Dakota Community Church
June 14, 2009
The Field & the Force
Read John 4:1-42 for context
John 4:34-36
"My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. Do you not say, ’Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together.
Luke 10:1-2
After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.
Introduction:
I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.
Jesus is ministering in a place they don’t think He should be.
He is ministering to a woman.
He is ministering to a woman of extremely low moral character.
He reveals who He is to her! “I who speak to you am He.”
She leaves her agenda (the water jar) and brings the village to meet Jesus
The disciples had gone into town to buy food; they told no one that Jesus was there!
This morning I want to talk about the ripe field and the work force that is supposed to work it.
I think we have mixed things up in recent years and come to believe that the Church is the field and the work force is the ministry office holders.
In truth the world is the field and the work force is everyone who believes in Jesus for eternal life.
1. When the Church is the field
When the church is the field it is seen as the place people come to do the work of God.
A farmer does his work in the field so if the church is the field then it is the place where church work takes place.
You bring them in and I lead them to Christ.
You bring them in sick and I pray for them.
You give money as your main contribution to ministry, I do the actual ministering.
This leads to several things:
We need to get people who need God into the church in order to reach them.
We need easily accessible highly visible facilities.
We need good PR men in charge and good marketing gimmicks in order to compete with all the other options people have on Sunday mornings.
Church life becomes all about getting them in and keeping them in.
This becomes harder and harder because people get bored and want something new so before long they are on to the next fad.
When the church is the field the pastor must become the superstar and if he falls or retires or dies the only hope for the community is a new star.
What we wind up with is a lot of one man shows that collapse when the leader falls or a new brighter star lands on the scene. We have all seen it happen many times.
This system only works short term because it is not the way God intends the church to function!
Matthew 5:13-16
"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
2. When the Church is the (labor) force
What if instead of asking God to give us the city of Winnipeg we asked Him to give us to the city of Winnipeg.
When the church becomes the force – the world becomes the field.
The people change - they become the ministers!
Ephesians 4:11-13
It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
The meetings change – they become about glorifying God.
We recognize the meetings as a time when believers are fed.
Communion is served, worship is unguarded, and testimonies of activity in the field are shared.
The pastor changes – caring for and feeding the sheep becomes the focus.
Dave would you mind sharing what happened in your office last week?
CD would you share a few words about OS?
3. When and where is the gospel to be proclaimed?
The gospel is to be proclaimed everywhere and in every way!
Philippians 1:15-18
It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.
In communion we preach the gospel “proclaiming the Lord’s death until he comes” – every time we eat the bread and drink the cup!
In reality every time you eat and drink you could be viewing it in light of Christ’s sacrifice for our sin. Why?
Why is this so important?
Why do we need to constantly hear and proclaim the gospel message?
It MUST be the reason for our works.
It alone makes our works acceptable to God.
Matthew 7:21-22
"Not everyone who says to me, ’Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ’Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ’I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
What is missing? What are they giving as the reason they should be allowed to enter?
John 6:39-41
And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."
Hebrews 11:1-7
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.
By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.
By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
The church will just be another do-gooders club if it is not motivated by faith in the gospel.
The gospel is to be preached in our meetings.
The gospel is to be preached in our homes with our families.
The gospel is to be preached by each of us whenever the door opens wherever we may be.
Next week:
4. In what ways is the force mobilized?
When, where, and by whom are the sick and needy ministered too?
5. What is the role of pastors and elders?
6. How does this affect the Sunday gathering?
7. How do I know my part?
The apostles did not neglect the word to wait tables.
What is constantly in your head? - Homeless? Sick? Elderly? Doctrine?
PowerPoint available (Free of charge) on request dcormie@mts.net
Portions of this message inspired by the book "Love, Acceptance and Forgiveness" by Jerry Cook
