In the conversation for Sunday, January 28, 2018, Pastor Stuart Nice shares an encouragement to take care of our physical bodies. Using the parable of the sower, he shows us the process to make positive changes for our physical bodies.
Sacred Reading 00:00-23:35, Conversation 23:35-01:03:09
“The seed cast on good earth is the person who hears and takes in the News, and then produces a harvest beyond his wildest dreams.”
Matthew 13:23 (MSG)
Sacred Reading
A note about the recording of the Sacred Reading:
The reader will pause between each of the four readings. The pauses have been left in the recording so that the listener can experience the rhythm of the gathering and even participate in the reading. Below are the guidelines for each of the four readings of the practice.
- Read: Read the passage and receive it as God’s message to you.
- Reflect: Read the passage again and look for the word or phrase that the Holy Spirit highlights to your heart.
- Respond: Take the highlighted words and make them a prayer.
- Rest: Rest your heart on God’s promises.
“Study this story of the farmer planting seed. When anyone hears news of the kingdom and doesn’t take it in, it just remains on the surface, and so the Evil One comes along and plucks it right out of that person’s heart. This is the seed the farmer scatters on the road.
“The seed cast in the gravel—this is the person who hears and instantly responds with enthusiasm. But there is no soil of character, and so when the emotions wear off and some difficulty arrives, there is nothing to show for it.
“The seed cast in the weeds is the person who hears the kingdom news, but weeds of worry and illusions about getting more and wanting everything under the sun strangle what was heard, and nothing comes of it.
“The seed cast on good earth is the person who hears and takes in the News, and then produces a harvest beyond his wildest dreams.”
Matthew 13:18:23 (MSG)