discipleship – Page 3

As I watch the farmers around my house cut hay and prepare for winter, my thoughts have drifted to harvest time and colder temps. These are great days to look on the fields (Luke 10:2) and pray for harvesters and a harvest. But, we do not just pray, we get involved. For the dear congregation of Boones Creek Bible Church, I offer on this the first day of October, some outreach ideas for you to exercise the heart and compassion of Christ and be a laborer in the harvest field of opportunity! Start or continue to build relationships that point to Jesus Christ.

Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” (Matthew 9:35-38)

Invite a group of folks to your backyard, build a fire, and make s’mores. Play a game.
Bring someone to the Community Caring Closet at church, October 18-29, that could use some clothes and some gospel care.
Prepare your car trunk with goodies for Trunk or Treat night, October 28, at church. Have a theme for your and bring some other kids. After the service, all the children will walk through the parking lot receiving your goodies. Great opportunity for you to connect with the kids and be a blessing to them!
Reverse Halloween: It’s the one night of the year when most folks are at home and eager to answer the door. Of course, residents will be surprised when they get treats instead of having to give them out. Go door-to-door to distribute bags of goodies containing candy, Christian DVDs or CDs, a gospel tract, a book, a card, etc.
Help a neighbor rake leaves and/or take in their summer furniture; just offer to help in some way.
Family Free Car Wash: Make up signs saying “FREE Car Wash” and “No Tricks, Just Treats”. People will stop and ask, “What’s the gimmick?” Tell them, “We’re Christians, and doing something for you, at no charge, is one way of letting you know that Jesus loves you and so do we. We want to treat you today by washing your car for you.” Most people will stand outside while their car is being washed. This is a good time for friendly talk, to invite them to church, and if possible to ask them about their relationship with the Lord Jesus. As they leave, give them a tract and information about our church.
Prepare a harvest basket of fruit, cookies, etc and deliver it to a policemen or fireman as way to say thanks. Be sure to include a gospel tract, a personal note of thanks with your address, and church information.
Lead a church service at the local nursing home by singing, reading Scripture and prayer.
Distribute donuts, hot chocolate, and a gospel tract at a local bus stop.
Bring in breakfast for all the teachers at a local school near you.
Go door-to-door in your neighborhood and ask how you can pray for them. Write it down and go back in a week or two to find out how God answered. If possible, have prayer with them at the door.
Offer an evening or Saturday to help a single parent. That may include babysitting, fixing things, helping maintain a car, help cleaning the house, etc. Ask questions and be a good listener. Perhaps offer to pray.

Opportunities are everywhere because people are everywhere! See the harvest?

Yesterday after the service, we did something that I am grateful does not happen very often. Since Andrew and Allison wanted us to look at an apartment with them, we ate our Sunday dinner at a restaurant. We usually eat at home which is our preference. Nevertheless, on this Sunday, I’m so glad we ate out. There they were, everywhere . . . people. One that stood out in the crowd was our server. She had a most pleasant personality and a ready, “ . . . and I’m here to take really good care of you.” And that she did.

When our meal arrived, I said to our server, “All of this has come from the good hand of the Lord and we are going to thank Him for it by prayer. How can I pray for you?” After a moment of silence and tears starting to well up in her eyes, she said, “I’ve made some bad decisions and messed up. . . I need prayer.”

Yes, you see, they are everywhere; people. People who are hurting. People who need the Lord. People who need someone to listen to them. People who are so empty. They come in every form and fashion. They come with baggage from their past. They have broken hearts, broken homes and broken lives. They are everywhere.

As we were so vividly reminded last week in our revival meetings, people bring people to Christ; people point people to Christ. Who’s serving you at the restaurant? Who’s scanning your groceries? Who’s standing in line with you at the checkout? Who’s taking your payment for your gasoline? Who’s next door? Who’s sitting next to you at the ball game? People. They are everywhere.

This dear server listened as we shared Jesus with her. She acknowledged that she was a true believer, but had run away from the Lord. The tears continued. We left her with a tract, a word of encouragement and the offer to reach out to us in the future.

Yes, they are everywhere. Who’s standing next to you right now? Who will cross your path today?

But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith He unto His disciples, “The harvest truly is plenteous” (Matthew 9:36-37a).