Reading: John 21:15-19
 
Have you ever looked at a barren, rocky landscape and wondered how anything could ever grow there? The soil is hard, the sun is relentless, and it seems impossible for a single seed to take root. I often think of this image when I reflect on our spiritual lives, especially during times of brokenness, hurt, or doubt. Sometimes, we feel like that rocky ground: unyielding, resistant to change, and unable to nurture the things we hope to grow in our lives. The Gospel of John shares a powerful story about transformation. On a quiet morning after the resurrection, by a charcoal fire on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus and Peter have a conversation that is about more than just a question—it is about restoration. Peter, who once confidently declared his loyalty, had denied knowing Jesus three times. Now, Jesus asks him three times, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"

This isn't a trick question. Jesus isn't trying to catch Peter in a lie or shame him. He's inviting Peter to tend to the soil of his heart. The first two times, Peter's response is confident: "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." But the third time, something shifts. The repetition, the echo of his three denials, cuts through Peter's bravado. The scripture says, "Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, 'Do you love me?'" This hurt is not a punishment; it's the breaking up of the hard, rocky soil. It's the moment of vulnerability when a person moves from a place of self-reliance to a place of honest, humble surrender. In that moment of vulnerability, Peter's answer is no longer a declaration of his own strength. He says, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." This is the foundation of fertile ground—a recognition that our love for God is not something we conjure up on our own. It is a response to the One who knows us fully, loves us completely, and sees us not for who we were in our failure, but for who we can become through His grace. Peter's soil is being prepared, not by his own efforts, but by the gentle, persistent work of the Gardener.

Just as Peter's heart was a mixture of devotion and fear, ours often are, too. We may have moments where we feel so close to God, and then in the next breath, we act in ways that deny him. We might be quick to declare our faith, but slow to live it out. This is a normal part of the human journey. The good news is that Jesus doesn't abandon us in these moments. He doesn't dismiss our rocky places. Instead, he comes to us, just as he did to Peter, and asks us to confront the truth of our hearts.  The divine conversation doesn't end with a question; it ends with a commission. Each time Peter affirms his love, Jesus responds with a call to action: "Feed my lambs," "Tend my sheep," "Feed my sheep." The transformation of the soil isn't just for our own benefit; it's for the sake of the flock. Peter, once a rocky foundation of doubt and denial, is now being called to be fertile ground for others. His past failures don't disqualify him; they become the very means by which he can understand and tend to the brokenness in others.

The final words Jesus speaks to Peter are deeply moving: "Follow me." This is more than a simple invitation; it is a renewed call. It invites us to a new way of life marked by vulnerability, humility, and service. It is a call to stretch out our hands and let God lead us, even into places we may not want to go, such as discomfort, sacrifice, and growth. This is what it means to move from rocky ground to fertile ground: to release our need for control and let God shape and use us for his purposes. So, what is the soil of your heart like today? Is it hard and rocky, filled with past hurts, broken promises, or unaddressed doubts? Or is it soft and ready to receive the seeds of God's grace and love? Remember, Jesus is the Gardener, and he is not afraid of the rocks in our lives. He meets us where we are, with patient love and a persistent question: "Do you love me?" As we respond with honesty and humility, he begins to tend our hearts, turning our barren places into fertile ground, so we can bear fruit for the kingdom and, like Peter, become a living testament to the power of a life restored by grace.

