Pastor Weekly - 3/26/25

Hello ICC Family!

I was reminded again this week of one of my favorite passages in the Bible.

26 Jesus also said, “The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, while he’s asleep or awake, the seed sprouts and grows, but he does not understand how it happens. 28 The earth produces the crops on its own. First a leaf blade pushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed, and finally the grain ripens. 29 And as soon as the grain is ready, the farmer comes and harvests it with a sickle, for the harvest time has come.”

Mark 4:26-29

This Sunday we are going to begin a new sermon series on sharing Jesus.  Evangelism!  In some ways we started off this past Sunday even as we finished our Colossians series, as we read the text where we are told that our words should be grace-full and flavorful (seasoned with salt).  Pastor Jimmy will preach this Sunday, followed by Brother Steve, and then I will preach on Palm Sunday and Resurrection Sunday.  Each week we will be adding a practical application point as learn how to BLESS others…

B – Begin with prayer

L – Listen with care

E – Eat together

S – Serve in love

S – Share the story

More about those points in the weeks to come…

If you are like most people, you might have a little bit of uneasiness about the thought of a series on evangelism.  Most of us feel like we don’t do a good job with it.  So, I thought it would be a good time as we start this journey to remember the simple lesson of this parable from Mark.

When it comes to growth, the church is not a business, neither is it an army.  As one pastor said, “We need to change our tune: Onward Christian farmhands, marching out to hoe.”  We have to play our role as summarized in the Great Commission.  We have to put in the work, and our work matters. But we must remember that the actual growth is not up to us, not for a minute.

That same pastor also said this… “The grain farmers I grew up among would stand outside church on Sundays and say things like, “If we don’t get some rain the corn’s really going to be in trouble.” Or “A couple more weeks, and the oats will be ready.” But no matter how hard they worked, I never once heard them take credit for their crops. No sensible farmer waits at the grain elevator while his harvest is weighed and thinks, “I did an amazing job this year.” What he does is marvel again at the miracle of land and seed and harvest and give thanks. Do your job, but remember, it’s God who makes his grain grow.” So, be encouraged, church!

Blessings to all of you and know that I am praying for you!

Pastor Aaron