Do You Reap More Than You Sow?

Our sanctuary was adorned with beautiful fall floral arrangements as we gathered to worship Sunday morning at Mill Creek Baptist Church. Special prayers were requested for Shelley's son and family, Janet Chaney, Samuel Townsend and Neontha Hathcock Reynolds. Doug Cory greeted our visitors and opened our service with prayer.

Renae Sherman shared the devotional, "It Is Well." She told the history of the original hymn written in 1873 and the misfortunes of the writer and his family. What if it isn't well with your soul when your life is a train wreck? Remember that our God is still in control even during the bad times. We must keep the faith and have a deep hope that the old will pass and the new will come. Philippians 4:7 says, "and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

Tyrel Lett asked God's blessing upon the offertory, and both he and Wayne Holly served as ushers. Hymns of praise included "His Name Is Wonderful." Becky Johnson at the piano accompanied Karen Gardner, who sang, "It Is Well With My Soul."

Our pastor, Brother Mark Hall, brought us God's message, "Faithful Farmers," and read 2 Corinthians 9:6, "But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully." Brother Mark told us that everyone has planted something, a row of beets or a section of corn, with the expectation of producing the same. "As ambassadors of Christ, we put out our faith with the same expectation of producing life. We sow the seeds of the gospel. It's like studying in school. The more we study or sow, the better the grade we reap. In this country, outside of a handicap, there is no reason for someone not to learn if they want to. You can't pick corn if you don't plant it. As Christians, we sometimes make excuses for not sharing our faith. When we witness sparingly, we reap sparingly."

Brother Mark made three points in the sermon. First, you reap what you sow. "When you plant the gospel, you reap souls. You can sow every time you talk to someone. Did you sow sparingly? When you sow kindness, you reap kindness. It is the same with compassion and forgiveness."

Brother Mark told us that, second, you reap after you sow. "You plant before you can harvest. We are the workers. We are expected to do God's work. We are to work in God's fields and sow our seeds of the gospel. You can't reap until you sow." Scripture reference was 1 Corinthians 3:5-9. Verse 9 says, "For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building."

And third, Brother Mark told us that you reap more than you sow. "It is like planting zucchini and getting a truckload." He talked about the history of the circuit rider preachers. In Matthew 9:37-38, Jesus says, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest." Brother Mark told us that, as Christians, if we have compassion, we would pray for more laborers. "Everyone wants to eat at your table, but no one wants to work in the fields. We need more sowers."

In closing, Brother Mark used the example of his father's strawberry patch. "He wanted us to pick them clean but, when we reap what we sow we always need to go back over our rows and catch the ones we missed. Those people are ready to be picked and harvested to follow Jesus Christ. We work in our own fields. Do we work in God's fields? God gives us so much and we give back so little. Pray for God to give us a heart for the lost and to help us to sow plentifully so we can reap for the Kingdom of God."

Our hymn of invitation was "Bring Them In," and Wayne Holly gave the benediction.

Everyone is invited to attend Mill Creek Baptist Church on Sunday mornings to worship. Sunday school begins at 10 a.m. and worship service at 11 a.m. Mill Creek Baptist Church is located three and one-half miles east of Noel, just off Highway 90. For information, call 417-475-7633 and leave a message.

Religion on 09/13/2018