In a city like St. Pete, everyone matters.
Luke 10:1-2
The Lord now chose seventy-two other disciples and sent them ahead in pairs to all the towns and places he planned to visit. These were his instructions to them: “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.
We live in a city where the harvest is great, but the workers are few.
A little over 3 years ago when Radius first opened its doors, it became clear that this city was hurting. Despite the beautiful downtown parks, the growing restaurant scene, the amazing arts culture, and some of the best beaches in the world, St. Pete was a city filled with darkness; people who had never known God, or who had been hurt by the church and turned away from God. But it was also a city filled with great hope; a city on the verge of something great, but no one quite knew what that was.
God has a plan for this city. I can feel it. More and more people are realizing the importance of being authentic and genuine. It's not about putting on a great show on Sunday morning, or pretending to be a perfect place filled with perfect people. St. Pete is a community of people who are tired of religion and man-made rules, a place where real relationships between real people will win every time.
As I sat in Gathering at Radius last Sunday and listened to Blake talk about the importance of being real -- about how Radius will never be a perfect church, but will always point people towards a perfect God, I heard and felt the room rising up together as if to say, "Yes!" It was as if someone opened a faucet of truth, and the words that were on everyone's mind were finally being spoken in a public forum.
St. Pete is primed for a great harvest, and you've been chosen to work the field.
John 4:35-36
You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest. The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike!
St. Pete is ready. God has been working through churches and individuals to prepare this city. His plan is being played out, and He wants you to be a part of it. He has equipped you with certain skills and talents that he can use to change our world. How are you using those talents to reach people for God?
Can you setup chairs or serve food? God wants you.
Can you write, sing, play an instrument, or love art? God wants you.
Do you love working with kids? God wants you.
Can you lead a group through a Bible/book study? Good wants you.
Are you a good listener? God wants you.
Do you love having people in your home and enjoy hospitality? God wants you.
Do you hate large groups and prefer one on one interactions? God wants you.
Do you love marketing or social media? God wants you.
Whatever your skill is -- whatever it is that you love to do, you love to do because God has given you a passion for that thing, and he can us it as part of his plan. We cannot be a church of all great singers. No, we need all different kinds of people who have one thing in common; they are willing to work for God.
My friend Noah spent a good part of his life in food service. He's seen it all from every perspective and he had come to a place in his life where he saw a great divide between the food service industry and his faith. Though he is a talented chef, he thought he was going to have to leave those dreams and aspirations behind and choose God over a career in that industry. But God had different plans. At the same time Noah was getting fed up with the food service industry Radius Church was blessed with a food truck that was to be used to further the mission of Radius and reach people for God.
These two events were happening parallel to each other. The food truck didn't know about Noah and Noah hadn't even found Radius yet. But, God knew. God prepared the way and now Noah is managing the truck, giving his time and talents to something he loves and something that serves God's kingdom.
1 Corinthians 12:12-13, 18-21
The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.
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But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. How strange a body would be if it had only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”
Your part matters. Whatever God has called you to do -- do it! And if you aren't sure what you are good at, if you aren't sure where God has called you to be, are you at least willing to do God's work? Are you willing to be a part of the great harvest that is coming? Are you willing to step into the field and get your hands dirty? If so, then God has a plan for you, and though you might not see what it is, your story is already being written. Trust in the process and pray that God shows you the next step. Then, take it.
Gather with us this Sunday as we continue our current series, Harvest. Invite a friend, you never know how God could use them for the harvest.
