by Harvesting a Soul is taught by Paul in 1 Corinthians 3 through an issue in the church, division. This division was not driven by sin or social status, but divided loyalties between Paul and Apollos concerning evangelism, seen by Paul’s object lesson. Paul was an evangelist and Apollos was a teacher. What God intended to be a complement of these gifted men, the Corinthians turned into a rivalry. One group avowed Apollos and his methods while another avowed Paul’s. These were not two methods of soulwinning but two pieces of the same puzzle. In 3:1-6, Paul told them their actions revealed they were babes in Christ, regardless of their zeal in soulwinning. To clear up this rivalry, Paul taught something important concerning soulwinning in 3:5-9, it’s not about them but all about God.
Harvesting a Soul requires teamwork not division. God trusts us, even as babes, to be a part of His team (1 Thessalonians 2:4-6). This trust in Thessalonians is that we will mature to realize it’s not about us and our “flattering words.” Simply put, God expects us to mature in His wisdom (3:18-23).
Harvesting a Soul is a delegate process not to be taken lightly. Three phases are found in 3:6:
- PLANT – By one team member
- WATER – By another team member
- INCREASE – By our team leader
Harvesting a Soul requires diligence, as with any plant in our fields, not to destroy the seed or see it rot away without an increase. Aggression and overwatering can do more damage than good. Learning this takes sensitivity to the Spirit, something babes in Christ must grow into. We never want to lose our zeal. However, if we have zeal without wisdom, we’ll end up where the Corinthians were, divided from God’s plan.
Harvesting a Soul is possible even amongst “envying, and strife, and divisions” (3:3) in the church. Some, however, sit inundated on the sidelines watching this and feeling incapable of leading a soul to Christ. This is a lie of the Devil. Think about it, if the Corinthian babes in Christ could lead souls to Christ, so can you! All you have to do is what the first century church was commanded, join God’s team and be a witness (Acts 1:8). Plant the seed, water any seed God puts in your path and rejoice when you witness God giving the increase.
