God Desires a Harvest

I must say that I had not intended to begin a blog. However, after reading article after article of my wife's blog I was inspired and even compelled to begin to write. Unfortunately, I had nothing to write about that I believed would be interesting to others or captivate my attention enough to continue to write day after day.

But now I do. This morning as I was praying I asked God to be excused from praying to write down what I believed was a great idea for a blog - "the 1 year disciple."

Seeing as 2010 is suddenly here it causes me to reflect on 2009. You may notice some news channels doing similar reflections of major events of the past year. As I think about the highlights of my 2009, few events stand out. Some good, some not so good. However, one in particular stands out the most, and that is who I had impacted or helped bring to Christ through the gospel.

I don't feel like a derelict disciple as I believed my efforts in leading several Bible discussion groups led to some baptisms. However, a focused, direct, intentional impact was lacking for me in 2009.

So as I begin this year-long effort (with some trepidation I might add) I encourage you to join in this journey with me. Of course, if you are one of those people who has baptized several people in 2009 and can't get to sleep unless someone has heard something about the Bible, then this blog isn't for you. However, if you've been like me and have found yourself this past year or years without any concerted effort to reach someone for Christ, then please read on...

go buy software free dvd ripper ibank mac download FNProgramvare StampCat 9.0 sothink swf decompiler 4.5 serial oem version of software ABC Windows Live Mail Backup 1.5 Extensis Portfolio 8.5 System Cleaner 5.5 buy software oem Auslogics Visual Styler 3.1 Top Software Online DVD to iPod Suite 3.5 cakewalk music creator 4 serial number

THE GOAL
The goal I've set for myself and for anyone joining is to reach one lost soul in 2010. In a real sense it is like each and every Christian reaching one person - "each one reach one." Imagine if every Christian made it a personal goal to reach one person for Christ. This is a real challenge even to the mega church of 5,000 that boast 1,000 baptisms in a year. Why not 5,000 baptisms in a year?

THE REASON
Part of my complacency has had a lot to do with not truly believing that God desires and even expects a harvest.

THE MOTIVATION
I began to imagine people as crops and God as the Great Planter who has sown seed every year (meaning people are born every day). I then imagined this crop growing ripe and the workers standing around letting the crop grow wild and rot. Then I imagined how God must feel as we allowed these "crops" to grow as we failed to share the gospel to those who were "ripe" during harvest. The scripture that says, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few" (Luke 10:2) began to take on new meaning. Either the harvest is plentiful or it isn't. It is hard to imagine how much of the harvest goes unharvested due to lack of workers. If God is sharing with us that we as a kingdom have a human resource problem in declaring the gospel, the old adage of "it's not my strength or gift" simply doesn't apply. "The workers are few." If we're short-handed (and we always seem to be short-handed), then we have to wear multiple hats. It's that simple.

THE METHOD

Discipleship

I will post scriptures that I have found to be the most effective in studying the Bible with people. Obviously, your best tools will always be prayer, conviction and the Holy Spirit. However, I'm assuming you have somehow sufficiently motivated yourself or have been inspired to pursue this and are already God-reliant and cross-motivated.

One of the key differences here will be the discipleship approach. Invitations to church and yes even preaching sermons on Sundays are great additions, but this endeavor will be an active pursuit to meet, reach, study and baptize someone into Christ.

Teamwork

Something else I will also share in this year-long blog will be what I've learned throughout my years as a disciple of Christ. I realize disciples can't be made alone. A team is imperative. I learned I am better at watering than planting. So for me I need to pair with a planter. This would be analogous to Paul and Barnabas. Paul was a planter on his missions and Barnabas a "waterer." You must recognize your strength and weaknesses and find someone who will complement your weakness so that you may compliment their strengths. Consequently, the goal doesn't change because you realize a weakness in an area of evangelism. For example, if you are a team of two, then your goal is two. If three, then three and so on.

CONCLUSION

My next article will cover my approach. I will begin discussing how I will approach this self-challenge and figure out ways to go above and beyond any of you who may read this. I want to do this so you will find encouragement as I go out of my way to experience the most on-the-edge or embarrassing methods to be a "fool for Christ."

Also, and maybe humorously, I thought about my daily expectations. Though I fully expect to "deny myself and take up my cross daily" as I write my efforts down. I also, realize there will be days that I blow it much like you will find yourself doing. So rather than writing, "today I blew it big time," I will instead write encouraging scriptures to get convictions, repent and hopefully spur you on as well.

If you are reading this, you have my thanks for joining. If you are reading this for encouragement, you also have my thanks along with my encouragement to dig in and challenge yourself to become a "worker."

God bless,

Your New Partner in the Gospel (YPG)