06/13/2026
This Weeks Sermon: THE KING NEEDED AMBASSADORS TO CARRY THE MESSAGE
Speaker: Pastor Leonard Banks
CONGREGATIONAL READING from: Matthew 9:35-10:8(NIV)
THE WORKERS ARE FEW
35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “THE HARVEST IS PLENTIFUL BUT THE WORKERS ARE FEW. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
JESUS SENDS OUT THE TWELVE
10 Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.
2 These are the names of THE TWELVE APOSTLES: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 GO rather TO THE LOST SHEEP OF ISRAEL. 7 As you go, proclaim this message: ‘THE KINGDOME OF HEAVEN HAS COME NEAR.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,[a] drive out demons. Freely you have received; FREELY GIVE.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::COMMENTARY
This short but powerful passage provides insight into Jesus’ motivation for extending the training of his disciples to the next level (their public preaching) in chapter 10. Jesus’ compassion, evident throughout chapters 8–9, came to a great crescendo. Jesus saw beyond the physical diseases to the deeper tragedy of the people’s spiritual aimlessness.
(Broadman & Holman Publishers)
This is the backdrop of today’s Gospel lesson. We find Jesus recognizing a great, ripe, spiritual harvest field and sending his apostles out into it to reap. But WHAT DOES THIS PASSAGE HAVE TO DO WITH US TODAY? In this sermon we’ll see that JESUS GIVES US THE SAME INVITATION and challenge.
………
Join us this SUNDAY, @ ABUNDANT GRACE CHURCH (4292 Lake Avenue / Rochester, NY 14612) or join us by zoom, to hear this week’s sermon.
(For Zoom access, please reach out to Pastor Banks for the link.)