Harvest Ready, Workers Needed

Good morning and welcome to Mission Church! Please grab your Bible and turn to Matthew 9.

If you're new here, we’ve been walking through the Gospel of Matthew in a series called “The King and His Kingdom.” So far in our study we've seen that Jesus is the King of kings, the Lord of lords, and the long-awaited Messiah—the Son of David who came to set up His Kingdom and to reconcile and redeem sinners.

This morning — our passage marks a key turning point in Jesus' ministry. Up to this point, His disciples have mostly been observing—watching, learning, and soaking it all in. In other words —Jesus has been doing all the teaching, preaching, and healing Himself. But in this final part of chapter 9 and into chapter 10 we see a shift take place as Jesus begins preparing, training, and sending out His disciples to do the work of ministry.

Now, if you're able, please stand for the reading of God’s Word.

Matthew 9:36–10:1 (CSB)

36 When he saw the crowds, he felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. 38 Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.”

1 Summoning his twelve disciples, he gave them authority over unclean spirits, to drive them out and to heal every disease and sickness.

This is the Word of the Lord.

Let’s Pray

Have you ever found yourself asking, “What’s the point of all of this? Why am I here? What is the real purpose of my life?” Questions like these have a tendency to overwhelm our thoughts, especially in a world that constantly tells us to chase after the latest trends, the most exciting experiences, or the next big thing. It’s easy to get lost in the noise. We’re bombarded with messages that if we just acquire more, achieve more, or become more influential, we’ll finally be happy and fulfilled. And yet — in the midst of this constant pursuit, many of us still feel a deep sense of emptiness and confusion.

We live in a city where people travel from all over the word to pursue fulfillment and pleasure. Las Vegas —our city — is known for its dazzling lights and endless entertainment, and our culture is driven by a search for the next thrill. With a population of around 2.9 million people, only 6% of our neighbors claim to know Jesus. That’s a staggering statistic….but truth is …this quest for meaning is not just an abstract concept but a pressing reality for many — for these people are not just statistics—they are our family and friends, they are the baristas across the street, the clerks at the grocery store, and our colleagues at work. They are those who go to our schools and live in our neighborhoods, and all of them need the hope, the purpose, and the eternal life that can only be found in Christ.

Now — consider with me for a moment another question: What if life’s true purpose isn’t about making ourselves the center of the universe? What if the real purpose of life is something far greater and far more meaningful than simply pursuing our own desires? In the midst of our fast-paced lives, Isaiah 43:6-7 offers a different perspective:

“Bring my sons from far away, and my daughters from the ends of the earth—everyone who bears my name and is created for my glory.” Isaiah 43:6-7

This verse challenges us to rethink our assumptions and it redirects our purpose. But then the next question is — How do we live in a way that fulfills this purpose? If we were created for God’s glory — If we were saved to glorify God, then the next logical question is, “How? How do I best glorify God?”

And this question reminds me of what Pastor Dave Early writes in his book “Evangelism is”.... 

“You will never be fulfilled until you live for the glory of God and you can’t fully glorify God unless you live a lifestyle of Evangelism.” - Dave Early

Imagine if life’s true purpose isn’t about making ourselves the center of the universe but about something much bigger. What if the point and purpose of this life is to know and to glorify God and to help others to also know and glorify God too? Well — This perspective would not only reshape our priorities but also give our lives a profound sense of meaning and fulfillment.

Our text this morning is going to help us see how we can live out this purpose as ambassadors for Christ in every space and place of our lives—whether it’s on the job, in the classroom, or walking the dog. God is inviting us to find our purpose and join Him in the greatest and most fulfilling mission of becoming workers in His harvest.

We’ll explore this invitation as we investigate our text in its three specific movements:

The Problem

The Prescription

The Provision

1. The Problem

Matthew 9:37 (CSB)

37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few.

Let's think back to last Sunday, where we spent most of our time unpacking the context behind Jesus’ diagnosis of the crowds. It's really important that we don’t lose sight of the fact that it was Christ’s compassion for the people that drove His mission.

Remember—Jesus was teaching and preaching and He was constantly surrounded by crowds. And as He observed the people — He recognized something crucial— He noticed that the regular teachers—the ones meant to guide the nation—were either leading the people astray or completely neglecting their responsibilities as teachers.

In other words —many of these teachers were simply going through the motions - they were doing their jobs without a heart for God, lacking any real passion or sincerity. Because of that, the people were left exhausted—spiritually worn out and burdened by religion — And Jesus said that they were like sheep without a shepherd, overwhelmed by fear and anxiety.

