Sent – Local: “We Are Farmers”

Follow Along with the Message

Unless indicated otherwise, all Scriptural references are from the New International Version (NIV).

Sent Series Thesis: Once we’ve encountered Jesus, we are sent to share this message of hope to the world.

This Week’s Sermon Thesis: We are  sent to help bring in a local harvest.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

--Acts 1:8

“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” 

--Matthew 9:35-38

“Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness…

--Matthew 10:1

“Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.”

--Matt 10:1, 5-8

Three principles for bringing in the local harvest:

1.    Harvesters are sent  being filled by God.

“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field”

--Matthew 9:35-38

"Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.”

--Acts 1:4

We are  first,  second.

• Have I been trying to “do” a lot for God without first being  Him?
• Is God prompting me to come back and get refilled before He sends me out for this season’s harvest?

Anytime God empowers (fills) the Church, He also unifies the church.

2.    Harvesters are sent in .

“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.”

--Luke 10:1-2

“The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”

--Luke 10:17

• As Jesus  the disciples, he also  the disciples.

“I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”

--John 17:22-23

“All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

--Acts 2:45-47

“He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore”

--Isaiah 2:4

• How might the Lord be prompting me to work toward unity with other believers in my life?
• What relationships in my life need to be mended before I can be a healthy harvester?

3.    The harvest will be brought in by  and .

“As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.”

--Matt 10:7-8

“All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.”

--Acts 4:32-35

When we are sent, Jesus empowers us both to speak the gospel in  and do the gospel with . One without the other is incomplete.

• How can I challenge myself to get better at “doing” or “speaking” the Gospel?
• What is one practical way I can do each of these this week?