Weekly Ministry Tip #11 Fall 2013
Lift Up Your Eyes
From the beginning of Jesus ministry, He knew that His work was to do the will of His heavenly father who sent Him to earth. Jesus came to seek and save the lost. In the process of His active 3-year ministry, He would disciple 12 followers more closely as He impacted many thousands with the good news of the kingdom.
An important highlight of Jesus encounter with the women at the well (John 4:5-42) was what happened in 4:35-38. She was presented with “Living Water”. Then she went back into town in Samaria and said to everyone in John 4:28-29,
28So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, 29“Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” 30They went out of the town and were coming to him.
Meanwhile, the disciples had just come back to Jesus from finding food and were a little confused when Jesus said in verses 31-34,
31Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” 32But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” 33So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something to eat?” 34Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.
As the disciples were standing there with Jesus, they looked up and could see perhaps thousands of people of Samaria coming toward Him. There were between 200,000 and 600,000 people living in Samaria at the time so we can only guess how many people were coming to him. Even if there were 10-20,000 people, it would have been a huge crowd. Next we hear Jesus say these powerful words of teaching to His disciples.
John 4:35-38 35Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. 36Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. 37For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.”
Can you see Jesus looking up and saying the words of verse 35 to His disciples. Generally it takes about four months from planting a seed until it is ready for harvesting. But Jesus was saying here that the harvest for people’s hearts is ongoing and continual. The harvest is now. There is a time of sowing where we share the gospel message in different ways. But there is also a time of harvest when people, through the influence, power and calling of the Holy Spirit, place their trust in Christ.
The field of people that are all around you is always white and ready for sowing and harvesting. God’s call for us is to make Him know to everyone one around us.
Continue To Make Him Known
November is upon us. Be thinking about having one more big evangelistic event at your campus or city before the end of the year. There are many ideas that you can pursue to communicate the gospel message that coordinate well with the holiday season of celebrating the birth of Christ. Check out this idea on article 193: http://crupressgreen.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Seasonal-Outreaches.pdf Bring in a special speaker who can talk on the historical Jesus and the biblical prophecies fulfilled at His birth. Conduct a special Christmas questionnaire that will allow you to follow up with people to talk about Christ’s birth and the gospel message. Be creative.
Consider going out each week after your weekly meeting/Bible study and taking people out to share the Quest 1.0 questionnaire and share the Knowing God Personally booklet. Multiple campus ministries do this with great success.
Confirm The Christmas/Winter Conference In November
Keep your eye on the calendar and be giving people an early start on planning for the Christmas/Winter Conference. As mentioned in a previous tip, this is a great time to build many leadership skills into the lives of your disciples. Plus you will also be helping them grow in their relationship with Christ.
Talk to you next week,
Ben with Cru
Orlando, FL