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The farmer had dug the earth with his wooden spade and moved the rocks by hand. Now he puts his hand into his bag of seed with nervous anticipation, knowing that once the seed is cast there is nothing more he can do to make it grow. If it doesn't work, it is lost, and the precious seed can't be recovered. He scoops up a handful and sweeps it out in an arc over the ground, watching it fall into the worked soil. Then with more anticipation, and more joy he steps forward casting out handful after handful of the beautiful seed, seeing the crop it will bring.

As Jesus speaks, the people probably can look across the valley and see a farmer doing this very thing. The Lord uses this picture of the farmer to teach His disciples about spreading the Gospel, and to understand the crop that they would see grow from that seed.
One of the records of that event is found in Matthew 13:1-9 and 18-23.

A. The Sower

"A farmer went out to sow his seed." They were very familiar with farming. This was an agrarian culture. Many of them were farmers, and they probably could see farmers planting as he spoke.
This metaphor is used elsewhere too. Paul wrote, "I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase." (1Corinthians 3:6)
As they planted the seed they did not do it in the neat rows we have now. They scattered the seed with a sweep of the arm. This is why some of the seed landed in places in which the farmer did not want to grow his crop.
In Jesus' explanation to His disciples we find that we are the sowers of God's seed. We scatter it as we expose people to the Word by our example and conversation. That is all we have been commanded to do: expose people to God's Word. In Mark 15:16 He says to his disciples, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation." The word translated "preach" here is the word "Kerusso," talk openly expose people to the Gospel. I don't have to hammer them. You don't have to twist their arm, charm them, and somehow do it just right so that they will respond. Just don't shy away from mentioning Bible verses, your church, your hope and confidence. You don't have to be anymore eloquent with this than you are with anything else you talk about. You are simply exposing them to the seed scattering the gospel into the hearts of the people you have contact with.
Here is an example from my workplace. A friend says she is so sorry about my brother's death hiking in the mountains near LA a year ago this month. I tell her it is OK because the Bible

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