A Bible Study on Luke 10:2

Luke 10:2 is a verse full of tremendous truth for Christians.  Here is a Bible study I put together to look at this verse and learn from it.  I hope it is a blessing and encouragement to you!


Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.  Luke 10:2 

Using Luke 10, answer the following questions:

Who is Jesus speaking to? 

What’s the context of this verse, what is happening when Jesus says this? (Read Luke 10:1) 

Jesus tells us there’s a problem with the harvest.  The harvest is ____________ but there are only ____________ laborers.

How does Jesus want us to address this problem?  

How are we to pray? 

Who are we praying to?  

Whose harvest is this, who does the harvest belong to? 

How can I apply this in my life and in my church? 


Additional Insights and Devotional Thoughts

• In Luke 10:2 Jesus tells us to “pray” to the Lord to send out more laborers to the harvest.  The word translated “pray” isn’t the typical word for prayer.  Luke 5:12 gives us an example of what Jesus means for us to “pray.”  Luke 5:12 tells us, “And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.”  The word “besought” in Luke 5:12 is the same word translated “pray” in Luke 10:2!  When Jesus tells us to pray for God to send laborers to the harvest, He’s telling us to pray like the leper who fell on his face and begged for Jesus to cleanse him of his leprosy.  The leper knew he was helpless so he looked to the One that had the power to heal him.  He prayed with conviction, he prayed with urgency, he prayed with humility.  That is powerful prayer!  
• When Jesus says “pray” the verb tense is an imperative.  In other words, it is a command.  Jesus didn’t make this a suggestion, He expected His disciples to pray!
• When Jesus tells us to pray that the Lord would “send forth” laborers, the verb tense for “send forth” is in the present tense.  The present tense means something is happening in real time, it’s happening as we speak.  So when we pray, we are asking God to send laborers right now, at the very moment we are praying!
• The harvest belongs to the Lord!  Our job is to pray (Luke 10:2) and then go into the harvest (Luke 10:3).  Before we go to work, we are to pray for more co-workers!  Because it’s the Lord’s harvest, we can trust the results to Him!

2016 Election Resources

I wanted to share some good resources to help you gain perspective on the upcoming Presidential election.  No, I'm not endorsing a candidate or political party!  These resources have helped me understand more of what is at stake as we cast our ballots in 2016.  I hope you find them helpful!

• From R. Albert Mohler's 1/26/16 The Briefing.  Click on this link and you can read or listen to Dr. Mohler as he discusses two topics: "Every presidential election boils down to a choice between competing worldviews" and "Character, conviction, and worldview must be central in determining how a Christian votes."  
• Picking a President  by Jim Richards, Executive Director of The Southern Baptists of Texas Convention
• Southern Baptist Convention Resolution On Moral Character Of Public Officials
• The Presidential Election: Things to Keep In Mind by Dr. Ronnie Floyd, President of the Southern Baptist Convention
• Baptist Press articles on the 2016 Election
• Dear America: Evangelicals Can Pick the President. Period.  by Dr. Ronnie Floyd, President of the Southern Baptist Convention
• Christian Civility in an Election Year by K. Allan Blume, editor of the Biblical Recorder
• God, America, and Politics by Dr. Ronnie Floyd, President of the Southern Baptist Convention

I'll update this article with more resources as I find them.

(Note:  Updated on 2/15/16 with new links)

The Gospel Is...

What is the gospel?  Quite simply the gospel is the good news that Jesus died for your sins!  When you trust Christ as your Savior, all your sins are forgiven – for good and forever!  Here are some more thoughts on the gospel.  (You can copy and paste these verses into Google to read them!)

• The gospel is EXCLUSIVE: John 14:6, Acts 4:12, 1 Timothy 2:5-6, Galatians 1:8.

• The gospel is EFFECTIVE: 1 Peter 3:18, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Hebrews 7:25, Romans 1:16, Jude 1:24-25.

• The gospel is ETERNAL: Hebrews 5:9, Hebrews 9:12, Hebrews 10:14, John 17:2-3.

• The gospel is for EVERYONE: John 3:16, Romans 3:23, 1 John 2:2.

You can also watch this brief video that tells the story of the life-changing gospel!

The Sun, Moon and Stars

14 Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; 15 and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth”; and it was so. 16 Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also. 17 God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth, 18 and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 So the evening and the morning were the fourth day. (Genesis 1:14-19)

This is an amazing passage from the Bible for many reasons.  First, it gives us the truth of God creating our world and in particular the sun, moon and stars.  God created our world and He created us.  Secondly, it directly links God's creation with something we use practically every day - a calendar!

Notice in verse 14 that God puts the sun and moon into the sky "to divide the day from the night" and to let them be for signs and seasons, and  for days and years."  God blessed us with the sun and moon to help us mark time.  We use the sun daily to mark our days - when the sun comes up our day begins and it ends when the sun goes down!  God did this on purpose, not by accident!  By giving us the sun and moon God gave us an orderly way of keeping track of our time here on earth.

