The Harvest Is Plentiful, the Laborers Few

^35 (A)And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. ^36 (B)When he saw the crowds, ^(C)he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, ^(D)like sheep without a shepherd. ^37 (E)Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; ³⁸ therefore ^(F)pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to ^(G)send out laborers into his harvest.”

The Great Commission

¹⁶ Now the eleven disciples ^(A)went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. ¹⁷ And when they saw him they ^(B)worshiped him, but some doubted. ¹⁸ And Jesus came and said to them, ^(C)“All authority ^(D)in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ^19 (E)Go therefore and ^(F)make disciples of ^(G)all nations, ^(H)baptizing them ^(I)in^{[a] (J)}the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them ^(K)to observe all that ^(L)I have commanded you. And behold, ^(M)I am with you always, to ^(N)the end of the age.”

¹⁴ For the love of Christ ^(A)controls us, because we have concluded this: that ^(B)one has died for all, therefore all have died; ¹⁵ and he died for all, ^(C)that those who live might no longer live for themselves but ^(D)for him who for their sake died and was raised.

The Righteous Shall Live by Faith

¹⁶ For ^(A)I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is ^(B)the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew ^(C)first and also to ^(D)the Greek.

¹⁷ So ^(A)faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

¹⁵ but ^(A)in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, ^(B)always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and ^(C)respect,