Instructions: Let small groups read this brief story and come up with several lessons that can be learned. The full text is as follows:
Back in the days when I lived on the farm, Dad and I would go out in the summer to pull sweet corn. Confronted with many rows of corn and thousands of cornstalks, we would walk down a row and begin looking for ripe corn. We did this using several clues: “Is the silk dried?”“Does the ear look fat and full?” “Does it feel firm?”
With these things in mind, Dad and I were able to check hundreds of ears of corn in a short time. We could pull only the ears that were ready and leave the others to ripen. Later, we would go back and find that there were new ears of corn that were ripe enough to pull.
• We must get into the cornfield if we expect to harvest corn. No farmer gets the work done while sitting at home in his living room. He must get into the field where the corn is, because the corn will never come to him. Likewise, if we are going to reach people, we need to go where the people are. Most people that need to be reached will never come to us!
• We should use all our senses to determine if the corn is ripe. We don't have to tear open every ear of corn to see if it is ripe, nor do we have to tear people apart by arguing our point. Our best tools for sharing the Gospel are our eyes and ears. Listen, observe, share gently, get a feel for where the person is and how they are reacting to the message.
• Ripeness can be assessed quickly. To determine spiritual receptivity, we must share something of the Gospel message. But if someone is not receptive, you will know almost at once . . . and in that case, don't go any further! Change the subject. This way, we can assess many people so we can find the “ripe” ones!
• We are not in charge of making the corn ripe. We do not make people receptive to God. Only the Holy Spirit can do that. Our job is to share the Gospel and determine if people are ready to let Jesus into their lives.
• Sometimes you get a bad ear of corn. It may be wormy or have fungus, or the kernels are not all developed. Sometimes people will come to Christ but will not last long (see Matt. 13). Jesus said you can expect this. But don't let this keep you from the task of reaching people.
• Expect to get dirty. We often came out of the cornfield full of pollen and fungus, mud on our shoes, as well as getting small cuts from the leaves. In order to reach non-Christians, you must hang out with them and tolerate their attitudes, their language, and their behaviours.
• Corn which is not ready today may be ripe tomorrow. People who are not receptive today may be receptive in the future. We must keep checking back—that is, maintain relationships with non-believers and stay connected.
15 min 
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