What time of year is it? If you were asked that question, you might answer it differently depending upon your mindset, your activities, or even your family circumstances.
It’s that time of year again, may mean that it’s High School Football season once again. Maybe your son or daughter plays in the marching band, or you have a child involved in the sport in some way.
It may also mean hunting season for you. Those of us who don’t hunt in this season probably wondered what the big fuss was over when the State decided to shut down the fire arms clearance site for a few days for upgrades. However, if you were a hunter who enjoys dove season, this issue may be important to you.
Most of us have forgotten that the Pirates are still playing, because the Steelers season begins in earnest this Sunday. Many throughout Western Pennsylvania will be glued to the television this week to watch the “Stillers” battle the dreaded “Cleve Brownies.”
Summer is over, so regardless of what the calendar says, it’s fall – that’s another season. School began for most of our children – so it’s homework season. Before too long, churches will be talking about money – so it’s stewardship season too.
But whether we know it or not, all of the above amount to something very important in the church. It’s harvest season.
I’m not talking about the harvest of all of the fruits and vegetables that is occurring right now, but the harvest of souls. Because what happens whether we know it or not, there is a season that exists right now when people are more likely to come to church. There is something happening right now when people know that its that time of year and it happens right about now, many times during Christmas, and then again at Easter. It’s harvest time because people are more likely to come to church, and they are more likely to respond to an invitation to church.
Sure it happens at other times too, but often times those seasons become intensely personal. Personal circumstances in life make people respond to church differently: change in job status, relocation, loss of a loved one, or even coming to college for the first time.
I have been reading some of the ninth chapter in Matthew’s Gospel recently and began to think about the harvest a lot. In that ninth chapter, Matthew is talking a lot about how Jesus Christ was reaching out to those who are outside the church including the sick, the tax collectors, and the lost – he called them sheep without a shepherd. He then went on to say, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Sure, harvest season is all the time. But sometimes I guess we need a little reminder that there may be someone new to you over the next coming weeks who needs to hear that they are loved, wanted, and needed right here in the church. I think we need that little reminder because each of us has our own priorities in mind at time of the year.
Let’s pray for that harvest. Almighty God, there are so many around us that need to hear your Word in their lives. They are hungering and thirsting for you and for your love. Help us to go out into the fields of harvest that you have made ready, and glean those who have been left behind by the world. Give us strength to see beyond our own perspective and see the needs of those who come seeking the shepherd. In Jesus Name, Amen.
This week in worship, we will be hearing a message on the cost of radical discipleship. My message title is “I Need Your Answer by Noon.” But if worship goes over this week by a few minutes, you can get me your answer then. But even before that, remember that Sunday School starts this week throughout the building for all ages. Invite someone, invite a child, invite a friend – they might just be waiting for an invitation. Hope to see you then.
Please pray for me, and know that I am praying for you.
Greg
It’s that time of year again, may mean that it’s High School Football season once again. Maybe your son or daughter plays in the marching band, or you have a child involved in the sport in some way.
It may also mean hunting season for you. Those of us who don’t hunt in this season probably wondered what the big fuss was over when the State decided to shut down the fire arms clearance site for a few days for upgrades. However, if you were a hunter who enjoys dove season, this issue may be important to you.
Most of us have forgotten that the Pirates are still playing, because the Steelers season begins in earnest this Sunday. Many throughout Western Pennsylvania will be glued to the television this week to watch the “Stillers” battle the dreaded “Cleve Brownies.”
Summer is over, so regardless of what the calendar says, it’s fall – that’s another season. School began for most of our children – so it’s homework season. Before too long, churches will be talking about money – so it’s stewardship season too.
But whether we know it or not, all of the above amount to something very important in the church. It’s harvest season.
I’m not talking about the harvest of all of the fruits and vegetables that is occurring right now, but the harvest of souls. Because what happens whether we know it or not, there is a season that exists right now when people are more likely to come to church. There is something happening right now when people know that its that time of year and it happens right about now, many times during Christmas, and then again at Easter. It’s harvest time because people are more likely to come to church, and they are more likely to respond to an invitation to church.
Sure it happens at other times too, but often times those seasons become intensely personal. Personal circumstances in life make people respond to church differently: change in job status, relocation, loss of a loved one, or even coming to college for the first time.
I have been reading some of the ninth chapter in Matthew’s Gospel recently and began to think about the harvest a lot. In that ninth chapter, Matthew is talking a lot about how Jesus Christ was reaching out to those who are outside the church including the sick, the tax collectors, and the lost – he called them sheep without a shepherd. He then went on to say, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Sure, harvest season is all the time. But sometimes I guess we need a little reminder that there may be someone new to you over the next coming weeks who needs to hear that they are loved, wanted, and needed right here in the church. I think we need that little reminder because each of us has our own priorities in mind at time of the year.
Let’s pray for that harvest. Almighty God, there are so many around us that need to hear your Word in their lives. They are hungering and thirsting for you and for your love. Help us to go out into the fields of harvest that you have made ready, and glean those who have been left behind by the world. Give us strength to see beyond our own perspective and see the needs of those who come seeking the shepherd. In Jesus Name, Amen.
This week in worship, we will be hearing a message on the cost of radical discipleship. My message title is “I Need Your Answer by Noon.” But if worship goes over this week by a few minutes, you can get me your answer then. But even before that, remember that Sunday School starts this week throughout the building for all ages. Invite someone, invite a child, invite a friend – they might just be waiting for an invitation. Hope to see you then.
Please pray for me, and know that I am praying for you.
Greg
5 comments:
Good post; I love the imagery of the harvest. I'll be praying that all goes well at College Hill.
Sounds like fun. Keep up the good work.
I owe you a call. POBS.
Thanks for the energy you bring to ministry!
Very good post, Greg. Your opening question engages everyone, because we all do attach our own meaning to 'that time of year.' Then you bring it home spiritually with Matthew 9. Something that is interesting about that passage (reading on to chapter 10) is that the disciples became the answer to the prayer that Jesus asked them to pray. 9:38- "Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field." 10:5 - "These 12 Jesus sent out..." A reminder to be careful what you pray for! Also, a reminder that God can do amazing things if we will obey and follow Him.
Praying for you, Greg!
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