And honestly….I don’t think things have changed all that much since then. In fact — we might be facing the exact same conditions today. Now — I don’t want to be harsh — because there are many who preach the gospel with sincerity and faithfulness to Scripture. But the reality is — there are so many more teachers leading people into the spiritual bondages of moral therapeutic deism and works-based religions. As a result —right now across our city —people are spiritually weary, wandering like sheep without a shepherd, desperate for hope.

Brothers and sisters, if our situation today mirrors that of Jesus' time—and I truly believe it does—then this reality should stop us in our tracks. It should grab our full attention and move us, just as it moved Jesus.

Remember, when Jesus saw the crowds — He was moved with compassion. In fact — He was deeply compassionate—so much so that the original Greek word for His compassion speaks to a physical response. Jesus was so overwhelmed with compassion that it made Him feel physically sick. In other word — He couldn’t look at the crowd with indifference. He didn’t just feel empathy — His compassion moved Him to action. And that’s when He turned to His disciples and said, “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few.”

Now —what does Jesus mean when He says, “the harvest is abundant and the workers are few?”

Well—I'm not a farmer. And if you're like me and you also get all of your food from the grocery store —I think it’s easy for us to miss the full weight of this imagery. Let’s be honest—we’re completely disconnected from the agricultural rhythms and seasons. But the harvest season is critical — it's a time when all hands are on deck. Everyone is involved in some way to help bring the crops in…the harvest is a group effort and it would be absolutely ridiculous to think that one person could walk into a massive field with acres of grain and singlehandedly harvest it all by themselves. No! Many laborers are needed for this kind of job.

Now — just as a farmer looks out over a field full of crops ready for harvest — knowing he can’t possibly count every grain of wheat or ear of corn—especially if he's short on workers—he faces the overwhelming task ahead. In a similar way, Jesus must have been thinking about the crowds surrounding Him. But remember — His understanding goes far beyond ours. He wasn’t just considering the people right in front of Him—He must have been thinking of the thousands in Israel and, beyond that, the countless souls across seas and mountains, scattered all over the earth. Brothers and sisters, it's overwhelming to imagine the billions of people in the world, all of whom need to hear the gospel or will face eternal death. And —just as the farmer needs workers to bring in the crops before they spoil — people need workers sent by God to bring them into His Kingdom, or they’ll miss out on eternal life. This is why Jesus compared the crowds of people to grain in a field ready to be harvested.

Another important point Jesus is making with this analogy is the value of the people. Notice—Jesus didn’t compare them to blades of grass…or to sand on a seashore. Rather Jesus compared the crowds to grain. And that’s significant—because grain is extremely valuable. So valuable that in agricultural societies, the harvest is a time of celebration—people throw parties because of the huge amount of effort that goes into planting, tending, and caring for the crop..and it also means they are going to eat and they are going to have their needs met. And so — when those golden fields of grain start swaying in the wind, farmers are overjoyed because they know it’s party time.

And the truth is—The Lord looks on His people with an even greater affection — for we are much more precious to Him—far more valuable to Him than grain. Friend — did you know that there has never been a moment when God saw you as worthless or unimportant. The truth is, God loves His people so much that He sent His one and only Son to die for us, so that we wouldn’t perish but have eternal life. That’s how valuable you are to Jesus—and that’s how valuable your coworkers are to Jesus…that’s how valuable your neighbors are to Jesus…that’s how valuable the 2-plus million lost people in our city are to Jesus.

And get this—an abundant crop that is ready to be harvested speaks of a people who are ready to be reached with gospel. It speaks of a people who are ready to hear and respond to the good news of a savior who has come to save them from their sins. And friends, I propose to you this morning that God has placed us—Mission Church—smack dab in the middle of a field ready to be harvested.

Centennial Hills, Sky Canyon, Providence… these neighborhoods that we call home are full of lost people whose hearts are soft and ready to hear the gospel and receive Jesus — brothers and sisters the fields are ready for harvest— but the Lord presents to us a gut check - for He points out the reality that — while there are people ready to respond to the gospel — those who are sharing and living out the gospel are few. In other words — there’s a labor shortage.

Tell me? Why the shortage? Well — one reason for the shortage is the nature of the work. As Pastor H.B. Charles wisely puts it:

One reason is the nature of the work. We would rather be leaders, not laborers. We want to be served, not serve. Jesus called us to be fishers of men. We rather be keepers of the aquarium. - H.B. Charles

And that hits home, doesn’t it? It’s easier to seek comfort and positions of leadership than to engage in the hard work of sharing the gospel. Not all of us want are humble enough to work a dirty job….But get this …..when we shy away from that labor, the work becomes harder for those who are willing — and the urgency grows because — well— we worry that the harvest—the people who need to hear about Jesus—might be lost.

