Thanksgiving, Always part 4
I Am Thankful for God's People
Today we end our series Thanksgiving, Always by giving thanks for God's people. We have seen God's provision, His faithfulness, and His peace, but today, I want us to remember that God chooses to work in this world through His people. The reason each of us can give thanks is because someone took the time to tell us about Jesus. And that person was told by someone, and that person, and so on and so on.
Every Christian is a product of the work of God through God’s people.
As we give thanks for God’s people, I want us to review a familiar verse.
Acts 1:8
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judaea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
This pattern of witness is found throughout the rest of the Book of Acts. The disciples do begin in Jerusalem, then witness in Judaea, the surrounding area, and then Samaria, and eventually it ends with Paul heading to Rome, which for Israelites might as well be the end of the earth. But, we also know that John would later receive his revelation of people from all over the globe, from all nations, who celebrate the Risen Savior. And so, we live in that period of spreading the story of Jesus Christ to the End of the Earth.
Now, this verse has been used to establish a pattern for missions for churches. We begin with the town we are in and work our way out to international missions. For today, though, I’m going to work backwards. As we give thanks for God’s people, I’d like us to look out to the far reaches of the globe and work our way inward.
God's People to the Ends of the Earth
As a Southern Baptist Church, we give a portion of the offering to the Cooperative Program. The Cooperative Program is the SBC’s program for collecting and distributing money for mission work. Every dollar given to the Cooperative Program is divided among the International Mission Board, the North American Mission Board, the SBC Seminaries, and a portion remains at the state level for their mission work. In Missouri, 60% of money given by churches remains in Missouri with the remaining 40% sent to the SBC.
The International Mission Board is the missionary organization for Southern Baptists. It employs about 3500 active missionaries. These missionaries are following God’s call to reach those who have yet to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ. They have taken to heart Romans 10:13-15.
Romans 10:13-15
13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
There are just over 3,000 people groups left in the world that have no Gospel witness. That means there is not a single church, Southern Baptist or otherwise, in their area sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. Everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved, but how can they believe if no one is there to tell them about the One in whom they must believe?
If we want to see people saved, we must be willing to tell them about Jesus.
These missionaries are those beautiful people with beautiful feet bringing good news to those who have no hope.
Affiliated with our church is one of those beautiful people. We sponsor a missionary as part of our church’s annual budget. Because of the nature of her mission, I will not put anything on the Internet about her. But know that she is on the frontier of Christian work.
God's People in 'Judaea & Samaria'
For the disciples, going to Samaria meant going into an area that they traditionally wanted no part of. Good Jews would walk around Samaria avoiding even the dust of the area. But, when Jesus not only walked through Samaria, but also spoke with the Samaritan woman at the well, He demonstrated how the walls of hostility were being broken. Now, on this side of the cross, we know that going to unreached people also means reaching people that are outside our comfort zones. We read this last week in Ephesians:
Ephesians 2:13-16
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.
Whether Jew, Gentile, or whatever other ethnic group, Christ calls us to repentance, belief, and reconciliation with God and fellow humans. And that call is achievable, because the work has been done by Christ Himself, who took our sin and shame nailing it to the cross.
God takes His people through uncomfortable areas so that more people will be saved.
But ‘Samaria’ also points to areas closer to us than “End of the Earth” while also being further than “up the road”. In the US, we typically think of this as going to another state. This is where the North American Mission Board comes in. They employ missionaries in the US and Canada, as well as coordinate mission activities among churches in the various states.
Missouri Baptist Convention has officially partnered with the Wisconsin Convention for the last two years which has prompted a number of relationships between churches. And, starting this year, we are partnering with Montana in order to help them with church planting activities. Because Montana is such a rural state, it makes perfect sense for rural Missourians to partner together for the Gospel.
More locally, our own association has several church plants that are growing or being planted right now. Recently, I met Chad Nixon who is planting in Lake Lafayette outside Odessa. He has started Hope of Lake Lafayette and has story after story of how God has blessed his new plant. The land the church will sit upon has been given by various parties. He told me the only two things they are looking for are a musician or two to lead worship and a van to help bus kids for their kid ministries. My guess is someone will pitch in for those pretty quick—maybe even someone here.
