There is a well known hymn that reads, “are you sowing the seed of the kingdom brother.” Sowing the seed is Biblical terminology for telling people about Jesus (evangelism). Several times in the New Testament we see this imagery as well as specific terminology.

A key word in sowing the seed is “sow” (speiro). This is a verb and it occurs about 50 times in the New Testament. If readers study the places where they occur, they will be amazed to see that about half of the word occurs about half the time in just two places (Mt. 13 and Mk. 14).

Sow (speiro) is also found in the Corinthian letter; Paul used it in 1 Cor. 9:11. He said those who “sow spiritual things” should “reap carnal things” (i.e. be paid). His argument reminds readers of 1 Cor. 3:6-7 (he planted, another watered, and God gave the increase).

We can “sow the seed of the gospel” or “sow something else. Readers should contrast the “sowing” in 1 Cor. 9 with the waste described by Jesus in Lk. 15:11-32. Jesus said a younger son went and “wasted” his substance. “Wasted” (diaskorpizo) meant dispersing, scattering, wasting. This son took his material goods and essentially scattered them to the wind.

All people are “sowing” something. It may be fast, slow, sporadic, or something else. God will one day call us to account for what we sowed in our lives (there will be a harvest). When we stand before him on the day of judgment, what will our record be? What will He say we sowed? Was it the gospel? Did we sow to the flesh? Sow to the Spirit? Sow to Satan? Paul said, “in due season we will reap.” This is God’s promise. Believe it, sow what is righteous, and expect a great harvest.

Find the truth about God and become a New Testament Christian. Find out more about New Testament Christianity by running some Internet searches for “church of Christ” and “churches of Christ.” You may also want to visit http://www.abiblecommentary.com for Bible study information.

Remember, in order to be saved and enjoy all God’s blessings (not the least of which is salvation), a person must have faith (Jn. 8:24), be willing to repent (Lk. 13:3), and after confessing Christ as Lord, the final step is water baptism (Rom. 6:3; 1 Cor. 12:13; 1 Pet. 3:20-21). Bible baptism is by immersion only (“burial,” Rom. 6:4), and once it is done, heaven puts that person “into Christ” (Gal. 3:27; Rom. 6:3). After proper baptism a person has their sins forgiven (Acts 2:38).