Sermon for the Sullivan SDA Church
January 8, 2005
The Harvest
John 4:34-38
34 Jesus said to them, “My
food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.35 “Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes
the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields,
for they are already white for harvest!36 “And
he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he
who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.37 “For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another
reaps.’38 “I sent you to reap that for which you
have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.”
our mission - our sense of what God has called us to do
Under God’s guidance, we meet people where they are, and lead them
to experience a growing relationship in Christ with us.
our vision - what our church will look like when we are accomplishing our mission
To be a growing church that transforms our community, models
singular devotion to Christ, and is prepared for His coming.
our core values -
principles that define how we do ministry together as we pursue our mission
1 Empowering Leadership - Many people are leaders and don’t even know it; we lead in a variety of ways. (e.g. parent/child, father/family, teacher/student, Christian/unbeliever) Leadership is influencing people toward something better in their lives. Not that we are better, but we participate with God in directing them to the happiest life possible with Him. We “empower” leaders by apprenticing new leaders. We guide and equip them so that together we multiply our influence for good and accomplish God’s mission.
Ephesians 4:11,12; 2 Timothy 2:2; RH
8/24/86; 11/6/88; 9T 82
2
Gift-Oriented Ministry - We serve the Lord in our areas of giftedness
through appropriate ministries so the Body of Christ “grows and builds itself
up in love.”
Romans 12:6; 1 Corinthians 12:1,4-6; Ephesians 4:16;
1 Peter 4:10; Letter 19, 1901; 8T 186,7
3
Passionate Spirituality – We
believe continual spiritual growth should be normal for all Christians. Hence, we encourage Christians of all
walks and religious persuasions to become more devoted to Christ by taking
delight in the spiritual life. This
includes daily renewal through the personal disciplines of Bible study, prayer,
and obedience.
Psalm 119:148; Mark 12:30; Romans 6:22; 13:11; 2
Corinthians 7:11; Philippians 4:6; Colossians 3:16; 2 Timothy 2:15
4
Functional Structures - Our church’s ministries, systems, programs
and policies work optimally through well-defined objectives which are regularly
evaluated to ensure functionality and excellence.
Exodus 18:14-22; Romans 12:4-8; Ephesians 4:16
5
Inspiring Worship - We gather for worship first and foremost for our
heavenly Father. We worship Him in
spirit and truth because of His beautiful holiness, creative power and loving
kindness. The blending of spirit and
truth reveals our commitment to authentic expressions of praise and adoration
that are biblical, decent and orderly.
Psalm 29:2; 96:6,9; 99:5,9;
138:2; John 4:23; 1 Corinthians 14:40; Revelation 4:11; 5:9,10; 14:7
6
Holistic Small Groups - We desire everyone to be involved in a small group that ministers to
their spiritual, mental, physical, and social needs. Since leadership is vital to this ministry, we equip them through
regular training, encourage them through monthly briefings, and evaluate them
through annual reviews. While these
discipleship groups vary, they are primarily focused on life transformation and
evangelism.
Matthew 18:20; Acts 2:46-47; Philemon 2; RH 5/30/71;
9/29/91; 7T 21-22, 195
7
Need-Oriented Evangelism –
People are at the heart of our existence as a church. We authentically and intentionally cultivate
friendships with pre-Christians to lead them to become fully devoted followers
of Jesus Christ. We use Jesus’ own
method of mingling with people desiring their good, showing sympathy,
ministering to them, winning their confidence, and inviting them to follow Him.
Matthew
25:34-40; 28:29,20; Luke 19:10; Revelation 14:6; MH 143
8
Loving Relationships –
People matter - they’re the only things going to heaven. We are known for our love for all people
without regard to gender, race, social or economic status. We accept people as they are and desire for
them the happiest, highest and holiest life possible with God. We hold special regard for those who are
destitute, without loved ones, and in need of our sympathy.
A Voted to remodel the sanctuary of our church.
1 Many people working together.
i Skilled craftsmen and a few shade tree mechanics
ii Working in what time they have.
2 We’re making progress
i In just two weeks very significant progress has been made
B Voted to participate in the “Amazing Facts” Net05 Evangelistic Crusade.
1 We will need people working together.
i Caring and skilled workers
ii Dedicating their time to a much bigger job that the remodeling of our church.
2 The Church is making progress
i In two weeks from now, I think you’ll see an organization falling into place, and Progress that will give you confidence.
A The force of uncountable quadrillions of drops of water working together under the control of a single purpose.
B The Results was one of the greatest natural disasters in recorded time.
1 Some of the most battle experience solders, Some of the most experienced of disaster workers all admit. They’ve never seen anything like this.
A An inspiring site:
1 Great fields of golden grain waving under the Kansas Sun stretching across the horizon.
2 A half dozen great wide combines marching in coordinated step offset one just behind the other harvesting the life giving food to feed the people of the world.
Matthew 28:19-20
19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all
the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit,20 “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you;
and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
A Satellite Evangelism!
1 Doesn’t work, Just like any other evangelism program. It doesn’t work – by itself.
2 There’s more than just turning on the projector and see who shows up to watch the movie.
B
The
parable of the farmer
And it came to
pass that a certain farmer decided to grow wheat. He spent weeks researching
the best methods of planting. He cultivated the soil carefully, fertilizing and
setting up his sprinkler system. He drove his battered truck to town and bought
a tractor and a harvester. Then he impatiently waited for the first emerald
sprouts to appear.
