In the fall, during rainy years, farmers feel the pain of losing some of their crops. You may have seen this happen when the lowlands are too wet along the creeks or rivers. The ground becomes so saturated with rainwater that the farmers can’t get their equipment through the fields to the crops. And so, these once beautiful crops of soybeans, corn or other grains are never harvested. It’s so sad to watch as these potential harvests just rot in the fields. America now feels like a vast field of ripe grain facing an impending storm. Christian workers need to act quickly to harvest the crop before it’s too late. About 2,000 years ago, Jesus spoke about this very thing. What Jesus stated then still applies to churches across our nation today. Jesus said: 37 “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.” Matthew 9:37-38 (NIV 2011) What is Jesus talking about here?
Well, the “harvest” represents all those people who have come to realize that the morals and philosophies of this world will ultimately fail them. They are spiritually empty, but yearn to be filled. All of them have one thing in common. They have never truly heard the Gospel Message that Jesus saves. Or, if they have heard it, it has been a water-downed version that has no spiritual potency. So, here in this passage, Jesus emphasizes the responsibility of every Christian, including you and me, to communicate the salvation found in Jesus Christ to those who have not yet received it. It is not a suggestion. It is an obligation that we must not shirk. Why?—because people today are looking for answers. They have tried so many things that the world offers, but found them all to come up short. People are hungry for something that will satisfy their inner longings for truth. We live in a world that is in dire need of Jesus Christ—for He is the Way, the Truth and the Life.[1]
We hear so much about the decline of Christianity in America today that it’s easy to become discouraged. Some Christians now seem to think that a “harvest” is either nonexistent or very limited. As a result, too few step forward as “workers in the field.” But, recent data would indicate otherwise because people are showing a definite renewed interest in the Word of God. For example, The Wall Street Journal recently reported that overall book sales in this country declined by 1% during the first nine months of this year. Yet, when you look at Bible sales, the trend is exactly opposite. Over the same timeframe, Bible sales increased by 11%. In fact, shortly after the tragic stabbing of a 23-year-old female Ukrainian refugee on a bus in North Carolina, a school shooting in Minnesota, and the assassination of Charlie Kirk, Bible sales in the month of September alone skyrocketed by 36%. This is part of an accelerated trend because Bible sales also increased significantly in 2024—far more than general book sales. This increased interest in God’s Word isn’t limited to the United States. To our north, the Canadian Bible Society reported a huge spike of 20% in Bible sales. Similarly, in the United Kingdom, Bible sales have doubled over the past 5 years. Nick Hall is a Christian author and the founder of the organization known as Pulse Evangelism. In a recent interview, he reflects the excitement this news brings among evangelists when saying: “Every youth pastor I know is just saying how exciting it is—people are hungry [for God’s Word]. We are living in a moment that we need to lean into. When God is moving, you just throw your sail up and you just say, ‘God, whatever you want, let’s go.’” This is not a temporary phenomenon. Last April, the Barna survey group reported that 66% of adults in this country now indicate they have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that they deem to be vital in their lives. This represents a 12% increase since 2021. George Barna, who headed the survey, was so impressed by this that he stated: “This shift is not only statistically significant—it may be the clearest indication of meaningful spiritual renewal in the United States.”[2] Add to this assessment the comments of Dr. John Plake who serves as a researcher and Chief Innovation Officer with the American Bible Society. He states: “I think the state of the Bible in America is hopeful. . .There is a curiosity and an interest in the Bible that I've not seen in 36 years of full-time ministry.”[3]
