Evaluate the following sermon for me: SCRIPTURE READING: MATTHEW 13:1-23
TEXT READING: 9, 16, 23
TITLE: THE GOOD NEWS   
THEME: SOME THREE WAYS TO RECEIVE THE GOOD NEWS

INTRODUCTION
Whenever you switch on the T.V. to listen and watch the news whether it’s CNN, or ABC, or BBC, or Al Jazeera news there is always a common thing wish is bad news. They feature news on Wars, killings, crimes, corruptions and catastrophes, bad news is the headlines bad news sells. But tonight I have come to deliver a different news which is the word of God. And that is why my message I have entitled it: THE GOOD NEWS under the theme: SOME THREE WAYS TO RECEIVE THE GOOD NEWS. 

1st point: BY LISTENING & ACCEPTING THE WORD OF GOD
EXEGESIS
In the previous passages from verses six to eight we see Jesus telling the Jewish people a parable of the farmer who went scattering seeds on different soils. After that in verse nine Jesus says to them that if anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand. Meaning that the people were following Jesus not for the message but for what he could do. If you read through the previous chapters of Matthew you see Jesus teaching about the Kingdom of Heaven and that one needed to repent of their sins and turn to God the father, teaching about righteousness, showing them that he is the son of man, the son of God, He was always in dispute with the Pharisees and the religious leaders for his words against their teachings and actions like healing on the Sabbath. The people were not listening to his message of God, they were more interested in the miraculous signs. 
See this. (Transition) 
ILLUSTRATION
When judges are in court during trials they pay close attention by listening to every word been spoken by witnesses, prosecutors and defence lawyers so as not miss any detail of evidence. Because if they don’t listen they might give the wrong judgment. Listening is very important.
Now. (Transition)
APPLICATION
In the same way brothers and sisters we need to listen to the word of God and accept the message that is been given to us in our hearts. We need to be daily reading, studying and searching the scriptures, listening to preaching’s in churches. In Romans 10:17 Apostle Paul tells us that faith comes by hearing the word of God, unless we hear the good news of God we cannot change from our sinful lives. In Hebrews 4:12 it says “For the word of God is alive and powerful, sharper than the sharpest two edged sword cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” None of us would be here if it wasn’t for the good news of God that was spoken to us. What’s the good news? The good news is that Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins and was buried and rose on the third day. 

As I continue remember my message is entitled: THE GOOD NEWS under the Theme: SOME THREE WAYS TO RECEIVE THE GOOD NEWS.

2nd point: BY BELIEVING & APPRECIATING THE WORD OF GOD
EXEGESIS
We see in verse sixteen Jesus is telling the disciples that they are blessed to see the things that they are seeing and are privileged to hear the things that they are hearing. Also mentioning that many prophets and righteous people longed to see and to hear what they are seeing and hearing now. The disciples were seeing Jesus Christ fulfilled in the flesh by seeing him perform miracles and healings, and hearing him preach about the kingdom of heaven, and about repentance and righteousness. The disciples were in the presence of the messiah while the others only prophesied about Him and others heard about Him. They had the privilege to be in contact with Jesus Christ and to believe and appreciate Him.
I remember (Transition)
ILLUSTRATION
When I was young my mother used say to me and my brother study hard, read while you are in school and you will make it in life. I would ignore her advice but today I believe and appreciate her for the advice that she gave us.
APPLICATION
In the same way brothers and sisters we need to appreciate and believe every word that comes from the bible because it is God’s message speaking to us. The word of God became a living person Jesus Christ, we see in the book of John in the beginning of chapter one verse one it says and I quote “In the beginning the word already existed. The word was with God and the word was God” and it later says in verse fourteen that the word became human and lived amongst us. Today I welcome you to believe the message of God in your heart to change your life. Believe and appreciate the word of God in your heart, Jesus Christ himself believed and appreciated the scriptures, the word of God during the three temptations in the wilderness he quoted the scriptures to the devil each time to get him away.
My final point (Transition)

3rd point: BY ALLOWING THE NEWS (WORD OF GOD) TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE
EXEGESIS
From this passage of scripture verse twenty three we see that when the seed fell on good soil which represents those that truly hear, accept and understand the God of word, they will produce a harvest of thirty, sixty and hundred times. The meaning to this is the word of God which is the seed, is planted in the good soil which is the heart of a person and growing in it will produce or bear fruits.    
For example (Transition)
ILLUSTRATION
People who have to go through recovery from substance abuse, first need to admit that they have a problem to allow the process of recovering to take place in their lives. Without allowing the process to take place they cannot recover or change their lives. 
APPLICATION
In the same way brethren we need to understand that without allowing the word of God to change our lives it is impossible to change. Once you have accepted and received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior the Holy Spirit takes over your life, and you need to begin to read the word of God daily in order to grow.  Allowing the Holy Spirit to lead you and teach you the word of God, the more you study and meditate on the word of God the more you begin to bear fruits. In Luke 6:45 Jesus says “A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart. Jesus says again in John 15:5 “He is the vine, you are the branches and those who remain in him will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing”. In verse eight it says “when you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my father”. The fruits the bible speaks about are found in Galatians 5:22-23 love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Are you bearing fruit?

CONCLUSION
As I wide up my message remember I was sharing a message entitled: THE GOOD NEWS under the theme: SOME THREE WAYS TO RECEIVE THE GOOD NEWS. 1: By listening and accepting the word. 2: By believing and appreciating the word. 3: By allowing the word to change your life. 

CHALLENGE
Dear brothers and sisters I want us to re-examine ourselves and ask these questions in our hearts, Are you living according to the word of God? Do you believe in the word of God? Do you have a relationship with Jesus Christ which the word of God talks about? If you still not sure, or doubting or even lost faith in the word of God. Today I wish to invite you to receive and to believe in Jesus Christ who is the good news for our lives. We all sinned and deserved to be punished but because of God’s love He sent His Son Jesus Christ to take our place by dying on the cross and rising on the third day. For us his blood cleanses us of our sins and his resurrection means a new life for us. Listen, believe and allow Jesus Christ to change your life.

LET’S PRAY!!