But day after
day as he bounded out of bead and peered across the misty fields, he was
disappointed. His precious wheat simply wasn’t growing. He checked the
sprinklers, researched the soil, and prayed earnestly. Finally he bit his lip,
went to his wheat farmer neighbors and asked the obvious question, “Why do you
think my harvest isn’t growing?”
His farmer
friends’ trucks charged into his driveway in clouds of dust. Together in
silence the farmers marched out to view his dark fields, in strange contrast to
the brilliant green all around. They scratched their heads and asked, “What
kind did you plant?”
1 Our farmer friend was speechless. He kicked a clod of dirt around, shuffled his boots and mumbled awkwardly. “I prayed for wheat. I worked hard. I really wanted it to grow. But I guess I never actually planted seeds.”
C
So, we’ve gotta sow some
seed.
1 In our case, a lot of seed has already been sowed.
i We’re probably in better shape for an evangelistic series at this point in our church experience than ever before.
ii We have more people visiting,
iii More people studying
iv More people interested
D The Evangelistic Cycle
1 Personal Preparation (Spiritual revival and training)
2 Preparing the Soil (Prayer, friendships, sharing our personal testimonies)
3 Planting the Seeds (Literature, Bible studies, small groups)
4 Cultivating for Harvest (events to bring people into our church – before the actual series)
5 Harvesting (Net ’05)
6 Preserving the Harvest (Nurturing and discipling)
7
Repeating the Cycle
E
The Evangelism Calendar
1
Scheduled events will occur between now and March 5th.
2
Books for your to read, Books for you to give
3
Training
4
Action groups
i
Prayer Teams
a
There
will be a prayer ministry. This one of our first priorities
ii
Visiting Teams
iii
Bible Studies
iv
Letters and writing Team
v
Discovery Bible School
a
We already have a functioning Discovery Bible School.
vi
Other online resources
a Bible Universe
b Gospel Net
Action Classes
vii
Millennium of Prophecy Videos/DVD
viii
Advertising
a
National
Advertising
b
Radio
spots
c
Newspaper
insertions
d
Display
ads
e
Bulletin
Board Ads
ix
We will need a structure that will respond to requests for
registration, directions, direct contacts. Etc.
x
Community Programs
xi
Program coordination
xii
Follow up planning
9
Need-Oriented Evangelism –
People are at the heart of our existence as a church. We authentically and intentionally cultivate
friendships with pre-Christians to lead them to become fully devoted followers
of Jesus Christ. We use Jesus’ own
method of mingling with people desiring their good, showing sympathy,
ministering to them, winning their confidence, and inviting them to follow Him.
Matthew
25:34-40; 28:29,20; Luke 19:10; Revelation 14:6; MH 143
10 Loving
Relationships –
People matter - they’re the only things
going to heaven. We are known for our
love for all people without regard to gender, race, social or economic
status. We accept people as they are
and desire for them the happiest, highest and holiest life possible with God. We hold special regard for those who are
destitute, without loved ones, and in need of our sympathy.
A
Who will come?
1
Research has
found that 1 person in 10 is seeking for an active Christian experience and
church relationship.
2 Our Family
i Who do you know best?
ii Who can you talk to easiest?
iii Who knows you better?
iv Who do you have the most concern about?
v Who is most important to you?
3 Our neighbors
i Our neighbors across the street, next door
ii Our neighbors at work
iii Our closest neighbors are usually the ones who work next to us.
4 Those we’re studying with
i If we look carefully, we can probably find 50 people who are presently in contact with our church in some way who are studying with our members.
5 Missing Members
i The Holy Spirit is convicting former members of our church to return. These non-attending members are “ripe” for an invitation to come home.
6 A few will come from advertising.
7
Those who come will mainly be those who are personally invited by YOU.
Matthew
9:35-38
i 35 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.38 “Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” [2]
8 The lack is not in the harvest, but in the workers to reap the harvest.
A
The months of January, February, and March are the bleakest of the
year.
1
It’s
cold. Driving is terrible, The house is never warm enough. It’s not my favorite
time of the year.
2
You
weren’t really planning anything else were you?
i
So
we’re asking you to dedicate the next 4 months to Harvest Evangelism.
3
A
time for Harvest
Ecclesiastes
3:1-11
To everything there is a season,
1 A time for every purpose under heaven:
2 A time to be born, And a time to die;
A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted;
3 A time to kill, And a time to heal;
A time to break down, And a time to build up;
4 A time to weep, And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, And a time to dance;
5 A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing;
6 A time to gain, And a time to lose;
A time to keep, And a time to throw away;
7 A time to tear, And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence, And a time to speak;
8 A time to love, And a time to hate;
A time of war, And a time of peace.
9 What profit has the worker from that in which he labors? 10
I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied.11
He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their
hearts…[3]
4
Now
is the time for us to join together in a great outreach to the people of our
lives and bring them closer to Jesus.
5
This
should be a great spiritual blessing for our entire church
i
As
a church body
ii
For
each of us as individuals.
iii
You
will find that you can do and will enjoy doing things that you were afraid to
do before.
iv
You
will grow in you own spiritual life.
Each
of has always known we are individually responsible to have a part in Gods
command to
Matthew 28:19-20
19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit,20 “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and
lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. [4]
[1]The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.)
1982.
[2]The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.)
1982.
[3]The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.)
1982.
[4]The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.)
1982.