God’s Ministry Cycle, 1 Corinthians 3:6-9

The Planting Stage,

God’s Ministry Cycle

The Planting Stage,

1 Corinthians 3:6 ESV

6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.

At Summit we accomplish this by:

1. Praying for the soil

2. Sending Missionaries

a. Long term like Alicia

b. Short term like to Nicaragua

3. Supporting Preacher Training in the US and in Honduras

4. Teaching classes locally

5. Reaching out to our community through:

a. Counseling

b. VBS

c. CTCC

The Watering Stage,

1 Corinthians 3:6 ESV

6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.

This stage requires patients as the farmer waits for the rain.

· PREACHING: Every Sunday Billy preachers at CTCC. Sometimes only 8 souls turn up. Often, they fall asleep while he is preaching. But he perseveres.

· TEACHING: Steve must continually reinvent the curriculum. The results are seldom obvious.

· BUILDING: Our parking lot; roof; grounds; new building projects; etc. Needs patients.

· STRENGTHENING: Our families; Our community;

How often must you water your garden? Who enjoys the repetitive work of weeding? It is tedious and can also be boring and discouraging.

· Denise and Clint had us over Sunday night.

· Our Elders, Deacons, and Teachers often serve with little recognition.

· Our ministry leaders and workers from the AV room to those who come in every week to clean up.

· From our weekly Summit Assignments is an avenue for a 1000 acts of kindness to Pam Pangburn beautiful smile.

The Harvest Stage,

1 Corinthians 3:6–9 ESV

6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 8 He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.

Bringing in the harvest is a work of great responsibility.

· Baptizing souls is God’s work (easy to take credit)

· Planning the next growth phase at Summit – how do we move from 180-220 to a 280-320 size church.

· While managing current growth that has taken years to accomplish.

· And funding good works like Children’s Homes and Baxter Institute.

· Making sure all Summit souls are ready for the Lord of the Harvest to return.