The Cost of Discipleship # 1 -- Sent on Mission Pt 1

Christ is all, and Matthew 10 turns that confession into a mission. Matthew has spent chapters 8 and 9 showing Jesus’ authority over sickness, storms, demons, sin, and death. Jesus now calls the Twelve to Himself and sends them into His harvest with authority that comes from Him alone. The harvest image grows out of Jesus’ compassion for crowds who are harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

The Twelve receive a unique assignment for a unique time. Jesus gives them itinerant power to travel through Israel, heal the sick, cleanse lepers, cast out demons, and display that the kingdom of heaven is at hand. The apostles also carry a particular identity, since they physically walked with Jesus and bore witness to His life, death, resurrection, and ascension. The apostolic office cannot simply be claimed today by a title or a supposed special authority.

Jesus still sends disciples into the harvest, but the mission now moves toward all nations. The Great Commission rests on Christ’s authority and reaches every generation until the end of the age. Gospel power replaces any need to chase signs, build a platform, or trust human charisma. The gospel is the power of God for salvation, and God’s resurrection power enables His people to overcome sin, forgive enemies, endure temptation, and walk faithfully in weakness.

Gospel identity also gives disciples a settled place from which to serve. Romans 8 declares no condemnation for those in Christ, adoption into God’s family, and no separation from His love. Second Corinthians calls believers ambassadors for Christ, meaning a plumber, manager, student, neighbor, or pickleball player carries Christ’s name into ordinary places. Mission drift begins when disciples forget that their current place is not an interruption to the mission field but the place where God has sent them.

Missional living relies on the Lord’s pace, proclamation, power, and provision. Jesus sends the Twelve first to Israel, not because Gentiles do not matter, but because God works according to His order and timing. The kingdom’s proclamation cannot be reshaped into promises of an easy life or mere happiness. Christ calls people to repent, turn from self centered living, and trust the King who has come. God’s provision does not excuse irresponsibility, but it frees His people to work faithfully, serve generously, and trust Him with empty hands in financial need, health trouble, and relational conflict.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Christ sends disciples into His harvest Jesus’ compassion for helpless sheep leads directly to the sending of laborers. The mission does not begin with human ambition, guilt, or a church growth strategy. Christ sees the need, owns the harvest, equips His servants, and sends them where He wills. [42:31]
• 2. Gospel power outlasts spectacular signs Gospel power does not depend on personal influence, dramatic experiences, or manipulation. Christ’s power is displayed as disciples overcome sin, forgive those who wound them, and take thoughts captive to obey Him. Weakness becomes a place where Christ’s sufficient grace is made visible. [63:36]
• 3. Gospel identity outruns every old label Gospel identity means no condemnation, full adoption, and no separation from God’s love. Christ does not merely improve a person’s old identity as a failure, achiever, orphan, or outsider. Christ makes His people ambassadors who represent Him in every ordinary place. [50:09]
• 4. God’s pace defines the mission field God’s pace may keep a disciple in a difficult job, neighborhood, family, or classroom longer than expected. That delay is not necessarily wasted time or a closed door forever. Faithfulness means serving where God has placed a person until He sends that person elsewhere. [58:43]
• 5. The kingdom demands clear proclamation The kingdom of heaven is at hand because the King has come. The gospel does not promise an easy life built around personal happiness, but eternal life through Christ’s perfect life, sacrificial death, and resurrection. Disciples must know the message clearly enough to speak it plainly.
  
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Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [32:23] - Reading Matthew 10:1-15
• [34:43] - Jesus Sends Laborers into the Harvest
• [40:25] - Itinerant Power and Apostolic Identity
• [46:14] - Gospel Power and Gospel Identity
• [53:35] - Missional Living Relies on the Lord
• [56:26] - Relying on God’s Pace
• [59:57] - Proclaiming the Kingdom of Heaven
• [62:38] - Power Made Perfect in Weakness
• [67:19] - Trusting God’s Provision
• [75:22] - Living as Light in the Community
• [80:16] - Prayer and the Lord’s Table

Bible Reading

Matthew 10:1–15
“And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, ‘Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And proclaim as you go, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food. And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. As you enter the house, greet it. And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.’” [00:34:43]

Romans 8:1
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” [00:50:09]

2 Corinthians 5:20
“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” [00:51:51]

2 Corinthians 12:9
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” [01:03:36]

Observation questions

1. In Matthew 10:1–4, what authority does Jesus give the Twelve, and what details identify these men as a particular group of apostles? [00:40:25]
2. What instructions does Jesus give the Twelve about where to go, what to proclaim, and what they should take with them for their journey?
3. What phrases in Romans 8:1 and 2 Corinthians 5:20 describe a believer’s identity before God and before the world? [00:50:09]
4. According to 2 Corinthians 12:9, what does Christ say is sufficient, and where is His power made perfect? [01:03:36]

Interpretation questions

1. Jesus sent the Twelve first to “the lost sheep of the house of Israel,” before the mission later moved to all nations. What does this reveal about God’s timing and order in mission? [00:56:26]
2. The apostles received authority for a unique, temporary assignment, while believers today are sent with the power of the gospel. How does this distinction guard believers from chasing dramatic signs or trusting in personalities? [00:46:14]
3. If there is “no condemnation” for those in Christ, how should that truth change the way a believer responds to failure, shame, or an old label that still feels powerful? [00:50:09]
4. If believers are ambassadors for Christ, what does it mean for God to make His appeal “through us”? How might that shape the way a believer speaks and acts in ordinary relationships? [00:51:51]

Application questions

1. Where has God currently placed you—in a workplace, family, neighborhood, classroom, gym, or other regular community—and how could you begin to see that place as part of His mission field? [00:59:17]
2. Is there an area of life where you have been frustrated by God’s pace: a hoped-for opportunity, a difficult job, a strained relationship, or a desire to serve in a different way? What would faithful service look like where you are right now? [00:58:43]
3. Could you clearly explain the gospel to a friend in a few sentences: Christ’s perfect life, sacrificial death for sin, resurrection, and the call to believe in Him? What part of that message would you like to understand or communicate more clearly? [01:17:41]
4. When you think about being Christ’s ambassador, which setting is hardest for you to represent Him well? What might it look like to bring more honesty, kindness, courage, or prayer into that setting this week? [01:16:19]
5. What weakness, temptation, conflict, or painful limitation are you most tempted to hide or overcome in your own strength? How might Christ’s sufficient grace meet you there instead? [01:03:55]
6. Is there a person you have tried to pressure, fix, or persuade through your own effort? How could you share the truth faithfully while trusting God to change that person’s heart? [01:18:59]
7. What need are you carrying right now—financial, physical, emotional, or relational? What would it look like to bring that need to God with empty hands while continuing to follow Him faithfully? [01:19:19]