My first try at gardening was a complete failure. As a young adult, I was excited and imagined a thriving vegetable patch. I bought some seeds, picked a sunny spot in my backyard, and got started. Or so I thought. I broke up a few big clumps of dirt, scattered the seeds in a rough line, gave the area a quick spray with the hose, and called it done. Then I waited. And waited. And waited some more. A few sprouts appeared, but weeds quickly took over. The soil, I later learned, was hard clay with no nutrients. I hadn’t prepared anything. I didn’t till the ground, add compost, or even find out what my seeds needed. I just scattered them and hoped for the best. Looking back, I see that mistake in how we sometimes approach our faith and our call to reach others. We have the most precious seeds in the world—the message of the Gospel—and we’re eager to share them. But are we just scattering them on ground that isn’t ready, hoping they’ll grow? Are we missing the chance to prepare our own hearts and the hearts of those we want to reach?
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The Apostle Paul, in his second letter to the Corinthians, gives us a powerful picture of this process. In 2 Corinthians 5:17, he writes, “So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; look, new things have come into being!” This is the big change that happens when we are reconciled to God. The old, hard-packed clay of our lives, full of the weeds of sin and despair, is transformed. It becomes new, rich soil where God can plant new things. But this doesn’t just happen on its own. Paul also says, “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.” This is not only about our own salvation. It’s about a new purpose and a new calling. We have been given a ministry, a special task, to join in God’s work of reconciling the world to himself. We are not just gardeners for our own lives; we are called to help prepare new soil for others. This is what it really means to engage those who are lost. It’s not just about sharing a message. It’s about joining in the work of reconciliation. It means getting involved in the lives of those around us. It means seeing them not as projects to fix, but as beloved children of God who need a new foundation.

Paul’s words are a strong call to action: "We are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ: be reconciled to God." An ambassador does more than deliver a message. They show the spirit of the one they represent. They build relationships, listen, try to understand, and work to bring people together. They are a living example of the reconciliation they offer. As United Methodists, we believe in prevenient grace, the grace that prepares the way even before we notice it. We trust that God is already working in the lives of those we hope to reach, softening the hard ground of their doubts or pain. Our job is to join in that work and partner with the Holy Spirit. We don’t have to force growth; we just need to care for the ground.

So how do we do this? We begin by listening. We ask questions and learn the stories of people in our communities, workplaces, and families. We look for signs of where God is already working. We offer help, a listening ear, or share a meal as friends. We try to understand their needs, fears, and hopes. We don’t just share faith from a distance; we get involved and work alongside them, trusting God to bring growth. This is the ministry of reconciliation. It is about being present, humble, and loving. It is not just hoping for a harvest but working to prepare the ground. It reminds us that we also needed our own soil changed, and that God’s grace transformed us. Let’s go out and be ambassadors of that grace, inviting others to be reconciled to God and to experience new life when their soil is changed.

Life can sometimes feel like a nonstop race, always pushing to achieve more and searching for meaning. We set goals, chase after dreams, and fill our days with activity, but we might still feel like something is missing. In the middle of all this, Jesus shares a powerful truth in John 15:5 that can change how we see purpose and productivity: "I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing." This is more than a suggestion; it’s a spiritual truth. It’s an invitation to stop striving and start abiding. The word “abide” means more than just a quick connection. It’s about a deep, ongoing relationship with Jesus. Picture a branch on a vine. It doesn’t have to work hard to produce grapes. Its main job is to stay connected to the vine, drawing in what it needs to grow. The fruit comes naturally from that connection.
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This picture challenges the way many of us think about success. We often believe our good works and achievements come from our own effort. But Jesus teaches that real fruitfulness comes from staying close to him, not from trying harder. This isn’t about being lazy; it’s about being in the right relationship. When we are connected to him, his life flows through us, and the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—naturally grows. Jesus also links this connection to a life where prayers are answered. It’s not about getting whatever we want, but about having a close relationship with him. As we grow closer, our prayers start to match his will. We begin to ask for what he wants to do through us. It’s a simple cycle: we stay connected, our desires change, we pray in line with his will, and he works through us.

