1. Pray for harvest workers (1-7)

To follow Jesus also means to be sent out by him into his harvest field. Jesus sent out seventy-two other disciples to go ahead into the towns he would visit. Many needed to hear the gospel but there were few who could carry out that task. Going into Jesus' harvest field could be dangerous and required total reliance and focus on God. But there is no more eternally important work than working in the Lord's harvest field. Let us ask the Lord to send out harvest workers into his harvest field.

2. Heal the sick; preach the kingdom of God (8-16)

The work in the harvest field had two components - healing the sick and telling people that the kingdom of God had come near. Healing the sick was visible evidence that God's kingdom had come. This life-saving work would be met with strong resistance. Jesus foretold judgment against those who rejected his workers and his kingdom.