Jesus often taught in parables – simple stories about everyday things that illustrated a profound spiritual truth. Since the region of Galilee in Northern Israel was dotted with small farms, and everyone was either a farmer themselves or knew someone who was, many of Jesus’ parables dealt with agriculture and farming. Here at the beginning of the 13th chapter of Matthew’s Gospel we see his first and perhaps most well-known parable: “The Sower and the Seed”, also sometimes called the “Four types of soils”.
Jesus was preaching beside the lake facing the surrounding hills. Jesus looking toward a nearby hillside where a local farmer was working his field—and Jesus began teaching the people pointing to and using the farmer as an example saying, “It is planting season, this farmer has tilled his soil and formed some rows. He is now walking up and down the rows with a large leather bag filled with seeds slung over his shoulder. As he walks, he reaches into the bag and broadcasts his seed. He is skilled, knowing how fast to walk and just how much seed to throw. Still, the seed will invariably land on different kinds of soils even in the same field and therefore yielding very different results.
Jesus identifies four types of soil–soil beside the road, rocky soil, thorny soil, and good rich soil- later explaining the parable to His disciples. The seed is the word of the kingdom—The message of salvation; the four types of soil indicate four conditions of the human heart—Conditions all of us experiences at one time or another in our lives. Join us this week at Sedona United Methodist Church as the Rev. Fred Mast continues a summer series of messages focused on prayer in a message entitled “Where Is My Heart Planted?” Sunday mornings we enter the spirit of worship at 9:30 am featuring meaningful and uplifting music, special times of prayer and passionate life changing messages designed to move you closer in your relationship with Jesus Christ and others. Immediately following worship, you are encouraged and invited to stay and join us in our Fellowship Hall for the friendliest and best fellowship time anywhere featuring delicious snacks and great coffee and always friendship.
On Saturday morning July 7th the men of the Verde Valley are invited to gather for a delicious SUMC Men’s Breakfast at 8:15 a.m. at The Golden Goose Restaurant in West Sedona. Our featured speaker will be Aimee Pelzer, Manager of the Cottonwood/Sedona Enterprise Rental Car. Bring a canned food item for the Food Bank—All men are welcomed, encouraged and invited to attend and come and make a new friendship.
Get your tickets now for the Emerson Collaborative Theatre Summer Camp performances of “Barrio Grrrl” Friday July 13th at 7:00 PM, and Saturday July 14th at 2 PM. Barrio Grrrl is an entertaining musical production produced by Camilla Ross, directed by Carolyn Paine, and music by Bill Sherman. Tickets are available for $10 in the church office and both performances will take place at Sedona UMC. Come and support this great children and youth outreach.
Sedona UMC will be offering a new six-week adult study beginning July 10th, based on the New York Times Bestselling Book “The Circle Maker—Praying Circles Around Your Biggest Dreams and Greatest Fears” by Mark Batterson. Two studies are planned—Tuesday mornings at 10:30 am at the church (110 Indian Cliffs Rd.), and Tuesday afternoons at 2 PM at the Gathering Place (1835 W. State Rte. 89A) in West Sedona. The entire community is welcome and invited—Please Call the church office for more details (928)282-1780.
We offer several weekly book and bible studies: Wednesday’s our Men’s Bible Study at 9am; and Thursday’s our Women’s Bible Study at 9:45am. So many great missions, ministries and events happening at Sedona UMC—Visit our website at us on www.sedonaumc.org and “Like” us on Facebook. We would love to pray for you!—Prayer requests may be submitted online or by calling us at 928-282-1780. We are conveniently located at 110 Indian Cliffs Road off the Back O’Beyond roundabout on Route 179 in Sedona. All are welcome at Sedona UMC—Come and grow with us!
