RELUCTANT WORKERS
SERMON STARTER
LABOR DAY INTRODUCTION
Labor Day today traces it’s roots back to the effort of many to help workers and their families during the American transition from primarily an agricultural society to an industrial one. Often workers were worked to death by the late nineteenth century industrial companies. The department of labor says the following about the historical spiritual connection to labor day: “…by a resolution of the American Federation of Labor convention of 1909, the Sunday preceding Labor Day was adopted as Labor Sunday and dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the labor movement…”
Labor Day, as a movement began to be observed in the 1880’s. Regardless of how you view unions today, a hundred years ago they were desperately needed.
RELUCTANT WORKERS
When it comes to the church and its work often there is reluctance. I remember when a young man volunteered to help us paint our old church building. He had three weeks off, so the first Monday of his vacation he showed up to help paint the old structure. He and I and one other retired trustee showed up for the project. We painted together for three days in the hot sun. On the fourth day, my new helper looked around and said, “Where are the other volunteers? Is it just going to be us?” I explained to him that most of the congregation was over 60 and unable to climb a ladder and wield a brush. He then replied, “If no one else but us is going to do this job, then I’m leaving.” And he did. I never saw him volunteer or attend church again. He was taken out by the ones who didn’t come.
After contemplation I drew up a sign and it stayed on my office desk for years to come.
“No one will serve Christ for long whose service is dependent upon what others do or do not do. Keep your eyes on Jesus and not on others. Work in Christ’s Kingdom as though it was just up to Him and you.”September 2, 2007 - Sheepfold Ministries - pastor Phil Roland
RELUCTANT WORKERS
A Labor Day Message
John 4:31-38
“Christians are reluctant to share their faith, even though those around them are dying and facing spiritual death. We must share the Gospel with others.” Pastor Phil
Two Stages of Discipleship Training:
1) Sitting and Listening;
2) Getting Up and Doing
MEAT/FOOD OF JESUS: vs. 30-34
“"My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.”
1. Saving the Lost - (Like the Samaritan Woman)
2) Healing the Sick -
3) Delivering the Demonized
4) Lifting up the Fallen
5) Announcing the Kingdom of God
HARVEST ANALOGY: vs. 35-38
1) Lift up Your Eyes. . .Look on the Fields
2) Rejoicing at the Bounty of Harvest
We Are RELUCTANT Because:
I. THE GOSPEL IS COMFORTABLE -
A. Healing from Trauma/Crisis Thru Christ’s Comfort
B. Assurance - Comfort at Death - John 5:24
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who
sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed
from death into life.”
II. THE GOSPEL IS INTRUSIVE -
A. Reactionary - The Gospel of Christ Demands a Reaction
1. Invades Our Lives
2, Intrudes Upon Us
B. We must Respond
1. Repent of our Sins
2. Receive Jesus into Our He
3. Share - v. 35b - So Many are Lost
III. THE GOSPEL IS COSTLY -
A. Expensive -
B. Must be Shared
C. Calls for a Commitment
RELUCTANT WORKERS, TEXT:
30 Then they went out of the city and came to Him.
31 In the meantime His disciples urged Him, saying, "Rabbi, eat."
32 But He said to them, "I have food to eat of which you do not know."
33 Therefore the disciples said to one another, "Has anyone brought Him anything to eat?"
34 Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.
35 "Do you not say, 'There are still four months and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!
36 "And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.
37 "For in this the saying is true: 'One sows and another reaps.'
38 "I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors."
THE GOSPEL IS COSTLY
ASK MATTHEW - It cost him his life to an Ethiopian sword.
ASK MARK - It cost him his life at the hands of an Alexandrian mob.
ASK LUKE - He was hanged on a olive tree in Greece.
ASK JOHN - It cost him life-long banishment on the Isle of Patmos.
ASK THOMAS - He paid the price at the tip of a lance.
ASK JAMES the Greater - He was decapitated at Jerusalem.
ASK JAMES the Less - It cost him being thrown from the pinnacle of the Temple.
ASK BARTHOLOMEW - He was flayed alive.
ASK SIMON PETER - It cost him an upside down crucifixion in Rome.
ASK ANDREW - He paid the price by crucifixion. Andrew was witnessing and testifying up to his last breath.
ASK JUDE - He paid the price by being pierced through with an arrow.
The pages of Christian history runs red with the blood of those who loved the Gospel of Jesus more than their own lives.
Courtesy of Sheepfold Ministries, Pastor Phil Roland