By Steve A. Hamilton

Introduction: We live in an age in which God is not first in people’s lives. Those who consider themselves religious also consider themselves saved regardless what they actually believe. You are lucky even to find someone interested in Bible Study these days.

Simply, it is hard saving souls in this generation. Even if someone is converted to the truth, that is no guarantee they will remain faithful.

I. Parable of the Sower (Matt. 13:1-9; 18-23).

    A. The effects of the seed upon people today is no different then it was 2000 years ago.

    B. People will lose their souls in one of three basic ways:

        1. Through a lack understanding God’s word (wayside).

        2. Through trials and persecution because of God’s word (stony).

        3. Through the cares and riches of this world that chokes God’s word (thorns).

    C. Notice the result of the seed upon the good ground. It bears fruit and produces more souls.

II. We must bear fruit (John 15:1-8,16).

    A. “Fruit” metaphorically means results, produce or offspring. Spiritual “fruit” is used one of two basic ways.

        1. That which is produced in character (Gal. 5:22-23).

        2. That which is produced in souls or converts (John 4:35-38; Rom. 1:13; Phil. 1:22).

    B. The “fruit” in the parable of the Sower seems to be talking about souls. "But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty." [Matt. 13:23]

    C. Just like a tree bears fruit, we must bear fruit (Matt. 7:15-20).

III. The Lord expects us to work for Him (James 2:14-26).

    A. The wise Christian will work to save souls (Prov. 11:30).

    B. Those who save souls will shine bright (Dan. 12:3).

    C. We need to work since the laborers are few (Matt. 9:37-38).

    D. We will be rewarded according to our works (Matt. 16:27).

IV. We will be rewarded according to our labors (1 Cor. 3:5-15).

    A. Our role in saving a soul is not important. God gives the increase.

    B. However, our labor in saving souls does not go unnoticed. Each laborer will receive his own reward.

    C. Everyone’s labor will be revealed when it is tried in the fires of life. We all are tried (1 Pet. 1:6-7).

    D. When the soul we planted or watered to salvation is tried by fire we will receive a reward if that soul endures. If the convert fails the test, we suffer the loss. Yet, our soul is safe as we tried to do our part.

    E. Too often we place the emphasis on converting souls and no emphasis on encouraging new converts to stay faithful. This passage really places the emphasis on maintaining the faith of new Christians throughout the trials of life.

V. The parable of the Talents (Matt. 25:14-30).

    A. The only servant who did not receive a reward was the one who made little to no effort to work.

    B. Ask yourself, is just showing up to services sufficient work when the one talent man at least made the effort to bury and save the talent he had? The one talent made still lost his soul because he had nothing to show for his small effort.

Conclusion: Ask yourself as well, is saving souls important? Have you ever worked to save a soul? Let us all get busy saving souls for the Lord!