"Take Root"
Thursday, July 9, 2026
The Federated Church of Chagrin Falls
This Sunday we begin a new four-week worship series:
Take Root • Grow • Bear Fruit • Sow
Over the next month, we’ll journey through Jesus’ parables in Matthew 13–14, exploring the slow, patient work of God’s kingdom. These are some of Jesus’ best-known teachings—and perhaps some of his most misunderstood.
This week’s Gospel is the familiar Parable of the Sower. Chances are you’ve heard it many times before. But before you read it again, I want to offer a simple invitation:
Read it as if you’ve never heard it before.
Notice what catches your attention. Pay attention to the questions that arise. Where do you find yourself making assumptions about what the story means? What surprises you? What seems confusing? What if Jesus is inviting us to hear the parable differently than we have before?
One of the gifts of Scripture is that it continues to speak to us—not because the words change, but because we do. As we grow, familiar stories have a way of opening in unexpected ways.
This Sunday, we’ll begin asking what it means to take root.
Read Before Sunday
Matthew 13:1–9, 18–23
As you read, resist the temptation to rush to the explanation. Sit with the story itself. Notice the images, the movement, and the questions it raises. What might Jesus be inviting his disciples—and us—to see?
Questions for Reflection
- What assumptions do you bring with you when you hear the Parable of the Sower?
- What part of the story captures your imagination or leaves you wondering?
- Where have you experienced familiar Scripture speaking to you in a completely new way?
I look forward to worshiping with you as we begin this journey together.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Michael