So, you see—there IS a tremendous “harvest” out there just waiting for workers to come. So many soul-searchers in our nation are beginning to turn to God, and are in need of spiritual guidance. Why are we seeing this hopeful trend? These spiritual seekers have come to understand that they cannot place their trust in government, the news media, or on-line social influencers. They are frustrated with apps that quickly become obsolete within a matter of months. They are tired of our society’s hopelessness and fascination with on-line “doomscrolling.” What is “doomscrolling”? It is when people become stuck in an endless cycle of reading bad news online with the compulsion to keep looking for more updates—presumably for even more bad news. What’s the antidote to doomscrolling and its self-perpetuating negative cycle of bad news? It’s the Good News of Jesus Christ! It is the Good News that gives sinners hope through His blood shed on the Cross. Gordon Robertson of the Christian Broadcasting Network recently put it this way: “The Bible calls for quiet and humility. You can’t ‘doomscroll’ through the Sermon on the Mount. You have to pause and listen. In that way, Scripture becomes a kind of resistance to [worldly] distractions—a place where the anxious and searching can finally breathe” and find rest. He then concluded by saying, “The Bible is speaking to a new generation ... and they’re listening.”[4] They are listening because they sense the reality of what Jesus told Pilate shortly before going to the Cross. Jesus said: “I was born and came into the world to testify to the TRUTH. All who love the TRUTH recognize that what I say is TRUE.” John 18:37b (NLT2) Those harvest fields of “human grain” sense that CHRIST’S TRUTH is something they can rely upon. Unlike the world’s half-truths and lies, the Bible offers them with the only TRUTH that is absolute and permanent. The Word of God has endured for thousands of years—through the rise and fall of empires, wars and religious persecutions. The words of Isaiah resonate with them when the prophet proclaims: “The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the Word of our God stands forever.” Isaiah 40:8 (NLT2) And so, this “harvest” of spiritually curious souls looks forward to the answers to such vital life-questions as: “What is right and wrong? What gives life meaning? How do we endure suffering and find hope?”[5] They are beginning to find the answers to those questions in the Bible. But, they need help in understanding the lessons the Bible teaches. They need people to help them along on their spiritual journey.
Unfortunately, the Christians in this country have not always filled this role very well. When we were away a couple Sundays back, Flo and I attended White Stone Baptist Church and heard a powerful sermon by their interim pastor, Edward Harrow, Sr. He pointed out how we sometimes fall short in spreading the Gospel to those who are ready to respond but simply need someone to deliver or explain the message. To emphasize this, he thought of all the people within one mile of where he lived that he could have witnessed to in the previous week. Then, he counted how many he actually told about Jesus. Rev. Harrow admitted that when he did this he could think of about 30 people in his community who live within a mile of him. But, he indicated that he had only shared Christ with about three of them. I am ashamed to admit that I am no better. What about you? What a tremendous difference it would make in our community, our state and our nation if we simply would be the kind of “workers” in the field of life that Jesus wants us to be. New Testament scholar, Craig Keener, points out that even modest efforts on our part in sharing the Gospel would result in huge dividends: “If just one of us could win to Christ a few people a year and train them to do the same, all other factors being equal, . . the results of that seed over two or three decades would be billions of people won to Christ.” [6]
So, what is the danger if we do not participate as workers in the harvest? Quite frankly, we run the risk that the “harvest” will be lost. It is very good news to hear that many people are taking a renewed interest in God’s Word and are, at least, considering Jesus’ teachings. But, the vast majority of those who are part of this potential harvest are no better off than the Ethiopian eunuch before Philip explained God’s Word to him.[7] The Ethiopian was trying to understand the biblical message contained in the Book of Isaiah. Isaiah is an amazing book that tells us much about Jesus’ birth and His identity as the Messiah. It provides prophecies about His coming death on the Cross as a “Suffering Servant.” Isaiah even provides prophecies that are yet to be fulfilled when Jesus comes again. But, as many of you know, Isaiah can be a very difficult book to understand. Who knows—without Philip’s assistance, the Ethiopian may have become so frustrated in trying to understand God’s Word that he might have given up his quest to find God. He could have remained in a fog of confusion regarding the truth of God’s Word.
