Good morning! I have a VERY short message for us today.
The same apostle that wrote Romans, wrote (fa-LEE-mon) Philemon.
I’m not sure if (fa-LEE-mon) was so short because Paul had a meal waiting, or simply because what he had to say, needed to be succinct, short and sweet!
Today…I’ve got lunch waiting! So you know my motivation!
But seriously, the word God has for us today, is very direct, heavily relies on scripture, (as most of His messages do), and doesn’t need elaboration.
BODY
The title of today’s message is: A Sower went out to sow.
Hopefully, most of you know that CPC logo is derived from:
Matthew 13:8, I like to read the entire passage that leads us to that verse.
Stand with me as we honor God while reading His word.
Beginning in v1. Matt chapter 13.
Read 1-8 from my bible.
Have you ever planted seed? In a literal sense, you know like to grow a garden?
One of the main considerations is the soil.
Another is the season.
Yet another is the surroundings.
Let’s consider the surrounding first:
You won’t find many rice paddy’s in the desert will you?
However, you will find many species of cactus, and succulents.
Is is wise to know your surroundings.
Once the proper surrounding has been established, next is the season:
The ideal time to plant fruit and vegetables in East Texas is the early spring.
There are some exceptions, such as summer squash and okra, which usually produce a greater yield when planted in late spring.
Note to you gardeners and farmers: This is not a horticulture course. I’m sure you have your Farmers Almanac and other sources to rely on. This is a 10k feet aerial view, if you will.
The soil is obviously a major consideration.
Sandy soil is great for watermelons. Not so much for tomatoes.
Jesus is speaking of planting His word in a variety of conditions.
This parable is paramount for understanding our roles as Sowers of the Word.
Matthew 13:3 “Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow.”
He didn’t say “the sower spent many a morning sitting on the porch, next to his bag of seed, waiting for the seed to jump out of the bag, dig up the soil, and cover the seed with dirt.”
No, He said “A sower went out to sow”!
Church, is that us?
Each of every one of us, has an environment and a field for us.
In that room right behind us, is Ms. Ann’s field.
Oh how see plows, and plants, and waters, and pulls weeds, and nurtures her field!
Is that you?
A sower went out to sow.
Today is a very special day @ CPC.
Several weeks back, I expressed to you that God spoke to my heart and said “You don’t have leadership in place to be ready for church growth.” Physical growth this is, not spiritual growth.
We then ordained Roman as a deacon @ CPC.
>>>Call Roman up<<<
Acts 14:23 “So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.”
>>>Call up Jimmy and KarolAnn<<<
Church, welcome our newest Elder to Cross Pointe Church.
I’ve got a story to tell!
Jimmy, KarolAnn, if your version of my story is different, please hold off until fellowship lunch for revision, fair enough?
I met Jimmy and Karol Ann @ Cross Roads Church several years ago.
They came in as part of the worship team there. I don’t recall the circumstances that led to that, but I was part of the worship team as well.
On one of the first times we played music together, I was “noodling around” on my guitar, and Jimmy said something like “oh you like blues in the A key huh?” And he sort of joins in on guitar riff with his bass.
I didn’t have the courage to admit that I didn’t even realize I was doing that riff in the A key, much less that it was blues!
So I just played along, as though I knew exactly what he was talking about!
Several years go by, and I get a call from Jimmy asking me about CPC. He core question, was “what are the tenets”. The core beliefs, so the speak.
I give him a quick run down, and before he got a chance to tell me the reason, he asked that question, I said something like “We are in desperate need of a worship team”.
Jimmy replied “Karol Ann and I haven’t played for years. In fact, our instruments are in storage”. He continued “We believe God is leading us into a new ministry”.
He added “but for a season, we might be able to help with the worship ministry”.
At this point, I’m on a roller coaster ride.
It goes like this:
Jimmy calls- my mind immediately goes to worship ministry needs, so up the roller coaster rails I go.
Then Jimmy says, “our instruments are in storage. God is leading us into a new ministry”.
Down the rails my roller coaster goes...
“but we might be able to help for a season”
Back up the rails my roller coaster goes.
As many of you know, Jimmy and Karol Ann came in, and for a season helped in our worship ministry.
This past summer, Lisa and I spoke with Jimmy and Karol Ann about him becoming an Elder @ CPC.
Quite frankly, that has been a roller coaster ride as well.
“Jimmy, I’ve never asked you. Are you a roller coaster fan?”
Or maybe you are one that just enjoys watching people freak out on roller coaster rides!
Whatever the case, you both have been a blessing to me and Lisa personally, as well as to CPC.
Let’s go to some scripture, shall we?
I’d like to re-read what Roman read a few minutes ago:
Acts 14:23 “So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.”
I’ve got to tell y’all, there was a misprint in one version of the bible that I read of this verse.
The version read like this:
Acts 14:23 “So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with (feasting), they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.”
Instead of “fasting”, there’s an “e” in there “feasting”.
So, I’ve been praying and “feasting” for several weeks Jimmy!
Guess I’ll hold off fasting, until after fellowship “feasting” today!
1 Timothy 3:1–7 “This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of Elder, he desires a good work. A Elder then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”
1 Timothy 3:7 “Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”
Please be seated.
That is the NKJV.
I’d like to read a different translation of v2:
“So an elder must be a man whose life is above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife...”
NKJV-”the husband of one wife”
That means “one wife @ a time, y’all”.
When you go back and study OT Jewish culture, it wasn’t always “one wife at a time”.
Just wanted to clear up any misunderstanding there!
So, before an elder is even selected, Paul lays out these criteria.
I’d like to look at one other verse in this passage before we move along.
1 Timothy 3:1 “This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of an Elder, he desires a good work.”
A couple translations read “seeks”.
I’ve never been in a church, where a person went to the pastor “seeking” the office of Elder.
Not that I’ve been in a vast multitude of churches in any type of leadership position.
I have been part of a part where a person left the church because he wasn’t asked to be an Elder.
Which is a clear indicator to me that he wasn’t qualified!
We’ve looked at the qualifications as selection for an Elder. Let’s look at some responsibilities as an Elder.
I say “some” , because any good job description leaves wiggle room for interpretation!
When visiting and praying with and for Roman and Rhenae, for his selection as deacon, I addressed that a deacon’s primary responsibility, not sole responsibility, but primary responsibility is to minister to the physical needs of the church.
We covered in some detail, those physical needs.
Plumbing, electrical, painting, mowing the grass.
JK Roman- I know he would do those things if asked. Maybe a little spray-foaming here and there, you know…
Church, I’m confident we are going to see a blessing manifest through Roman as deacon.
The office of Elder is designed to meet the spiritual needs of the church, through his:
Walk with God
Life experience
Maturity in his Christian life
This puts him in the position to effectively minister, mentor, and disciple kingdom builders!
Those gifts include: (disclaimer: but not limited to)
Worship
Fellowship
Prayer
Preaching and teaching
The use of these gifts is critical to church health.
Jimmy and Karol Ann, I am looking forward to watching God work miracles through you!
Congratulations!
Farewell to online viewers
I’m going to ask Dan to close out in prayer, and those of you who feel led to come by and congratulate Jimmy and Karol Ann to come on up and do so.
(Ask Roman to bless the meal)
