As we enter the second week of Christian to the Core we come to this core concept.
God looks for Men and Women who are share a passion for those without Jesus.
Evangelism frightens people. Something about it gives us the image of the ruddy faced street preacher screaming condemnations at all those around him. It makes us think of folks who (in our mind) often show the opposite of what we feel Christ tells us in the Scripture. As we journey this week into our core concept let's allow the words of Christ to form our idea of evangelism.
Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.” Matthew 9:35-38
Two connected concepts really drive Jesus in this section. The first is that of the harvest. Harvest time was a cyclical pattern in the life of the 1st century Jew. Many things revolved around the harvest; religious feasts, local taxes and for most people subsistence. If the harvest was good, life was good that year. If it wasn't...things might get a little tough. Harvests must be brought in the moment they are ready. That brings us to our second concept; urgency. You can't wait and let a harvest pick itself. There is a window in which a harvest needs to be brought in.
As Christians we have an urgency to realize the world is ripe for the message of Christ. The way we carry it matters. Relationships, choices and personal testimony are just a few of the things that matter and will be part of our conversation.
Come to worship this Sunday and let's dive in deep into the word of God.
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