Why not spend some time on Friday and Saturday plowing the ground in your life in preparation for Sunday?
We are told men ought not to preach without preparation. Granted. But we add, men ought not to hear without preparation. Which, do you think needs the most preparation, the sower or the ground? I would have the sower come with clean hands, but I would have the ground well-plowed and harrowed, well-turned over, and the clods broken before the seed comes in. It seems to me that there is more preparation needed by the ground, than by the sower, more by the hearer than by the preacher. Charles Spurgeon.
Quoted in the recommended, Expository Listening, by Ken Ramey.
Thank you for the quote, Chris.
Are you reading this book? I told my pastor about it on Sunday night. We’re going through the book of Genesis and we expect to be in it for about a year. It’s so easy to come to church on Sunday and expect to be fed God’s Word. Yet, without “well plowed” and “hallowed hearts” it’s all for naught.
May God give us the grace to be prepared for Sunday.
Hi Christina – – Yes, I am reading it. It’s a very good book. In fact, I am recommending it and quoting it in my next book, “When the Word Leads Your Search,” which Lord willing will be published in the first part of 2011.
Just studied that parable of the sower, and I had always thought of the soils to be describing those who recieve or reject the gospel. But I think it’s much broader than that. Of course, if you are receiving the seed each week and it’s bearing fruit, you are a believer. But even a believer can be the hardened soil at times, and not receive what is ‘sown’ on any given Sunday.
I especially was interested in the Matt. parallel text which talks about the measure with which you scoop up the Word. If I ride into the sanctuary in my dump truck, ready to load up on the word, I will receive enough to fill it. But if I come with my 1/4 teaspoon, even what I think I sifted off of the sermon will be taken from me.