Dare to Plant

by Ken Thomas

The Christians at Corinth were reprimanded for their divisiveness. They were concerned about loyalty to certain teachers of the gospel such as Paul or Apollos. Paul wrote "Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed?" He indicated that the word of teaching people to generate obedient faith was a ministry given to all. (See 1 Corinthians 3:5). He asserted that he had planted Apollos had watered, and God gave the increase (growth), so the emphasis was not on the teacher, but upon God who blessed the teaching with results.
Many in the church today are not satisfied to let God do His part. They want to control every aspect of evangelism, including the results. We cannot afford to be so fearful that someone might go astray that we never share the gospel with them. We have a great tool of evangelism available to us -- the Bible correspondence course work of World Bible School. I have never known anyone to criticize the content of the course, but I have heard fear expressed that someone on the mission field might lead a student astray, or that some teacher might write a note to a student leading them astray! Why can't we leave those things to providence? The biggest danger I see in WBS is that we let souls (who have already asked for an opportunity to study!) be lost, while their names and addresses sit in storage waiting for a Christian who will volunteer to send and grade their course. Will you sow, or will you water the seed, the Word of God? Let God give the increase! Please contact brother Tommy Whittle if you can help.
Jesus said "The harvest is truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest." ( Matthew 9:37-38). One of our songs (by Tillett S. Teddlie) says:
Swiftly we're turning life's daily pages,Quickly the hours are changing to years;How are we using God's golden moments?Shall we reap glory? Shall we reap tears?
Millions are groping without the gospel,
Quickly they'll reach eternity's night;
Shall we sit idly as they rush onward?
Haste, let us hold up Christ the true light.
Souls that are precious, souls that are dying,
While we rejoice our sins are forgiv'n;
Did he not also die for these lost ones?
Then let us point the way unto heav'n

Chorus:Into our hands the gospel is given,
Into our hands is given the light;Hast let us carry God's precious message
Guiding the erring back to the right.

April 7, 1991

Related Articles:

"Welcome hither..." -Mar 07, 1999
Soul-Winning -Dec 13, 1998
Mt. Juliet Missions! -Mar 23, 1997
Mention Him! -Sep 10, 1995
"Nobody Wears Shoes" -Apr 15, 1990

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Dare to Plant by Ken Thomas The Christians at Corinth were reprimanded for their divisiveness. They were concerned about loyalty to certain teachers of the gospel such as Paul or Apollos. Paul wrote "Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed?" He indicated that the word of teaching people to generate obedient faith was a ministry given to all. (See 1 Corinthians 3:5). He asserted that he had planted Apollos had watered, and God gave the increase (growth), so the emphasis was not on the teacher, but upon God who blessed the teaching with results. Many in the church today are not satisfied to let God do His part. They want to control every aspect of evangelism, including the results. We cannot afford to be so fearful that someone might go astray that we never share the gospel with them. We have a great tool of evangelism available to us -- the Bible correspondence course work of World Bible School. I have never known anyone to criticize the content of the course, but I have heard fear expressed that someone on the mission field might lead a student astray, or that some teacher might write a note to a student leading them astray! Why can't we leave those things to providence? The biggest danger I see in WBS is that we let souls (who have already asked for an opportunity to study!) be lost, while their names and addresses sit in storage waiting for a Christian who will volunteer to send and grade their course. Will you sow, or will you water the seed, the Word of God? Let God give the increase! Please contact brother Tommy Whittle if you can help. Jesus said "The harvest is truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest." ( Matthew 9:37-38). One of our songs (by Tillett S. Teddlie) says: Swiftly we're turning life's daily pages,Quickly the hours are changing to years;How are we using God's golden moments?Shall we reap glory? Shall we reap tears? Millions are groping without the gospel, Quickly they'll reach eternity's night; Shall we sit idly as they rush onward? Haste, let us hold up Christ the true light. Souls that are precious, souls that are dying, While we rejoice our sins are forgiv'n; Did he not also die for these lost ones? Then let us point the way unto heav'n Chorus:Into our hands the gospel is given, Into our hands is given the light;Hast let us carry God's precious message Guiding the erring back to the right. April 7, 1991 Related Articles: "Welcome hither..." -Mar 07, 1999 Soul-Winning -Dec 13, 1998 Mt. Juliet Missions! -Mar 23, 1997 Mention Him! -Sep 10, 1995 "Nobody Wears Shoes" -Apr 15, 1990 Print this Article Discuss this Article Back to the Sermon Page	Mt. Juliet Church of Christ 1940 N. Mt. Juliet Road P.O.Box 248 Mt.Juliet, TN 37122-0248 (615)758-2274 Fax:615-754-2351 Email Worship Services: Sunday Early Worship: 8AM Sunday Bible Study: 9:15AM Sunday Late Worship: 10:15AM Night Worship: 6PM Wednesday Bible Study: 7PM