WEEK 1: Vision of the Son

DATE: May 10th

MAIN IDEA: The harvest is revealed by Christ. Jesus opens our eyes to see that the harvest is already present and ready.

KEY SCRIPTURES: John 4:34-38, Matthew 9:35-38

SERMON IDEAS:

1) Misperception, we often delay what God is doing presently

- John 4:35a, says, “Four months more…”

- Don't you all have a saying? You see, our human instinct is to delay, postpone, and assume later

- We often assume the harvest is in the future.

- But Jesus confronts that assumption. The harvest is happening now.

2) Revelation, Jesus opens our eyes to reality

- John 4:35b, says, “Lift up your eyes… the fields are white”

- The harvest is not created by us. But it is revealed to us.

- For the disciples, the content is key, for the Samaritans are not in the harvest!

- But Jesus disrupts their thinking and creates unexpected openness

- Outsiders, the margins have always been part of God’s harvest

3) Participation, we enter His ongoing harvest

- John 4:36–38, there seems to be a sowing and reaping overlap,

- One sows, the other reaps, both rejoice together

- You are stepping into work already in motion. God is always ahead. You are not alone, but merely participating in what God is already doing.

ADDITIONAL CROSS REFERENCE:

- Matthew 9:36, compassion for the crowds

- Luke 19:10, seek and save the lost

- 1 Corinthians 3:6-9, God gives growth

- Isaiah 55:10-11, Word accomplishes purpose

APPLICATION:

- Ask for the Lord new eyes to see the harvest, to remove spiritual blindness, to combat scarcity, and truly see what God is doing

- Move from delay to obedience, we need to stop saying that the harvest is later, but it is now, we can take action today

- Engage people, not projects and events, step into conversations, understand people’s lives and see how God is already working. Look for openness already present.