Sermons on Matthew 9:35-38

Matthew 9:35-38 Interpretation:

Praying for Laborers: The Call to Action (First Evan Memphis, TN) interprets Matthew 9:35-38 by emphasizing the Greek term "ebalo," which means to forcefully send out, as used in the context of casting out demons. This interpretation suggests that the call to send out workers into the harvest is a forceful, urgent action, akin to driving out demons, highlighting the intensity and urgency of the mission.

Risking Comfort: Engaging the Lost for Christ (WakyMC) interprets the passage by focusing on the risk involved in engaging with those who do not know Jesus. The sermon uses the analogy of playing offense in sports, suggesting that Christians often play defense by staying within their comfort zones, but the passage calls for an active, offensive approach to evangelism.

Seeing Through Jesus: Compassion and Active Mission (Mount Pleasant Baptist Church) interprets the passage by emphasizing the need to have the eyes and heart of Jesus. The sermon highlights the importance of seeing people as Jesus did, with compassion and understanding, and being moved to action by their needs.

Embracing Our Role in the Spiritual Harvest (Bayside Chapel Oregon) interprets Matthew 9:35-38 by emphasizing the Greek word "therismos" for harvest, which means to reap, gather, collect, or bring in. The sermon highlights the dual nature of the word as both a verb and a noun, referring to the act of gathering and the people or sheep as the harvest. This interpretation underscores the urgency and importance of the spiritual harvest and the need for laborers.

Sent by God: Embracing Our Missionary Calling (Central Bearden) interprets Matthew 9:35-38 by focusing on the missionary aspect of Jesus' ministry. The sermon emphasizes that Jesus' priority was people, not buildings or faith, and that the church is called to be a missionary people. The interpretation highlights the importance of being sent and the role of the church as an aircraft carrier, equipping believers to carry the battle beyond the church walls.

Empowered to Share: The Call to Evangelism (Kernersville Wesleyan Church) interprets Matthew 9:35-38 by emphasizing the need for workers in the harvest field. The sermon uses the Greek word "ekballo," meaning to eject or cast out, to describe the urgency and force with which believers should be sent out to share the gospel. This interpretation highlights the active and compelling nature of Jesus' call to His disciples to engage in evangelism.

Transformative Encounters: Living Out Our Faith (HighPointe Church) interprets Matthew 9:35-38 by focusing on the compassion of Jesus for the crowds, likening them to sheep without a shepherd. The sermon emphasizes the need for believers to see people with the same compassion and urgency that Jesus did, recognizing the plentiful harvest and the need for more workers. The analogy of ripe apples falling into one's hand is used to illustrate the readiness of some people to receive the gospel, suggesting that believers should be attentive to those opportunities.

Guided by Compassion: Aligning with Christ's Mission (Grace Christian Church PH) interprets Matthew 9:35-38 by emphasizing the idea of Jesus as a compass, guiding believers to live a life of compassion. The sermon uses the analogy of a compass to suggest that compassion should direct believers' actions, just as a compass provides direction. The sermon also highlights the Greek word for compassion, "splagchnizomai," which means to be moved in one's bowels, indicating a deep, visceral response to the needs of others.

Compassionate Action: Care, Pray, and Go (hbchaslet) interprets the passage by focusing on the sequence of actions Jesus took: caring, praying, and going. The sermon emphasizes that compassion must lead to action, and it uses the analogy of a fireman responding to a call to illustrate the urgency and necessity of acting on compassion.

Matthew 9:35-38 Theological Themes:

Praying for Laborers: The Call to Action (First Evan Memphis, TN) presents the theme of desperate prayer as a catalyst for mission work. The sermon emphasizes that earnest prayer can lead to a divine compulsion to go and serve, suggesting that prayer is not just a passive activity but a transformative one that aligns believers with God's mission.

Risking Comfort: Engaging the Lost for Christ (WakyMC) introduces the theme of risk in evangelism, suggesting that engaging with non-believers requires stepping out of comfort zones and embracing uncertainty. The sermon challenges the congregation to prioritize relationships with non-believers as a critical aspect of their faith.

