Auburn Christian Church

By Pastor Nate Powell

 

As I acknowledged last Sunday, it is a busy season! Combines and grain trucks are in full swing. Outage workers at Cooper are in place and working to refuel the plant. Fall school and sports seasons are in the thick of things. Each of these things are the work that God has before us to do in our various fields of labor and study.

 

But why do we do what we do? Why are we working so hard and so many long hours? Is it for the sake of work itself? Is it for the money and financial gain? Those can certainly be factors in our work. But at the core of those things, there is a key factor that makes your work worth the money you receive: it is for human good and flourishing that we work. We harvest grain so that people can be fed and well nourished. We make electricity so that people can stay cool & warm, make food, stay connected to one another, and lead productive lives. We educate so that individuals and families may thrive by making a living for themselves. Central to our work and the value of our work is the benefit that comes to people.

 

In the same way, when it comes to talking about Harvest time as a church, we may ask why it is that we want to have a Harvest? Why do we want to grow? Does a church grow and add to their numbers just so that they can say they have the biggest church around? Does a church grow and build new facilities just so that they can brag on themselves? Lots of people want to have a growing church. But the church doesn’t exist for itself. The church exists to make much of Jesus and to grow in their life and walk with Jesus. It is the seed that we spread, and it is the harvest that we reap in the hearts of people in times of Harvest.

 

If we don’t have the good news of Jesus and the Gospel at the center of the church growth work that we do, then we have nothing. Paul told us the same thing in multiple places in his writings:

 

 

The Gospel is to be at the core of the church’s worship, identity & mission.

 

So what is the Gospel? Very clearly and concisely, it is the good news of Jesus. When we share it, we share the good news of what Jesus has done. Paul shared a clear concise statement to share the core truths of the message in 1 Corinthians 15:3-5: “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.” His message in that same chapter goes on to talk about many other appearances and the hope of resurrection that believers have because of what Christ has accomplished.

 

One simple acrostic that I have shared over the years is one that was shared by a ministry called Dare 2 Share. Greg Stier and Dare 2 Share exist to help students share the Gospel message easily with their friends and families. They came up with this acrostic.

 

 

God // God is good and created us to be with Him. (Psalm 100:3)
Our // We sinned and that sin separates us from God. (Romans 3:23)
Sins // Our sins cannot be removed by our good deeds. (Ephesians 2:8)
Paying // Jesus innocent blood on the cross paid the penalty for our sin. (Romans 5:8)
Everyone // Jesus rose from death and all who trust in Him alone have life. (John 3:16)
Life // Life with Jesus starts now and lasts forever. (John 10:28)

 

This is the message that we are calling people to respond to. So, when we call people to respond we show them these truths and ask them to receive and live in light of the one they are receiving as savior, Jesus Christ. And we ask them for a response to what God’s word presents: Do you know God created you and calls to you to respond to him? Do you know that you have done wrong in God’s sight? Do you know that there are not enough good things that you can do to live up to his standard? Do you know that Jesus was perfect and died on the cross as a sacrifice for the wrongs that you have done, paying the penalty for sin for you in his death? Do you know that Jesus rose from the dead and is alive, and that he offers that life to all who would receive him? Do you know that the life that Jesus offers is a new life here and now and into eternity? It is when you have believed Christ & these truths that you are to be baptized into Christ in obedience to his word. (Acts 2:38 & Matt 28:19)

 

These are the things that we must know and respond to in receiving the Gospel. This is the work of the Harvest and bringing people to Christ. As you share Christ and your faith with family, coworkers or friends, remember this Gospel truth and keep it central. We cannot be saved & grow a true Church in Christ without the Gospel!

 

For the Gospel with you,

Pastor Nate