Pastor Allen Victor presented a sobering message titled “Why Some Christians Don’t Grow” from Matthew 13:1–23, explaining that Jesus Himself revealed that only a fraction of those who hear the gospel truly bear fruit. Beginning in Matthew 13:1–2, Allen described how multitudes gathered to hear Jesus on the same day He performed miracles, yet each person responded differently. He emphasized the key truth: the problem was not the seed, but the soil. Through the parable in Matthew 13:3–9, Jesus showed four types of hearts—the wayside, stony ground, thorny ground, and good soil—and Allen challenged listeners to consider what they do with what they hear.

As he taught through Matthew 13:10–17, Pastor Allen explained why Jesus spoke in parables: to fulfill prophecy, to conceal truth from those unwilling to receive it, and to reveal truth to those who desired it. He reminded the church that God does not force belief, and that understanding requires a heart willing to seek, ask, and knock (Luke 11:9). Moving into Matthew 13:18–23, Allen broke down the meaning of the parable, identifying the sower as anyone who shares the gospel, the seed as the Word of God, and the soil as the human heart.

He then examined each type of soil in detail. From Matthew 13:19, the wayside represented hard hearts where the Word was quickly stolen by the enemy. In Matthew 13:20–21, the stony ground described those who received the Word with emotion but lacked depth, falling away when trials came. In Matthew 13:22, the thorny soil illustrated believers distracted and choked by the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches. Finally, in Matthew 13:23, the good ground represented those who heard, understood, and obeyed the Word, producing fruit in varying measures. Allen stressed that true growth required spiritual disciplines such as prayer, Bible study, fellowship, and service.

Continuing into the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares (Matthew 13:24–30, 36–43), Pastor Allen explained that both genuine believers and false ones exist in the world until the final harvest. He noted that God delays judgment to avoid uprooting the righteous with the wicked, reminding listeners not to judge hastily since appearances can be deceiving. At the end of the age, Jesus would separate the two, casting the wicked into judgment while the righteous would shine in His kingdom.

Throughout the message, Allen urged the congregation to examine their own hearts and ask which soil they resembled. He pointed out that while many hear the Word, only a smaller percentage truly live it out, echoing Jesus’ teaching that not all who receive the seed will produce fruit. The call was clear: prepare the heart, remove distractions, endure trials, and become good soil that bears lasting fruit for the Kingdom.

This message was shared at Calvary Chapel West Jacksonville, under the leadership of Pastor Allen Victor.

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