Is It Time to Stop Volunteering?

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A VOLUNTEER AND A HARVEST WORKER
A group of us have been going through the book, "The Lost Art of Disciplemaking" online in a Facebook group.  It has been very encouraging and challenging as we consider each of our steps in moving beyond simply volunteering to making disciples.

The title of Chapter 7 is "The Workers are Few".  We have heard this for many years in the life of the church and spoken of it in this context.  It is true, the workers are few.  In most churches, we see the 20/80 rule: 20% of the church doing 80% of the work.

I am grateful that this is not the case for Church Inside Out.  From the very beginning, we have had a healthy number of our church engaged in advancing the mission of CIO.

But today, I bring a different side of this debate of "The Workers are Few". According to the context of Luke 10, it does not speak to the happenings inside the walls of a church but speaks to the context of as they were going along the road and the Lord was about to send 70 ahead of Him into every city and place.

He then goes on to say, "The harvest is abundant (for there are many who need to hear the good news of salvation), but the workers (those available to proclaim the message of salvation) are few.  Therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest." Luke 10:2 (AMP)

This term worker is different than volunteer.  Harvest worker communicates one who doesn't simply have a task, but has a purpose in helping people move from: dead to sin --> spiritual child --> spiritual young man/woman-->spiritual mother/father.

"A worker is a disciple plus something. In the Scriptures he is described as a worker in the field, one who is harvesting.  He is sowing and reaping (John 4:37-38).  He is planting and watering (1 Cor. 3:7-9). He is laying the foundation and someone is building on it (1 Cor. 3:10).  He is making disciples (Matthew 28:19,20).  A worker is involved in winning the lost and building up the believers--that is evangelizing and establishing.  Workers help fulfill the Great Commission." The Lost Art of DiscipleMaking by LeRoy Eims.

Volunteers keep the necessary programs running in an organization (which is greatly needed). Kingdom workers see the need for multiplication, have a hunger to be involved, and have a hunger for God.  Kingdom workers have their own convictions rather than just doing something because they were told to.  Kingdom workers see the needs of others before their own.

In no way am I advocating us to stop volunteering as it is the process to move us towards being a disciple and discipling others.

But, I think simply volunteering can stunt the spiritual growth of a person.  Please let me explain.

God has called us to make disciples.  He didn't call us to make volunteers.  When our goal as the church is to simply make volunteers, it stops short of Matthew 28:19,20.  We, I believe stunt the growth of believers.

There is a progression to our faith: a child, a young man/young woman and father/mother out of 1 John 2.  

Volunteering is part of this journey, but isn't the end.  Our end goal should be disciples who make disciples.

I think sometimes we confuse responsibilities and callings.  As a member of a church, we have responsibilities. In our context, responsibilities include helping set up/take down and participating in the life of the house church (providing food, helping clean up.)  Our calling is to make disciples in line with what your gift is (Missionary, Evangelist, Shepherd, Teacher: Ephesians 4:11,12)  Whatever your spiritual gift is, it is the role you are to play in making disciples.

A few things:

1.  Change our perspective.
The end goal is not for you to fill a spot on the volunteer list although that is a great starting point.  The serving aspect moves forward the vision and also communicates I am a part of this family, so I am going to do my part to "clean the house".

2.  Move
Volunteers are necessary and important as it is the beginning stage of making disciples who make disciples.  We must move from attending to serving (volunteering) to discipling.  Through all of this we are becoming a disciple who looks more like Jesus.

3.  Recognize that the workers are few.  We have a lot of volunteers and we need volunteers but we need harvest workers-those willing to go out into the harvest, be the church, share the Gospel and bring them in to disciple.

4.  There is a cost when it comes to volunteering and making disciples.
As part of the body of Christ, there is a cost to the cause.  We have to do our part in order for the body to move forward.
It's uncomfortable.  It's time consuming. It interrupts.

5.  The reward.
Just as the reward for us as parents is to see our kids grow up, make healthy decisions and carry on the baton for our family, it is the same with making disciples.  There is such an incredible joy to see those who come to know Christ, take the simplest of steps, fall/get back up, and be a disciple.

6.  We can't stop at volunteering.  We must move to discipling.
This is scary because that's not what we have grown up in church to do.  I am supposed to fill a slot.  Discipling others is for the professionals or those who know what they are doing.  WRONG.  It is for everyone.  

It's for the one who isn't confident in their ability (this is a great place to be as we have to depend on Jesus)

It's for the one who doesn't think they know enough.  (You know more than you think)

It's for the one who think they have messed up too much to be given the responsibility.  (Paul could have used the same excuses--he was a murderer, but he didn't let that stop him from making disciples.)

7.  Continue to volunteer as this is a responsibility as a member of our church.
If you find yourself bored, it's time to move from spiritual child to young man/woman in your faith or to a parent.  Our boredom in our faith is God trying to help us move to the next challenge.

8.  Many of you are disciples.  Many of you are making disciples.
We have a lot of disciples in our church yearning to follow Jesus.  Some are making disciples and don't even know it.  As a DNA Leader, as a House Church Shepherd, and as a person who may meet one on one encouraging and sharpening a fellow believer.  Be encouraged.  It's not going to look all the same when it comes to discipleship.

So, how do I start in this journey?

1.  If not involved in any capacity, get in a DNA group to be discipled and then engage in a serving opportunity in your house church, mobile home communities/neighborhood or with the homeless ministry (Starfish Enterprises).

2.  If you are engaged in those things and want to really immerse yourself in making disciples, check out the book, "The Lost Art of Disciplemaking" or a similar book.  Put your foot in the water to just start the process.

3.  If you are interested in being a DNA Leader check with Chris and Geneva Guthrie or if you are interested in starting the process of considering being a House Church Shepherd, talk with your House Church Shepherd.

4.  If you would like to talk more about this, I would love to talk with you and help in this endeavor!  918-557-1558

Mike