Pastor Juan greets Grace Church campuses across Minnesota and online listeners, emphasizing that God’s work continues across the nation and world, and we are participants in that ongoing story.
Context: The sermon centers on what God is doing among young adults at Grace Church through the ministry called “The Co.”
Launch: About a year ago; first gathering drew over 350 young adults.
Growth: Recent summer nights have seen over 800 young adults gathering on Tuesdays.
Why “The Co”:
Themes heard repeatedly from young adults:
“I need more community.”
Desire for connection and commitment.
Identity as co-workers in Christ.
Commitment to the local church.
Living out the Great Commission.
An added seventh “distinctive” humorously noted: “Courtship” (many are also looking for a spouse).
Framing question: What happens when we begin to see the people around us the way Jesus sees them?
Scripture Reading
Scripture: Matthew 9:35–38
“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. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.’”
Summary: Matthew compresses Jesus’ ministry into teaching, proclaiming, healing; shows Jesus’ compassionate vision of people; and calls for prayer to the Lord of the harvest.
Main Thesis
We are called to see people as Jesus sees them. Pastor Juan identifies four shaping insights from Matthew 9 for how we should see people.
1) Jesus Proclaimed the Gospel of the Kingdom
Observation from Scripture: Jesus taught, proclaimed the gospel of the kingdom, and healed.
Clarification: These are not competing priorities—Jesus cares deeply for physical and spiritual needs. At the center is the announcement: the King has come and is ushering in His Kingdom.
Scriptural context:
Gospel as “good news” prior to the cross: The King has arrived; His authority is displayed—demons flee, sickness is healed, forgiveness extended.
Example: Matthew 9:1–8
A paralytic is brought to Jesus; the apparent need is mobility. Jesus first says, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven,” demonstrating deeper authority to forgive sins, then heals him.
Theological point:
Jesus is the King with authority to forgive sins; reconciliation to God is the greatest need of every person.
The gospel is not merely advice for a better life but good news that the King has come to save the world.
Application:
Point people to Jesus as the ultimate answer to humanity’s deepest need.
Resist reducing the gospel to self-help; keep the Kingdom announcement central.
2) Jesus Saw People with Compassion
Scripture: Matthew 9:36
Jesus saw the crowds and had compassion because they were “harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”
Distinction:
Compassion is not tolerance or mere affirmation. It sees real desperation and lovingly points people to transforming truth.
Shepherd imagery:
Old Testament motif: God promises to shepherd His people; Jesus identifies the crowds as sheep needing a shepherd—vulnerable, wandering, needing leadership. Jesus is the ultimate Shepherd.
Cultural reflection on young adults:
Using “ADULT” as an acronym, five struggles often carried by young adults:
A = Anxious: Deep anxiety over future, finances, career, relationships; often labeled the “most anxious generation.”
D = Deconstruction: Beliefs tested; social media accelerates deconstruction; fundamental questions about God and Scripture.
U = Unsatisfied: Post-graduation promises of fulfillment often leave emptiness; chasing more still results in dissatisfaction.
L = Lonely: Technologically connected yet emotionally isolated; hunger to truly love and be loved.
T = Thirsty: Searching for identity, belonging, and purpose among many offered “fountains” that cannot satisfy; they need Jesus’ living water.
Example:
Pastor Juan shares a personal story of teaching on surrender at The Co while feeling inadequate. A young adult, invited by a friend, encountered Jesus’ love, surrendered to Christ, and was baptized two weeks later. Pastor Juan providentially baptized him, underscoring that God uses imperfect people to draw others to Himself.
Application:
Ask God to form in us gut-level compassion for lost and wandering people.
Welcome lost people into fellowship; boldly proclaim the gospel, trusting God to work.
3) Jesus Saw a Plentiful Harvest
Scripture: Matthew 9:37
“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.”
Insight:
Jesus sees tremendous opportunity where others see disappointment. The same sheep needing a shepherd are also a ready harvest for the Kingdom.
Ministry observation:
Expectation vs. reality: Peers predicted ~100 young adults after a year; the team prayed bold prayers, noting ~700,000 young adults (ages 18–35) in the Twin Cities’ seven counties.
Vision: “What if God wants us to reach 1%?” God has exceeded expectations—hundreds have come through the doors; many have placed faith in Jesus; weekly decisions observed; prodigals returning.
Encouragement using “YOUNG” acronym—five reasons for optimism about the harvest:
Y = Yearn for mentors: Young adults desire mature Christians (50s–90s) to invest and testify to God’s faithfulness; example of an 89-year-old sharing her testimony with profound impact.
