Living Like a Christian – Lesson 10: Where Are God’s Laborers?

Scripture Reading: Luke 10:1-16

Memory Verse: “Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.’” Matthew 9:37

Introduction:

Time is or seems to be speeding up at an ever-increasing rate. It seems as if as soon as one day starts, another day ends and as each day goes by, it seems as if we haven’t accomplished anything. We take time to read a good book or enjoy some T.V. programs or play games or a number of other activities and that is usually how our lives go day in and day out. We spend an hour or two in church on Sabbath, but is there more to Christianity than this? Are there things we aren’t doing we should be doing? Are we being God’s laborers or not?

Many Christians have already memorized the memory verse for this lesson. However, how many of us know the next verse: “Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” (Matthew 9:38)? In church today there is too much emphasis placed on the numerical aspect of the “harvest” and very little energy spent on stirring up a committed group of laborers to reap that harvest.

The Gaither Vocal Band has a song whose refrain closes with this statement: “He just needs a few good men.”[1] This cry should be ringing out in churches throughout the world, “Pray that the Lord will send laborers!” And we should echo, “I’ll pray therefore that the Lord… will send ME!”

Lesson Questions:

  1. What key thing does Jesus tell us to pray for? Luke 10:2; Matthew 9:38.
  2. Why should this be our prayer? Matthew 9:36; Ezekiel 34:6.
  3. Why are our works important? James 2:14-18, 22; Mathew 7:16-20; John 15:8.
  4. Why is it so important we labor to help save others? Romans 10:13-14; James 5:20.
  5. Is preaching the only job that can be done by Christians? 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 What are some of the other ways to serve in the church? 1 Corinthians 12:28.
  6. What did Paul tell us about his labor? 1 Corinthians 3:6; 15:10.
  7. Why must we labor and work now? John 9:4; Romans 13:11-12; James 4:14; 2 Peter 3:10-11.
  8. What final test is coming upon all of us? Matthew 16:27 1 Corinthians 3:11-15.
  9. What are some key points Paul says about reaping and harvesting? 2 Corinthians 9:6-8; Galatians 6:7-10.

[1] Artist: Gaither Vocal Band; Album: A Few Good Men; Released: 1990