1 So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. 2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. I Corinthians 4:1-2

Harvesting: a Biblical alternative to the traditional view

A Scene in Heaven Upon Jesus’ Return: Gabriel questions: “What if Peter and James and John grow weary? What if the people who come after them forget? What if, way down in the twenty-first century, people just don’t tell others about you? Haven’t you made any other plans?” Today: There is no other plan. Gabriel questions: “What if Peter and James and John grow weary? What if the people who come after them forget? What if, way down in the twenty-first century, people just don’t tell others about you? Haven’t you made any other plans?” Today: There is no other plan.

I Corinthians 3:1 “And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to babes in Christ”

For Thought: “What has changed from the first to this twenty-first century? -- or -- “What will explain it if we have not done as well?” “What has changed from the first to this twenty-first century? -- or -- “What will explain it if we have not done as well?”

THE INEFFECTIVENESS OF JESUS’ FIRST DISCPLES Gabriel’s question reflects a ‘harvest mentality.’ Gabriel’s interest was ‘results.’ Jesus’ intent was a model/technique for which he paid a price. Gabriel was anxious. Jesus was at ease/optimistic. Gabriel’s question reflects a ‘harvest mentality.’ Gabriel’s interest was ‘results.’ Jesus’ intent was a model/technique for which he paid a price. Gabriel was anxious. Jesus was at ease/optimistic.

I Corinthians 3:2-3 “I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?”

December or January A.D. 27 “When therefore the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John (although Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples were), He left Judea” – John 4:1, 3

“And he had to pass through Samaria” – John 4:4 “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to accomplish His work” – John 4:34 * John 4:35-38 * “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to accomplish His work” – John 4:34 * John 4:35-38 *

QUESTION: “Is this ‘harvest – results’ orientation to discipleship intended as a pattern today?”

I Corinthians 3:4 - 6 “For when one says, ‘I am of Paul,’ and another, ‘I am of Apollos,’ are you not mere men? What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth”

QUESTION: “For what period of time had God been at work to cause that Samaritan growth?”

I Corinthians 3:7 “So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth”

The most rewarding, the most successful discipleship does NOT borrow a ‘harvest-results’ orientation!

November or December A.D. 28 “And Jesus was going about all the cities and the villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. And seeing the multitudes, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and downcast like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest” – Matthew 9:35-38

Jesus’ words are spoken to the disciples. There is a significance to Jesus’ words: (1) The twelve are instructed to pray. (2) The instruction is not ‘to harvest.’ “…beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out WORKERS into His harvest” – Matthew 9:38 There is a significance to Jesus’ words: (1) The twelve are instructed to pray. (2) The instruction is not ‘to harvest.’ “…beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out WORKERS into His harvest” – Matthew 9:38

I Corinthians 3:8-9 “Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building”

September or October A.D. 29 “…they did not receive Him, because He was journeying with His face toward Jerusalem. And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, ‘Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?’” – Luke 9:53-54

What would motivate such an agenda of destruction? What would motivate such an agenda of destruction?

Question: How well are we seeing James and John? The Better Question: How might we be seeing ourselves?

“According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building upon it. But let each man be careful how he builds upon it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds upon the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,

each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it, because it is to be revealed with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built upon it remains, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet so as through fire” – I Corinthians 3:10-15

Later, in vicinity of Judea “And He was saying to them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” – Luke 10:2

Jesus’ words are spoken to the seventy. There is a significance to Jesus’ encouragement: (1) The seventy are instructed to pray. (2) The instruction is not ‘to harvest.’ “…beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out LABORERS into His harvest” – Luke 10:2 There is a significance to Jesus’ encouragement: (1) The seventy are instructed to pray. (2) The instruction is not ‘to harvest.’ “…beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out LABORERS into His harvest” – Luke 10:2

I Corinthians 3:16-17 “Do you not know that you are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are”

We need to restore a ‘laborer-worker’ discipleship! Annual ministry addition: 300 Annual ministry attrition: 600 Effective evangelistic churches sustain conversion to membership ratio of less than 20:1 The national average is 85:1 We need to restore a ‘laborer-worker’ discipleship! Annual ministry addition: 300 Annual ministry attrition: 600 Effective evangelistic churches sustain conversion to membership ratio of less than 20:1 The national average is 85:1 THE EFFECTIVENESS OF TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY DISCPLES

Peter summarizes Jesus’ life and ministry – Acts 10:38,42 Peter’s word order is significant: (1) First: “doing good.” (2) Second: teaching and testimony. Jesus’ method and ministry requires time. Peter’s word order is significant: (1) First: “doing good.” (2) Second: teaching and testimony. Jesus’ method and ministry requires time.

CONCLUSION: “Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy” – I Corinthians 4:1-2