Prepare the Way

Introduction

Expanding the kingdom of God is Christ’s priority. The season of harvest reminds us to worship Him by sharing what Christ means to us.

Scripture

 “He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation’” (Mark 16:15 NIV).

“After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of Him to every town and place where He was about to go. He told them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field’” (Luke 10:1-2, NIV).

Open with the song “Holy Spirit You Are Welcome Here.” A video with the words can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zARVp3420I

Program Ideas

Share the Gospel

Jesus instruction to His disciple and us is to preach the gospel. So why are we reluctant? Some of the excuses are, “I don’t know what to say;” “What if they make fun of me and I end up looking foolish?” “I’ll leave the preaching to the experts.”

Share some simple ways to share the good news. There are a number of site on the Internet: The following are a couple: https://churchsource.com/blogs/ministry-resources/8-quick-tips-for-more-powerful-christian-evangelism. https://thecripplegate.com/street-evangelism-in-five-steps/.

A Hug for You Cards

Just starting a conversation about the Lord can often be the first hurdle to overcome. Have the women prepare these simple “Hug Cards” that can be used for that purpose. They are small cards with a heart fixed to the card that says, “A Hug For You … “ Then add the words, “From God, John 3:16.” These cards can be purchased from Amazon at: https://a.co/d/fvT53xb.

Songs

As the women work on their cards play some of the following songs that resonate with the theme of preparation and evangelism.

• “Prepare!” The International Staff Songsters of The Salvation Army: A classic Songster item based around our Scripture passage of Isaiah 40:3-5.
• “Build Your Kingdom Here” by Rend Collective: A song about God’s kingdom and our role in it.
• “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)” by Hillsong UNITED: A song about stepping out in faith.
• “Here I Am, Lord” by Dan Schutte: A classic hymn about responding to God’s call.
• “Go Tell It on the Mountain”: A festive song that encourages spreading the Gospel.

Refreshments

Invite the women to bring a snack or dessert from their family’s cultural heritage to share with the group. Ask the women to share the significance of the snack or why it is important to them.

Evangelism Around the World

Prepare a slide show of Salvation Army events around the world that show how God is worshipped in other countries. Most territories have Facebook pages that post pictures of their events. Take up a love offering that can be sent overseas to help a less fortunate territory or the territory which is your assigned territorial partner with a special project.

Place a world map on the wall. Invite the women to identity those countries where The Salvation Army is active. Use a Year Book to look up the locations or go to

https://www.salvationarmy.org › global-presence.

At the conclusion of this time spend time praying for the worldwide Salvation Army.

Preparing the Way: Our Role in Expanding the Kingdom

Read Isaiah 40:3-5.

This portion of scripture is a powerful call to actively prepare the way for God’s presence by removing obstacles in our hearts and lives, essentially creating a smooth path for His glory to be revealed, where every valley is lifted, every mountain lowered, and the crooked is made straight. This signifies a transformation within us to fully welcome God’s power and love into our lives. It’s a reminder that we can actively participate in making God’s presence known to others by living lives that reflect His goodness, truth and righteousness.

In verse 3, we are told to “prepare the way of the Lord.” This is an active call to action, not just passive waiting. We must actively work to remove anything in our lives that hinders God’s presence. In verse 4, we are told that “Every valley shall be exalted, every mountain and hill made low.” This imagery represents the leveling of our pride and the lifting of our humility, allowing God to work in our lives. “The crooked places shall be made straight.” This speaks to the need to address our wrong attitudes and behaviors, aligning ourselves with God’s will. In verse 5 we read, “The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together:” The goal is to see God’s glory manifested in our lives and through us to our community and ultimately the whole world.

Close in Prayer. Ask the Lord to reveal to each woman someone that He wants them to reach out to tell them about the love of Jesus.