Hymn - “Sowing Seeds of Kingdom Teaching”

“Sowing Seeds of Kingdom Teaching”
Tune: O Durchbrecher
(“Hail, O Source of Every Blessing” LW #84)
Based on Matthew 13:1-9,18-23

Sowing seeds of kingdom teaching,
Our Lord taught the crowds that day,
From a boat began his preaching,
Jesus Christ sat down to say,
“Once a farmer, his seed sowing,
Cast his handfuls all about,
Then the seed began its growing,
All in various soils to sprout,”

“Some seed fell on trodden places,
And the birds snatched it away,
Some seed fell in rocky spaces,
And survived for just a day,
Some seed fell where thorns had rooted,
Soon those plants were choked by weeds,
Some seed fell in soil that suited,
This seed would produce indeed.”

“Hear the meaning of the sowing,
Of my parable take heed,
For the message now I’m showing:
God’s word is the kingdom’s seed.
Some the message, when receiving,
Hardened hearts make hardened soil,
On a path far from believing,
Satan comes, their faith to foil.”

“Some, who hear the kingdom’s calling,
Joyful at the first are found,
But when trouble comes they’re falling,
Scorched and withered to the ground.
When the roots of faith are shallow,
Persecution has its way.
Such a field will be made fallow.
Such a man will fall away.”

“Like the seeds by weeds surrounded,
Some choked by the cares of life,
Duped by wealth, by worries hounded,
These plants will succumb to strife.
But there are those who receive it,
When the seed falls on good land.
They who by God’s grace believe it,
They the word will understand.”

Lord, we pray your word would flourish,
By your Spirit, fruit produce.
Always may it save and nourish,
Never its success reduce.
Make us all be fruitful for you.
May our lives be sanctified,
That in faith we so adore you,
Whose word makes us justified.

© Thomas E. Chryst, 2005.