Now, of course, Jesus reassures us that nothing will be lost. He promises that He will not lose one person that the Father gives Him…

Consider John 10:28

John 10:28 (CSB)

28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand.

No one can snatch His people from His hand. But here’s the key: this promise doesn’t mean the harvest will gather itself. It happens through the work of His people—through us. Jesus calls us and then He sends us as laborers into the field.

Now — some people may downplay the importance of human efforts — but Jesus did not. He didn’t say, “The harvest is plentiful, and the workers are few, but no worries—God can bless the few and make them as effective as many.” While Jesus believed in God's power — He also believed that God works through people. Jesus makes it clear that, while God could harvest souls without our help, He has chosen not to.

Yes — it's true — God is sovereign, and we can trust that all whom He has predestined will be saved. But God's sovereignty isn’t an excuse for our passivity. Instead, His sovereignty is our reason to act. We can labor in the fields with confidence because He is with us every step of the way. Brothers and sisters, how amazing is it that God uses us to bring in His harvest? And how incredible is it that in this work, we find our ultimate purpose and joy!

And yet, it is a tragedy that, despite these truths, the harvest is plentiful and the workers are few. So, what do we do? How do we join in on the harvest? Well—Jesus answers this question, and His answer leads us to the second movement in our text.

II. The Prescription

Matthew 9:38 (CSB)

38 Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.”

I don’t know about you — but I often lose sight of the main work that Jesus has called me to do. Growing up, my dad instilled in me the importance of a strong work ethic. He used to say, “We’re AmeriCANS, not AmeriCAN’TS. There's work to be done, so roll up your sleeves and get to it.” And because of that — my first reaction when I see a shortage of labor is to roll up my own sleeves and pick up the slack…and you know what… I have found pride in my blue collar upbringing and approach to life.

So naturally, when Jesus says, “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few,” my expectation is that He’s going to follow up with, “You need to work harder to make up for those slackers. Now get to it!” But that’s not what He says, is it?

Instead, Jesus points us to something entirely different. The work He calls us to isn’t about rolling up our sleeves in our own strength—it’s about rolling up our sleeves in prayer. Because prayer is where the real work begins. You see — Jesus knew that more human effort wouldn’t solve the problem. Instead, He tells us the one thing that can truly make the difference: prayer.

Understand—Jesus is not offering a suggestion, a helpful hint, or an optional recommendation. NO! Jesus is giving us a divine command. He is calling us to pray—earnestly, fervently, and zealously—that God would send more workers. We need to pray for more people to serve in Mission Kids, for more pastors to serve at Mission Church, and for more workers to reach the lost and hurting in NW Las Vegas with the good news of the gospel. And friend, this command from Jesus is emphatic—He is telling you and me to pray as if everything depends on God... because… guess what… it does!

So, let me ask you—do you regularly ask God to send workers into His harvest? When was the last time you prayed that prayer? Brothers and sisters — each one of us should be in the habit of praying this daily. “God, would you please send more workers into your harvest? Please send more who would labor alongside us for the sake of the gospel.”

I truly believe that the reason why there is such a shortage of passionate, loving, dedicated and faithful Christians laboring alongside us for the sake of reaching the lost and leading Christ’s Church is because we are not faithful in asking God for them. I don’t know about you but I am tired…I have been laboring in this field for a long time and one thing that I have neglected just as you have is to keep praying for God to send more workers — and here’s the hard truth — if we neglect this call to pray for workers, and they don’t come, who bears the responsibility? We do. So “Pray," Jesus says and pray fervently….and pray confidently.

Brothers and sisters we are not called to pray as people who have no confidence…and we know this because of who Jesus says to pray to … look back at verse 38

Matthew 9:38 (CSB)

38 Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.”

Who is the Lord of the harvest? Well —whose harvest is this? I’ll tell you one thing—it’s not mine. If there’s something I learn more and more every time I step into this pulpit — it’s the truth that it does not matter how well I preach or how eloquent my words are — all of my efforts are in vain unless God brings the harvest. You see — my words are powerless unless the Holy Spirit uses them to penetrate your hearts.

And here’s another thing I’ve learned—there is no special program, no new technique, there no slick marketing, or social media presence that can do the job. Only God Himself can bring the harvest.

