As Kingdom Groundskeepers, we are called to plant seeds.
The garden analogy seems prevalent in the bible in regards to spreading the word and making disciples. The analogy continues with the growth of the kingdom and the harvest of the church.
1 Corinthians 3:6-9 says: I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.
So planting the seeds would be spreading the word, while watering them would be teaching & discipleship right?
Check this out:
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” -Matthew 28:19-20
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. -Mark 8:34
And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. –Mathew 4:19
Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. -Colossians 1:28
Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth -1 John 3:18
“If you love me, keep my commands. -John 15:15
To paraphrase:
Go and make disciples, Proclaiming Him and teaching them with wisdom, denying ourselves to follow Him, and become fishers of men, loving each other in actions and truth, keeping His commands, and we will be rewarded according to our labor. For we are coworkers in God’s service.
So within these outreach trips…
Help us disciple others by teaching them to keep His commands, by denying themselves in stepping out of their comfort zones, to go and proclaim Him, while putting truth and love into action, as co-workers in God’s service!
