Harvesting

Evangelism is only the first step to transformation. Once an individual is drawn to God through the Spirit and resurrected to new life in Christ (John 6:44, John 14:6) what comes next? This is a crucial moment in the life of the new believer and the church. The Bible speaks of sowing the seed, which is the gospel, Jesus used this illustration in one of His parables and Paul referred to this illustration when writing to the church in Corinth (Matthew 13, 1 Corinthians 3:6-9). If evangelism is sowing the seed, then the new believer is the crop and should be harvested. The church does not save, but God brings about the crop or increase, therefore, it is the responsibility of the church to bring in the harvest. The church does this through a follow-up program that has three immediate elements: baptism, membership, and discipleship. 

Jesus commands the church to baptize those who have come to new life in Christ (Matthew 28:19-20) and throughout the New Testament every believer is baptized (Acts 2:41, 8:12, 10:48, 22:16). Baptism is an important element of the follow-up process. Those who are responsible for immediate follow-up with new believers are the very ones who shared the gospel message with them, now there will be times when this is impossible, therefore, the church will need designated "Harvesters," to engage with new believers within the first forty-eight hours of their profession of faith. 

Scriptural baptism is an outward demonstration of what happened privately within the life of the new believer. For they have been immersed by the living Spirit and brought to new life in Christ by His saving power and have identified with the crucifixion of Jesus as well as His burial and resurrection (Romans 6:3-11). A baptism is also an act of obedience to Christ by openly testifying of the new relationship with Jesus (Romans 1:16). Once the new believer has a firm understanding of baptism and has met with the pastor the baptism can then be scheduled and the next step of follow-up begins.

The new believer needs to be engaged in a local church. The "harvester" will explain to the new believer that church membership is important and biblical (Hebrews 10:25). If the new believer wants to join the church, they will attend a membership class that will give an overview of the church's doctrines and the church vision. The membership class will expect the new members to get involved and engage in ministry. Therefore, this class will provide a spiritual gift assessment and a ministry catalog, including the church ministries. This will help clarify the misconception of church membership and keep a concise biblical assimilation of new believers and new members (1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4, Romans 12:3-8). 

The goal of the new follower of Christ is to grow in their faith and spiritual walk with Christ (1 Timothy 4:7). The new believer is just a baby in Christ and needs someone to come alongside them and help them grow, especially in the first few weeks of their transformational journey (1 Peter 2:2, 2 Corinthians 5:17). Once the new believer has been baptized and has graduated from the new members class, they will be given a partner who will walk with them in their new journey. This person may be the "harvester" or a spiritually mature individual dedicated to discipleship. This person will be responsible for helping the new member find a small group that fits their individual or family dynamic. The disciple partner will then be responsible for initiating a seven-week discipleship process using A Call to Joy as the curriculum to help the new believer learn, grow, and evangelize. 

Donald Whitney provides a wonderful explanation for discipleship in his book Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life.

"God's eternal plan ensures that every Christian will ultimately conform to Christlikeness (Romans 8:29, 1 John 3:2, John 3:3-8). We aren't merely to wait for holiness; we're to pursue it (Hebrews 12:14). How then shall I pursue holiness, the holiness without which I will not see the Lord? How can I become more like Jesus Christ? We find a clear answer in 1 Timothy 4:7: "Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness" NASB."

Discipleship is perhaps the missing ingredient that has defected the New Testament church today. Statistics can be researched, and solutions can be given, but without spiritual discipline through a strategic discipleship plan, all else fails. If we want to fulfill the vision of "Transforming lives through Christ for Christ," then discipleship must be the final component of this process, and this final component is lifelong and slow. Discipleship is not something that just happens by accident, it certainly is not something that happens haphazardly. Discipleship is something that must be intentional and strategic. Discipleship is not quick to the mark nor is it a simple recipe to "godliness." The words of Timothy Beougher hit home, "As individuals and as churches, we need to be reminded that activity does not equal productivity and that production does not equal reproduction. We are called to make disciples."

Discipleship models are found throughout the Bible. The life of Jesus and His earthly ministry reveals a wonderful discipleship model. The apostles Paul, Peter, and John all reveal a strategic discipleship plan. For instance, the strategy that Jesus uses, and Paul mocks is the three-element discipleship model. Jesus preaches to the masses, He also teaches and invests in the small group of twelve, but He also has moments that are more forward and intimate with an inner circle of one or a few (Matthew 14).