International Harvester

This work is not a one man job.

When this summer of evangelism began we were with some men on a boat.
They were fishermen. Jesus called to them that they should come and fish for men.

Jesus has told his followers lots of things.
Things having to do with sharing the message with the world around them.
They are the light of the world. They should let their good deeds shine before men.
They are the salt of the earth. What would happen if they lost their saltiness?

He has shown how God grows the kingdom. Through the planting of seeds he grows the kingdom through men's hearts. The seed looks for good ground to take hold and sprout.

After a time of planting and growing, of shining and salting, come the harvest.
That is where we shall spend this last few Sundays. In the harvest.

Lets look to our scripture before we go further.

Matthew 9:35-38

New International Version (NIV)

The Workers Are Few

³⁵ Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. ³⁶ When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. ³⁷ Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. ³⁸ Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

I am currently in the midst of a class at MTSO called Theology and the Practice of Ministry.
We discuss our understanding of God and how we put that into practice we perform ministry.
This really needs to be broken down and looked at a bit deeper.

What is theology? I recall when i began my studies all those years ago at Mt Vernon Nazarene.
My very first class was a theology class. I try to draw some parallel between my beginnings and what those fishermen on that boat must have begun to experience. I'm sure I drove my pastor, Jay Hawes, crazy with all my questions. My chief one being, "What is theology?" I must have asked that for the first five weeks. "What is theology? I don't get it!!" It took a bit, but it began to sink in and wasn't as complicated as my mind wanted to make it.

Theology, simply stated, is the knowledge and understanding, the study of the writings and teachings about God.

In this summer of evangelism, it is important for us to put it put there. What is theology? Can you make a theological statement? If you can tell me in one sentence what you believe, even three simple words, you just made a theological statement.

If we can get a grip on theology then it's time to move on to practice.
What is practice? Or, maybe, better yet, how do you practice?
The key word that will come up is repetition.
Doing something again and again. We learn with our hearts and minds when we going through something over and over again till we work out the kinks.

If we have a good handle on practice then we can move on to the last. Ministry.
If you've read enough here in my blogs, then you should have a handle on this word.
Ministry, in simple terms, is about meeting peoples needs.
What are the needs that people have in the world around us?

Look back at the scripture we read...
What is it that Jesus saw in the people around him?

³⁵ Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. ³⁶ When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

People need healing. People have sickness and hurting in their lives. There's a need.
We might notice that people we come into contact with are harassed with the concerns of this life. Feeding their families. Finding work. Sometimes, the basic idea of 'holding it together' can be enough to harass a person. It makes people feel helpless. They have no shepherd to guide them and show them direction to go.

Our instructor is the Reverend Stan Ling for this class.
He would shorten the definition of ministry beyond those three words.
Stan would easily say that ministry is "meeting people".
There, in itself, is the need. To meet people. Meet them where they are at.
In their hardship. In their pain and suffering. In their sickness. In their grief.

Meet people.

But, this work is extensive. It's harvest time.
We have covered evangelism all summer. Planting seeds. Casting out out fishing lines.
Now, the season draws to a close. It's time to bring in the harvest that we see around us.
That harvest is the people with the needs that they have yet to be met.

Are we willing to take that work on?
Jesus said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few."
Catch that. The harvest is plentiful.
Our churches may be wasting away. Withering and dying.
The answer to our woes are right before us. The harvest is plentiful.
The answer, however, is two sided. The workers are few.

How many of us are willing to lay claim to the work?

On a farm, it can be daunting work if it is being done by one man.
All those acres of land with the crop ready to come in.
How long does it take for one combine to bring it in?
It's a blessing to be able to call upon a child, a sibling, anybody who might be able to come in and share the load.

I share with you the story of just such a man.
His name is Phil George. He runs a small garage in the town of Pleasantville, OH.
The father of two daughters, he has run this garage for several decades.
His father before him owned this business. Phil worked with him for 20+ years until the day his daddy turned the keys over to him. Phil recalls the day and the conversation.
"We stepped out there [pointing out front] on that piece of cement. He turned around and put the key in my hand. He said, 'This is all yours now. I'm not coming in tomorrow. All these cars sitting out here...there's your problem now, not mine.' And, he turned it all over to me."

Stereotypically speaking, this is how it happens. A father turning it over to his son.
There are girls out there who make great mechanics. Great farmers, too.
But, the child has to want to do it. In Phil's case, neither of his two daughters are mechanically inclined. And, Phil has no one to turn the work over too.

He said, "Sometimes, I wish I had a son to put a key in his hand."

Is there a parallel to be drawn for the church here?
Would Jesus like someone to 'take the key' to the garage and carry on the work?
If this is your church, then how about taking real ownership of it.

I would love to step out side the back door, metaphorically speaking, and hand the keys off.
"Here you go. It's your church. Run wild with it. Go meet people."
I'm not going anywhere. I'm here and I'm working. I'd love for you to join me.

Jesus is the International Harvester.
People of every nation and race. All kinds of needs.
Harassed. Worrying, Nervous. In need.

The harvest is plentiful .The workers are few.