Seeing Through Jesus: Compassion and Active Mission (Mount Pleasant Baptist Church) focuses on the theme of seeing and loving people as Jesus does. The sermon emphasizes that true mission work begins with a heart of compassion and a vision that sees the intrinsic value in every person as created in the image of God.

Embracing Our Role in the Spiritual Harvest (Bayside Chapel Oregon) presents the theme that people matter to Jesus, transcending political and social divisions. The sermon emphasizes that Jesus' compassion for the harassed and helpless crowds reflects the importance of every individual, regardless of their background or status.

Sent by God: Embracing Our Missionary Calling (Central Bearden) introduces the theme of the church as an aircraft carrier, equipping believers to engage in spiritual battles beyond the church walls. This metaphor highlights the church's role in sending out believers to be active participants in God's mission.

Empowered to Share: The Call to Evangelism (Kernersville Wesleyan Church) presents the theme of being sent with power, purpose, and perspective. The sermon emphasizes that believers are empowered by the Holy Spirit to go into their communities and share the gospel, aligning with the Great Commission. The use of "ekballo" underscores the urgency and divine authority behind the mission.

Transformative Encounters: Living Out Our Faith (HighPointe Church) introduces the theme of compassion-driven evangelism. The sermon highlights the importance of seeing people as Jesus did, with compassion and a sense of urgency to guide them to the Good Shepherd. This perspective encourages believers to actively participate in the harvest by being attentive to those who are ready to receive the gospel.

Guided by Compassion: Aligning with Christ's Mission (Grace Christian Church PH) presents the theme of believers being called to do greater works than Jesus, as promised in John 14:12. This theme is distinct in its emphasis on the empowerment of believers to continue Jesus' mission through the Holy Spirit.

Compassionate Action: Care, Pray, and Go (hbchaslet) introduces the theme of compassion leading to action, highlighting that true compassion involves meeting both spiritual and physical needs. This theme is distinct in its focus on the holistic nature of Jesus' ministry and the call for believers to emulate it.

Matthew 9:35-38 Historical and Contextual Insights:

Praying for Laborers: The Call to Action (First Evan Memphis, TN) provides historical context by explaining the Greek term "ebalo" and its use in the New Testament, particularly in the context of casting out demons, to illustrate the forceful nature of sending out workers into the harvest.

Embracing Our Role in the Spiritual Harvest (Bayside Chapel Oregon) provides insight into the cultural context of the word "harvest" in the Greek language, explaining its dual meaning and significance in the agricultural society of the time.

Sent by God: Embracing Our Missionary Calling (Central Bearden) offers historical context by referencing the Southern Baptist International Mission Board's journeyman program, which was modeled after the Peace Corps. The sermon also mentions the historical significance of Rwanda and the genocide that occurred there, highlighting the need for spiritual transformation in the face of such atrocities.

Empowered to Share: The Call to Evangelism (Kernersville Wesleyan Church) provides historical context by referencing the Great Commission and the early church's mission to spread the gospel. The sermon connects the call to evangelism in Matthew 9:35-38 with the broader biblical narrative of Jesus sending His disciples to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth, as seen in Acts 1:8.

Guided by Compassion: Aligning with Christ's Mission (Grace Christian Church PH) provides historical context by explaining the role of synagogues as places where Jewish people awaited the Messiah. This insight helps to understand why Jesus' teaching in synagogues was significant, as it connected with the people's expectations of a coming Savior.

Matthew 9:35-38 Cross-References in the Bible:

Risking Comfort: Engaging the Lost for Christ (WakyMC) references Matthew 28:18-20, the Great Commission, to reinforce the call to make disciples of all nations, connecting it to the need for workers in the harvest. It also references Matthew 4:18-19, where Jesus calls His disciples to be fishers of men, emphasizing the active role of believers in evangelism.

Embracing Our Role in the Spiritual Harvest (Bayside Chapel Oregon) references John 16:6, where Jesus declares Himself as the way, the truth, and the life, emphasizing the importance of truth in the context of the spiritual harvest. The sermon also cites Colossians 4:6, encouraging believers to let their conversation be full of grace and seasoned with salt, to effectively communicate the gospel.

