Pastor Brought A Deere 3020 Into Church
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Rev. Adam Hamilton says that any day he can get on his Deere 3020 tractor and work around his Johnson County acreage he feels a closeness to God. He recently explained that relationship in a four-part sermon series entitled “God and Tractors” that he delivered at his Kansas City church. Wide-eyed parishioners were amazed that Hamilton’s cleaned and polished 3020 was parked behind him on stage as he delivered the sermons.
Hamilton says it might not be the first time a tractor has ever been to church, but he thinks it might be the first time one has ever been “on stage” in front of a congregation. “I was able to drive the tractor in from the lower level of the church and raise it on the orchestra lift for display 18-in. above the floor of the sanctuary,” Hamilton says. “The congregation had a real sense of awe that first Sunday.”
Hamilton weaved analogies about tractors and God into four sermons on successive Sundays in the summer of 2022. Using his personal experience getting his tractor stuck in the mud, he related how a larger tractor was called in to save him, comparing it to the human need for God to rescue us. He told about his silted-over farm pond being cleaned and restored by large backhoes in the manner that humans can be “born again” when muck is removed from their lives. Other messages contrasted harvesting wheat with a single sickle compared to today’s large combines, analogous to humans doing life on their own power or gaining a bountiful harvest with the help of an empowering Spirit. And Hamilton’s comparisons didn’t end with his sermons.
Following each sermon, the congregation went outside and saw an array of antique tractors, newer models, and even a large combine delivered by a local dealer. After his final message, Hamilton drove his 3020 out of the sanctuary to the parking lot where he proclaimed, “The Harvest is Plentiful” taken from a reading in Matthew, asking attendees “with all this power let’s go to work spreading God’s word.”
Hamilton’s messages reached five Kansas City area campuses where membership exceeds 25,000 and weekly attendance is over 30,000. Sermons can be heard at www.cor.org/leawood/sermons.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Rev. Adam Hamilton, United Methodist Church of the Resurrection, 13720 Roe Ave., Leawood, Kan. 66224 (www.cor.org).
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Pastor Brought A Deere 3020 Into Church FARM HOME Miscellaneous Rev Adam Hamilton says that any day he can get on his Deere 3020 tractor and work around his Johnson County acreage he feels a closeness to God He recently explained that relationship in a four-part sermon series entitled “God and Tractors” that he delivered at his Kansas City church Wide-eyed parishioners were amazed that Hamilton’s cleaned and polished 3020 was parked behind him on stage as he delivered the sermons Hamilton says it might not be the first time a tractor has ever been to church but he thinks it might be the first time one has ever been “on stage” in front of a congregation “I was able to drive the tractor in from the lower level of the church and raise it on the orchestra lift for display 18-in above the floor of the sanctuary ” Hamilton says “The congregation had a real sense of awe that first Sunday ” Hamilton weaved analogies about tractors and God into four sermons on successive Sundays in the summer of 2022 Using his personal experience getting his tractor stuck in the mud he related how a larger tractor was called in to save him comparing it to the human need for God to rescue us He told about his silted-over farm pond being cleaned and restored by large backhoes in the manner that humans can be “born again” when muck is removed from their lives Other messages contrasted harvesting wheat with a single sickle compared to today’s large combines analogous to humans doing life on their own power or gaining a bountiful harvest with the help of an empowering Spirit And Hamilton’s comparisons didn’t end with his sermons Following each sermon the congregation went outside and saw an array of antique tractors newer models and even a large combine delivered by a local dealer After his final message Hamilton drove his 3020 out of the sanctuary to the parking lot where he proclaimed “The Harvest is Plentiful” taken from a reading in Matthew asking attendees “with all this power let’s go to work spreading God’s word ” Hamilton’s messages reached five Kansas City area campuses where membership exceeds 25 000 and weekly attendance is over 30 000 Sermons can be heard at www cor org/leawood/sermons Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Rev Adam Hamilton United Methodist Church of the Resurrection 13720 Roe Ave Leawood Kan 66224 www cor org
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