The U. S. Naval Observatory describes calendars in this way, "A calendar is a system of organizing units of time for the purpose of reckoning time over extended periods." (See their article here.)  They further explain, "The principal astronomical cycles are the day (based on the rotation of the Earth on its axis), the year (based on the revolution of the Earth around the Sun), and the month (based on the revolution of the Moon around the Earth)."  Did you notice the U. S. Naval Observatory is saying the same thing God tells us in Genesis 1:14!  How amazing is that!!

We use calendars to mark our days and years while here on the earth.  Every time you look at a calendar, pause for a moment and give thanks to God for creating the sun and moon and for giving us an orderly system to keep track of our days and years!

Keep Thy Heart With All Diligence

"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." Proverbs 4:23

In this post I'm going to share my sermon notes on a message preached by Pastor/Missionary Allen Sligh on January 15, 1995.  Pastor Sligh was my Pastor at Maranatha Baptist Church when I was stationed at Howard Air Force Base in the Republic of Panama.  I had these notes tucked away in my Bible and came across them the other day and felt they needed to be shared and be a help and blessing to others.  Here are my notes:

Introduction:  The heart is the very seat of emotion, source of being, it's not talking about the organ.  Our problems come when our heart is not right with the Lord.

1.  The Command:  Proverbs 23 is a command, it must be done, it is not an option.  None of God's commands are options.  He doesn't make a command that can't be kept. 1 John 3:20; Hebrews 8:10; Ephesians 6:6; Ephesians 4:18; Acts 11:23.  We harden our hearts by refusing to do what God tells us.

2.  The Cause:  As a man thinks, so he is (Proverbs 23:7).  Do you think on the world, you will be worldy.  The fountain of all our actions is our heart.  The heart controls our actions, actions become habits.  The heart can never be settle permanently.

3.  The Challenge:  With all diligence - guard your heart.  Great attention should be given to your heart.  Every inlet of sin should be guarded (Proverbs 4:24-27).  Make no provision for evil (Romans 13:14).  a) surrender your heart to God  b) diligence to guard  c)  saturate it with the Word of God  d) a will to pray  e)  confess sin immediately.

Mini Bible Study

Here's a mini Bible study for your day.  Read James 1:22 and Ezra 7:10 and then answer the questions below.

• What is James 1:22 telling us?
• What does Ezra 7:10 tell us that Ezra did?
• Was Ezra a hearer of God's word or a doer?
• Was Ezra intentional about what he did or did it just happen by accident?
• What can you apply from these verses to your life today?
• What specific steps should you take based on your study?

I hope this has been a blessing and encouragement to you today.

Who Do We Blame?

A man’s own foolishness leads him astray, yet his heart rages against the Lord. (Proverbs 19:3)

I was thinking about this verse today.  It tells us the truth about our sin and its consequences and the truth about the human heart.  

The Biblical truth is that by nature, man is a sinner and by nature we go astray and sin.  When we sin, there are consequences.  For example, if you steal something, the consequence is getting arrested and possibly going to jail.  When you lie and are caught in that lie, the consequence can be you lose the trust and possibly the friendship of others.  I could go on, but I think I've made the point that when we sin, there will be negative consequences.  And the ultimate consequence of sin is death (see Romans 6:23).  I don't remember who said it, but they were correct when they said that we can choose our sin but we cannot choose the consequences of that sin.

The other Biblical truth that Proverbs 19:3 tells us is that when we receive the consequences for our sin, we tend to blame God.  When we get caught stealing, we blame God for sending us to jail.  When we get caught in a lie, we blame God for the truth coming out.  We naturally do not like to take the blame or responsibility for our sinful actions, so we have to blame Someone - why not God?

But when we blame God for the consequences of our sin, it's like blaming the dentist for the consequences of not brushing our teeth.  The dentist didn't give you the cavities.  The dentist didn't cause you to need a root canal.  You did that by choosing to neglect taking care of your teeth!  So when we suffer the consequences for our sin, we can't blame God!  The best thing we can do is to humbly accept the responsibility for our actions and come before Him in repentance and confession.  Yes, that is painfully humbling but it is the only thing we can do because we are the only one to blame.

If you are a Christian and have fallen into sin, come before the Lord in repentance and confess your sin and He will forgive you (see 1 John 1:9; Revelation 3:19).  If you are not a Christian - if you have never trusted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior - come to Him in repentance and confess your sin.  You may want to watch this brief video to help you.

I pray this has been a help and an encouragement to you.