I am reminded of Psalm 127:1

Psalm 127:1 (CSB)

1 Unless the Lord builds a house, its builders labor over it in vain…

Mission Church — I am both overwhelmed and comforted by the truth that everything we do here is an exercise in futility unless God is working to bring the harvest. And friend — this truth should bring us to our knees— this truth should lead us to pray earnestly because it does not matter how much we do — Mission Church will not grow and we will not be successful in advancing the gospel if Christ is not the one building His Church.

The Psalmist goes on to say…. in Psalm 127:1.

Psalm 127:1 (CSB)

1 …unless the Lord watches over a city, the watchman stays alert in vain.

Now, does this mean that the watchman who keeps his eyes open as he diligently watches over the city is wasting his time? Should the watchman just forget his responsibility and just go back to bed? No! Not at all. The watchman is called to be vigilant.. He’s called to protect his city. But he also must recognize that the safety of the city is ultimately in God’s hands, not his.

And in the same way, God is the Lord of the harvest. He is the one building His church. Yes, we are called to work and labor in the fields, but our first job is to pray confidently, knowing that God is the one who saves. In other words, we are not the lords of the harvest. We are the workers. God is the Lord.

So we are to pray earnestly to Him… we are to pray confidently to Him and we are to pray specifically. Look back at verse 38 and see what it is we are to pray for… Matthew 9:38..

Matthew 9:38 (CSB)

38 Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.”

The Lord of the harvest wants us to pray specifically that He will send out workers. Now — as I prepared for this morning I was struck by the reality that too often when we are in need of volunteers we beg people to serve. For example, right now we are short handed in Mission Kids and I had a conversion with Julia this week because she has served four weeks in a row and hasn't been able to participate in service.

And our immediate response is to send out an email begging people to serve… but that’s not what Jesus tells us to do…is it? NO… what we need to do…is collectively as a church we need to beg God to send workers. Prayer is the Lords prescription for the labor shortage….and it should always be at the top of our prayer requests…that God would send out workers into his harvest… all the while… remembering that the harvest belongs to God. Brothers and sisters may we pray with confidence and trust that God will send out.. …he will thrust out workers into His harvest…which leads us now to our third and final heading — which will also serve as an application of sorts….

3. The Provision

Look back at the text

Matthew 9:38–10:1 (CSB)

38 Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.”

1 Summoning his twelve disciples, he gave them authority over unclean spirits, to drive them out and to heal every disease and sickness.

Do you see how amazing our savior is!?!?! Jesus told his disciples to pray for workers and then He sent them….in other words, Jesus says, “You prayed for workers , and well, you are those workers. I heard your prayers and I am sending you.” Which means …friends…when we pray to the Lord of the harvest to send our workers into his harvest we must pray submissively…. we must be willing to be a part of the answer to our prayers.

Now —Perhaps God is stirring in your heart this morning. Maybe — by His grace —He’s awakening you to the reality that we are surrounded by people who are lost and without hope because they are without Christ. And even more urgent is the fact that many are dying without Christ, which means they face an eternity separated from God. Tell me— How can we sit idly by?

As your pastor, I stand before you pleading for us to pray earnestly, confidently, and submissively that God would send men and women to reach these souls. And when the Lord places His hand on your shoulder, saying, “You are that man, you are that woman,” I plead with you to answer His call.

Friends — the disciples had no idea they would be the ones Jesus would send to build His church. Why? Because they were just ordinary people—fishermen, a former tax collector, a zealot. There was nothing extraordinary about them! But that’s exactly the point—God's power is made perfect in our weakness.

So what about you? What’s keeping you from obediently joining the work? Maybe you think, “I’m not well-spoken enough,” or “I’m not smart enough.” If this is you — I want to point you back to what Jesus did when He sent out His disciples. What did He do? Did He send them out empty-handed? No! He gave them His authority — which means you do not labor in your own strength. You are empowered by the Holy Spirit of God and equipped with God’s Word. Brothers and and sisters — Jesus has already given you everything you need to harvest in these fields. You have His Spirit living in you. You have His Word to guide you. You have His authority to proclaim the good news. And Jesus has promised that as you faithfully labor as a worker in the Lord’s harvest, He Himself will be with you.

Dearly beloved, I pray that the Lord would shake us from complacency and cold-hearted indifference. I pray that He would break our hearts for what breaks His. May we be moved with compassion for the lost sheep and pray for the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His field.

But before I close with this prayer, I can’t help but think of those here this morning who might feel indifferent to the crowds because—well—you’re one of them. Perhaps you’ve yet to trust in Jesus and submit to Him. And if that’s you, I urge you not to stand on the edge of the grave without a Savior. Don’t play around with eternity. Run to Christ, repent of your sin, and trust in the One who never rejects a sinner and never will.

Let’s pray