“Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”
Romans 6:3-4
“Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.”
John 4:35-38
“That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: ‘A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear.”
Matthew 13:1-9
[5] What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. [6] I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. [7] So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.
[1] So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed:[2] shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; [3] not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. [4] And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
[1] Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
[2] Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.
[3] The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the Lord, over many waters.
[4] The voice of the Lord is powerful;
the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.
[5] The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
[6] He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf,
and Sirion like a young wild ox.
[7] The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire.
[8] The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;
the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
[9] The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth
and strips the forests bare,
and in his temple all cry, “Glory!”
[10] The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;
the Lord sits enthroned as king forever.
[11] May the Lord give strength to his people!
May the Lord bless his people with peace!
[15] Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, [16] from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
[23] Sing to the Lord, all the earth!
Tell of his salvation from day to day.
[24] Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples!
[25] For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
and he is to be feared above all gods.
[26] For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.
[27] Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and joy are in his place.
[28] Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!
[29] Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
bring an offering and come before him!
Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness;
[30] tremble before him, all the earth;
yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.
[31] Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice,
and let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!”
[23] Sing to the Lord, all the earth!
Tell of his salvation from day to day.
[24] Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples!
[25] For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
and he is to be feared above all gods.
[26] For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.
[27] Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and joy are in his place.
[28] Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!
[29] Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
bring an offering and come before him!
Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness;
[30] tremble before him, all the earth;
yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.
[31] Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice,
and let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!”
[40] And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ [41] “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. [42] For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, [43] I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ [44] Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ [45] Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’