Spiritual Insights from The Chronicles of Narnia

There are many spiritual truths and insights throughout The Chronicles of Narnia books.  On occasion, I will seek to post some of them on by blog.  Here is the first one!  (Let me say that I have just recently begun to read through the books and have been amazed at the rich spiritual truths that are in them.  Unfortunately I will not have the time to explain all the characters and happenings in these post and encourage you to read them when you are able.)

In this example, Lucy has met Aslan for the first time after being away from Narnia for a while.  To Lucy, Aslan appears bigger and she says as much to him.  Aslan lets her know that he has not grown, but every year Lucy grows she will find Aslan bigger.

Here is the spiritual insight I took from this.  Think about your walk with the Lord.  As you experience life's difficulties and joys, you draw nearer to Him.  As you study your Bible and listen to sermons, your knowledge of Him grows.  You soon find that your understanding of the Lord has grown so much that in your eyes He has gotten so much larger in what He has done and can do for you!  But the truth is, the Lord hasn't gained capacity to help you - He's had that all along.  The Lord hasn't suddenly become omniscient or sovereign, He has always been those things.  But your understanding of Him has grown so that you see Him larger!  

I hope I have been able to capture a spiritual truth that is a blessing to you!  

Mini Bible Study on Prayer

Here's a mini Bible study on prayer. 

Read Jonah 2:1 and Jonah 2:7. Now answer these questions:

• Where was Jonah when he prayed? (verse 1)
• Where did Jonah's prayer go? (verse 7)
• Who heard Jonah's prayer? (verse 7) 

Now compare Jonah 2:7 with Psalm 11:4, 2 Chronicles 30:27, and Habakkuk 2:20 and then answer these questions:

• What comfort can you get from these verses?
• What encouragement can you get from these verses?
• How can you apply this to your life today?

BSCNC Proposes Increase in CP Giving

As a Southern Baptist, and especially as a Southern Baptist in North Carolina, I was very excited to read that the Executive Committee of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina (BSCNC) has proposed increasing the percentage of funds sent to the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) through the Cooperative Program.  The proposal would increase BSCNC Cooperative Program giving from 37% to 40%!

Messengers to the BSCNC will vote to approve this increase when they meet November 2-3 in Greensboro this year.  My prayer is the proposal will be approved and if I have the honor of going as a messenger I will vote for it.

The Cooperative Program (CP) is the driving force behind Southern Baptist missions.  As churches give to the CP, they join together to fund missionaries here in the United States and around the world.  One church alone could not fund as many missionaries as many churches working together can!  The CP also keeps missionaries on the field and not traveling from church to church to raise the funds they would need to be on the field.  CP giving also funds Great Commission work here in North Carolina through local Baptist Associations and the BSCNC.

Religious Liberty

Open your Bible to Hezekiah 7:14 and you will read the well-known and oft quoted verse, “Heaven helps those who help themselves.” Ok, the fact of the matter is that verse, although often quoted, is not in the Bible. The book of Hezekiah is not in the Bible either, in case you were wondering! My point is, no matter how hard you look in the Bible you will not find that quote despite the popular belief that it is a biblical quote.

There is a similar belief about the well-known and oft quoted phrase, “the separation of church and state.” Popular belief is that this phrase is in the Constitution. The fact of the matter is the phrase is not in the Constitution or the Declaration of Independence. (Maybe it’s in Hezekiah 7:15!)

While he was President, Thomas Jefferson received a letter from the Danbury Baptist Association in Connecticut. They wrote their letter on October 7, 1801 (ten years after the First Amendment had been ratified) because of their concern with Connecticut’s history of a state church. Historically, Connecticut’s official state church had taken action against Connecticut Baptists such as taxation and imprisonment. As an example of the persecution the Connecticut Baptists had suffered, the following happened in 1744: “…fourteen persons were arrested for holding a Baptist meeting, . . . tried, fined, and driven on foot through a deep mud (in February) to New London, a distance of twenty-five miles, and thrust into prison, without fire, food, or beds, where they remained, enduring dreadful sufferings, for several weeks." (The Baptists Encyclopedia, 1881)

It was this historical background that prompted the Danbury Baptist Association to write to President Jefferson concerning their fears of a state or even a federal church. They wrote in part, “Our sentiments are uniformly on the side of religious liberty: that Religion is at all times and places a matter between God and individuals, that no man ought to suffer in name, person, or effects on account of his religious opinions, [and] that the legitimate power of civil government extends no further than to punish the man who works ill to his neighbor. But sir, our constitution of government is not specific. Our ancient charter, together with the laws made coincident therewith, were adapted as the basis of our government at the time of our revolution. And such has been our laws and usages, and such still are, [so] that Religion is considered as the first object of Legislation, and therefore what religious privileges we enjoy (as a minor part of the State) we enjoy as favors granted, and not as inalienable rights. And these favors we receive at the expense of such degrading acknowledgments, as are inconsistent with the rights of freemen. It is not to be wondered at therefore, if those who seek after power and gain, under the pretense of government and Religion, should reproach their fellow men, [or] should reproach their Chief Magistrate, as an enemy of religion, law, and good order, because he will not, dares not, assume the prerogative of Jehovah and make laws to govern the Kingdom of Christ.”

