The Harvest is Plentiful
Scripture Focus: Matthew 9:35-38
"Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, 'The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.'"
A Call to Action from the Heart of Jesus
In Matthew 9, we see Jesus moving through cities and villages, teaching and preaching about the kingdom of God. As He goes, He heals the sick and cares for the hurting. But as He looks out at the crowds, His heart is filled with compassion. Why? Because He sees people who are lost and weary — like sheep without a shepherd.
Then, Jesus turns to His disciples and declares, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” This statement was true in Jesus’ day, and it’s just as true today. Everywhere we look — in our neighborhoods, at our workplaces, at the grocery store, and even within our families — the harvest is still plentiful. There are countless people who need Jesus.
The Harvest Still Surrounds Us
If you pause and take a look around your life, you’ll see it too. In Wilmington, in Leland, in your neighborhood, and wherever you go — there are people all around us who need a relationship with Jesus. As followers of Christ, we’ve experienced His saving grace, and now we’re called to help others experience it too.
The harvest isn’t confined to faraway mission fields — it’s right here in our communities, at school, at work, at the ballfield, at the bank, and even at the gas station. The harvest is plentiful right where we are.
We Must Go to the Fields
Just as crops don’t gather themselves, neither will the spiritual harvest. Farmers go into their fields to gather the crops — and we must do the same. Jesus calls us to go into the fields of our lives, wherever He’s placed us, and share the good news of the gospel.
Have you been going into the fields lately? Are you intentionally looking for opportunities to tell people about Jesus? Whether it’s someone on your heart already or a stranger God brings across your path, the fields are full — and the laborers are few.
The Importance of Intentional Outreach
One tool we’re using to help focus our efforts is the Top 10 List — a simple way to identify 10 people God places on our hearts to pray for and share the gospel with. Last week, I had the opportunity to share with two people who were already on my list — and God even brought a stranger my way who needed to hear the good news.
It’s a reminder that God is always at work — and we need to stay ready. Whether it’s someone you’ve been praying for or someone you just met, every day brings new opportunities to labor in the harvest fields.
A Lifestyle of Loving, Teaching, and Reaching
At Long Leaf Baptist, we often talk about our mission to be a church that is:
- Loving — Loving God and loving others.
- Teaching — Helping each other grow through Bible study, prayer, and discipleship.
- Reaching — Going into the fields, near and far, to reach people for Christ.
This isn’t just a church mission — it’s the lifestyle Jesus calls all His followers to live. We gather to worship and grow, but we also go to share and serve.
The Campaign for Christ – A Challenge to Step Out
This year, we’re launching the Campaign for Christ — an intentional effort to equip and challenge our church to share the gospel like never before. The truth is, even the most faithful Christians can sometimes fall into seasons where they stop sharing. Life gets busy. We lose focus. But this campaign is a call to break that cycle.
We’ll kick things off with a special lunch next Sunday, where everyone will bring their Top 10 List — people they’re committing to pray for and witness to. Then, on March 2nd, we’ll celebrate Friends & Family Day, a perfect opportunity to invite those we’ve been sharing with to come hear the gospel.
The goal isn’t just to grow our church — though we’d love to see new faces — the goal is to grow the Kingdom of God.
Daily Prayers for Boldness
As we step into this season of intentional outreach, let’s also commit to daily prayers for boldness and awareness. Imagine how God might work if every day we asked:
- Lord, open my eyes to the harvest around me today.
- Lord, give me opportunities to share the gospel today.
- Lord, give me boldness to speak when those opportunities come.
This isn’t just a seasonal push — it’s a mindset shift. It’s a commitment to live like Jesus, going into the cities and villages, and sharing the good news wherever we go.
A Church United in Purpose
As we prepare for these next few weeks, let’s come together as a church family with one heart and one mission: to love, teach, and reach. Whether it’s through our personal conversations, our outreach events, or simply inviting someone to church, every step matters in the harvest.
I pray God will stir our hearts for the lost, empower us with boldness, and use our efforts to bring many souls into His Kingdom.
Join Us — Let’s Labor Together
- Kickoff Lunch: Next Sunday — Bring your Top 10 List!
- Friends & Family Day: March 2nd — Invite those you’ve been reaching!
Let’s step out into the fields together — because the harvest is still plentiful, and the laborers are still few.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Will You Labor for the Lord?
The Harvest is Plentiful, but the Laborers are Few (Matthew 9:37)
Jesus looked at the multitudes with compassion, seeing them as sheep without a shepherd — lost and in need of hope. That same need surrounds us today. Our schools, workplaces, neighborhoods, and even the places we go when life is hard — hospitals, grocery stores, or community events — are all fields ripe for harvest.
Compassion Leads to Labor
If we want to share the gospel more, we need hearts like Jesus, moved with compassion for the eternal souls around us. Scripture is clear: There are only two eternal destinations — heaven or hell — and we should care enough to labor for the souls of those around us.
The Call to Labor
Labor isn’t easy. It’s hard work — like working on a roof in the summer heat or digging trenches all day. But if we are willing to work so hard for our own needs, our hobbies, or even our careers, how much more should we be willing to labor for the Kingdom of God?
Jimmy Carter’s story reminds us — we often labor more for ourselves than for God. But God can use us right where we are if we’ll commit to laboring for Him — whether at work, at school, at home, or across the globe.
Every Day, Every Place
Laboring for the Lord doesn’t require a special title or position. Every believer is called. Whether you’re at school, at work, or just out running errands, every place is a mission field. Every day is an opportunity to share the gospel.
The Joy of Laboring for the Lord
There is joy in sharing the gospel — even when people don’t immediately respond. Every seed planted matters. Every prayer offered counts. Even when people say "no" today, the seed may take root years later.
A Commitment to the Harvest
If God’s people commit to laboring for the harvest — consistently sharing, praying, and going — people will get saved. Not every person you talk to will say "yes" to Jesus, but as you labor in love and compassion, God will bring the increase.
Will You Labor for the Lord?
There are multitudes all around us who need to hear. They need someone to tell them. They need someone to care enough to step into the fields.
Will you be that laborer?
