John 4:35-38 First Corinthians 3:5-9 Lifestyle Evangelism John 4:35-38 First Corinthians 3:5-9

John 4:35-38 Don’t you say, ‘There are still four more months, then comes the harvest’? Listen to what I’m telling you: Open your eyes and look at the fields, for they are ready for harvest. The reaper is already receiving pay and gathering fruit for eternal life, so the sower and reaper can rejoice together. For in this case the saying is true: “One sows and another reaps.” I sent you to reap what you didn’t labor for; others have labored, and you have benefited from their labor.”

First Corinthians 3:5-9 So, what is Apollos? And what is Paul? They are servants through whom you believed, and each has the role the Lord has given. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. Now the one who plants and the one who waters are equal, and each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s co-workers. You are God’s field

Process John 4:37-38 “For in this case the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap what you didn’t labor for; others have labored, and you have benefited from their labor.”

Steps in Process Cultivation Sowing (planting) Irrigation (watering) Harvesting

Team Effort John 4:36-37 “The reaper is already receiving pay and gathering fruit for eternal life, so the sower and reaper can rejoice together. For in this case the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’” 1st Cor. 3:5 “So, what is Apollos? And what is Paul? They are servants through whom you believed, and each has the role the Lord has given.” 1st Cor. 3:8 “Now the one who plants and the one who waters are equal, and each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.”

God’s Co-Workers 1st Cor. 3:9 “For we are God’s co-workers.” It is of God that we are the fellow workers We labor with God We labor in God’s power We labor under God We belong to God as His servants 1st Cor. 3:6 “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.”

Cultivation Hebrews 6:7 “For ground that has drunk the rain that has often fallen on it, and that produces vegetation useful to those it is cultivated for, receives a blessing from God” Cultivate: Literally, To work the soil or, To till the ground

Their Fears Guilt Having a load being dumped on them Being thrown in over their head – and unable to hold out Being embarrassed Becoming as weird as some of us Losing the sources of fulfillment they have Most lost people aren’t looking to join anything or for radical change

Cultivation Tillage prepares the ground by loosening the soil Deep plowing is needed when the ground is so hard it is impermeable to water Tilling removing or kills the weeds Tilling allows in oxygen that helps the tiny biological life that helps plants grow Fertilizer provides nutrients for the plants to grow Soil preparation provides a bed of soil with moisture for planted seeds to germinate & grow

Mini-Decisions He’s OK I’d like to get to know him better I feel comfortable with him; he accepts me I’m going to find out why he’s so different It seems he gets his outlook on things from the Bible I like his friends; I envy their confidence >

Sowing Mark 4:14 “The sower sows the word.” James 1:21 “Humbly receive the implanted word, which is able to save you.” Sowing means helping people understand the truth with their minds The person is aware of the basics of the Gospel The person understands what the Gospel means for him

Irrigation 1st Corinthians 3:6 “I planted, Apollos watered” “Irrigated land represents about 15 percent of all land under cultivation but often produces over twice the yield of nonirrigated fields.” - Encarta Relationships with Christians helps the person develop a positive attitude toward the Gospel.

Mini-Decisions The Bible isn’t impossible to understand after all. The Bible says some important things. What the Bible says about life fits my experience. Jesus seems to be the key. I wonder who He really was. Jesus is God; I need to do what He says.

Harvesting Addresses a person’s will for a faith response 1st Corinthians 1:6 “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.” John 4:45 “Don’t you say, ‘There are still four more months, then comes the harvest’? Listen to what I’m telling you: Open your eyes and look at the fields, for they are ready for harvest.” >

Where are You in the Process with the People You are Trying to Reach?

Mini-decisions material from LIVING PROOF, video series Mini-decisions material from LIVING PROOF, video series. CMBC & Navigators