Seed Planting People
Watch or listen to
the full sermon here.
Preached by Pastor Mike Woodard
Follow The Valley Church
We’re continuing our series Kingdom Culture, where we’re learning how Jesus’ upside down kingdom leads to a right side up life. When Jesus came to earth, He flipped culture on its head: the greatest are servants, the first will be last, it’s better to give than to receive, and true life is found when we lay ours down.
This way of living may feel countercultural, but it leads to joy, purpose, and transformation. And one of the ways Jesus taught this was through a simple, powerful truth in Matthew 9: “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few.”
The Harvest Is Abundant
When Jesus looked at crowds of broken, hurting, and searching people, He didn’t see a problem—He saw potential. He declared that the harvest was plentiful. In other words, there are countless opportunities for people to encounter God’s love, grace, and hope.
The only shortage wasn’t in the harvest—it was in the workers. Everyone loves celebrating the harvest, but not everyone wants to plant the seeds that lead to it.
What It Means to Be Seed Planting People
If the harvest is plentiful, then our role is clear: we must be seed planting people. Planting seeds isn’t glamorous, but it’s how we prepare the ground for God to bring growth.
Here are three things seed planting people do:
1. Seed Planting People Show Up Consistently
Growth doesn’t happen without consistency. Just like crops don’t grow overnight, spiritual growth comes from faithfully showing up—in worship, in prayer, in relationships, in serving. There is power in simply being in the room.
2. Seed Planting People Get Their Hands Dirty
Planting seeds means putting in effort, even when it’s inconvenient or difficult. Whether it’s setting up church equipment, praying with a friend, or serving behind the scenes, real kingdom impact often comes from unseen acts of faithfulness.
3. Seed Planting People Pray for God to Bring the Growth
We don’t control the outcome—only the input. Our responsibility is to plant seeds through obedience, generosity, prayer, and consistency. God is the one who brings the harvest in His timing.
Living Out the Kingdom
At The Valley, we believe that being seed planting people is how we see God transform lives. Every prayer, every act of service, every gift, every conversation about Jesus—it all matters. Just like a farmer trusts the seed to grow after it’s planted, we trust God to use what we give Him.
So what seeds are you planting? In your family, your friendships, your faith, and your church? The kind of harvest you’ll see depends on the kind of seeds you sow. Let’s be people who plant generously, faithfully, and prayerfully—because the harvest is waiting.