The Seed Sown is the Basic Kingdom Parable

Summary

The sermon explores the parable of the sower as the foundational teaching for understanding the kingdom of heaven at hand, emphasizing that it is not about how to get to eternal heaven but about living in the kingdom now. It distinguishes between Jesus' finished work of salvation on the cross and His role as the preacher who reveals and manifests this salvation through the gospel. The preacher sows the Word, but the response varies depending on the spiritual condition of the hearer. The kingdom of heaven is described as righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit, available to believers in their present lives.