What you plant is what will grow, that’s not rocket science – but it’s an important principle to understand. Today, Kent and some friends challenge all of us to think about what it is that we are planting in our life. When you give at Harmony, you are investing in life change and are Advancing the Kingdom! GIVE TODAY, text any amount to (859) 459-0316 to get started (or give online @ my.harmonychurch.cc/give .
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Sermon Notes Slide Key:
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PART I – The Introduction
OPENING ILLUSTRATION: Jenni and I are TERRIBLE at gardening… Seriously… One time we grew corn that never got taller than 4 ft tall…
Another time we planted lettuce but didn’t know when we were supposed to pick it and it ended up getting out of control and turning into this crazy alien-looking plant.
I think we seriously may be the worst gardeners on the face of the planet…
But, can I tell you a secret?
We may be bad at gardening, but I’ve never planted corn and harvested cantaloupe
What I mean is this…
What we planted, is what grew.
Paul makes this biblical argument about the way you and I live that is similar to this idea, he says this…Galatians 6:7-10 7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Whatever you sow is what you will reap
Get this – you have one life to invest – you can’t fool God, what you invest your life in is what you will get in return.
If you invest for selfish motives, from selfishness you will reap, if you invest to please God, you will reap eternal life…
PART 2 – The interview
Have interviewees come up on stage – Interview Reels, Andrews, Shiflets
read Matthew 6:19-21 19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
will you guys welcome some of my friends up here?
- Go ahead and introduce yourselves and how long you’ve been at Harmony
- I’ve asked you all to be up here because I believe you guys embody this idea of sowing and reaping – storing up treasures in heaven. So, let me ask you some tough questions
- When it comes to giving your time, talent, and treasure – why do you do it? I mean seriously. There are a LOT of things you could be doing with your money or time other than giving it away…
- For you, where did the kind of generosity come from that made you want to be givers? Was that something that was instilled by your parents? Are you all just superhuman? What is it?
- When it gets hard to keep giving, why do you do it?
- What are some practical things you did as you got started?
- What are ways you’ve seen God bless your family as you’ve stepped out and been generous with your life?
- What would you say to someone who is on the fence about stepping out to be more generous?
Wow, will you guys give it up for my friends! Thank you guys for sharing and being vulnerable
PART 3 – Investing
Can I just ask you a question? What are you sowing (planting) in your life?
One of the things that stands out to me about what Paul calls us to in Galatians is vs 8 & 9
Galatians 6:8-9 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Paul is not saying you can earn your salvation when he says “whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”
He’s saying when you invest your life, you will reap life.
This is Jesus’ storyJohn 3:16 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
God gives his life so we can have life2 Corinthians 8:9 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
What would it look like if you started to view your life as a funnel for God’s Kingdom?
Thinking of yourself as a funnel for God, rather than a bucket for yourself, to collect as much as you can?
CLOSING ILLUSTRATION: Paul says to not give up doing good for God, for in due time you will reap a harvest. When you live a generous life, the results are not always instantaneous. But they do come. A while back I got a message from a guy who had grown up in my youth group – he’s doing big things living in a big city and he wrote me a while back to tell me one of the reasons he’s still a Christian is because of what he’s seen in me. I don’t tell you that to tell you I’m great, I tell you it to tell you that when you invest in the spiritual – you what you reap is eternal life – not for yourself – but for others. It’s what God does best – He turns your gifts into lives changed!
