Being Rooted: A Time to Harvest

Last week, we talked about growing and pruning. Today, we move into the cultivation and gathering stage of being Rooted.

Watch the full Sunday service and message by Pastor Dennis Jacobson below.

SERMON TEXT

Matthew 9:35-38 (ESV)

And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

SERMON NOTES

Let’s begin with these statements:

1. Every person without Christ is a soil to be cultivated.
2. Every person with Christ is a seed to be planted.
3. It is normal to eventually reap what is sown.

The process cannot be rushed; there is a sense of urgency.

The process of evangelism is not easy work.

The process examined

• • Cultivation is an appeal to the heart through the building of a relationship.
  • Planting is an appeal to the mind through the communication of revelation.
  • Reaping is an appeal to the will in anticipation of a response.

Where are the fields ripe for harvest? What are we doing about it?

Some suggestions:

• • Pray for open doors
  • Speak with the expectation of reaping
  • Invite people to respond

When we take an active role in cultivating, planting, and reaping, people will come to Christ, and we will grow in our relationship with Him. How great is that?