Ripe to Reap
Notes
Transcript
Compound interest teaching: If you took a penny on day one and doubled the amount each day - how much in 30 days?
$ 5,368,709.12
No bank offers that kind of doubling interest - but it does dramatically illustrate what compounding does.
What if we did that with inviting people to church? 25 of us works over the next year to invite and include 1 person. At the end of year 1 - there would be 50 of us - now if we do the same thing the following year - there would be 100.
Sunday School - pre-gathering/post-gathering
During Wednesday Bible study - someone shared their memory of a challenge to reach 100 in Sunday School attendance by inviting others right here in Sparta.
Our discussion from the lesson’s author was trying to get us to concentrate on sowing the Word of God (not necessarily the “numbers”) because on good soil - Jesus would reap 30, 60, or even 100 fold. That is some kind of compounding.
As we are working our way through the Gospel of John - we started 2 weeks ago with Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well. The two of them have discussed “living water” and “true worshippers.”
Jesus reveals to her that He is the Messiah. We pick back up this week after that revelation.
Please stand as we honor the reading of God’s Word.
27 Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?”
28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people,
29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?”
30 They came out of the town and made their way toward him.
31 Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.”
32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.”
33 Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?”
34 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.
35 Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.
36 Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together.
37 Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true.
38 I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”
39 Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.”
40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days.
41 And because of his words many more became believers.
42 They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”
THE WORD OF GOD, FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD
Pastor Glenn Durham - we see [with the Samaritan woman] that you need not be a pastor or professional for effective ministry in Jesus’ kingdom. She was neither educated nor sophisticated, and her presentation was neither refined nor polished. She simply had the heart of an evangelist: she was 1) converted, 2) willing, 3) caring, 4) risk taking. As a result, she could not be stopped and many believed in [Jesus] because of her testimony.
The time to share is always NOW because Jesus says the time to...
Ripe to Reap is NOW
See the Need
See the Opportunity
See the Work
See the Need
See the Need
Verse 27 (first verse to read) When seeing Jesus talking to a woman, the disciples were NIV - Surprised; LEB - astonished; ESV & KJV- marveled; NLT - shocked; but they didn't say anything to Him about it.
Jesus saw her need - not her “status”
See the Opportunity
See the Opportunity
Pastor Ron Theis summarizes Jesus explanation to the disciples: 1. It’s Harvest Time. 2. Reapers Are Needed. 3. There are Rewards for Reapers.
Jesus seized the opportunity - “he was thirsty” - every day activity often can turn into a time to share about living water, about worship, about the Messiah.
An opportunity to share about what Jesus has done for us. Opportunity to invite them to be a part of a group, part of happening, part of a church. A place where we can gather as sinners and confess/praise/worship our Savior.
See the Work
See the Work
The disciples did try to get Him to eat - but He says he has food they don’t know about. They’re confused - He explains - my food is to do God’s will and work.
Were you ever so involved in something that you blew right past a meal time? I think Jesus had that in mind here. Something so emotional or spiritual - that it compels us to keep going.
Old, old story - jail ministry - 24th person to share with me about this “Jesus”
Some people are “waiting” - examples of “oh, that is what is going on!”
Jesus says whether we sow or reap - we’ll be rewarded. In farming/gardining there is no reaping without sowing, but in the spiritual world - there is always a field that is ripe to reap.
17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
Grace - verse 40 - they urged Jesus to stay - and he did
Truth - verse 42 - they know the truth - Jesus is the Savior of the World
ONE Samaritan woman’s encounter with Jesus and sharing about Jesus and inviting them to see Jesus- many in that Samaritan came to know Jesus for themselves - came to know their Savior.
It’s Your Move
Some years [ago], there [was] a large billboard along the highway in Louisiana that [caught] the eyes of drivers. On it was a picture of Jesus Christ hanging on the cross of Calvary, head bowed. The caption underneath said in bold letters, "IT’S YOUR MOVE!"
What a powerful thought. God has already taken the initiative in salvation. Christ died for you. NOW - it’s your move!
…James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988) p. 70.