The main purpose of staying connected to Jesus is not just for our own good, but to bring glory to God. As Jesus says in verse 8, when we bear much fruit, we show that we are his disciples and bring honor to the Father. Our fruitfulness is not something to show off, but a way to point to God’s power and goodness. Our lives can show others his grace and love. In verses 9-11, Jesus talks about the joy that comes from staying in his love. He says that if we keep his commandments, we will remain in his love, just as he remains in the Father’s love. He wants us to have his joy and for our joy to be complete. Following him isn’t about following a list of rules, but about experiencing his love and joy. This close relationship with Jesus is the foundation for everything, including how we treat others. In verse 12, Jesus gives a new command: love one another as he has loved us. Our ability to love others comes from the love we have received from him. We can only give what we have first received. Loving others is the true sign that we are connected to Christ.

Where do we start? We begin by making time for Jesus. We read the Bible to connect with him, not just to read words. We pray, not only to ask for things, but to listen and spend time with him. Each day, we admit that we need him, knowing that without him, we can do nothing. Our main job is to stay connected. When we do, fruitfulness, joy, and purpose will come. It’s not about what we achieve, but about being with him. Let’s make abiding our top priority.

Welcome to the start of a new journey together. This week, we're kicking off a new sermon series called “Changing Soil.” Over the next several weeks, we'll be digging into the spiritual ground of our lives, examining what kind of soil we are and how God can cultivate us for growth. Today, we start at the beginning, with the foundational question: "Which Soil Am I?" Our guide for this exploration is a familiar parable from Jesus, found in Matthew 13:1–9.

The scene Jesus paints is simple and powerful: a farmer, a sower, goes out to plant seeds. But not all the seeds land in the same place. Some fall on a path, some on rocky ground, some among thorns, and some on good soil. This isn't just a lesson in agriculture; it’s a profound look into the human heart. Each type of soil represents a different way we respond to God's Word. And as United Methodists, we believe that God’s grace is at work in all of us, always inviting us to become more fruitful.

The Path: The Unprepared Heart
Jesus talks about seeds that fall on a path, where birds quickly eat them up. The path is hard from people walking on it, so the seeds can't take root. This soil is like a heart that isn't ready or open to God's message. It's someone who hears the Word but doesn't let it sink in. Sometimes, life gets so busy and distracting that we don't even give the truth a chance. Maybe you've felt this way before: listening but not really hearing, being present but not truly involved. This reminds us to make an effort to soften our hearts and give God room to work.

The Rocky Ground: The Shallow Heart
Some seeds fall on rocky ground. They grow fast at first because the soil is shallow, but without deep roots, they dry up when the sun gets hot. This is like someone who gets excited about God's Word at first but doesn't stick with it. When hard times come, their faith doesn't last because it isn't deeply rooted. It's not that they don't mean well, but they need more endurance. This teaches us that real faith isn't just about starting strong. It's about building a steady, lasting relationship with Christ that can handle tough times.

The Thorny Ground: The Crowded Heart
Some seeds land among thorns. They start to grow, but the weeds take over and stop them from producing any crop. The thorns stand for the worries of life, the pull of money, and wanting other things. This kind of soil is like a heart that gets distracted by everything going on in the world. We all face this sometimes. Our lives can fill up with concerns about money, success, or status. These things aren't always bad, but they can get in the way of our spiritual growth. They can block our connection with God and keep us from living fully in Christ. This reminds us to look at our priorities and clear out what holds us back.

The Good Soil: The Receptive Heart
Finally, some seeds fall on good soil and grow into a big harvest—sometimes a hundred, sixty, or thirty times more. Good soil is like a heart that is open and ready for God's Word. It doesn't just hear the message but takes it in and lets it change their life. This soil isn't perfect, but it's prepared. It's been cleared of rocks and thorns and is open to God's grace. This is what we're all called to be. It's not about being perfect, but about being willing. As United Methodists, we trust that grace is working in us, getting us ready for this purpose.
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As we start this series, take a moment to think about your own heart. Which soil are you right now? Are you like the path, the rocky ground, the thorny patch, or are you good soil, ready to grow? The good news is we don't have to stay the same. God is always working in us, helping us clear away what holds us back so we can become the good soil we were meant to be. Let's pray for open hearts and a willingness to change. I'm excited to see what God will do in us and through us during this series.