Gather.

A Few Harvesters:

Matthew 9:37-38 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. 38 Therefore ask the Lord of the harvest that he send out workers into his harvest.”

oligos - few/small amt.; adj. over... 40x in NT

Mostly a less-than-ideal context... not necessarily bad, but not the best sitch.

f. loaves & fish; f. find narrow gate; servant faithful in f.; f. are chosen; f. faith'l people...

YET - this is when God often works. With few!

mult. loaves/fish; Rewards for take narrow path, faith'l serv't, & faithful Sardis...

Remnant... God loves the FEW bc FEW with His power can o'ertake the many!

Matthew 10:7-8 As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

Harvesting = going, healing, freeing, preaching/proclaiming

God instruc. Disc. to ask for MORE than few! Do even greater things!

Who are harvesters? Disciples, mathetes - followers of Jesus; those in God's family!

Practical steps to win more people to Christ...

Jesus Needs Workers:

Remember: Grain is Valuable

Not an argument to win, a brain to convince, an opinion to defeat, a worldview to break

...Each person is a soul who needs God.

Don't always love apologetics... can be cold, calculated, loveless.

"Ppl won't care about how much you know unless they know how much you care."

Xians don't HAVE to be hated & despised.

As many will hate us just for being Xian, many still more will be moved by our love even if they disagree w us.

Can be the thing that makes ALL the diff!

We show love to those who need Jesus; should want them to know truth; experience His life.

John 13:35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

1. Observe

If interacting w some1 and you want to move the conversation toward Jesus... (takes initiative, sometimes... other, they will mention 'religion')

Look out for Argu't. weakness, flaw, point of worldview to call into Q.

Greg Koukl, "Tactics" - chapter on "Finding the Flaws"...

Helps us to point out logical fallacies in our own theo.!

Take note of behaviors, opinions, emotions

"I can see this makes you upset." "Wow. You're really passionate about __." "That must stink."

TOO often do we jump to conclusions about someone bc of the beliefs or worldview they hold.

Gets us riled up - or makes us want to back away.

Remember: we want to steer convo (take in this info) bc we LOVE... not sabotage or one-up!

2. Ask Questions

Maybe u have actual questions?!...

"I've never heard that before?" "What do you mean by __?""\

Jesus asks 307 questions. He is asked 183 of which he only answers 3. Asking questions was central to Jesus' life and teachings."

Colombo: "Do you Mind if I ask You a Question"

"What do You Mean by That?" "Where did you hear that?"

"How did you come to that conclusion?"

Meanwhile, repeating step 1- observing, listening.

You may not always have an answer, but you can always ask a question especially a well-placed one.

Greg K - "Put a stone in their shoe."

3. Plant a Seed

Maybe not "ripe" yet. Maybe bus stop coming up. Maybe reach pt. where you can't ans. a Q...

Share a testimony.

Share a Bible verse.

Say You'll Pray with/for Them (and do it!)

4. Lead them to Jesus

Relationship - John 3:16

God created you and loves you.

He also has a best practices for His world...

Jesus Christ came to show us the best way. The ONLY way.

Broken - Romans 3:23

We Betray His Plan. Regularly!

Faced with Jesus, humans crucified him!

You see sin & death all around you... people aren't on board w God's best plan.

Jesus - Romans 5:8

Jesus died to put the pieces back together. Even though we rejected him.

His sacrifice paved the way for our relationship with God again.

Restores - Ephesians 2:19-20

God raised Jesus back to life after 3 days in a tomb.

He appeared to many people.

And He lived the new life He wants for you.

Bc He loves you. And wants to have a relationship with you!

Go and Gather!

1 Peter 3:15 Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect

Are you ready to lead others to Jesus; for how the HS is working?

Partner with the Holy Spirit

Be a Harvester! Pray for more. The harvest is ripe!