Before a farmer can gather a harvest, someone must prepare the soil. That work may not be as visible or exciting as the harvest itself, but without it, the harvest may never come. The same is true of ministry. 

Sometimes we are called to share the Good News directly. At other times, we are called to prepare the way: to show kindness, build relationships, meet a need, restore trust, or create a safe place where someone can experience the love of Christ, perhaps for the first time. 

We may never see the full results of our work. But we do the work anyway, trusting God with what comes next. 

That is the quiet labor of love: doing the faithful work in front of us and trusting God to use it for purposes beyond anything we can imagine. 

In the October 18th sermon, I invited our congregation to reflect on a question: What aspect of God do we most need to share with the next generation? 

You responded with 103 cards, offering thoughtful words about the God we want the next generation to know.  

Eight major themes emerged: 

• Love (55 responses) 

• God’s presence and sovereignty  

• Salvation and God’s Word 

• Empathy and kindness 

• Grace 

• Forgiveness 

• Hope 

• Patience 

Love stood out above all the other responses. That is significant. We want the next generation to know that God loves them, that they are not alone, and that God offers grace, forgiveness, and hope for their lives. 

But these responses also raise another question: How will the next generation come to know these truths? 

We cannot control what comes next. We cannot determine when or how someone will respond to God’s love. But we can help prepare the way. 

We can embody these qualities in our homes, our relationships, our community, and our church. We can show kindness when it would be easier to turn away. We can offer grace when someone needs a second chance. We can extend forgiveness, encourage hope, and remind others through our words and actions that God is present with them. 

We can create opportunities for people to encounter the love of Christ. We can do the quiet, faithful work that prepares the soil for a future harvest. 

The Apostle Paul offered this encouragement to the church in Ephesus: 

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20–21, NIV) 

What a promise! God can accomplish more than we can ask or imagine. Our responsibility is not to control the outcome but to remain faithful to the work God has placed before us. 

As we consider the next generation, let us remember that the work of sharing Christ often begins long before someone walks through our church doors or asks a question about faith. It begins with a relationship, an act of kindness, a word of encouragement, or a moment when someone discovers that they are seen, valued, and loved. 

Let us do the quiet, faithful work of preparing the way, trusting God with what comes next. 

We may not see the harvest, but we can prepare the soil. And we can trust that God is able to do far more than we could ever imagine. 

God’s blessings,