seed sowers, we need to:

Trust the Holy Spirit to guide us toward opportunities
Trust the Holy Spirit to give us the words to say in the moment (Luke 12:12)
Trust our Heavenly Father to change hearts - ours and others'

We're not responsible for the outcome unless we choose to do nothing. It's God who works through us and brings the growth.

Life Application

This week, I challenge you to become an intentional seed sower. Before leaving your home each day, pray: "Lord, help me meet someone today" or "Lord, if there's an opportunity today, help me not to miss it."

Look for your "curb" - the place where God might want you to simply be present and available. Take those baby steps in conversations and relationships, celebrating each small movement forward.

Remember that you have connections and opportunities that no one else has. The people in your life may never hear about Jesus from anyone but you.

Ask yourself:

What "seeds" can I scatter this week through my words and actions?
Where is my "curb" - the place God wants me to be available?
What baby step can I take with someone I already know?
Am I trusting in my own abilities or in the power of the gospel seed?

The harvest comes when we sow faithfully and trust fearlessly, knowing that the power for transformation is in the seed - Jesus Christ and the hope of the gospel.

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