Jefferson responded on January 1, 1802 and his letter stated, “Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legislative powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature would "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between Church and State.” And there you have it, the phrase “separation of church and state.”

Even more interesting is Jefferson’s original draft of his letter. The original draft, which was not sent, showed Jefferson clearly stating that as President he would not preside as leader over a state church. Jefferson wrote, “I have refrained from prescribing even those occasional performances of devotion, practiced indeed by the Executive of another nation as the legal head of its church, but subject here [in America], as religious exercises only to the voluntary regulations and discipline of each respective sect…” In other words, the President of the United States is not a religious leader or head of a state church.

I hope this has put the “separation of church and state” phrase in its proper perspective. It is not in the Constitution or Declaration of Independence. It was merely one phrase in a letter from President Jefferson trying to assure a group of Connecticut Baptists that the US would not have a state church.

After These Things...

If you were to read 2 Chronicles 29 through 31 you would read of the great revival in the southern kingdom of Israel that King Hezekiah brought about.  He cleaned out and reinstated worship in the temple, he reinstated the offerings and worship in the temple, and he held a Passover feast that hadn't been held in a long time.  The Bible commends him in 2 Chronicles 31:20-21 where it says, "Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah, and he did what was good and right and faithful before the Lord his God. And every work that he undertook in the service of the house of God and in accordance with the law and the commandments, seeking his God, he did with all his heart, and prospered."  Notice that Hezekiah obeyed God's word, he did what was right and faithful before God, and he sought God with all his heart.

The very next verse is what I want us to focus on.  The next verse is 2 Chronicles 32:1 and it says, "After these things and these acts of faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah and encamped against the fortified cities, thinking to win them for himself."  Did you notice that?  AFTER all the good things Hezekiah did outlined in chapters 29-31, AFTER he sought God and obeyed Him with all his heart, he comes under attack.

Has that ever happened to you?  You are serving the Lord with all your heart and He is blessing you and your work for Him.  Or maybe you're spending time with Him in Bible reading and prayer.  Things are going great and then WHAM - you wake up under attack!  You find yourself reeling and fighting and wondering how things could have gotten so bad so fast.  You wonder if God has taken His hand of blessing off you, you wonder if you should go on or raise the white flag of surrender?

How did Hezekiah respond?  He responded spiritually.  2 Chronicles 32:2-8 shows that Hezekiah shored up his defenses and encourage his soldiers with confidence in God (vv 7-8).  In verse 20 he and the prophet Isaiah pray to God for His divine intervention.  Verses 21 and 22 show us God answered their prayers and saved the people from attack.  Beyond doubt Hezekiah's faith was strengthened through this attack as he saw God act on his behalf in a mighty way.

Are you under attack?  Take courage and put your confidence in the Lord, enlist the counsel and prayers of others, and let the Lord fight the battle for you!  I hope this is a blessing and encouragement to you this week!

Mini Bible Study

Read and compare the following verses: John 1:14 and James 2:1.

• What do these verses have in common?
• What spiritual truth are they teaching?
• How can you apply this truth to your life today?

Mini Bible Study

Read and compare 2 Chronicles 36:14-17 with 2 Peter 3:9-10.

• What do these verses have in common?
• What spiritual truth are they teaching?
• How can you apply this truth to your life today?

Watch Out for Deceptions!

We can be deceived by others and we can also deceive ourselves.  Here are some Bible verses that teach us about some deceptions to watch out for.  As you read them, notice if it is a self-deception or a deception caused by someone or something else.  Then, ask yourself the hard question - are you being deceived by any of these?

• Galatians 6:7
• 1 John 1:8
• James 1:22
• Hebrews 3:13
• Mark 4:19

The Trinity (in Haiku)

God is Three in One
Father, Holy Spirit, Son
God is One in Three

I wrote this simple Haiku to teach the truth of the trinity in a simple way.  The Bible teaches us God is a trinity - He is one in essence and three in persons.  

Influence is a Powerful Thing

Pastor Owens' new sermon series - "Under the Influence."  As Christians, we are to influence our society.

Mini Bible Study

Compare Isaiah 40:8 with Mark 13:31. 

• Who is talking in each verse? 
• What do these verses teach about the Bible (God's word)? 
• What do these verses teach about Jesus' deity?

Things Are Really Different

Here's Pastor Owens' sermon from 5/3/15.

The Impact of Guilt

Watch Pastor Owens' sermon from Sunday and hear how guilt can impact your life.