Once upon a time there were two grocery stores. Both were stocked with shiny cans of fruits and vegetables, fresh produce, yummy desserts and every variety of ice cream you can imagine. They both shared the same street; one was on one side and the other was on the other side. But the similarities stoped there. One store was always busy and the other was almost always empty, except for the cashiers lounging at their registers. When you entered the door of the busy store, it smelled fresh and clean. The cashiers were happy and greeted you with a genuine smile and warm hello. The busy employees behind the counters at the bakery and deli, and everywhere else for that matter, looked up from their business to meet your eyes and greet you. The store looked bright and the lighting was good. This "once upon a time" story is true, and it ends just as you guessed; the store across the street is no more. It closed. The building is now vacant. The store blamed a bad economy when they closed their doors. Maybe that was one factor, but I don’t think any economy can save a business that doesn’t value the
ir customer.
Strategies I see in God’s Word for harvest.
If we are serious about planting God's word in children's ministry we need strategy. I see scriptural strategy for the planting process.
This is a continuation of previous blogs on Jesus' "Parable of the Sower". Understanding this story is important to every believer. Jesus went so far as to say, if you don't understand this story how can you understand any of the others? (Mark 4:13) But this illustration is also important for teachers to understand as well. The principles in this story are vital if your goal goes beyond scattering seeds to enjoying the harvest. God's people move beyond collecting information. We must move all the way to assimilating the information to become more like Christ. Your students are not jars to store information, they are plants to be nourished. When we view them differently, we’ll do differently.
