Kingdom Builders: Pastor Appreciation, Powerful Testimonies, and The Parable of the Sower (Part 4)

Some nights feel like a gift from God. This gathering was one of them, filled with honor for Pastor Terry Taylor, heartfelt testimonies of redemption, bold prayer, and a strong teaching on the Kingdom of God. If you care about being fruitful for Christ, this message on the Parable of the Sower will help you guard your heart, grow deep roots, and bear lasting fruit. The word is the seed, your heart is the soil, and your response matters. That is the heartbeat of this teaching on the Kingdom of God.

A Night of Honor and Gratitude

We began by thanking Pastor Terry Taylor for his steady, faithful service. He organizes the sound, helps coordinate preaching, shepherds the Wednesday class, and lifts others to step into their calling. It was his birthday and Pastor Appreciation Month, but the celebration was really about something deeper, a pastor’s heart that opens doors for others and keeps pointing people to Jesus.

Jeremiah 3:15 set the tone: “I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.” That verse fit the night, and it fits Pastor Terry.

If you want to hear more of his teaching on the Kingdom, explore Sermons by Pastor Terry Taylor on God’s Kingdom.

Testimonies That Build Faith

Many shared personal stories that showed the fruit of pastoral care and the power of God’s love at work in real life.

• Curtis Mullins read a moving letter to Pastor Terry. When addiction and despair were closing in, Pastor Terry didn’t just pray from a distance, he showed up with gas, food, shelter, and hope. Curtis said, “If it wasn’t for Terry, I don’t know that I’d be here today.”
• Steve shared a touching story from hospital ministry. At a mother’s request, Pastor Terry sang a song for her daughter who was near passing. On the last note, she stepped into eternity. As Steve joked later, “If I’m ever in the hospital, don’t you dare come and sing for me.” It was lighthearted, but it showed Terry’s compassion in moments that matter.
• A sister who first visited in 2015 told how Pastor Terry greeted and encouraged her from day one. He prayed over her salon when it opened, came to the hospital when her baby was born early, and helped disciple her family through many seasons. She called him a true “kingdom builder.”
• Another brother said he moved with a call from God but no help. The class became home. He found family, discipleship, and a place to serve with his guitar. He added, “And you’re a good fisherman.”
• Founding members thanked Pastor Terry for making the class a launching pad. Many got out of their comfort zone, learned to serve, and discovered their voice.
• Sister Shelby said Pastor Terry welcomes people with “open arms” without even touching them. She called it a gift from God, a love that draws people in and wins souls.
• One sister walked in broken, fighting suicidal thoughts. The love in the room, the prayers, and the steady presence of leaders like Pastor Terry and Sister Julie kept her coming back. Now, she’s growing in the Lord.
• A couple shared how Pastor Terry called with condolences when a parent passed, even though they hadn’t met yet. That call spoke volumes about his pastor’s heart.
• Another brother said Pastor Terry came to his house and invited him to play guitar at church. He resisted at first, then surrendered to Christ and was saved that day. That moment changed everything.

These stories weren’t staged. They were the fruit of years of real ministry, steady discipleship, and love that acts.

Worship, Prayer, and Miracles

Worship rose with passion. Prayer broke out for healing and deliverance. We prayed for Tony’s eyesight and heart, for Courtney Bowman, and others battling physical needs. The room lifted up the name of Jesus, calling on him as Jehovah Jireh, our provider, and Jehovah Rapha, our healer. It felt like the kind of night where faith rises and God draws near to his people.

Teaching Recap: The Kingdom of God and the Parable of the Sower

Pastor Terry continued the Kingdom series with a focus on Matthew 13 and the Parable of the Sower. The core idea is simple and searching: the word is the seed, and the heart is the soil. The same seed can produce very different harvests based on the condition of the heart.

