The Latest from A Jesus Moment
Saturday Afternoon Reflection
We had another awesome outreach this morning with our $1 Dollar Car Wash. We washed 86 cars and a bicycle. We had a wonderful group of volunteers and everyone was really busy for the entire two hours. As I spend a little quiet time getting ready for the first of our weekend services tonight, I was thinking about how amazing an event like the $1 Dollar Car Wash is. What an excellent way to reach people with the love of God. I am thankful to be a part of a group of people who think it is fun to bless others. One of the car wash volunteers today, as we were working hard and fast washing cars, looked at me with a smile on his face and sweat dripping off his forehead, and said, “is it crazy that I look forward to this all month”? No, I totally get it.
I think about all the work that has already gone into getting ready for the weekend. I think about all of the volunteers who will be busy this weekend preparing and serving food and coffee, teaching and caring for the children and youth, greeting and waving, praying, cleaning, and on and on. And I am humbled. This afternoon my thoughts lead me to this simple question, isn’t it amazing to be included in His story?
Category: A Jesus Moment Ramblings
Changes to the Jesus Moment Website
I am going to begin the process of changing the Jesus Moment website. The site will be getting a face lift and will hopefully become a regular resource for any of you who desire to more deeply develop your disciple’s heart. I took a screen shot of how the site looked today, January 13 2012, and will post that below. Hopefully, the transition will move smoothly and the new site will be up and running for the latest Preaching in Shorts sermon early next week.
Category: A Jesus Moment Ramblings
Doing Part 6
This Preaching in Shorts sermon series is called “Doing” and looks at what disciples DO.
Listen to this message by clicking here
Scripture Reading
Matthew 9:35-38 (NIV)
35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Workers or laborers is from the Greek word ergatace from the root ergon which means doers. The harvest is plentiful but the doers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest therefore, to send out doers (people that are doing) into His harvest field.
Disciples need to have compassion for the lost. We cannot look at them in judgment, we cannot label them by their sin, we cannot think of ourselves as better than they are, we need to see them as harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd and have compassion that leads us to pray for them and become doers, disciples, people that do what Jesus did.
1. Compassion is a trait of a disciples heart
There is a great picture of disciples learning to develop compassion in Matthew 14
Matthew 14:13-17 (NIV)
13 When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. 15 As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.” 16 Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” 17 “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.
So the story is, that the disciples are hungry, they have figured out how to get enough food for themselves, and they want to eat. So they tell Jesus, “Hey Jesus, would you send these people away so we can have dinner.” Jesus response is interesting. “You give them something to eat”. You need to see these people like I do. It is not all about you. Have compassion. They are hungry, spiritually and physically.
2. But, what about me?
But we only have five loaves and two fish. This is just barely enough for us. What about me?
Matthew 14:17-18 (NIV)
17 “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. 18 “Bring them here to me,” he said.
3. Listen to and have faith in Jesus
Matthew 14:18-19 (NIV)
18 “Bring them here to me,” he said. 19 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.
We need to listen to Jesus. And we need to know that when He tells us, or sends us we can trust Him. Jesus told His disciple to feed the people, but they couldn’t see how it could be done, and they were hungry. But Jesus said bring them here to me (the fish and loaves) and the disciple did. When they did, Jesus did the rest. And not only was everyone fed, each of the disciples ended up with their own to-go box of food. In our scripture reading today, we need to listen to Jesus, to pray for doers in the harvest field, and then be doers in the harvest field ourselves. You see
4. A little faith goes a long way
Matthew 14:20-21 (NIV)
20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.
Isn’t it amazing how the five loaves and two fish, offered to Jesus with just a little bit of faith, can have such a huge impact. This is one of the ideas behind our mission here at the Vineyard. Our mission here is One More. One More lost child back to Dad. And we like to say that the simple acts of being thankful for 5 things and encouraging two people every day, offered to God with a little bit of faith can have a huge impact on the world. Just like the five loaves and two fish offered to Jesus with a little faith fed a huge group of hungry people, offering our thankful5 and encouraging two with a little faith to Jesus can impact the world. The harvest is plentiful, but the doers are few. Be a doer for Jesus, and change the world for Him.
Category: Preaching in Shorts