Sent by God: Embracing Our Missionary Calling (Central Bearden) references Isaiah 6:8, where Isaiah responds to God's call by saying, "Here am I. Send me." This passage is used to illustrate the theme of being sent by God. The sermon also cites Romans 10:14-15, emphasizing the importance of being sent to preach the gospel and the beauty of those who bring good news.

Empowered to Share: The Call to Evangelism (Kernersville Wesleyan Church) references Acts 1:8, where Jesus tells His disciples they will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon them and will be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. This passage is used to expand on the idea of being sent out with power and purpose, aligning with the call in Matthew 9:35-38 for more workers in the harvest field.

Transformative Encounters: Living Out Our Faith (HighPointe Church) references the parable of the sower and the concept of planting, watering, and reaping, as seen in 1 Corinthians 3:6-9. This cross-reference is used to illustrate the different roles believers play in the process of evangelism and the importance of recognizing when someone is ready to receive the gospel.

Guided by Compassion: Aligning with Christ's Mission (Grace Christian Church PH) references John 14:12 to support the idea that believers are called to do greater works than Jesus. This passage is used to emphasize the empowerment of believers through the Holy Spirit to continue Jesus' mission.

Compassionate Action: Care, Pray, and Go (hbchaslet) references John 4, the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman, to illustrate the importance of seeing people with compassion and acting on it. This cross-reference is used to highlight Jesus' example of engaging with those in need and sharing the gospel.

Matthew 9:35-38 Christian References outside the Bible:

Praying for Laborers: The Call to Action (First Evan Memphis, TN) references a Christian song, "People Need the Lord," to illustrate the emotional response to seeing people in need of the gospel. The sermon uses this cultural reference to emphasize the importance of looking at people with compassion and urgency.

Sent by God: Embracing Our Missionary Calling (Central Bearden) references J.D. Greer's book "Gaining by Losing," which discusses the future of churches that send out believers. The sermon uses Greer's metaphor of the church as an aircraft carrier to illustrate the church's role in equipping believers for mission work.

Empowered to Share: The Call to Evangelism (Kernersville Wesleyan Church) explicitly references the Barna Research Group, noting a statistic that 47% of Christians believe it is wrong or inappropriate to share their faith for the purpose of conversion. This reference is used to highlight the cultural challenges facing evangelism today and to emphasize the need for a renewed commitment to the Great Commission.

Matthew 9:35-38 Illustrations from Secular Sources:

Praying for Laborers: The Call to Action (First Evan Memphis, TN) uses the analogy of a farmer at a market to explain the concept of a plentiful harvest, illustrating the abundance of people ready to receive the gospel. The sermon also uses the example of a Samaritan in the parable of the Good Samaritan to illustrate compassion in action.

Risking Comfort: Engaging the Lost for Christ (WakyMC) uses the analogy of playing offense in sports to illustrate the need for proactive engagement in evangelism, suggesting that Christians often play defense by staying within their comfort zones.

Embracing Our Role in the Spiritual Harvest (Bayside Chapel Oregon) uses an illustration about Chinese farmers who ate their big potatoes and planted the small ones, leading to a harvest of marbles. This story is used to emphasize the importance of planting good seeds in good soil to yield a fruitful harvest.

Transformative Encounters: Living Out Our Faith (HighPointe Church) uses the analogy of picking apples to illustrate the readiness of some people to receive the gospel. The sermon describes how a ripe apple almost falls into one's hand, suggesting that believers should be attentive to those who are ready to be "harvested" for the kingdom. This secular illustration is used to convey the idea of divine timing and readiness in evangelism.

Guided by Compassion: Aligning with Christ's Mission (Grace Christian Church PH) uses the illustration of a family camping trip to Glacier National Park to convey the idea of being lost and needing direction. This story serves as a metaphor for Christians who have lost their sense of compassion and need to realign with Jesus' mission.