If you want a helpful overview of this parable and how it teaches about God’s kingdom, these resources are useful:

• A concise study on the parable’s meaning in Kingdom context: Matthew in Biblical Perspective: The Kingdom of God and the Word of God – The Parable of the Sower
• An accessible explanation of the parable and its symbolism: The parable of the sower of seed

The Seed, the Sower, the Soils

• The seed is the word of God, the message of the Kingdom.
• The sower is Jesus, and also anyone who shares the word.
• The soils are different conditions of the heart.

Same seed, different soil, different results.

The Wayside and the Stony Ground

• The wayside soil is hard and compacted. The seed sits on the surface where birds, representing the enemy, snatch it away. 2 Corinthians 4:4 says the god of this world blinds minds. A hard heart keeps truth out.
• The stony ground receives the word with joy, but since there is no depth, the seed scorches under pressure. There is no root, so there is no endurance.

The Thorny Ground: What Chokes the Word

The thorny ground is where the seed takes root, but thorns grow up and choke it. This is where many believers struggle. 1 John 2:15-17 names the thorns that choke the life of the word:

• Lust of the eyes, a craving for possessions and constant accumulation.
• Lust of the flesh, chasing pleasure that pulls us off the path of holiness.
• Pride of life, the self-sufficient, status-driven spirit that says, “Look what I’ve built.”

Weeds grow without trying. If you do nothing, they take over. The same is true in the soul. If you do not pull out the weeds of worry, envy, greed, and pride, they will choke the word and block fruitfulness.

Guard Your Heart and Weed Daily

• Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life. Proverbs 4:23.
• Put on the armor of God every morning. Use the shield of faith to quench lies and fiery darts.
• Replace worry with the word. Resist anxiety by resting in your Shepherd. Psalm 23 is a picture of God’s care, provision, and protection.
• Watch for roots of bitterness, jealousy, and unforgiveness. They spread like dandelions and take over whole gardens if left alone.

The Fruit of the Spirit vs. The Weeds of the Flesh

Where weeds grow, spiritual fruit withers. The parable shows that thorns choke the word so it becomes unfruitful. Galatians 5:22-23 shows the fruit God wants to produce:

• Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

When anxiety replaces peace, or bitterness replaces love, it is a sign the thorny ground is winning. Pull the weeds. The Spirit wants to grow fruit that lasts.

Fruit That Glorifies the Father

John 15:8 says, “Herein is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit.” Fruit is the evidence of true discipleship. Fruit shows the seed took root.

A Kingdom Mindset

This teaching also reminded us that Christians live as citizens of God’s Kingdom. The church is like a colony of heaven, planted on earth to reveal the will of the King. We reflect the values, laws, and nature of our true country. When we live in submission to the King, we lack nothing we need for life and godliness. The Lord is our shepherd, so we shall not want.

How To Be Good Soil

Apply these simple practices to keep your heart soft and fruitful.

• Daily word before daily worries. Start your day in Scripture.
• Pray the armor of God. Speak it out and stand in it.
• Confess truth when fear speaks. Replace lies with God’s promises.
• Weed fast. When envy, lust, or pride shows up, uproot it at once.
• Stay planted in the body. You grow faster when you grow with others.
• Serve someone each week. Fruit grows as you give, not just as you receive.
• Share the word often. The sower sows. When you sow, you grow.

Key Scriptures From The Message

Community Notes

A quick note of family life: there was an announcement for a spaghetti dinner fundraiser on November 8, 3 to 6, to support two girls headed to Mexico on mission. If you were present, you heard to see Sister Bridgette for details.

What’s Next

Pastor Terry said the next session would close this Kingdom series, with a strong lineup coming in November. If this message stirred you, invite someone hungry for the word, and come ready to receive.

For more Kingdom-focused preaching from Pastor Terry, you can listen to Pastor Terry Taylor’s Kingdom Teachings.

Conclusion

This night reminded us what the Kingdom looks like in action, a pastor’s heart in motion, a people who love, and a church that prays. The teaching on the Parable of the Sower calls each of us to keep our hearts soft, pull the weeds fast, and let the word take root. The harvest is worth it. Ask the Lord to make you good soil, and expect him to grow fruit that remains. If this encouraged you, share it with someone who needs hope today.