The Harvest Matthew 9:35-38

Introduction - Video

1.  What is the Harvest?

v.36 – People who are harassed & helpless

Our mission statement calls them, “Spiritual Wanderers”

Parallel passage in John 4:34-38:

Samaritan Woman telling the other Samaritans about Jesus

·         Religious people / Spiritual understanding

o       Where should we worship

·         Judged & Judgmental People

o       The sort that were judged harshly by the Israelites

o       Judged this woman harshly

§         Out in the hot afternoon, alone and excluded, getting water

·         Broken People

o       Woman had 5 ex-husbands and 1 current lover

o       That pattern speaks volumes of unrequited love, of a desire for acceptance that’s allowed her to be used sexually and thrown away.

CGS exists to help spiritual wanderers become authentic followers of Jesus.

From our Mission Statement:

·         Wanderers:

o       Range in ages, tastes and backgrounds but live in an increasingly young and expanding urban region.

o       Need to see what it looks like to be an authentic follower of Jesus.

o       Need multiple entry points into any experience, especially the Gospel.

o       need worship that is culturally relevant while honoring the Truth of Jesus

o       Need a facility that is inviting that will enable the Holy Spirit to do his work in their heart.

o       Need a holistic foundation for life that addresses everyday finances and family, as well as eternal questions about grace, gospel and community.

CGS exists to help spiritual wanderers become authentic followers of Jesus.

-That’s the only reason we exist

Alex’s Testimony

2.  God’s Glory is Displayed in the Harvest

A.  The Goal of Humanity = to Worship God

Westminster Catechism: What is the chief end of man?

Answer: To glorify God and enjoy Him forever.

Piper: To glorify God by enjoying Him forever.

B.  Missions Exist Because Worship Does Not

Piper: Let the Nations Be Glad

“Missions is not the ultimate goal of the Church.  Worship is.  Missions exist because worship doesn’t.  Worship is ultimate, not missions, because God is ultimate, not man.  When this age is over, and the countless millions of the redeemed fall on their faces before the throne of God, missions will be no more.  Its is a temporary necessity.  But worship abides forever.”

C. God’s Glory is Best Displayed in Harvest Workers

Matthew 10:1-4 – Jesus sends the 12

John 15:8         “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear MUCH FRUIT, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”

1)      What is Fruit?

• To Obey God’s Commands
• Love (v.12)
• To Die for Each Other (v.13)

2)      Jesus’ Example of Bearing Fruit

• John 3:16
• Out of love Jesus was sent to die so that we could live
• Love = Seek & Save the Lost
• Love = The Blind See, real works of Compassion (Luke 4:18-19)

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

  because he has anointed me

  to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives

     and recovering of sight to the blind,

     to set at liberty those who are oppressed,

to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Mat 11 – Responding to John the Baptist “Are you the Christ?”

“Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 6 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” (Mt 11:4-6)

• Love = Prodigals Brought Home

3)      How Can We Bear Fruit?

• Love the people Around Us
• Addicts
• Felons
• Die to Self to Reach Them
• Unify Around THE MISSION
• Core value = healthy relationships / unity
• Unify around what?

Mt 28:18-20 "Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”" (Matthew 28:18-20, NIV)

• This is non-negotiable, bigger than me or you

• Based on this mission … all decisions, all activity, all energy flows  

ILL – Drain Swamp

• Alligators, Mosquitoes, Bad Water, No roads * Man kills the gators, sprays for bugs
• Puts in water purifiers
• Builds a road
• Creates a beautiful swamp
• ? What was the goal? – To drain it
• Its hard to remember to drain the swamp when you’re up to your elbows in alligators
• Its hard to remember that we’ve been sent to turn spiritual wanderers into authentic followers of Jesus when we’re up to our elbows in the trivia of life

3.  How Will You Harvest?

The church, and us, can and must do something about the Harvest.

Martin Luther King Jr. from the Letter from Birmingham Jail:

In deep disappointment I have wept over the laxity of the church. But be assured that my tears have been tears of love. There can be no deep disappointment where there is not deep love. Yes, I love the church. How could I do otherwise? I am in the rather unique position of being the son, the grandson and the great-grandson of preachers. Yes, I see the church as the body of Christ. But, oh! How we have blemished and scarred that body through social neglect and through fear of being nonconformists.

There was a time when the church was very powerful in the time when the early Christians rejoiced at being deemed worthy to suffer for what they believed. In those days the church was not merely a thermometer that recorded the ideas and principles of popular opinion; it was a thermostat that transformed the mores of society.

1.  Praying

o            Pick 3 people

2. Serving

How are you using your spiritual gift to help bring in the Harvest?

-          Is what you are doing now really bringing in the harvest?

-          Examples

o       Children’ Ministry

o       A/V

o       Greeters

3.  Giving – ROLU Form

            Reason for ROLU = MAIN STREET APPEAL