In the US we tend to take for granted that typically you can find a church pretty close, but the truth is we have the fastest growing population of people who have never darkened the doorstep of a church. Biblical literacy is at an all-time low. The topic of heaven and hell has become more of a joke than a conversation. We have many Americans who do not believe, and many because they have never heard. I again ask as Paul asked:
Romans 10:13-15
13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
As we give thanks for the work God is doing in areas around us, we can also ask ourselves, “What can I do to help?” And this question will bring the Mission of God home.
God's People in 'Jerusalem'
I am so thankful for the people of God that are in Chilhowee. Ministry is never a one-man operation. Every once in awhile, I will come across a person who says something to the effect of, “Isn’t that why we pay a pastor?” The question comes from a lack of understanding. A pastor will never accomplish what God is calling a local church to do. There’s not enough time in the day, and the pastor will never meet everyone that the congregation meets. Further down in Ephesians we read:
Ephesians 4:11-13
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
The pastors, teachers, and evangelists around us are not meant to be the ministers, they are the ones who equip the ministers—“saints”, the people of God. We equip the saints for the work of ministry, and our job is not done until the local body attains the unity of faith, the knowledge of Christ, and maturity “to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ”—in other words, until we all look like Jesus, the work of equipping continues.
Yes…it is a big job, but thank God we have a BIG GOD!
Every member of the church has a job to do—and, spectating is not one!
I am thankful for those who continue in the work of ministry:
I am thankful for Sharon and Kathy who care for our littlest.
I am thankful for Krystle, Monica, Brandy, and the Awana volunteers who all lead our children to Christ in Sunday school and Awana.
I am thankful for Taryn and Misty who are reaching our teenagers.
I am thankful for Bruce, Maxine and Darlene for our adult Sunday school classes.
I am thankful for Tom and Brandy who have taken on the Men’s and Women’s ministries.
I am thankful for Sharon who also heads up our Hospitality Ministry, a full time job in itself.
I am thankful for Judy who has organized a great library.
I am thankful for Linda who keeps our church looking seasonal and pretty.
I am thankful for Kathy, Sami, and Pam who take care of administrative duties that, quite frankly, I don’t want to (nor should, probably) do.
I am thankful for Mike and Monica who lead us each week in music.
I am thankful for Bruce and Tom who keep the tech running.
I am thankful for Darlene and Robert who play for us each week.
I am thankful for Kevin and Tim, who are the two best deacons I’ve had the pleasure to work with (and that is not just something to make them feel good).
And I am thankful for each person here who continues the work of ministry without an official title. Those who don’t ask for recognition or status, they just want to serve where they can, when they can.
I am thankful for those who take the moment to send me a word of encouragement, and I apologize for failing to reciprocate.
As we close this series of thankfulness, I want to leave you with two more Scriptures. The first is a ‘call,’ and the second is the ‘how.’
First, the call:
Matthew 9:35-38
And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
The harvest before us is plentiful. If you are under the impression that no one around you wants to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I urge you to reconsider. Do not believe the lies of the devil. There is a harvest of salvation and revival awaiting us in Chilhowee, but the workers are few. We must pray to the Lord of the Harvest to raise up more laborers.
I call you today to pray for more laborers. And as you pray, know that it just may be you that God is calling to head out to the fields, to the highways, and the hedges to work for the Lord.
Second, the ‘how’:
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
You say, “Pastor, I don’t mind helping, but I don’t know how.” Good! The first step of working for the Lord is to humble yourself and let Him lead. Find a friend. Two are better than one. If you fall, you will have a buddy to lift you up. If your heart grows cold in the work, you have someone to keep you warm. And if you go up against the devil’s attack alone, you may fall. But with a friend, you are more likely to prevail.
But, even better, “A threefold cord is not quickly broken.” If you have you, a friend, and Jesus, that threefold cord is not going to break. Where two or more are gathered in Jesus’ Name, He is there. And where Jesus is, there is freedom and victory!
The harvest is ready! Grab a friend and join God’s people in the work.
Do you want to make a difference in this community? Do you want to see revival and harvest in Chilhowee? Then grab a friend, find where Jesus is already working, and dive in!
Will it be uncomfortable? Probably.
Will it be hard? Oh, I’m sure.
Will it be worth it? Absolutely!
The Lord of the Harvest is calling. It is time to join in the work of God’s People.