This reminds me of a story that Randy Alcorn has used as a biblical illustration involving a woman named Florence Chadwick. She was one of the world’s elite ocean swimmers during the 1950’s. In 1952, she took on the challenge of swimming the 26 miles between the California coastline and Catalina Island. The treacherous waters of the Catalina Channel are noted for being a difficult challenge even for the best of swimmers. She swam for 15 hours in icy waters of the channel through a dense fog that almost completely limited visibility. Unable to see through the fog, she became exhausted and discouraged and finally pulled herself into a boat that ran along with her. Ms. Chadwick was dismayed to discover that she had given up less than a half mile from the shoreline of the island. When being interviewed later, she said: “All I could see was the fog. I think if I could have seen the shore, I would have made it.”[8] So, many people today who don’t know Jesus Christ are living in the “fog” of worldly distractions. Unlike Ms. Chadwick, they have no boat to get into and many of them are drowning in a world of sin. Jesus is the “shoreline” that gives them the strength to finish the race and the hope of eternal rest. We are the ones called to help them see past the fog by sharing the Gospel Message with them.
Florence Chadwick’s effort to see the “shoreline” through fog reflects the Biblical message to focus on God’s promises. But, how can they know about God’s promise of salvation through His Son unless we make the effort to tell them? With this in mind, the Apostle Paul tells us: 13 “For ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.’ 14 But how can they call on Him to save them unless they believe in Him? And how can they believe in Him if they have never heard about Him? And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them? 15 And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, ‘How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!’” Romans 10:13-15 (NLT2) Who will bear this Good News to others today? The Republicans won’t do it. And, most certainly, the Democrats will not. The public schools will be silent (if not antagonistic) regarding God’s Message. The Lions Club won’t do it, nor the Kiwanis, nor the Boy Scouts, nor any other secular organization. All of these may be worthy organizations, but they will not lend a hand as “workers” to bring in the “harvest” of which Jesus speaks. If we in the Church don’t serve as messengers of the Gospel, no one else will. Without us, the harvest will die in the field!
So, how can we be effective “workers” for Christ to gather the harvest? Professor Dennis Fisher is a Christian writer and teacher who offers some good advice about sharing the Gospel with those who are among that potential “harvest.” The very first thing to do is pray for the Holy Spirit to touch their hearts as well as your own. The Spirit will prepare their hearts to receive God’s Word, and will guide you in the words to deliver.
Second, you can’t be an effective witness if your own life does not reflect the love of Christ. Before anyone is going to want Jesus in their lives, they are going to need to see Him actively working in your life. Unless our lives are filled with His love, compassion and humility, unbelievers are not going to take us seriously. You have heard it said: “Your life may be the only Bible some people read.”[9] Make sure that if they “read” you that they are reading a book that points to Christ. Simply put, you must both “talk the talk” and “walk the walk,” by living in accordance with Jesus’ ways rather than the ways of the world. And so, you want to be able to tell them what Jesus has already done to change your life. I am not saying that you have to be perfect in order to witness to others. (If that were the case, none of us could spread the Gospel). But, we need to live by example with Christian integrity and morality.
Third, don’t be afraid to share with them Scripture from God’s Word. God’s Word is the seed that assures a fruitful harvest. Maybe whoever you are witnessing to is going through a difficult time. Life has been hard on them, and they are emotionally and physically exhausted. Try to give them hope in Christ. For example, you might pull from Matthew 11:28-30. You don’t have to cite the exact chapter and verse, or even quote the Scripture word-for-word. You can simply say, “Look, I know you are hurting, but the Bible says that Jesus can lift up those who ‘are weary and carry heavy burdens’ and will give them ‘rest for their souls’ [10]—He can do that for you too.” And, while you can paraphrase from the Bible, constantly study God’s Word and memorize as much as you can. This will enable you, through the help of the Holy Spirit, to have the biblical clarity needed to effectively witness to others. In order to be good witnesses for Jesus, we need to be able to explain the meaning of the Scriptures in a straightforward, faithful manner that connects with the listener’s spiritual and emotional needs. Whoever you are addressing—their problem is the same one that all of us have. It is the problem of sin and our need for forgiveness and redemption. Let them know that Jesus left His throne in Heaven to come to this dark and fallen world to die on the Cross to save us from our sins. Only faith in Him can take advantage of eternal salvation.
So, be bold in planting the seeds of God’s Word and let the Holy Spirit allow it to grow in the heart of the listener. Evangelism is not centered on methods of persuasion and argument techniques. Rather, it involves us having the courage to witness to others as empowered by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit does all the heavy lifting—He takes the seed we plant and allows it to grow in a way that transforms hearts. All we have to do is our part as workers of the harvest—faithfully sharing the message of Jesus Christ!
