The Plowman

 

 "Sowers, Seed and Soils" [39:11m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (675)

This message by pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, June 10, 2007, and was taken from Mark 4:1-20.

Jesus tells the parable of the sower. The focus of the text: Why does the same message have different results with different people?

Intro:

1. vs. 11, 12: And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, so that “they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven.” This is one of the hard sayings of Jesus. Is Jesus saying in this section that He is purposefully keeping people from understanding truth. No, for those who do not care for the things of God hear but do not hear to the point of action, because they are not interested.
2. The focus of the passage is not the content of the gospel, but the hearts of men.

Four Kinds of Hearts:

1. v. 15: Mere exposure to the gospel is insufficient for salvation. (Ezekiel 33:30-32)
2. vs. 16, 17: Enthusiasm over the gospel is no insurance of eternal life.
3. vs. 18, 19: A passing interest profits noting.
4. v. 20: A heart that is genuinely receptive to the gospel will produce good and abundant and abiding fruit.

Conclusion:
This requires of us careful examination: Which of these soils represents your heart?
If you are in the first three categories, flee to Christ. If you are in that last category, are you producing fruit?

Well, I have not really been gone, but you know what I mean. I have been posting by way of the sermon podcasts that I have been putting up on the internet, but I have not been actually posting anything else. No views of what is going on in SBC news, no insights into faith or life in general, nothing. Hopefully, with this post, that is changing. I am sure I am not going to burn up the internet with my august wisdom - I never did - but I plan to put my oar in from time to time, just because I can.

Well, my wife and I are set to go to San Antonio next week. This will be our second convention. It may be our last. I plan to comment on that in the next few days leading up to our departure. There was a lot that disturbed me last year. I didn’t find what I expected. I saw a fight that I thought was worth fighting, but on reflection I am not so sure. It is not that I have come to see the positions of those anti-reformers of the Conservative Resurgence, because I haven’t. I have come to believe that, one, the problem runs deeper than one side is right and one side is wrong, and two, reform begins at home.

This second issue is the reason why I have been silent, so to speak, on the internet lately. I have been busy helping to take care of the issues that I see in my own home church. That is where I hope to concentrate the few future comments that I do make online.

That’s all for now. Now you can wonder for a while what bee is in my bonnet.

 

 "He Still Guides" [40:10m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (666)

This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, June 6, 2007, and was taken from Numbers 9:15-23.

 

 "God's Good and Gracious Provision [36:24m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (731)

This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, June 3, 2007, and was taken from Jeremiah 1:1-10.

Intro: We are living in a pivotal, a monumental moment in history. Whether it be the end of all things or something on the scale of the Protestant Reformation, we are on the verge of great change. We are living easier, but are we living better? Who will lead us out of this age of moral relevance? God is still in the business of providing leaders to guide people out of darkness.

In the call of Jeremiah to the ministry we learn three facts:

1. vs. 4,5: God sovereignly calls individuals to assigned tasks.
2. vs. 7-9: God graciously equips those whom He calls.
3. God in his own wisdom determines the length of service, and the message to be proclaimed. Jeremiah served 40 years
   

What does this mean to us in the context of the local church?

1. God calls his people to work in the church with assigned tasks.
   
2. God equips us to do what he has called us to do.
   
3. God determines when we are through.
   

It is our responsibility to be faithful to what He has called us to do.

 

 "What Will You Do With Jesus?" [39:33m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (641)

This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, June 3, 2007, and was taken from Mark 3:20-35.

Introduction: When the kingdom of God comes, the kingdom of men have to give way. There is no neutral position. What will you do with Jesus?

This passage describes three encounters with Jesus and three responses:

1. vs. 20 and 21: A response of a warm regard and tempered respect, but nothing more.
2. vs. 22-31: A response of dismissal.
3. vs. 32-34: A response of loving obedience and passionate devotion as Lord.

Conclusion: What will you do with Jesus?