Harvest Time

The harvest season is in full swing, the corn around the property is down and the combines are in the fields day and night.  It is important to be ready for the harvest when the time is right the window of opportunity doesn‘t stay open forever.  For example, it would be a bad practice to start up the equipment for the first time the day you want to work in the field, what if it doesn’t start?  Now you’re wasting valuable time getting it fixed when you could have been ready if you’d checked to make sure everything was running properly beforehand.

God says the world is ready for harvesting new believers; the problem is the workers in the field are few.  In Matthew chapter 9, Jesus instructs His disciples to “Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest field.”   In recent history this passage has been applied to full time church-workers, we need these people for sure, but Jesus isn’t talking about full-time workers.  Jesus is asking the twelve disciples (full-time workers) to pray for people in the congregations and towns to see themselves as workers in the harvest field.

Are you ready for God’s harvest season or has your faith been collecting dust for a little while?  If someone were to approach you about the Jesus you believe in would you be “prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have?” 1 Peter 3:15.  Christmas season is fast approaching and people are more receptive to the Gospel of Jesus Christ than at any other time.  Now would be a great opportunity to brush up on your beliefs so you aren’t caught off guard!  Why do you do what you do and make the choices you make?  What difference has a relationship with Jesus made in your life?

Timothy is instructed to be prepared “in season and out of season!”  The question could come at any time because the harvest is always ready and the workers are few, ask the Lord of the harvest to prepare you and refine you so you will rely on Him. Then remember “the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say,” Luke 12:12. So be ready, and trust God to do His miraculous work as you labor for Him in the harvest fields.

His servant and yours,

Pastor Erik Gauss

Beginning with the End in Mind

“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?  For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.'” Luke 14:27-30

If you want to accomplish something you need to first sit back and prepare.  This isn’t always the “fun” part but it is necessary if we are going to accomplish what we set out to do!  Sometimes it is just easier to not set a goal and just start working.  All this requires is to be satisfied with whatever the results may bring.

Life is no different. If we want to achieve our goals and become successful we must have some idea of what the finish line looks like.  “Beginning with the end in mind” is intended to help us gain a perspective that keeps us focused on the big picture while getting practical guides for our daily walk.  If we take each step towards the goal, we’ll be on a path that leads to success.  Join us as we consider the bigger picture, the plans God has for us and how His truths guide our lives today and every day.

Listen to the sermons here: http://www.hiscross.org/sermon-series.htm

His servant and yours, Pastor Erik Gauss

Movember

Mo-vember Bros- Facial Hair Brothers supporting the cause!

 Mo-vember

You may notice recently I have a little dirt on my face. I did take a shower; I did wash my face after breakfast. So what is it, you ask? Last month you may have noticed an increase in the prevalence of the color pink around — TV commercials, fundraising walks, even pink accessories for NFL football players — all in the name of women’s health. For the last several years, there has been an effort to increase awareness for men’s health. This effort has found a home in November and takes various names but all with the same purpose: to let your facial hair grow. Some call it Moustache November (Mo-vember), Bro-vember, and even the ladies who want to get in on the act are calling it No Shave November — all for the sake of encouraging men to get their check-ups and take care of their God given bodies. We are under a curse. Our bodies will not last forever and we only get one, so let’s take the best care of it we can. All month long when you see my face (and poor growing facial hair!), you will be reminded to make that appointment. When you do, thank my bride, Alicia, for the sacrifice she is making this month for the sake of men’s health everywhere!

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds…” Hebrews 10:24

His servant and yours,

Pastor Erik Gauss

The Finish Line

The Finish Line

Bible Heros

At a pastors’ conference in Chicago this summer, the speaker asked us who would win a battle between Spiderman and Batman. According to our culture, Batman always wins because the man with the most toys ALWAYS wins. In addition to recapturing my attention, this comment provoked two things for me.

First, it caused me to remember the difference between how God views the world and man views the world. As a person I often judge things in the way they appear or according to worldly success. Fun, strong, attractive, smart, popular, successful and rich are all important qualities to have in our friendships. God sees none of it. Read the Bible, pray, go to church, give 10%, Bible study and volunteer are all important things for a Christian to do. God sees none of it. Nice, loyal, respectful, honest, fair, kind, peaceful, loving, happy and hard-working are all things society values in humanity. God sees none of it. God sees the world in a very different way than we do; He sees it as broken with nothing to offer. The world is rebellious and prefers to be left alone to seek its own success rather than receive full restoration from God. But God’s love is too great. He can’t stand to see us suffer and so He saves us, like any superhero would, even at the cost of His own life.

Second, I was reminded of a sermon series I have wanted to do for quite some time: to revisit some childhood heroes of the Bible and see them in a new light, the way God sees them. Too often we overvalue the greatness of the Bible heroes and undervalue the grace of God. As a result, we find ourselves unworthy of being a faith hero because of our own sin and forget about the power of forgiveness.

In Him we have full value, not because of our great talent but because of His great mercy. We are given a great gift and charged to share it with others. I hope that these next few weeks highlight the power of God at work in all of us, and that is always super!

To listen to these sermons Weekly Sermon Audios

His servant and yours, Pastor Erik Gauss