Fourth, when you are witnessing to someone, don’t press them too hard. Rather, be patient with them. Sharing God’s Word involves the listener’s human heart. The heart moves at its own pace. Thus, witnessing about the Gospel is a process and not a race. Sometimes it does good to build trust by first being a good listener yourself in order to have a better understanding of the unbeliever’s questions and doubts. So, don’t be discouraged when the person to whom you are witnessing is slow to believe. Again, Professor Fisher offers helpful advice when someone initially rejects the Gospel. He says, “When that happens, it’s easy to get discouraged, or even to feel that we have failed. It’s easy to give up, and to proceed to ground that appears to be more fruitful. But if we do, we’re forgetting an important truth: Receptive unbelievers are at different stages of openness to the Gospel. Some need just minutes to think over the claims of Christ; others may take years before their spiritual pilgrimage leads them to faith. As laborers in the harvest, we need to learn how to be patient in evangelism.”[11]
And so, the question is this: Will you heed Jesus’ call to be a worker in the harvest? As He turned to His disciples 2,000 years ago, Jesus turns to everyone in this church today and commands: “Be my witnesses, telling people about Me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, [in Gordonsville, Charlottesville, Richmond, Louisa, Orange, Goochland, Chesterfield] and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 (NLT2) The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. It’s time to take up your cross and start reaping the harvest for Christ!
Darvin Satterwhite, Pastor
Forest Hill Baptist Church
November 2, 2025
©2025 All Rights Reserved as follows:
Anyone is at liberty to use this sermon or any portions thereof for educational or religious purposes, with or without credit. The pastor believes the material presented herein to be true to the teaching of Scripture, and desires to further, not restrict, its potential use as an aid in the study of God’s Word. The publication of this material is a grace ministry of Forest Hill Baptist Church in Louisa, Virginia.
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[1] John 14:6 [Jesus said:] “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one can come to the Father except through Me.” (NLT2)
[2] Michael Foust, “U.S. Bible Sales Climb Again in 2025: ‘People Are Hungry,’” Crosswalk.com https://www.crosswalk.com/headlines/contributors/michael-foust/us-bible-sales-climb-again-2025-people-are-hungry.html (October 24, 2025).
[3] Brody Carter, “As Americans Lose Trust in Media and Government, Faith in the Bible Is Starting to Grow,” Christian Broadcasting Network, https://cbn.com/news/us/americans-lose-trust-media-and-government-faith-bible-starting-grow (October 27, 2025).
[4] Christianpost.com, https://www.christianpost.com/voices/the-bible-is-speaking-to-a-new-generationand-theyre-listening.html (October 25, 2025).
[5] Gordon Robertson, “The Bible is speaking to a new generation ... and they’re listening,” Christianpost.com, https://www.christianpost.com/voices/the-bible-is-speaking-to-a-new-generationand-theyre-listening.html (October 25, 2025).
[6] Keener, Craig S. 1997. Matthew. Vol. 1. The IVP New Testament Commentary Series. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
[7] Acts 8:29-32 29 The Holy Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go over and walk along beside the carriage.’ 30 Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ 31 The man replied, ‘How can I, unless someone instructs me?’ And he urged Philip to come up into the carriage and sit with him. 32 The passage of Scripture he had been reading was this: ‘He was led like a sheep to the slaughter. And as a lamb is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth.’” (NLT2)
[8] Florence Chadwick: See Randy Alcorn, “Florence Chadwick, and the Fog,” Eternal Perspective Ministries, https://www.epm.org/resources/2010/Jan/21/florence-chadwick-and-fog/, (January 21, 2010).
[9] H. Dennis Fisher, Our Daily Bread Ministry, https://www.odbm.org.
[10] Matthew 11:28-30 28 [Jesus said:] “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you. Let Me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” (NLT2)
[11] H. Dennis Fisher, “Waiting for the Harvest,” Discipleship Journal, Issue 34 (July/August 1986).
