Imagine the scene that day. The teaming masses of men and women crowding Jesus. They have heard about His teaching. The stories of His healing are all anyone is talking about these days. Hundreds, probably thousands, have come to see Jesus. It wasn-t in a concert hall, a sanctuary, or an auditorium. This assembly was out the open. The crowds are closing in around Jesus. So, He steps onto a boat and has it pushed a bit away from the shore. This builds some buffer. It also provided a bit of amplification. If you have ever been on a body of water, you know that voices carry. So, on the smelly stage of a working fisherman-s boat, Jesus teaches. And, here He tells a story - we call it a parable.----A parable is -an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.-----There are three types of soil -picture of the human heart- in which the seed -the Word of God- does not grow. When the seed falls upon hardened hearts -the pathway in the parable-, it lies dormant on the surface. Roots don-t sink in. It leaves no mark at all. Sometimes the seed finds rocky, shallow soil. It is met with temporary enthusiasm but this quickly fades. Sometimes thorns -worldly concerns and cares- choke out the work of the seed. But, by God-s grace, many times the Word finds fertile, rich hearts and take deep root. Praise God- It is then that the harvest is great-----The perfect example of the sower is Jesus. But, we are called to sow the seed of the Word liberally. The seed is powerful. We are going to meet with many -failures.- But, we are called to faithfulness in casting the seed. We look to the Lord and give Him the glory for the harvest -I Corinthians 3-7-.