In Mark chapter 4 Jesus tells the story of a farmer spreading seed. In the story, the farmer has a bag of seed and he grabs a handful of seed and throws it out in front of him. Some seed falls on the road, some among the thorns and some among the rocks. None of these seeds grow. Some seed, however, fall on good soil and this seeds take root and grow into large plants.
Today people from my church went out into the community to talk to people and to place informational cards on their doors. This activity is much like the sower of seeds in Mark 4. We just pick some streets and hit every house. Even though the informational cards are about our church and not the full Word of God, they will lead to the Word of God.
Some people will see the cards and simply throw them away (the road). Satan is active and alive in the San Francisco Bay Area and the rest of the world. He wants people to think that church is judgmental and full of hypocrites. So anytime anyone speaks of church, people that Satan has his claws into will automatically turn off. Satan has won that round.
Some people will see the card cheerfully (rocks). Last time we did this activity, I had opportunity to speak to an older couple who were doing yard work. When I handed them the information card, I invited them to church. They both informed me that they were now retired. They moved to San Lorenzo after retiring from their high stress jobs in Los Angeles. They had made the promise to each other that when they retire and move up north they would find a church and attend. They had been praying for that, and then I showed up. I prayed with them and they vowed that they would be there tomorrow. Well, tomorrow came and they never showed up. That event happened 6 months ago and they never showed up. The lesson here is this: do not put off church attendance until tomorrow. No matter how busy you are, find a church and make it a priority. Then it will be easy to transition into retired life still going to church.
Some people will see the information and believe they are too busy (thorns). Most people I have met were raised in church but stopped going when they moved away for college or work or family. They just never looked for a church in the new town and now decades have passed and church is not a priority. People like this can never figure out how to carve out 75 minutes on a Sunday morning. They are just too busy.
Some people receive the invitation and show up (good soil). I am still looking for that person. No one from our knocking on doors and handing our card has ever come to our church, even though many have promised and vowed. we have visited 1750 homes and no one has showed up to our church. We still do it, though.
Today people from my church went out into the community to talk to people and to place informational cards on their doors. This activity is much like the sower of seeds in Mark 4. We just pick some streets and hit every house. Even though the informational cards are about our church and not the full Word of God, they will lead to the Word of God.Some people will see the cards and simply throw them away (the road). Satan is active and alive in the San Francisco Bay Area and the rest of the world. He wants people to think that church is judgmental and full of hypocrites. So anytime anyone speaks of church, people that Satan has his claws into will automatically turn off. Satan has won that round.
Some people will see the card cheerfully (rocks). Last time we did this activity, I had opportunity to speak to an older couple who were doing yard work. When I handed them the information card, I invited them to church. They both informed me that they were now retired. They moved to San Lorenzo after retiring from their high stress jobs in Los Angeles. They had made the promise to each other that when they retire and move up north they would find a church and attend. They had been praying for that, and then I showed up. I prayed with them and they vowed that they would be there tomorrow. Well, tomorrow came and they never showed up. That event happened 6 months ago and they never showed up. The lesson here is this: do not put off church attendance until tomorrow. No matter how busy you are, find a church and make it a priority. Then it will be easy to transition into retired life still going to church.
Some people will see the information and believe they are too busy (thorns). Most people I have met were raised in church but stopped going when they moved away for college or work or family. They just never looked for a church in the new town and now decades have passed and church is not a priority. People like this can never figure out how to carve out 75 minutes on a Sunday morning. They are just too busy.Some people receive the invitation and show up (good soil). I am still looking for that person. No one from our knocking on doors and handing our card has ever come to our church, even though many have promised and vowed. we have visited 1750 homes and no one has showed up to our church. We still do it, though.
Comments
Post a Comment