Harvest Leaflet 2001

Now the time of year is Harvest when, among other things, we see the farmer gathering in the crops that had been sown earlier. After the 'gathering in', services are held in many churches throughout the land to give thanks to God for what He has provided.

Of course, the harvest yield will be dependent upon many factors, such as the seed quality, weather conditions during growth and also the type of ground that the seed is sown in. Without good ground there will be no harvest.

In the Bible, according to Matthew's Gospel chapter 13, Jesus told a parable about a sower who went out to sow seed. As he sowed the seed in the ground, four things happened:

Some seed fell on the pathway and the birds came and devoured the seed.
Some seed fell on stony ground where there was not much earth. The seed grew quickly but when the sun shone, the tender plants were scorched and they withered away because they had no root.
Some seed fell among the thorns already growing and because the thorns grew more quickly, they choked the very young plants.
Other seed fell on good ground and produced a good crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.

After telling this parable the Lord Jesus went on to explain the meaning. He likened the four growing results to those people who hear the good news of the gospel and react in different ways.

Some hear the gospel and do not understand it. The devil will come and snatch away the word that was sown in the person's heart. This is like the seed on the pathway.
Some hear the gospel and immediately receive it with joy. But when troubles or persecution occur they stumble and give up on the gospel. Because these people have no root, they are like the seed sown on the stony ground.
Some who hear the gospel are then taken over by the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches. These people are choked by these things and never produce anything worthwhile for God. They are like the seed that was choked by thorns.
Finally, there are those who hear the good news of the gospel and understand it. The seed has fallen on good ground and goes on to bear spiritual fruit, a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.

The good news of the gospel is about the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the sinless Son of God who died on the cross at Calvary. There He dealt completely with sin that He might be the Saviour of all who trust Him.

It is our prayer that this Harvest time the seed of the gospel may fall upon the good ground of your heart and that you will receive the truth by repentance and faith and will go on to bear spiritual fruit for God's glory.

This is the text from our harvest leaflet, which have been delivered in parts of Gillingham this year.