The Harvest is Plentiful

Short Talk (SHT208) The Harvest is plentiful © Jane Hulme 2020 Aim of Short talk: Use of Short talk: Main themes: Biblical references: Lectionary: Props: To encourage people that Jesus said that the Harvest is plentiful, and to be ready to share their experience of following Jesus with other people. This is a short All Age talk picking out one issue from the Lectionary Gospel reading of the Sunday main service. The talk stands alone and assumes that the Gospel Bible reading may not yet have been read to the congregation. It could be used for example, for the whole congregation before the children go out to their age specific groups, leaving the adults with a full sermon later. Harvest, Gospel, Evangelism Matthew 9:35 -10:8 Year A – The 1st Sunday after Trinity You will need the following: • A grape or an apple • A tomato SHORT TALK: “The Harvest is Plentiful” .................................................................................................................. Fruit growers know the right time to harvest the fruit that they grow, so that we can enjoy eating it. I wonder what this grape (hold up grape) would look and taste like if we picked it 2 months before it was due to be harvested. • Can anyone tell me? (Receive responses) It would look much smaller. • It would not be very juicy, • and it wouldn’t taste very sweet. • In fact, it would probably taste quite bitter. How about this tomato? (hold up tomato) • What would this look and taste like if we picked it 2 months before it was due to be harvested? (Receive responses) Again, it would look smaller. • It would also look green and not red. • It would be hard and not soft, • And it wouldn’t taste very nice at all. © Jane Hulme 2020 2 There is a right time to harvest fruit. There is also a right time to share the good news about Jesus with people, when the Holy Spirit has made them ready to respond; • to be gathered into the Kingdom of God, like gathering in the harvest. Jesus said something very interesting to His disciples when He looked at the crowds who followed Him. • He said that “the harvest is plentiful.” (Matthew 9:37) • In other words, Jesus could see lots and lots of people who were ready to respond to His message that God loved them and that He had made a way for them to have relationship with Him. Jesus then sent His disciples out to go and share the message with the people who were ready, so that they could be brought into His kingdom. Now, I wonder what Jesus can see today when He looks at your friends and family, • your neighbours and your school mates, • your work colleagues and the people you meet each day. He will probably see some of your family and friends, who are not yet ready to hear the good news about Him. • Others, He will see that will be ready to hear about Him in a few months’ time. • Still others He will see that are ready to hear the good news about Him now. When Jesus sees people that are ready to hear about Him, His Spirit will prompt us to share our experience of Him with them. • The question is, “are you ready and willing to share your experience of Jesus with other people?” • Are you willing to be part of the harvesting? • It is one of the greatest privileges in this life. © Jane Hulme 2020 3