Sermon Tone Analysis

Text: (Psalm 126:5-6)

5 Those who plant in tears

will harvest with shouts of joy.

6 They weep as they go to plant their seed,

but they sing as they return with the harvest.

INTRODUCTION:

We all would like to see a great harvest of souls into the Kingdom of God.

Why are we not seeing that harvest?

The majority of SBC churches are either plateaued or declining.

It has been said that the problem with Southern Baptists is that we are “A harvest oriented denomination in a unseeded generation.”

We must come to grips with the fact that It is necessary to sow the seeds of the Gospel if we are to reap a harvest.

It does not matter where the Lord has placed you… on the international mission field , in another state… or here in Woodville…; there are people … and people groups who will never come to know Christ until we passionately sow the seeds of the Gospel.

Psalm 126:5-6

TS: Notice with me … “Three facts we must understand about sowing.”

I- SEED-SOWING IS NECESSARY TO THE HARVEST (Psalm 126:5).

A- There is a direct connection between joyful reaping and passionate seed- sowing.

1) There can be no harvest without sowing seed.

a. (Proverbs 20:4)

b. (Galatians 6:7)

c.

Example: Statistics for Ohio and SVBA.

Seed sowing has been neglected here, therefore the harvest is not being reaped in many areas.

B- The implied promise in the text is that passionate seed-sowing will result in joyful reaping.

1) When the seed is sown, the harvest will come!

a) The Early Church is a good example.

John the Baptist sowed seeds

Jesus sowed seeds

Peter reaped the harvest on Pentecost and beyond.

II-WE MUST DO WHAT IT TAKES TO PLANT THE SEEDS IN THE FIELD (Psalm 126:6).

A- There must be a commitment to “go” into the field.

1) The command to do so has been given.

a) (Matthew 28:18-20)

b) (Mark 16:15)

c) (Acts 1:8)

B- There must be a passionate investment of ourselves in fulfilling our commitment.

(Psalm 126:6 a)

1) We must answer the call just as Isaiah did:

(Isa.

6:8)

C- There must be a clear purpose in our going and a recognition of the quality of our seed.

1) We must recognize that our purpose is to sow the gospel seed… not spread empty religion.

2) We must realize that the seed we carry is “precious”.

Only the gospel of Christ is … .

“ It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes.”

Rom.

1:16)

3) We must sow because there is no other way of salvation.

(Acts 4:12).

a) Illustrations:

Paul (led to Christ two weeks before he died)

Don Mouton (saved at 60): had a Matthew Meal and invited lost friends the day he was baptized.

D- We must move in the energizing assurance that the promise will be fulfilled.

(Psalm 126:6 b)

Psalm 126:6b (NLT)

They weep as they go to plant their seed,

but they [will] sing as they return with the harvest.

1) The text gives this assurance… “WILL sing as they return with the harvest” .

2) The Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1-23)

E- We must keep busy in the field, looking to the harvest that will come.

1) Because the harvest will come…”they sing as they return with the harvest”

2) (Isa 55:11)

3) Illustrations:

a) Joyce Florentine

Catholic, hostile to my witness

Contracted cancer of the spine

Trusted Christ after two and a half months of intensive witnessing

Baptized in her bath tub at home in front of her family at risk of death

Four daughters and son-in law got saved as a result

CONCLUSION:

Illustration:

Jersey Baptist Church, outside of Columbus, OH:

Planted 1980 with 14 people

Now runs between 1800 and 2000 people on Sundays in 3 services

The key: constant sowing of the Gospel seed

The results: people constantly coming to know Christ as Savior and Lord and serving in the church.

God wants to do amazing things in and through our lives… through your life.

He wants to bring a great harvest of souls… remember… God is “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9).

He desires that the people for whom He died come to know Him as savior and Lord.

The key to being a part of the harvest God wants to bring is sowing the seed of the Gospel.

That is the key here in your Jerusalem, in the Steel Valley Baptist Association area, and “to the uttermost part of the Earth”.

Why? Because, “People Need The Lord”.

Please watch this video…

The question is… Will you choose to be a part of the seed-sowing?

…Individually … as a church … ?