O = Optimistic about the church: Contrary to narratives, many are gathering, serving, worshiping, studying Scripture; many serve in kids’ ministry.
U = Underutilized: The error is asking too little; they want purpose and participation; the gospel is worth giving their lives to.
N = Needed: They want to be needed and deployed to make a difference in the world through the church.
G = Great to be around: Fun, passionate, curious, energetic; ministry among them is life-giving.
4) Jesus Calls Us to Pray for Laborers—and Then Sends Us
Scripture: Matthew 9:38 and Matthew 10:1
“Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
Immediately following, Jesus calls the twelve, gives authority, and sends them out (Matthew 10:1).
Theological point:
God is the Lord of the harvest; it belongs to Him. We cannot manufacture heart change; God does it. Yet God appoints His people to participate through faithful proclamation.
Example/application:
Conversation with a congregant wanting Pastor Juan to connect with her coworker. Pastor challenged her to invite the coworker to dinner first—emphasizing that the ones who pray may be the very ones God sends.
Multigenerational Application
Pastor Juan outlines three applications that cross generations:
Pray for More Laborers
Prayer shapes our burden and often reveals that God intends to use us.
Scripture reference: Habakkuk 3:2
“Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord. In our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy.”
Context:
Habakkuk witnessed a generation turning from God; he prayed for God to act again even though he would not see the return in his lifetime.
Ministry posture:
The Co’s foundation is dependence on God, not strategy or “vibes.” Join in prayer for awakening and for laborers to be sent.
Put On Compassion
Scripture reference: Colossians 3:12
“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.”
Practice:
Remember who you were before Christ; ask God to transform hard hearts.
Example prayer: “God, give me a heart with a gut reaction of love and compassion when I see sheep without a shepherd.”
Make Room for the Harvest
Practical challenges:
Be ready to welcome new people, even if they take “your seat.”
Make room in homes and in church life for newcomers: invite someone for a meal, practice hospitality, give generously to advance the gospel.
Global encouragement:
London example: Churches experiencing quiet awakening; congregants placing boxes of Bibles labeled “Revive them, take them” on doorsteps—boxes emptied within hours as people request more Bibles.
Vision:
The gospel is for everyone, everywhere; God is drawing people across ages, classes, and ethnicities. Have eyes to see the quiet revival and respond with hospitality and generosity.
Who God Is
God is the King who has come in Jesus to usher in His Kingdom.
God is the compassionate Shepherd who sees harassed and helpless people and moves toward them.
God is the Lord of the harvest, sovereign over salvation, who chooses to work through His people.
God is faithful across generations, awakening and reviving hearts in surprising places.
Who You Are in Christ
You are reconciled to God through Jesus, your greatest need met by His authority to forgive sins.
You are God’s chosen, holy, and beloved; called to “put on” compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.
You are a co-worker in Christ, part of the Church’s mission to proclaim the gospel and participate in the harvest.
You are sent: those who pray are often the ones Jesus empowers and sends.
How to Live in Today’s Culture
Keep the gospel central as good news of the King and His Kingdom, not as self-help advice.
See people with compassion, not frustration or mere tolerance; speak truth in love.
Practice hospitality and make room—welcome newcomers into your life and church.
Pray earnestly for laborers; be willing to become the answer to that prayer.
Mentor younger believers; invest your testimony of God’s faithfulness.
Engage young adults as partners in mission; call them to meaningful service.
Examples from Pastor Juan
Childhood story illustrating misdiagnosing needs (Aunt attempted Heimlich when simple coughing needed no intervention).
Testimony of a young adult surrendering to Christ at The Co and being baptized; God uses imperfect servants.
Conversation challenging a congregant to personally invite a coworker to dinner as an act of engagement.
London Bible box story as evidence of unexpected hunger for God in a post-Christian context.
Key Scriptures Highlighted
Matthew 9:35–38
Matthew 9:1–8
Matthew 10:1
Colossians 3:12
Habakkuk 3:2
Closing Prayer (Paraphrase)
Thanksgiving for God’s Word that brings hope and life.
Petition for God to draw searching “lost sheep” to Jesus, leading them to trust His finished work on the cross.
Request for God to give the congregation compassion and a heart to share the gospel.
Commitment to love and praise Jesus.
Summary Takeaway
Jesus sees the crowds with compassion and declares a plentiful harvest. He calls us to pray for laborers and then sends us to be those laborers. In our time, especially among young adults, God is drawing people to Himself. Keep the gospel central, put on compassion, and make room—at church and at your table—for those Jesus is bringing.
